After the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person events were canceled. Virtual events and webinars were created to help.
Online events were popular even though they existed before the pandemic. Because of the apparent benefits of hosting events online, this trend will continue after the pandemic.
If you are considering hosting an online event, it is worth asking yourself whether it should be a webinar or a fully-fledged virtual one.
Some might be unable to tell the difference or which is more important.
We have provided an in-depth analysis of each difference to help you make a decision and clarify the situation. Before we get into the details, let’s first establish a basic understanding of each type of event.
What is a Virtual Event?
Virtual events are multi-dimensional events that take place in virtual spaces. They allow people to interact and learn in a way similar to an in-person event.
What is a Webinar, and how do you use it?
A webinar is an online seminar where one or more speakers can present to a listening audience via a web-based interface.
We’ll look at the following areas of value delivery to understand the differences between webinars and virtual events.
Networking and community building
Enjoy an Event Experience
Platform Access and Use
Lead generation
Data Insights & Measures
Event Platform and Data Security
Continue reading for more information.
Networking and community building
Virtual events and webinars can be used for educational sessions, interviews, product demonstrations, and other purposes. A webinar is not an excellent place to network and build community.
The speakers give presentations during a webinar, and participants are engaged in polling and Q&A.
Virtual events are often designed to allow attendees to network and have as many opportunities as possible. Virtual event platforms can be used for multiple purposes, such as private meetups and 1:1 video calls.
Participants can see the profiles of event facilitators, speakers, sponsors, and other attendees. This allows them to make connections at various levels.
Fun activities such as gaming and interactive voting are also included in virtual events. These can be used to increase audience engagement and foster community.
Enjoy an Event Experience
Virtual events and webinars are different in that attendees have different experiences at each event. Webinars provide a common event experience for all attendees. However, virtual events offer unique experiences. Virtual events offer attendees more flexibility than webinar attendees.
It is essential to consider attendees’ preferences when planning a virtual event. Virtual events can be multi-track and multi-session. However, webinar planning tends to focus on one area of interest.
Below are some examples of the unique experiences attendees can enjoy at virtual events.
