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Virtual events like a virtual trade show are becoming the new popular mode of interaction, efficiently saving time while allowing proper social distancing. However, it can be difficult to hold the attention of others if the virtual event goes on for too long. Virtual events should be engaging enough to keep the audience interested, but that can be difficult if you try to pack everything into one event.

The most important part of doing virtual events is that you should always get your point across while keeping your audience’s attention. There are certain run times that are recommended for different virtual events. This article will act as a guide to help you learn how long virtual events should last.

How Long Should a Virtual Event Last?

Virtual events work much differently than in-person events. Sometimes, it can be much more difficult to engage with people online than in person. This is why shorter virtual events get more attention than ones that are dragged out.

If you feel like your runtime will be too high, try to split things up into two or more separate events. Make your events more interactive to keep the attention of the audience if you feel like the event alone will be a bit too long.

Many studies have shown that people prefer shorter virtual events. The most common idea is that events should not last for more than two hours a day. One of the most useful things you could do for virtual events is to break them up into 15-20 minute sessions. This will give the audience plenty of time to take a break and recharge mentally before the next session.

The length of standard virtual events has been steadily decreasing over time, thanks to how common they have become. Shorter and more engaging event sessions is the key to gaining success in virtual events.

It can definitely be helpful to have a moderator for your virtual event to make sure everything runs smoothly within the time frame you set. A moderator will help bring everything in the session together while providing some engagement for the audience.

Overall, there are not really any established rules or time constraints set in stone for virtual events. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you have to get the point of the session across in a timely and interesting manner.

Types of Virtual Events

Educational Webinars

Educational webinars are becoming more and more common. They can involve anything from informational purposes and training courses, and much more. Typically, the audience may lose interest if this type of virtual event goes over 60 minutes so it’s best to keep educational webinars to a limit of 45 minutes.

Full-Day Conferences

It is likely that no one will actively want to sit at their computer all day for full-day conferences. For a full-day virtual event, it is important to spread out your content between pre-recorded sessions and livestreams in order to keep the audience’s interest engaged.

Since this type of virtual event lasts all day, you will want to make things more interesting for your audience. Exciting events such as giveaways or competitions can help increase the engagement between you and the audience as well. They will be more encouraged to participate if there is a chance they can achieve something great by doing so.

Complex Events

It may take longer to get more complex topics across. You will need to let your audience know how long this event may last so they will know what to expect. It is also good to have at least one moderator in this event to keep things running smoothly.

Conclusion

While there are no strict rules or time constraints for virtual events, understanding your audience and how these events work will make it more successful. In general, anywhere between 15-45 minutes would be the ideal time limit to set for your virtual events. Focus on getting your point across clearly and succinctly and always keep your audience engaged.

With virtual events like a virtual trade show, it can be hard to drum up interest in both businesses and products. However, there are plenty of great ideas to help you leverage the full potential of virtual events. Rather than be restricted by space and location, the digital realm is full of possibilities, limited only by your imagination and execution.

Virtual events may be a new idea to some, but it is fast becoming the norm. Instead of jumping in blindly, here are some ideas to help exhibitors get great ROI at your virtual events.

Ideas to Help Exhibitors Get Great ROI at Your Virtual Events

Info Dump

Sometimes, having too much information can be a bad thing. However, for virtual events, knowing exactly where to find what you need is invaluable. With the likelihood of events jam-packed with exhibitors and competing brands, giving attendees the critical information they need will help them navigate to where they want in an instant.

Event information is vital to the process. Consider informing visitors beforehand via email marketing or through social media.

Social Game

Social media has never been a more vital tool in garnering virtual attention. An event without any attention will just be a failure.

Go big and creative, put the spotlight on special guests and products and promote special offers. The more your audience knows, the more their interests will grow.

Attractive Visuals

Virtual events can be like the wild west. With the ability to navigate to just about anywhere you like, it can be daunting for both attendees as well as exhibitors looking to get the right attention. Providing a focal point where visitors can access all the information they need is just the first step.

Just like in real life, eye-catching designs can easily capture the attention of the audience, even those in the digital space. Exhibitors should try to dress up their stations, think bright logos, branding, and posters. Having a consistent and visually attractive theme will go a long way in establishing the brand in the mind of consumers.

Side Attractions

A virtual show is also more than just the booths themselves. There is a whole circus of activities that one can consider when trying to value add to the experience.

Use live streams and chat functions to enhance engagement. The same goes for educational webinars and workshops. Exclusivity can count for a lot, and special deals and offers found only at the show will drive interest and conversions through the roof.

You can even consider gamifying the entire event, sending visitors to all the booths on show. Rather than depending on passing interest, this provides more of an incentive to attendees to explore and can lead to unexpected conversions.

Data Extraction

When the event is said and done, it is not the end. Dissecting and analysing collected data will help everyone understand what works and what does not. Engagement data, leads generated, and reach of your event can set a benchmark.

The data compiled can also help with ad retargeting, while interest for the next event can be gauged via newsletters or email marketing signups. Exhibitor profiles can also remain live to help catch more leads, and keep the interest going till the next show.

Conclusion

Knowing is half the battle, and in helping exhibitors understand the merits of a virtual show, you are also paving the way for future partnerships.

A virtual show is nothing without your partners. By providing the right platforms, tools, and putting on a show perfect for the digital consumer, success is undoubtedly within grasp.

As technology continues to advance, companies have more and more effective ways to sell products and services. Virtual trade shows are a perfect example of an incredible opportunity that technology provides to introduce your company to a wider range of possible consumers. To ensure you can leverage the advantages that a virtual trade show offers over a traditional show, it is important you plan ahead and keep the following tips in mind.

What to Know Before Hosting a Virtual Trade Show

Know Your Product and Your Audience

Consider your online presence and the products you are presenting, in a similar way that you would for a booth at a fair. While you may offer many products, a consumer walking by briefly will only retain interest if their first glance has products or services that suit their wants and needs.

Before hosting a virtual trade show, it is important to know what products/services tend to be more used by customers. If you are trying to use a virtual trade show to bring in new customers, then it is crucial to understand who your target audience is, so you can display the products that will interest them.

Once you have an understanding of your current audience and/or your target audience, you can begin to map out the order at which other products will be presented.

Create a Marketing Plan

Unless you are presenting your company on a larger platform that will help advertise your products for you, you will need a marketing plan to bring in potential consumers. Unlike an in-person trade show, people aren’t just going to randomly end up on your website or the virtual trade show’s website. You will need to put in the work to direct them there.

To create a marketing plan, it is once again important to know your target audience. Do you provide an online product that everyone could purchase, or an in person service that only applies to a small region of the world? What is the age range of your target audience, what platforms do they use the most?

Once you have figured out your target demographic, create clear advertisements that will drive your target audience to your website at the time of the trade show.

Make it Simple and Offer Guidance

Virtual trade shows, as well as your website, need to be organized in a concise way so consumers can find the information, products and services they are looking for within a few clicks. Prepare a schedule with all of the events, and have that schedule visible as soon as people enter your website.

When creating your landing page, try to look at it from an outside perspective (even better, get someone not involved to try and figure out your website.) All of this testing should be done before the date of the virtual trade show, so you can be sure there will be minimal confusion the day of.

Overall, it is best to assume people are unfamiliar with virtual trade shows, your company and the products you offer. Offer clear guidance so their viewing can be as simple as possible.

Create Opportunities for Engagement

A traditional trade show is usually all about contact, conversation and engaging with people. A virtual trade show does not need to be any different. Offer every chance for engaging with your audience, including a live chat function and up to date, active contact information.

Another great way to drive engagement is to create some sort of a raffle or contest (just like you would find at a normal convention or trade show.) Ensure that engagement is useful and drives customers to your products and services.

Just like at a normal trade show, people will remember engaging with you. Creating opportunities for engagement will not only ensure your audience is not confused, but also keep your company at the forefront of their minds.

Keep Track of Data

The only way to know if your pre planning was all worth it, is to ensure you have ways to track data. Be sure to set this up prior to the virtual trade show. For example, putting up signs in your community will offer no data, but advertising on Facebook (or any other social media network) will provide you with exact numbers of how many people saw your page and what group of people was most interested.

The ability to collect data is one of the best features of an online trade show as you can learn who clicked on a page, visited a booth and was interested in a product. Collecting data during this trade show will allow you to understand how to make your next virtual trade show more effective.

Conclusion

Virtual trade shows are an excellent way to offer information about your product/service to a wider range of people. That being said, planning for a virtual trade show is different from a traditional one.

To take advantage of the full potential that a virtual trade show has to offer, it is important to keep certain factors in mind. If you follow the advice above and most of all, collect data that will allow you to adjust your virtual trade show to improve every time, you may actually stick to virtual over traditional trade shows permanently.