The Benefits of running a virtual fair

During the last year and a half, virtual events became ubiquitous in the higher education landscape. Even as more and more students safely return to campus, there is still a growing need for a virtual event solution for fairs. 

College and career fairs are being held virtually more so now than ever before. There is a need for attendees to find a solution that offers flexibility and convenience that an in-person event can’t match. 

However, many people are still unsure about the benefits of a virtual fair. There are pros and cons to consider before investing in a virtual event platform and running a fair for your own organization. Let’s first define a virtual fair . ‍

What is a virtual fair? 

Virtual fairs are typically multi-session online events that often feature webinars, live interactions,meetings, and the ability to be one or more days. Organizations can run many different types of events virtually both internally with their teams and externally with a true attendee-exhibitor experience. 

Organizations and institutions  host career fairs, college fairs, conferences, live shows, interviews, training courses, classes, and a lot more during a virtual event. With a lower cost and a larger reach than in-person events, virtual and hybrid fairs are a great solution for engaging your audience and connecting with prospective students or employees. 

‍Benefit 1: Easy to Set Up 

Without a need for a physical booth and clunky sign-up forms, virtual fairs allow your team to focus on providing great content. It becomes a lot easier to get up and running instead of spending time and resources setting up for a physical event. 

‍Benefit 2: Lower Cost

In-person fairs often come with a hefty price tag. They usually require travel, booth and venue rental, and a host of other factors that can break the bank. Virtual fair costs can vary depending on a number of factors, but without the need for a physical booth, it’s usually much more cost-efficient. ‍

Benefit 3: Mobile Optimized

Attendees all over the world are using their phones to participate in zoom meetings, communicate with their classmates, and now join virtual events. In fact, 70% of attendees joining a  a virtual event through VisitDays use a mobile device. This means attendees expect to be able to join a virtual event anytime, anywhere, and at their own discretion.‍

Benefit 4: Using virtual as a lead in to in-person experiences 

Virtual fairs are great for a lot of reasons. They are cost efficient, can offer a wider reach for attendees, and are tech-forward. They are also helpful in leading your prospects into your in-person events. Think of a virtual fair as another arm to reach potential students and employees in the hopes that you’ll meet them in person and continue to build a great relationship.  Virtual fairs can become a great network for prospects to learn more about your institution that could eventually turn into an in-person meeting or event. 

As we transition into the “next normal”, virtual fairs will still be a large part of the event landscape. So if you’re thinking of hosting your own virtual event or fair, make sure to consider these pros and cons. We believe the benefits of virtual outweigh the negatives, so think about choosing a platform that will meet your needs. 

If you’re interested in trying VisitDays, an all-in-one virtual event platform, click here to schedule a demo or sign up for a free trial!

Additionally, you can click here to see some of the many use-cases and customer stories from all of our amazing customers.