The days of jostling past conference delegates to get a seat at the front of a conference hall are over. Stephen Handisides looks at the benefits of virtual events for the aesthetics industry.

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Almost anyone you talk to will tell you they’ve had a recent physical conference or meeting cancelled. Now, more than ever, meeting organisers are scrambling to find an effective solution to train their teams, connect with their customers, or conduct their conferences and seminars.

A virtual event is a powerful marketing tool for any business, organisation or company because it provides the capability to share a common, socially engaging environment virtually, instead of in a physical location. What once was considered to be just another method via which an organisation could hold a social gathering, has, in fact, become mainstream overnight.

When compared to physical events, virtual events provide many more benefits in both functionality and profitability by reducing the costs associated with a physical meeting place, while increasing the engagement of the participants and the resulting ROI.

Our virtual event solutions are not only user-friendly and highly interactive but also boast many different features to engage the participant. According to Forbes, two-thirds of the $541-billion spent globally every year on business travel for meetings is being wasted. Nevermind the $154 billion being spent on employees attending meetings in the US alone. Furthermore, companies are endlessly searching for ways to reduce their carbon footprint that will coincide with their more ‘greener’ approach to conducting these events.

Interested? Read on…

For those of you contemplating having a virtual event, here are some of the most obvious benefits.

Advantages for the presenter/speaker

Flexibility as their physical presence is not required
Do not need to manage their schedule
Obtain instant participant feedback by using real-time interactive features such as polls and Qs&As
Elimination of travel and accommodation costs
Larger audience attendance

Advantages for the attendee

Elimination of travel and accommodation costs
Participate without disrupting their personal and work lives
Gives the feeling that they are attending a physical event
Can have their whole team attend the event
Chat with other attendees to share their views and opinions
Can revisit the event content on their own terms
Interact with booth representatives without feeling the pressure of buying anything

Advantages for the vendor/exhibitor

Elimination of travel and accommodation costs
Elimination for the need of booth materials and displays
Can reduce the number of employees needed to operate the booth
Effective lead generation tool by reducing cost per lead to maximise ROI
Can access data, grow e-mail lists, and nurture leads
Attendees can take their time and browse
Can use promotional videos to educate the attendee

Advantages for the event organiser

Experience is more engaging than webinars such as Zoom and Skype
Increases attendee participation by eliminating the need for travel and accommodations
Increases audience reach further, beyond specific regions
Effective lead generation tool by reducing cost per lead to maximise ROI
Elimination of print materials, badges, booths, audio-visual equipment, hospitality, staff, and much more
Complements existing marketing strategies
Elimination of event space rental fees
Elimination of hotel/conference hall staff and caterers
Elimination of booking live entertainment
Elimination of employee travel costs
Elimination of speakers’ hotel rooms
Elimination of staff or faculty dinners and entertainment
Can accommodate all of your employees and attendees regardless of where they are in the world
In-demand speakers will agree to speak for a fraction of the price at virtual events because of the convenience
Can run a longer event, accumulate more leads, and reach more people
Can opt for a hybrid event that combines a physical event with live streaming, multiple days, and a number of options to add value for physical attendees (all the while extending reach to virtual attendees)

In a virtual nutshell

When you really break it all down, the next logical step is to take your event virtual and explore the ways in which it can benefit your business.

Written by Stephen Handisides.

For more information on the Global Virtual Aesthetic Summit (GVAS) 2020 event in November visit www.myfacemybody.com/gvas

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Rochelle Friedman

Aesthetic Appointment | Website

Rochelle is the founder and driving force behind Aesthetic Appointment. With a passion for the aesthetics and pro-ageing industry in South Africa, she has been in the aesthetic publishing industry since 2012, dedicated to creating a valuable platform for insights and knowledge, bridging the gap between patients and doctors - delivering reliable, medical-based information. Rochelle firmly believes in the power of a good skincare regimen, especially when started at home, and is committed to educating consumers about the myriad of treatments, procedures, and products available to them.