Why Virtual Events Should Stick Around

My team and I have offered virtual presentations for many years. Prior to the healthcare crisis, many of our wonderful customers and partners preferred to have us speak at their in-person events rather than attempt online programming. But since many of them have been forced to cancel onsite events, they are now enjoying the benefits of marketing and hosting virtual events.

Here are just a few benefits hosting an online marketing event for professionals or prospective clients, residents or family caregivers provides:

1. There is a lot less work for the host. There are much fewer logistical hassles because you don’t have to arrange a conference room, provide refreshments or worry about parking! 
2. Different geographic locations and/or divisions of an organization can collaborate because people can join the event from anywhere across the country (or even in the world)!
3. You will reach potential customers who have never attended an in-person event. A family caregiver who is juggling a demanding career, kids and a frail aging parent may never have found the time to drive to your in-person support group. But if she can log on from the comfort of her home office, you now have her participation. The same goes for professional referral sources. Maybe prior to the healthcare crisis that hospital discharge planner would never have been able to attend your lunchtime CEU event because he “just couldn’t get out” at lunchtime. But now that he can join at his desk, he’s excited to earn credits and learn more about what services you may be able to offer his patients.

Personally I can’t wait until we start doing more in-person events again! But in the meantime, virtual events can help you get the word out about your services in a new, creative way. In fact, there are so many benefits, you may just want to keep them in the rotation once in-person events are again considered “safe.”