Blog Articles

It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago most events were not fully capable of reaching large multinational audiences. Now, web conferencing and video broadcasting platforms, like ON24, Zoom and Microsoft Teams, have removed physical limitations from virtual events. Event planners and marketing teams are now able to attract audiences from across the globe, as long as they have a strong internet connection. However, inefficient language translation remains a stark barrier of access to events and creates extra friction. Without a common language or translation tool, many people feel excluded and will not attend the event.

Even though remote working has provided greater flexibility, it’s still almost impossible to gather all staff in one place at the same time.

The appetite for virtual events does not seem to slow down. According to marketwatch.com the year-over-year growth rate for the global virtual events market for 2021 is estimated at 40.37%" by the end of 2025.

And even as in-person events slowly begin to return, offering two entry points - a virtual experience and a on-site experience - is increasingly becoming an added value many event organisers don't want to miss out on. The undisputed, yet largely untapped potential of hybrid events means organisers will continue to look for best-of-breed cloud-based event technology to deliver stunning event experiences to remote attendees beyond the pandemic.

What does it mean to lead global business? Typically you’ll be facing challenges that companies with a smaller footprint don’t even know exist. Thankfully, you’re also in line to reap the benefits that accompany solving these challenges.

So, what must global companies overcome to achieve consistent success? Let’s examine 4 common challenges of managing a multinational workforce and client base, along with their solutions.

Conferences and events are integral parts of doing business in today's world. Even with the rise of technologies that make virtual gatherings possible, we all feel a longing for a good, old-fashioned face-to-face get-together where we can connect with our peers, enjoy great content.

The shift toward digital experiences and virtual events has created an opportunity for businesses to expand into new markets and reach audiences at scale. While expansion is key to business growth, it’s a challenging process that requires localising your content to fit with different multinational audiences.

Hybrid events blend the best qualities of virtual event platforms with traditional venue-based events — literally offering the best of both worlds. They’re increasingly popular, and work well when you’re programming topics and activities that can be communicated to both physical and online audiences.

One of the greatest benefits of hybrid events is how much easier it is for organisers to ensure their event is inclusive and accessible. Here’s why you can no longer afford to ignore event inclusivity, and how you can lower barriers to access with your next hybrid event.

Consumers have recently undergone a dramatic shift in expectations. Now more and more consumers expect top digital experiences. Organisations are scrambling to update their offerings and the events industry is no different. But as McKinsey research shows, companies only have a short transition period before we settle into the “new normal.”

So what will online events look like under the “new normal?” In his new book, Reinventing Live, entrepreneur and events expert Marco Giberti predicts that online events will become significantly more sophisticated. He writes that “Post-Covid virtual events and webinars will be unrecognizable. It will be like comparing traditional TV with streaming.”

Soon, planners will no longer be able to get away with unprofessional events that “look like a bad video call.” Along with these shifts in customer expectations, event planners face another challenge that impacts event success: Zoom fatigue.

With the rise of remote working, viewers are spending more and more time in online meetings. This can be exhausting and can impact your audience’s drive to attend virtual events. After a long day at work, who wants to spend more time in front of their laptop?

To adapt to the new normal and overcome Zoom fatigue, event planners need to create engaging virtual experiences that win viewer attention. Drawing on some of the best recent online events, we’ve put together six key steps to improving your online events. Let’s dive in.

Webinars have been around for decades and, just like almost anything that’s been around this long, they have evolved. Over the past years, webinars have seen a huge uptick and continue to gain popularity.