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The Differences between Webinars and Virtual Events

Webinars and virtual events are gaining a lot of momentum among businesses. It is because they do not pose logistics and environmental problems associated with in-person events.

Both these events are online events that connect people. However, there are some critical differences between webinars and virtual events and we elaborate them below.

Definition.

Webinars are online seminars where attendees listen to a webinar host. A webinar is short for web seminar and is characterized by a limited time. Webinars are also limited to just one seminar.

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Exceptional Networking Event Examples

According to a Linked In article, up to 85% of jobs across all industries are filled due to networking. This proves that networking is paramount when it comes to employers as well as employees.

If you are looking for networking events inspiration, below are some examples for you.

Elevate – Agency Nation

Elevate is an excellent example of an event that offers exceptional networking opportunities. This yearly event organized by Agency Nation integrates social media, which is a platform that is unrivaled when it comes to networking.

In this event, participants use their LinkedIn profiles to connect with each other on the event management software. Attendees can message each other even before the event begins, which leads to a very meaningful face to face interactions.

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Event Strategy: The 2020 Guide

Event planners are no strangers to last-minute glitches. But it is safe to say that no one foresaw how COVID-19 could bring such far-reaching consequences. Or how severe its ramifications could turn out to be.

But organizations, including IBM, Microsoft, Apple, and the Wall Street Journal, do not underestimate the importance of events in business strategy. So how does your organization execute event strategy successfully?

Here is a guide for the event strategy in 2020 to help you get a head start.

Planning

Planning your event is undeniably the most critical step. Here you will cover everything from improving relations with the client, budgeting, boosting sales, how to increase your brand, and generating leads, among others.

You should also consider the fact that clients hold immeasurable value for in-person interactions even though none of us can ignore virtual opportunities. If you plan to host a hybrid event, the tools and the technology to be used should also be covered in this stage.

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4 Hybrid Events Ideas: Driving Growth with Hybrid Events

Hosting hybrid events has been around for some time. However, they are not as mainstream as virtual events. But with the world grappling with coronavirus pandemic, it is a great time to introduce hybrid events to keep business running.

For the uninitiated, a hybrid event is where you combine live streaming using technology with in-person attendance. Some of the top companies that have been hosting hybrid events include Apple, Google, and Adobe, just to name a few.

Below we share some hybrid events ideas and how to make it more successful and fun.

Consider a virtual expo.

If you can get a number of credible sponsors, a virtual expo can be a fantastic opportunity. With each sponsor and participating company setting up virtual booths, attendees can visit them in person.

Through this hybrid medium, attendees can interact with the head of the companies. They can also talk to investors, get to know the current business trends, and, of course, how businesses are weathering the storm of COVID-19.

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The Commonsense Guide to Coronavirus for Events and Conferences

With half the world under different stages of lockdown due to the Coronavirus, it has tested the caliber of even the most capable event managers. These talented and resourceful individuals are no stranger to handling disasters and last-minute crises where events are concerned.

To say that this current pandemic has affected businesses is an understatement. But of course, businesses and life have to go on. So how do you organize events and conferences while staying safe? Common sense and some smart decisions can make all the difference.

We offer some practical and commonsense solutions in this post.

Shift to virtual solutions.

Most governments around the world have stay-at-home orders. This means that you cannot organize events in a physical location.

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How Big Data and AI Are Driving Business Innovation in 2020

According to a survey published by NewVantage, the percentage of companies investing in Big Data and AI initiatives rose from 97.2% in 2019 to 98.8% in 2020. This includes some of the biggest companies, including Google, JP Morgan Chase, Glaxo Smith Kline, and Bank of America, among others.

But how exactly are these innovations driving innovation in business? This question is all the more pressing in 2020 when the world is undergoing a transforming time like no other.

We find out this answer and more in this post :

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How to Improve Your Events with Event Sponsorship

Events are the hottest thing in the marketing industry at present. More and more business owners continue to embrace this form of marketing, primarily because of its result-oriented nature.

A study by EMI & Mosaic shows that about 70% of people become a regular customer of a specific brand after attending marketing events. The same study also revealed that 84% of the attendees develop a positive attitude toward the company and its products as well.

With more and more business owners realizing the overwhelming potential of event marketing, sponsorships are crucial more than ever.

So, what exactly is Event Sponsorship?

Event Sponsorship simply refers to a brand or any business organization that covers the expense of the entire event. Companies usually sponsor events in return of harnessing their optimum benefits. These benefits usually come in the form of boosting brand awareness and increasing their customer base as well.

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Event Personalization: The 2020 Guide

In-person events are gaining ground in the modern iteration of marketing. More and more consumers continue subscribing to the idea of live events, as opposed to other forms of indirect marketing events.

According to a recent study by EvenyMB, about 52.6% of business owners increase their investment in tech events every year.

Technology, of course, plays a central role in enhancing the efficiency of organizing such events. And that bleeding-edge tech comes in the form of Event Personalization.

So, what exactly is Event Personalization?

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Using Digital Tools to Assess Talent

Talent acquisition has been a challenge for recruiters who have tons of applicants, which makes it hard to interact and choose the most competent employees. When companies who run virtual businesses face his challenge, digital talent assessment tools come in handy.

With an advanced tech industry, it is now possible to help employers make a productive and better-informed hiring decision. These digital tools use scientific data and algorithms to optimize job postings and connect relevant keywords to potential employees. These tools collect data through personality and skill assessment tests to fit social skills with the expertise that employers seek.

Customize Hiring Experience

Companies like Netflix and Zappos.com use Harver to predict the quality of a candidate through different assessments. They send out videos, images, situation games, and even fun quizzes to measure an applicant’s culture fit. It also rates a candidate’s soft skills, aptitude, and physical ability to perform throughout a career.

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6 Guidelines for Digital Retailing

According to Cox Automotives, having accessible digital retail increases sales by 51%. It provides important product information, increases departmental profits, and allows valuable interactions with the customers.

To increase efficiency, profitability, and create loyal customers, here are a few guidelines you have to make a physical shift on customer dealership. So here are a digital retail guidelines that will help you reap sustainable benefits in the short and long run.

1. Sell an Experience, Not Price

Since most customers browsing a webpage for goods often feel like they are interacting with a pre-programmed robot, they tend to be abrupt and brief. Using an opportunity to remind them of the real people behind the scene who cares about their needs change their perspectives. So when there is a query, reply with empathy, sincerity, and humility so that the customer feels that the product meets their emotional requirement as well. Try to give them the same experience as you would in person.

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5 Steps for Marketing Your Virtual Event

The key to any successful virtual event is using effective marketing strategies. While there are numerous ways to make your content engaging, generating leads, and increase attendees is what makes the event most productive. So here are some of the most effective steps for marketing a virtual event.

1. Create Attractive Event Page

Use eye-catching graphics and attention-grabbing tag lines to make sure your promotions stand out from the others. Highlight keynote speakers, performers, and hosts along with professional pictures that resonate with the problems that potential audiences face. You can embed links to articles and videos that relate to your topic and how attending your event will benefit the attendees.

Your event page should include the schedule, agenda, bio of speakers, and sign-up links along with information about the sponsors and RSVP options.

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How to Set Up A Virtual Recruiting Event

Major companies like Amazon, IBM, and Apple hold annual virtual recruiting events, and they have paved the way for many other agents to follow the same. Organizing a virtual career fair to hire employees and improve networking lowers travel expenses and saves time.

However, setting up a virtual recruiting event can get challenging during the first attempt. So here are some practical tips that can create and boost a successful recruiting event.

1. Plan Ahead

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What You Need to Know About Virtual Event Planner

Do you need to switch a physical event to a virtual event, but you are not sure how to make it a successful one? Leave it to a virtual event planner.

Event planning can be challenging and especially hard if you have limited knowledge and resources to translate the experience digitally. Like real event planners, virtual event planners take care of the place, time, settings for the attendees behind the scene. They make sure no one faces any technical difficulties. They work behind the scene to make the experience a smooth and successful event for all.

Tasks of a Virtual Event Planner

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How to Shift From Physical to Virtual Events and Maximize Event Outcome

Initially, shifting from a physical to a virtual event can be challenging, especially when you are not sure about the outcome. But when you have to cancel an event and make it virtual, here are some of the most effective ways to maximize a virtual event outcome.

Before you shift to a virtual event, there are a few things to consider.

Make sure that your agenda can be translated into a virtual setting.

You can do this by defining your meeting goals, engage the team in creating a topic to discuss though polls, ask potential attendees for suggestions and feedbacks.

It is also essential to set a time limit for each item and also have supporting materials in the form of short videos, slideshows, links, and references ready.

To transfer your event to a virtual event, you can use the following formats:

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Should you use Zoom? Zoom Review 2020 While working from home, some of you must be familiar with this application. Zoom, as we all know, is the current leading platform for communicating virtually. It is a platform to host and join online events, such as online classes, meetings, webinars, and even conferences. Being the most downloaded application in PlayStore, Zoom has succeeded in raising people’s curiosity which in the end, encourages them to download it. What actually makes Zoom so popular? What benefit does it offer for the user? In this article, we will do an in-depth review regarding Zoom. Not only the upside but also the downside of it. So, without further ado, let’s get to the review.Key featuresZoom lets you host a meeting with over a hundred participants to join. Its main targets were primarily large enterprises, such as financial services companies, government agencies, telecommunication providers, and other big companies. However, now almost every person can enjoy the benefits of Zoom’s features in communicating at a distance, whether it is working, socializing, or learning. Based on its website (zoom.us/features), Zoom offers some easy-to-use features while interacting with your peers. These features include:

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Creating a virtual event requires careful planning, promotions, engaged attendees, and significant subjects for a target audience.

For a successful virtual event, you have to set a goal and have a well-curated itinerary. So here is an ultimate guide for newbies to create engaging and successful virtual events this year.

Promote Events

Virtual events stand out more than podcasts and blog posts as people are keener on interactive activities. So for an event to be successful, you need to put out a good reason for setting it up. The event has to grasp the attention of potential attendees, and for that, you need promotions.

Talk about your topics and send out snippets of what the event will offer by cross-connecting social media and even emails. Collaborate with influencers or businesses with your same interests.

Target a Niche

Sure, the market is vast, and there are plenty of events already out there, but to make your event stand out, narrow down a niche and target unique topics.

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In 2020, many B2B are opting for virtual events, and so are the educational and employment sectors. There has been a higher ROI and better interaction between clients and employees. By using videos, graphics, and audio to present brands, companies are saving money and time.

Likewise, education and job fairs are turning into a digital format so that people can get information, interact, and give feedback simultaneously. It also allows interactions from different locations in real-time by using the web, making results quicker.

So what is a virtual career fair?