Creative Use Cases for Virtual Events
If you’ve attempted to host a traditional webinar lately, you likely didn’t attract the number of attendees that you hoped for. Many marketers agree that the webinar is dead. There’s simply not enough incentive to join a live broadcast when you know you’ll get the recording sent to you afterwards to watch on your own time (and at double speed).
That said, virtual events with well-planned engagement opportunities are thriving. Here are five of the most creative use cases we're seeing for virtual events.
Post-event follow up
Savvy marketers are hosting virtual tasting events the week after a big, in-person customer conference or industry event to recap the themes, discuss highlights and share unique perspectives. These events are great for anyone who couldn't make the event live due to travel concerns or conflicting commitments, or those who attended and want to participate in a discussion about what they learned. These events provide value, showcase the sponsor as a thought-leader and drive goodwill because, as we know, everyone loves getting wine in the mail.
Pre-event meet up
For many people, especially introverts, there’s nothing worse than showing up to an IRL event alone, without knowing other attendees. That’s why companies are starting to host pre-event virtual tasting events so attendees can get to know each other before the in-person event. These events are magic before sales-driven and more social get-togethers like sporting events, dinners and concerts. The bonus is that the virtual event drives more people to actually attend the in-person event because their peers are expecting to see them.
Customer-prospect get-togethers
Your best salespeople don’t even work for your company - - they pay for your services. That’s why sales and marketing teams are bringing customers and prospects together for virtual tasting events. One format that is proven to work well is a classic wine tasting event during the first hour and breakout rooms for Account Executives to host their top prospects and customer champions during the second hour. These casual and fun events get people to open up and when your customers start praising your solution without prodding, your prospects will take notice.
Problem-solving networking sessions
Who better to ask for advice or feedback than people that share the same role. That’s why many companies, such as Qualified, are inviting prospects with the same persona to attend virtual networking events around a specific topic. After a brief tasting discussion, executives moderate the discussion and encourage attendees to share how they approach challenges that the industry is struggling with. These events not only provide the opportunity to meet others in the same role, but they help shed light on new ways to approach common problems.
Celebrate the season
If the days seem to bleed into weeks, months and years, you’re not alone. That’s why marketers are finding great success hosting seasonal virtual events to mark holidays, such as Halloween, Oktoberfest, Thanksgiving—even Pi Day. A good theme, some related food and beverages and lots of puns make these events crowd pleasers. Holiday themes provide the opportunity to have some much needed FUN and levity, which we can all use these days.
Inspired by any of these ideas? Have some of your own? Reach out to purple cork to plan your next virtual tasting event.
