Virtual Event Platforms are solutions potentially combining hardware, software and service to bring one time events to distributed audiences. These capabilities may include the broadcast infrastructure to support live streams along with apps and tools to provide interactivity and means to keep audiences engaged during the event (e.g. live chat). Ancillary features include event registration tools or portal, pre-event marketing and outreach, lead capture for conferences, and a mobile-app to ...
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Virtual event platforms are solutions that combine different tools to organize, promote, manage and host interactive online events. Virtual event platforms provide a broadcast infrastructure while engaging virtual audiences as much as in-person events through interactive digital experiences.
To start, users must consider the event's content, financial goals, and attendee experience and choose a platform that supports all required needs. Audiences/attendees will vary and have their own unique needs, from fundraising to education/training, entertainment/shows, networking, or staying relevant. Virtual event platforms should allow users to webcast or stream live events, record events, produce interactive content, and track attendance and engagement data.
At their core, virtual event platforms allow businesses to host virtual events and webcast them out to an online audience. A primary goal that virtual event software helps accomplish is providing a stimulating and interactive digital experience for event participants.
Key features used to plan, promote, and host a virtual event include:
When planning a virtual event, determine if the event is public or private, for example: will it be hosted publically on a social media platform or will it be a closed ticketed event? Consider convenience for viewers and look for a virtual event platform that allows access to the event's content from any device.
Ask yourself the following questions before purchasing a virtual event platform:
Before deciding to invest in a virtual event platform, take inventory of existing suite-style platforms already in use. Some larger vendors may have virtual event platform features already included. Other types of software types to look at that may include these features are:
Many platforms will offer meeting and event-level pricing, ranging in price from features or event capacity limits. Starting prices for products like GoToWebinar and BlueJeans Virtual Events range from $50-$500 per month. Some larger platforms like Zoom Video Webinar have more expensive starting prices—$700 per year for 500 people. Price levels increase according to attendee count, for example, Zoom Video Webinar’s top tier hosts up to 50,000 attendees.
Take inventory of providers who offer free trials to better find services that meet all business and event needs. Some products that offer free trials are:
Products that offer advanced features designed for hosting large-scale events are more expensive; they can range from $400-$1,000 per month. Cost may vary depending on the number of attendees the product supports and the range of the virtual event.
The top rated virtual event platforms include: