Virtual conferences are all the rage these days. Since March, major conferences have been canceled across the United States. Large conferences that were never intended to be held remotely have gone virtual. You’re probably getting ads to attend different virtual conferences all the time now! But how do you know if it will be worth the money to attend? A national conference that is normally held in person will be very different than one that is held virtually. When deciding which conferences to attend this year, you’ll probably consider how much it will cost you to attend compared to the value you’ll receive. Will the conference you normally attend in person be worth attending virtually? While I don’t have a crystal ball to give you all the answers (although it would be great if I did), I’ve included some tips to consider when you decide to attend, plus tips on how to get the most out of the conference when you attend!
Is the conference worth the money?
This is the million dollar question everyone is asking right now. If the conference is free, then you should absolutely attend if money is not a factor and you are interested in the content. If it’s not free, you’ll need to determine if the agenda/content will be of value to you. There are some key questions you can ask yourself to help determine this:
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Is this a conference that is normally held in person? If so, compare the schedule to last year. Is it just as meaty or does it seem a little limp?
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When you look at the agenda, do you immediately find yourself choosing the sessions you want to attend? Do several of the themes appeal to you?
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Is the content related to your business? Do you see value in the topics they will present that you can reapply in your company?
Asking yourself these key questions will guide you in the right direction.
Also, as you discuss attending a virtual conference, be sure to Avoid the behavior that a virtual conference is second best to a face-to-face one.. If the content is what you are looking for, the way you receive that information is the only thing that is different. Also, if it’s a conference that’s typically held in person and it’s valuable, the virtual conference is likely to be just as beneficial if it covers topics that interest you. The organizations that are taking the time to transform the conference into a virtual event will do everything they can to make it great.
What are you missing from an in-person conference?
This is the next question you want to ask yourself. The main component you’re missing is the networking aspect.. When you attend conferences, one of the benefits is being able to mingle and meet other people doing the same thing as you. It’s very difficult to incorporate this into a virtual event, but conferences still host virtual happy hours, virtual networking sessions, chat sessions, and more to interact with other attendees. While this isn’t the same as in-person networking, it shouldn’t be a major factor for you not to attend a virtual conference, as it’s a universal limitation on all conferences right now. If networking is important to you, you can focus on conferences that will hold virtual networking sessions.
In addition to the networking component, ask yourself if there’s anything else missing from the conference you normally have in person. Evaluate what is missing and decide if it is a significant factor preventing you from attending the conference virtually.
The benefits
Now let’s dive into some of the key benefits of a virtual conference.
flexibility
Virtual conferences give you the flexibility to get on and off. You can choose which sessions are most important to attend. This allows you to take care of business while still being able to attend the parts of the conference in which you want to participate.
save time and money
The good thing about not having to attend a conference in person is the time and money you’ll save. You’ll save time on travel and save money in many different areas, including airfare, hotel rooms, food, drinks, attendee registration, and more. Registration is also cheaper for a virtual conference, so you’ll also save money on the registration fee. Also, you might consider signing up just a few employees for a virtual conference instead of the usual number you would bring with you. If you only registered a few employees, those who attend can take notes and present to the team on the key points of the conference.
Presentations are being recorded
If you miss a session or want to revisit one you attended, most virtual conferences record the sessions and send them to attendees later. This is a benefit that you would not have at an in-person conference. If there’s a session you can’t do live, you’ll still be able to watch it later.
education and inspiration
For starters, let’s not forget the main reason we attend conferences. Although held virtually, the goal of all conferences remains the same: to be educational and inspiring. Everyone always feels good after attending a conference. You gain new industry insights that you can bring back to your business. You get inspired by listening to motivational speakers and industry talk experts. All of this helps you bring new ideas and best practices to your business. Conferences is it so beneficial. Otherwise they would not exist. By attending a conference virtually, you won’t miss out on these key experiences.
Tips when attending a virtual conference
Don’t multitask
If you decide to attend a virtual conference, be sure to make the most of it and fully participate. Often times, when you’re in a webinar, it’s easy to get sidetracked by doing another task. Avoid multitasking. You are attending the conference for a reason, not to half listen. To avoid distractions, close your email and all communications. I’d even put your phone to the side so you’re not distracted by a text or phone call. Going offline during the sessions you attend is the only way to ensure that you’ll be fully involved with the conference and get the most out of it.
Interact with the speaker and attendees
If you can ask questions during the session, don’t hold back. Ask questions as if you were there during an in-person presentation. In addition, participate in networking and chat sessions with other attendees. While it’s not the same as in person, it’s a great way to share best practices and meet others in the industry. You’ll get more out of the conference, the more involved you are.
Login 10 minutes before
Everyone uses a different webinar platform these days and has different features on or off. Be sure to log in 10 minutes early to set up the technology so you don’t miss the beginning of the presentation. Sometimes you need to download the webinar platform to your computer, other times it can be confusing to get the audio/visual setup. To avoid confusion and stress, log in early to ensure you’re ready before the presentation.
Ready to tackle your next virtual conference?
We go over the key questions to ask when deciding to attend a virtual conference. We also review the benefits and tips during attendance. So should you attend the next virtual conference? The answer is in your hands, but I hope this is at least a helpful guide to get you started. What we do know is that virtual conferences will replace all in-person conferences for the foreseeable future. Chances are you’ll attend at least a couple of virtual conferences next year, but which ones are up to you.