Blog Posts – vFairs.com https://www.vfairs.com Virtual Events Platform – Host amazing online events Wed, 21 Aug 2024 10:46:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://www.vfairs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cropped-cropped-favicon-1-min-1-150x150.png Blog Posts – vFairs.com https://www.vfairs.com 32 32 A Comprehensive Overview of Hosting Successful Luncheon Events https://www.vfairs.com/blog/luncheon-event/ Wed, 21 Aug 2024 10:46:34 +0000 https://www.vfairs.com/?p=37981 Luncheon events are a great way to bring people together over a shared meal and enjoyable experience. They can be held for various reasons, such as corporate meetings, fundraisers, bridal or baby showers, or any other event that calls for a daytime gathering.

Luncheon events are incredibly versatile and can range from casual gatherings to highly formal affairs. For example, you might host a simple office luncheon, or you could plan something as formal as the annual White House luncheon, which has been a tradition since 1897. Other examples of formal luncheons include the prestigious Pulitzer Prize luncheon at Columbia University or the Oscar-nominees luncheon, which hosted 150 nominees in 2012.

Regardless of the type of luncheon you’re planning, successful execution requires careful attention to detail. As an event planner, your goal is to ensure that guests have a great time and leave with a positive impression, whether the event is casual or steeped in tradition.

What is a Luncheon Party and Why Should You Host One?

A luncheon is a mid-day meal typically hosted for business or social purposes. It can be either a formal or informal event, depending on the occasion and the host’s preferences. Unlike formal dinners, luncheons have a more casual, relaxed vibe and often feature lighter meals and desserts. 

It’s also important to note that while the terms luncheon vs lunch are often used interchangeably, a luncheon typically refers to a more organized and event-driven meal, often with a specific purpose or theme. Lunch is generally more informal and can be a simple, everyday meal.

Here are some compelling reasons why hosting a lunch event is beneficial:

Networking Opportunities

Luncheon Events

 Luncheon events provide a friendly and easygoing environment, making them ideal for socializing and connecting with others. Guests can enjoy a variety of flavors without feeling overly stuffed, facilitating better conversations and connections.

Cost-Effectiveness

Compared to large evening events like galas and conferences, luncheon events are more budget-friendly. The costs for food and beverages are generally lower, making luncheons an economical option for event hosts.

Fundraising Potential

Nonprofits often use luncheon events for fundraising opportunities. Ticket sales or auctions at these events can help raise funds for specific causes or purposes, allowing attendees to contribute generously while enjoying a pleasant meal. 

Effective nonprofit event planning ensures these luncheons are well-organized and impactful, maximizing both attendance and contributions. If you decide to raise funds by hosting the event virtually, it is extremely beneficial for you non-profit.

You can  reach a wider audience, eliminating geographical barriers and reducing event costs. Additionally, virtual events can provide a flexible and convenient platform for donors to contribute, increasing overall participation and engagement. Here are a couple of virtual fundraising ideas that you can implement.

Types of Luncheon Entertainment Ideas

Luncheon events can take many forms, depending on their goals, audience, and format. Here are some popular luncheon program examples to explore:

1. Networking Luncheon

These luncheons, typically hosted by businesses or professional groups, provide an opportunity for attendees to connect, discuss business strategies, and share ideas. Including icebreakers or guest speakers who offer networking tips can enhance the experience.

2. Fundraising Luncheon

Charitable organizations often organize fundraising luncheons to support their causes. Activities like silent auctions or raffles can boost contributions and keep participants engaged.

3. Corporate Luncheon

To show appreciation for employees’ efforts, companies might host corporate luncheons. These events often feature keynote speakers, award presentations, recognition speeches, and team-building exercises to foster a positive work environment.

4. Professional Association Luncheon

Professional associations frequently hold luncheons for their members, offering guest speakers, workshops, or panels on industry-specific topics. These events provide valuable learning opportunities about the latest trends and best practices in the field.

5. Product Launch Luncheon

When launching new products or services, companies may organize luncheons to introduce these innovations to clients, customers, and the media. Product demonstrations, tastings, or hands-on experiences allow attendees to engage directly with the new offerings. These events also provide excellent networking opportunities with industry influencers.

6. Educational Luncheon

Schools, colleges, and educational institutions might host educational luncheons to discuss new programs, policies, or achievements. These events can include presentations by educators, discussions on educational trends, and recognition of student or faculty accomplishments.

7. Client Appreciation Luncheon

Businesses can organize luncheons to show appreciation to their clients for their support. These events can include personalized acknowledgments, exclusive previews of upcoming products, or special offers as a token of gratitude.

8. Awards Luncheon

An awards luncheon is designed to recognize and celebrate achievements within a company or organization. These events typically include the presentation of awards, speeches, and often a formal meal, making it a prestigious occasion for attendees.

9. Team-Building Luncheon

To strengthen team dynamics and morale, organizations can host team-building luncheons. These events might include interactive games, workshops, or activities designed to improve collaboration and communication among team members.

10. Community Luncheon

Local community groups or municipal bodies may organize community luncheons to discuss local issues, celebrate community achievements, or simply foster a sense of belonging among residents. These events often feature speeches from community leaders and opportunities for attendees to voice their opinions. 

These community event ideas for nonprofit organizations can be integrated into these luncheons, enhancing their purpose and impact.

Serving Styles for Your Luncheon Event

When planning a luncheon event, it’s crucial to carefully select the food and drink options. Here are some ideas to consider:

Buffet

A buffet-style lunch event allows guests to serve themselves from a variety of dishes. This option is ideal for larger gatherings, providing flexibility and a range of choices to satisfy different tastes.

Plated Meal

For a more formal luncheon, consider a plated meal where guests select from a pre-set menu. This approach adds an elegant touch and ensures a structured dining experience, fitting well with a formal luncheon agenda.

Boxed Lunches

Boxed lunches are perfect for lunch events where guests might need to take their meal with them, such as conferences or seminars. They are convenient and can be tailored to individual preferences.

Dessert Bar

A dessert bar offers an assortment of sweet treats for guests to choose from. This is an excellent idea for bridal or baby showers, adding a delightful end to the meal and serving as a fun luncheon entertainment idea.

Signature Drink

Offering a signature cocktail or mocktail can add a unique and special touch to your luncheon program. It enhances the event’s theme and provides a memorable experience for the guests.

Tips for Hosting a Luncheon Party

Here are some tips on how to host proper lunch and make your event a hit:

Plan in Advance

Start your planning process early. Identify the event’s purpose, the number of attendees, and the outcomes you hope to achieve. Create a detailed timeline, delegate tasks, and establish a budget. Proper organization will help your luncheon party run smoothly.

Select the Right Venue

Choose a venue that fits the size and purpose of your luncheon event. Ensure there are enough seats for everyone, including accommodations for guests with mobility issues. Arrange tables to encourage interaction and provide enough space for easy movement. Consider adding decorations, music, or other entertainment to make your guests feel at ease.

Design the Menu Thoughtfully

Take into account your guests’ dietary needs, preferences, and cultural backgrounds when planning the menu. Provide a variety of options, such as a buffet with different dishes, finger foods, and dessert stations. 

This approach caters to diverse tastes and ensures everyone finds something they enjoy. Include visually appealing presentations to enhance the dining experience.

Implement Sustainable Practices

Adopt sustainable practices for your luncheon event. Use reusable or compostable serving and packaging materials to reduce waste. Choose locally sourced or organic food to minimize environmental impact. Utilize energy-efficient lighting and equipment to conserve energy.

Consider Timing

When scheduling your lunch event, especially for corporate settings, consider the availability and preferences of your attendees. Choose a date and time that accommodates most schedules, taking into account work commitments and time zones. Communicate the event details well in advance to ensure maximum participation.

Promote the Event

Use a mix of digital and personal communication methods to promote your luncheon party. Create engaging content for social media, highlighting key details and special features of the event. Utilize event management tools for registration and ticketing to streamline the RSVP process and gather valuable data.

Send Invitations Early

Dispatch invitations well ahead of the event to give guests ample time to RSVP and plan their schedules. Include all essential details, such as the date, time, location, RSVP deadline, guest list, and any special instructions. Mention the dress code to ensure guests come prepared.

Create a Welcoming Atmosphere

Focus on creating a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for your luncheon event. Align your decor and ambiance with the event’s theme and style. For formal events, use elegant decor and lighting. For casual gatherings, incorporate natural elements and bright colors. Use lighting to set the mood, and add fresh flowers for a touch of elegance. Choose background music that complements the event and enhances the overall experience.

Ensure Friendly Staff

Hire staff who are friendly, approachable, and attentive to guests’ needs. A warm greeting and helpful demeanor can make attendees feel valued and welcome.

Have a Clear Program or Agenda

Establish a clear luncheon agenda to keep the event organized and inform guests of what to expect. This helps manage the flow of the event and ensures everything runs smoothly.

Facilitate Networking

Encourage networking by providing name badges and organizing structured networking sessions. Utilize networking apps to help attendees connect before, during, and after the event. These strategies foster meaningful interactions and collaborations.

Provide Adequate Staffing

Ensure there are enough staff members to handle setup, food preparation, serving, and logistical management. Adequate staffing ensures the event runs smoothly and any issues are promptly addressed.

Offer Engaging Activities

Incorporate activities that will keep guests entertained and engaged. Consider short presentations or speeches relevant to the event’s theme. Organize trivia games or quizzes to encourage interaction and fun.

Follow Up After the Event

Thank your guests for attending before the event concludes. You can do this with a closing speech, thank-you announcement, or personal goodbyes. After the event, send follow-up emails or thank-you notes to express gratitude and gather feedback. This shows your appreciation and helps improve future events.

Host a Perfect Luncheon Event with vFairs

Use vFairs to host your luncheon event and ensure a seamless and professional experience. vFairs’ event management software offers comprehensive tools for organizing and executing virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. 

With features like custom event websites, online registration, live chat, and networking capabilities, our event management software for nonprofits simplifies the planning process and enhances attendee engagement. Their platform also supports fundraising through integrated donation options and gamification, making it ideal for nonprofit organizations aiming to maximize their impact and reach a wider audience.

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10 AI Conferences You Need to Attend in 2024 https://www.vfairs.com/blog/ai-conferences/ Mon, 19 Aug 2024 15:42:12 +0000 https://www.vfairs.com/?p=37928 AI has transformed into a trillion-dollar industry and everyone wants a piece of the pie. A simple way to learn about AI and its potential to transform your field is by attending AI conferences. Below, we have compiled a list of the top AI conferences in 2024.

These conferences offer more than just theoretical knowledge. They provide hands-on workshops, technical sessions, opportunities to interact with industry experts, and insights into the latest developments in machine learning, deep learning, and other AI subfields. 

Let’s now explore the best AI conference 2024.

Upcoming AI Conference in 2024

Upcoming AI Conference in 2024

1. Ai4 2024

Upcoming AI Conference in 2024
source: AI4 conference home page

Date: August 12-14, 2024. 

Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, US. 

About the AI Conference

The Ai4 conference, established in 2018, is the epicenter of the global AI ecosystem. Besides learning about AI, you can get to network with industry leaders and experience the the vibrant city of Las Vegas.

Why You Should Attend

The Ai4 2024 conference will feature over 350 speakers, including top industry AI speakers, and expects 4,500 attendees from more than 75 countries.

In addition to utilizing private networking applications, the event is capitalizing on event tech, including recorded event sessions post-event, to facilitate access to content for attendees post-event.

About Tickets

One of the best AI events 2024, Ai4, costs around  $1,695. For more information, click here

2. The AI Conference

Date: September 10-11, 2024

Venue: The Embarcadero, San Francisco

About the AI Conference

The AI Conference in San Francisco is among AI enthusiasts’ most highly anticipated events. 

The AI Conference is an unprecedented meeting of minds at The AI Conference 2024! This event will feature an exclusive Fireside Chat with two luminaries in the field of artificial intelligence: Robert Nishihara, Co-founder of Anyscale, and Mark Chen, Head of Frontiers Research at OpenAI.

Why You Should Attend

The AI conferences has it all. It comprises three main tracks:

  • Builders Track: For AI developers, engineers, and founders working on AI product development.
  • Technical Track: Geared towards engineers, researchers, and those interested in advanced algorithms and optimization techniques.
  • Strategy Track: This track is designed for leaders, strategists, and decision-makers, and it focuses on the ethical implementation of AI, AI promotion, and its economic and societal impacts.

About Tickets

The event takes full advantage of online registration with ticketing and tiered pricing, offering early bird discounts, VIP access, and more.

The AI Conference offers the following ticket types:

  • General Admission: $1,399
  • Team Tickets: $1,139
  • Late Bird: $1,899

You can learn more about the AI Conference here

3. AI For Defence Summit

Date: September 11-12, 2024

Venue: Washington DC, United States

Image reference for AI for Defence Summit
source: www.vecteezy.com

About the AI Conference 

The 3rd Annual AI for Defence Summit is a highly anticipated two-day event that will unite members of the Department of Defence’s military services, the federal government, the IC industry, and academia.

Why You Should Attend

At the AI Conference, the focus will be on exploring artificial intelligence’s revolutionary role in advancing defense capabilities, gaining a decision advantage, accelerating digital transformation, and enhancing national security.

About Tickets

Regarding ticketing, the summit offers the following types of tickets:

  • Industry/Contractor for Two-Day Summit – $1,299 (Save $200 on an early bird discount with booking and payment before August 16, 2024)
  • Nonprofits, Academia FFRDCs, and Foreign Military (with proper ID and associated email) for Two-Day Summit – $790 (Save $100 on early bird discount with booking and payment before August 16, 2024)
  • Active-Duty US Military and Government Employees (with proper ID and associated email) for Two-Day Summit (Pre-Registration) – FREE

You can learn more about the event and ticketing from here.

4. Dreamforce

Date: September 17-29, 2024 

Venue: CA at Moscone Center, SanFrancisco

About the AI Conference

Dreamforce is one of the largest AI conferences in 2024. This year’s event will focus on how companies can become an AI Enterprise.. 

Why You Should Attend

The three-day conference will bring the brightest minds in the industry together to learn everything possible about AI for business and beyond.

About Tickets

Currently, the standard ticket price for the AI conference is $1,999.

You can learn more about the ticket types and the conference here

5. PyTorch

PyTorch AI Conference
Source: Pytorch

Date: September 18-19, 2024

Venue: CA, San Francisco

About the AI Conference

PyTorch is a cutting-edge AI conference known for its open-source and machine-learning framework.

Why You Should Attend

The two-day conference will unite top researchers, developers, and academic communities to promote collaboration and advance end-to-end machine learning technology.

In addition to keynote sessions and event swag, the AI Conference has arranged breakout sessions for attendees to network and connect to maximize new opportunities.

In 2024, Dreamforce will host one of the best generative AI conferences. It will focus on the intersection of open-source generative AI and machine learning.

About Tickets

The AI conference offers the following ticket categories:

For Attendees:

  • Standard ticket price: $699
  • Late pricing: $849

For Academics:

  • Standard pricing: $249
  • Late pricing: $249

You can learn more about the event and pricing over here

6. Ray Summit

Date: September 20 – October 2, 2024

Venue: Marriott Marquis, San Francisco

About the AI Conference

Ray Summit claims to be one of the world’s largest AI conferences. The highly anticipated open-AI conference offers in-person training sessions to enhance your skills in GenAI and LLMs.

Why You Should Attend

It is a gathering for open-source AI infrastructure leaders to learn from and share their experiences. The conference offers many networking opportunities and ways to explore cutting-edge AI tech.

In addition to hands-on expert-led workshops, the AI conference provides a multitude of networking opportunities to facilitate interaction with the foremost innovators in the AI industry.

About Tickets

This unique artificial intelligence event has yet to disclose its pricing. However, you can create an account and log in to the event to learn more about it. Here is the link

7. AI & Big Data Expo

Date: October 1-2, 2024

Venue: RAI, Amsterdam

About the AI Conference 

The AI & Big Data Expo is considered one of the top AI conferences in 2024. This highly anticipated event will cover data monetization, AI-driven personalization, enterprise adoption of AI, and more.

Why You Should Attend

The two-day event will feature a panel discussion with industry experts, workshops, live demonstrations, solution-based case studies, and numerous networking opportunities.

The AI & Big Data Expo is set to unite renowned C-suite executives and speakers from top international enterprises. The conference promises valuable networking opportunities with business and strategy leaders as well as data and engineering experts.

About Tickets

The AI conference offers a two-day gold pass for $710 and an ultimate pass for $899, including free entry to the content library hub and an expo pass. For more information about the event, you can visit the official website.

8. World Summit AI

WordlSummitAI
source: WorldSummitAI

Date: October 9-10, 2024. 

Venue: Taets Art & Event Park, Amsterdam

About the AI Conference

The World Summit AI conference, established in 2017, is a global AI conference. 

It will cover a wide range of industry topics, ensuring that there’s something for everyone and launching the launchpad for the latest AI products and services. 

Why You Should Attend

This year, AI summit insiders are covering stories about the impact of Human AI convergences, cybernetics, and AI’s inlay on equity, employment, and the economy. 

With the best brains of AI on the speaker’s panel, the conference harnesses event tech through a dedicated event networking app, on-demand content, and 24/7 customer support, ensuring a seamless attendee experience.

About Tickets

  • Early bird onsite experience – vip package – €1,899 + local taxes
  • Early bird onsite experience – expo and content – €1,499 + local taxes
  • Early bird onsite experience – expo only – €919 + local taxes
  • Early bird onsite experience – vendor and consultant – €2,599

These prices are subject to increase on September 27. For booking and additional details, please visit the event’s official website.

9. Big Data Conference Europe

Date: November 19-22, 2024

Venue: Hybrid – Vilnius, Lithuania, and available online.

About the AI Conference

The conference includes an in-person workshop on the first day and a hybrid teleconference over the next three days. 

Why You Should Attend

The agenda features topics in AI, such as ChatGPT, deep learning, and predictive analytics. Attendees from all backgrounds, inside and outside Europe, participate in this event.

Apart from the networking opportunities at the AI conference, there are event gamifications, a workshop, and a cinematic-style venue with comfortable seating.

About Tickets

  • Four-day full ticket – €950
  • Three-day onsite ticket – €730
  • Three-day online ticket- €730

You can find more information about the event and its ticket prices on their website. Click here

10. AI World Congress 2024

Date: November, 27-28, 2024

Venue: Kensington Conference and Events Centre, London

About the AI Conference

The AI World Congress 2024 will be a two-day AI seminar. This AI conference features the top industry experts, researchers, and thought leaders who are actively shaping the future of artificial intelligence. 

Why You Should Attend

The AI Conference includes sessions covering topics such as AI governance, Larger Language Models (LLMs), applications of AI and ML, and more.

The conference is finalizing the advanced technology it will use to ensure an exceptional event experience. We can confirm that the AI conference will feature highly anticipated keynote speaker sessions and much more.

About Tickets

The AI conference offers the following ticket types and prices:

– Early Bird: £495

– VIP Pass: £695

– Full Price: £2,250

You can get more information about the AI conference here

Learn, Network, and Implement at AI Conferences

AI conferences offer more than just an opportunity to learn about the future of AI. These AI networking events provide valuable networking opportunities, allowing you to connect with some of the brightest minds in the industry.

These conferences are working with top event management companies to ensure the use of cutting-edge event technology, providing attendees with an exceptional experience. Many event technology partners already incorporate AI into their event tech, such as vFairs with AI-powered event tools.

So, take advantage of this opportunity to immerse yourself in AI and learn about AI in events, science, and other sectors at some of the best artificial intelligence conferences in 2024.

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5 Best Abstract Management Software in 2024 https://www.vfairs.com/blog/best-abstract-management-software/ Thu, 25 Jul 2024 06:49:00 +0000 https://www.vfairs.com/?p=37731 In this article, we will introduce you to what we consider to be the six best abstract management software solutions available, and help you choose the best option.

Managing a conference involves numerous tasks, from logistics coordination to attendee engagement. One of the most complex and time-consuming aspects of event planning is handling speakers or abstracts.

Online abstract management software provides a platform for event organizers to plan and manage the submission, peer review, and publication of work submitted for presentation at conferences. 

The best abstract management software centralize the entire abstract management process and streamline conference management, saving time and eliminating the common frustrations of manual management, such as using spreadsheets.

Review of the Best Abstract Management Software

1. vFairs

Revolutionize your call for papers process with the best abstract management software. Designed to streamline submissions and facilitate both single and double-blind peer reviews, our platform helps boost the number of submissions and gives you more control over the conference content.

Our all-in-one abstract management system guides you through every step, from issuing the call for papers to publishing them at your event. By eliminating the need for third-party tools, our platform makes the process simpler, faster, and more convenient. Manage submissions, oversee reviewers, and coordinate your entire conference seamlessly within one integrated system.

The abstract review and management process with vFairs brings you closer to hosting a successful conference whether it’s a virtual conference, hybrid or on-site. 

Let’s find out how.

Streamlined Abstract Submission

Effortlessly collect more abstracts by eliminating the hassle from your call for papers process. Create a highly customizable abstract submission form with the best abstract management software that allows authors to easily upload presentations, abstracts, videos, and other media, simplifying the entire submission process.

Efficient Reviewer Assignment

Manage and review assignments through a single dashboard. Once submissions are collected, easily assign multiple reviewers to each paper and manage all peers and submissions from the backend, ensuring an organized and streamlined review process.

Transparent Review Process

Ensure a clear and transparent review process with our online abstract management software, which supports both single and double-blinded peer reviews. You have control over what author information is visible to reviewers, making the process fair and unbiased.

Curated Event Content

Maintain complete control over the topics and quality of content at your conference by only including accepted submissions in your event agenda. This ensures that the showcased content aligns with your standards and objectives.

Enhanced User Experience

Improve user experience by effortlessly assigning abstracts to reviewers based on their expertise and managing all users through the backend. Simplify the login process with direct login links, allowing reviewers to quickly access their assigned submissions.

Consistent Communication

Keep all participants informed with automated email notifications that update authors and reviewers on the status of their applications and submissions. Emails are automatically sent upon successful submission, acceptance, or rejection of abstracts, ensuring everyone stays in the loop.

Pros

“vFairs did a nice job replicating the in person conference experience, which allowed us to connect about 300 people from over 20 countries. Farah was the most responsive partner I have ever worked with! She responds fast and her customer service is unmatched!! – Ann C., Enterprise

“The project management was superb, from guidance and examples to help in planning and design to very timely replies regardless of time of day/week day or weekend. Never failed to find a solution to any of our requests and always professional and polite. Have worked with them on four online events now and always felt absolutely supported and confident in their management through to delivery.” – Jo J. , Chief Executive Officer

Cons

“There were no major downsides to using vFairs. The price was very fair, the support was good, and my few recommendations after the event were noted and already in their queue for improvement based on other customers’ feedback.” – Corbin S. Chief Administrative Officer

2. Cvent

Second on our list of the best abstract management software is Cvent, an event management software that provides an end-to-end solution for sourcing and managing conference content. It starts with the peer-review process and ends with the publishing of accepted submissions and the creation of a conference agenda.

Cvent’s abstract management system allows organizers to customize the data collection process, setting up submission forms to collect specific information and file types. The platform also offers email automation options for managing invitations, confirmations, alerts, and reminders. Reviewers can access the Cvent portal to manage submissions, rate them, and sort content by scores, votes, and comments. 

Cvent is expensive, with prices reportedly more than three times higher than other platforms. User reviews indicate that Cvent lacks an intuitive user interface and user-friendly experience.

Customizable Abstract Submission Software

The software lets you customize the look and feel of your submission forms. You can also create tailored forms with specific fields to gather content submissions and speaker information. Additionally, automate emails for invitations, confirmations, reminders, and alerts.

Efficient Review Coordination

Once submissions are collected, Cvent abstract software makes it easy to identify reviewers and assign them to specific tracks or topics. Assign speaker submissions to the appropriate reviewers based on the topic, grant reviewers access to the portal to provide ratings and notes on submissions, and track scores, votes, and comments in real time.

Streamlined Decision-Making

Based on reviewer scores, votes, and comments, make your final selections by easily approving or declining submissions. Once decisions are made, send automated email notifications to authors to inform them of the outcomes.

Pros

“Cvent is a great tool our company uses to manage our events from abstract submission to registration. I love how we can do everything in one platform without worry of data crossover. One piece I particularly love about Cvent is how efficient it makes scheduling sessions and reaching out to speakers. The Speaker Resource Center allows our speakers to easily submit their headshots, bios, and even their presentation which  means these things don’t get lost in email.” – Alexandria Y.,Social Media Brand Manager

Cons

“All the different steps. It is hard to set up an event or an abstract. There are many parts (like trying to send an invitation as another person or editing the registration form). I think it is silly that the only way to make an event private is to go through a million different steps in the registration form when you see the status of the event on the main page (yet you can’t change it).” – Helen W. , Senior Program Associate

3. Whova 

Whova is an event management platform designed to streamline the call-for-speakers and abstract for event management system processes. It aims to eliminate the stress of manually collecting data through forms, tracking spreadsheets, and managing email chains by integrating these tasks into a single, user-friendly system.

Whova’s interface simplifies the entire submission and review process. Quick form setup and ready-to-use applications ensure a hassle-free experience for both organizers and speakers. The platform also facilitates smooth communication, distributes the review workload efficiently, and keeps everything on schedule with customizable timelines.

Whova is reported to have a steep learning curve, requiring a significant time investment to utilize all its features effectively. This can be a barrier for event organizers who need a more straightforward, user-friendly solution​.

Collect Submissions

Centralize your submission process with a single webpage that details clear expectations and instructions for potential speakers. Publicize your call for speakers by sharing this central submission webpage where candidates can create accounts and enter their submissions. Easily share the link or submission button on your event website or social media, or use their built-in, customizable email campaign capabilities to send out mass invitations.

Abstract and Proposal Management

Manage all speaking abstract and proposal submissions through Whova’s admin dashboard. This feature provides an overview of your total submissions and simplifies the status management of each, helping you efficiently oversee the call-for-speakers process. From the dashboard, you can view the total number of submissions and track which ones have been reviewed, rejected, or accepted.

Reviewer Assignment and Workload Distribution

Efficiently manage the review process by designating reviewers to distribute the workload. Utilize team members from your existing event admins or invite external reviewers via email. Customize how reviewers are assigned to submissions to best fit your team’s workflow. You can allow external reviewers to evaluate all submissions for a comprehensive review or designate them to specific tracks.

Pros

“Whova allowed me to easily see the agenda, and the speakers with their bios and Linkedin capabilities made it really easy to network. I was allowed to chat with them in the app, and thus meet them at break or after the days end. Conferences are just about networking, as the information presented.” – Richard, Defense & Space

Cons

“There are many features that cannot be turned off. There are emails that go out to attendees without notice. Definitions vary from the proposal stage to the implementation stage: a speaker is also considered an attendee, although they may not attend and just need to be listed on the paper presentation. The most frequent response from their Help Desk begins with “Unfortunately.” – Jason Paul G. , Executive Director

4. Ex Ordo

Ex Ordo is a conference abstract management software designed to streamline the process of collecting abstracts and papers, managing peer reviews, and notifying authors about the status of their submissions.

Ex Ordo’s interface allows conference organizers to structure events along single or multiple tracks and customize submission forms to capture the necessary information. The platform also supports customization of the peer review process, automatically assigning submissions to the appropriate reviewers based on their track or area of focus. It tracks the review process, notifies reviewers if they are falling behind, and offers options to re-assign submissions or close reviews.

However, Ex Ordo does not offer a free version or trial, which means organizers must commit to a paid plan without an initial test run.

Abstract and Paper Collection

Organize your conference with flexibility by structuring it along a single track or creating multiple tracks, each with its own deadlines and chairs. Customize your submission forms to collect papers, abstracts, panels, and any other required information. Authors and panel organizers receive submission receipts and have the ability to edit their submissions up until the deadline.

Peer Review Allocation

Optimize your peer review process to ensure a high-quality program by configuring the number of reviews each submission requires. Maintain reviewer satisfaction by limiting the number of submissions assigned to each reviewer. Match submissions with the best-qualified reviewers, eliminating the need for spreadsheets.

Reviewer Management

Develop a clear marking scheme that includes all necessary criteria for reviewers. Allow reviewers to grade submissions with scores or comments, either online or by downloading the submissions. Enable reviewers to score individual submissions within panels, and provide them with prompts to guide them through outstanding tasks.

Pros

“Was super helpful to us while managing submissions to a conference, where many people had to login and review abstracts, leave comments, etc and then other had to review the reviews. Went almost perfectly” – Verified User in Higher Education

Cons

“It is a great software where we have to take meeting conference sometimes it has some bugs where the screen freezes, and we cannot do anything just wait for the signal correction” – Junaid k.,Team Leader

5. Fourwaves

Fourwaves is an abstract management and peer-review software designed by academic researchers and conference organizers to simplify the abstract management and review process.

Fourwaves features a drag-and-drop form builder that allows organizers to create customized submission forms. The default online form includes standard questions such as title, authors, and abstract, but additional fields can be added to categorize submissions by topic, presentation type, or track.

Main features of Fourwaves include a versatile peer review process, allowing organizers to choose between single, double, or blind reviews. Submissions can be distributed to reviewers either manually or randomly. Fourwaves offers an integrated system for abstract management, peer review, and event websites. However, if an organization uses multiple systems for different aspects of conference management, integrating Fourwaves with these other systems might pose some challenges.

Customizable Submission Forms

Get started with default fields and easily add or edit any necessary fields to suit your event’s needs. Submitters can effortlessly access and complete these forms directly on your event website, making the submission process smooth and user-friendly.

Peer-Review Management

Integrate submission and peer-review modules for the scoring process. Assign reviewers based on expertise, avoid conflicts of interest, and efficiently manage the entire review process. Make informed decisions and notify presenters of their status through the platform, ensuring a transparent and organized review system.

Content Publication Management Software

Accepted and peer-reviewed submissions can be instantly published on your event website. Add them to the event schedule in seconds, providing timely updates and ensuring all participants have access to the latest event information. This feature streamlines the transition from review to publication, enhancing the overall event experience.

Pros

“What I love most about Fourwaves is the accessibility and accuracy of its features and design. Its components are complex; yet the Fourwaves components are completely satisfactory and easy to use and understand for the user. The event management abstract provided a comprehensive overview of the strategies and tools utilized to streamline the planning and execution of the conference.” – Adaeze A., Podcast Host

Cons

“At the beginning it could be overwhelming, but once you use it a few times and try it, it is easy to use” – Daniel A. L., Service Account Manager LATAM

Conclusion

Event organizers should carefully evaluate all available best abstract management software solutions, taking into account factors such as user-friendliness, customization options, and integration capabilities. By thoroughly assessing your options, you can make an informed decision that ensures a seamless and efficient event management experience.

Among the top abstract management systems, one platform stands out for its comprehensive approach: vFairs. 

vFairs not only streamlines the submission and review process but also offers customizable options, integrated communication and online abstract management tools, and a user-friendly interface. 

Request a free demo today to discover how vFairs can elevate your event management experience.

FAQs

What is Abstract Management?

Abstract management is the process of handling the submission, review, and selection of abstracts for conferences, events, or academic journals. This process is critical for ensuring that the content presented at an event or published in a journal meets certain standards of quality and relevance.

How do abstract tools benefit event organizers?

Abstract tools benefit event organizers by automating the submission and review processes, reducing administrative workload, ensuring fair and organized reviews, and providing a centralized platform for managing all abstract-related activities. This leads to a more efficient and effective event planning process.

What are the key features of online abstract submission software?

Key features of the best abstract management software include customizable submission forms, automated reviewer assignments, real-time tracking of submission status, integrated communication tools for notifications and reminders, scoring and feedback systems, and the ability to publish accepted abstracts.

How does publication management software benefit publishers and editors?

It reduces administrative burden by automating many tasks, ensures a structured and organized review process, enhances communication with authors and reviewers, and improves the overall efficiency and transparency of the publication process.

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10 Interactive Internal Event Ideas to Keep Employees Engaged https://www.vfairs.com/blog/internal-event-ideas/ Mon, 22 Jul 2024 14:33:39 +0000 https://www.vfairs.com/?p=37645 If you are sourcing ideas for improving employee engagement, consider hosting internal events. Why? According to a recent Gallup survey, engaged teams experience 18% less turnover in otherwise high-turnover organizations. To ensure that your employees are engaged, valued, and motivated, leading to better retention rates and a positive work culture, consider implementing some of the best internal event ideas.

We have curated a list of top internal events ideas to keep your employees engaged, boost productivity, enhance employee morale, improve communication, and create a better workplace environment.

Let’s begin. 

What are Internal Events? 

Internal events are designed to boost employee engagement and can range from small meetings to large gatherings. Such events are exclusive to company employees and can be held in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format, depending on the management and the attendees’ preferences.

Why do You Need to Host Internal Events? 

Internal events are crucial for any company as they act as an investment, resulting in happy, engaged, and satisfied employees. These events are necessary for the following reasons:

For Staff Retention

When implemented, successful internal events can lead to more satisfied, motivated, and valued staff who are less likely to seek new job opportunities.

To Build Connections 

Employee networking events facilitate connections between employees and upper management and administration. Additionally, internal events assist new hires in building relationships with senior employees and gaining a better understanding of the workplace.

To Foster Company Culture

Some of the best ways to execute event ideas involve celebrating and reinforcing company culture to foster a better work environment for all.

Internal Event Ideas: Motivate, Engage, and Celebrate

Internal company events are a great way to improve communication, foster connections, and motivate, engage, and celebrate your company and its employees. In this article, we’ve compiled some of the best internal event ideas to help you make your employees feel valued and appreciated. Let’s take a look.

Play Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunt

Scavenger hunts are a great way to engage employees. You can tailor the game to match your company’s branding. It works well for any audience, whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid. You can use a QR-based scanner hunt for in-person events to let participants find items around the venue. They can scan the code using an event mobile app. This unique experience adds fun to any event. 

A scavenger hunt adds an exciting element to virtual events. Attendees can explore the virtual venue to find items placed in different areas. vFairs offers an in-person and virtual scavenger hunt that works on on-site events, browsers, and mobile apps.

Organize a Virtual Benefits Fair

Virtual lobby - virtual tours

Hosting a virtual benefit fair is an easy-to-implement company event idea. It captures your employees’ interest and provides an interactive way to unite a global workplace through interactive booths, webinar sessions, a resources hub, and other engaging features.

A virtual benefits fair can be organized to educate a global audience about company benefits, regardless of their geographical location. This virtual event can reduce event costs and help employees make informed decisions about their health and well-being.

By hosting a virtual benefits fair, a company can demonstrate its commitment to prioritizing the health and well-being of its employees and showcase its readiness to implement informative and value-driven sessions.

Escape Room Challenge

An escape room is a fun and exciting way to engage in team-building activities, which can be done virtually or in person. Employees are locked in a room in an in-person escape room and face various challenges to prevent them from escaping. The team that escapes first wins.

In a virtual setting, participants can be divided into groups and placed in different breakout rooms, similar to Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Each team is given challenges, quizzes, trivia, and a timer to complete the tasks and escape. The team that returns to the main call first wins.

These high-pressure, engaging events promote in-person and virtual team building and create lasting and rewarding memories for all participants.

Execute a Virtual Reality Experience

Virtual Reality Experience

Virtual reality experiences are part of everyday life, so why not include them in your list of internal event ideas? To provide your employees with a unique and engaging experience, consider offering them a glimpse into virtual reality through virtual reality apps and gadgets.

Consider purchasing or renting virtual reality headsets and allowing your staff to experience what it feels like to watch an action or horror movie in a virtual reality headset. This will provide them with a unique and enjoyable experience.

Set up a Movie Night

Employee picnic
source: Reddit

Hosting a movie night is a classic and enjoyable event idea for your employees. You can rent movie theater equipment or book a cinema so that many employees can enjoy a fun movie together. To make it even more special, consider providing popular snacks you can ask them about through your office communication channels or by polling your company’s social media group.

Host Talent or Award Show

Who doesn’t love recognition or enthusiastic participation? You can host a talent show and showcase talented singers, dancers, or individuals with other unique talents on stage. Additionally, you can organize an award show and have junior employees give creative and fun awards to senior employees. You could also opt for a more formal approach by presenting an award to the best employee of the month. This is one of the best internal event concepts that promote recognition and add excitement to the event.

Organize Awareness Sessions

One effective way to gather employees for company events is by hosting awareness sessions. You can schedule an internal meeting or an in-person event to educate employees about HR policies related to workplace harassment, racism, and more. Highlighting these policies in awareness sessions helps improve the work culture, reinforces company rules and standards, and supports employees facing difficulties within their teams.

Arrange a Company Picnic

Organize an employee engagement event in an outdoor setting. You can plan a fun company picnic day to re-engage your employees, help them connect, and create lasting memories. This is one of the most successful ideas for bringing employees together, leading to more productive work and setting high standards for your company, ultimately resulting in better employee retention.

Karaoke Club Fun

Hosting a karaoke night at the office is a fun and exciting way to boost morale among your staff. You may discover talented singers among your employees, which can be a great opportunity to showcase their skills in a talent show. Additionally, it can help increase the confidence of employees with low self-esteem.

While karaoke clubs are always popular, consider organizing a karaoke night at your workplace during lunch or dinner. This can be a great way for employees to unwind and have fun at the office. There are more ways to excite your employees within the office premises, find out more about corporate event ideas.

Much-Needed Mindfulness Sessions

Finally, consider introducing mindfulness sessions in your workplace. It’s great to organize enjoyable employee events, but it’s also important to prioritize their mental health through much-needed corporate events. If employees are stressed due to work or personal issues, arranging mindfulness sessions with a meditation coach can help them reduce stress and improve focus on their work. This type of staff event idea also supports better mental health. Learn more about how to host beneficial corporate events.

Organizing an Ultimate Internal Events Set Up

Considering different internal event ideas? First, understand your employees’ preferences. Conduct a poll or questionnaire, Whether intra-team or company-wide event. If you can’t decide where to start, this step-by-step guide can help you get started with planning your interactive event. To make event planning and executive more organized and stress-free, leverage event technology. Learn more about the best event management platform here.

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10 Best Webinar Software https://www.vfairs.com/blog/best-webinar-software/ Wed, 10 Jul 2024 18:12:48 +0000 https://www.vfairs.com/?p=37605 Discovering the best webinar software is easier than it may seem. In this blog, we analyze key features, evaluate user feedback, and scrutinize pricing to assist you in transforming this challenge into a breeze. By following this in-depth guide, you’ll uncover webinar software that exceeds expectations and captivates your audience.

Let’s get started!

1. vFairs

vFairs logo

vFairs stands out as one of the best webinar platforms because of its comprehensive suite of webinar tools. It is designed to facilitate interactive and captivating webinars for audiences of all sizes. vFairs offers a user-friendly interface, customizable features, and ready-to-use webinar solutions, enabling effective audience engagement.

vFairs webinar platform is distinguished by its ability to provide an immersive virtual event experience, captivating attendees with state-of-the-art technology, AI-enhanced webinar solutions, event gamification, and many other innovative features. Dive deeper into what makes vFairs one of the best webinar software in the industry.

Integrations

vFairs enhances webinar engagement by seamlessly integrating with popular webinar tools such as MS Teams, Zoom, Sequel, Whereby, YouTube, Vimeo, and WebEx. 

This comprehensive integration empowers organizers to host webinars on the platform of their choice, offering them the flexibility and convenience they need.

Multiple Presentation Options

vFairs also offers multiple presentation options to enhance the overall webinar experience and to make the event more functional. This includes: 

Diverse Presentation Capabilities: vFairs’ webinar software grants organizers unparalleled control over their webinars, offering live, semi-live, and pre-recorded presentation options. Organizations can increase the accessibility and longevity of their webinar content by providing it on demand.

Broaden Your Reach with Social Media: Organizers can broadcast live or pre-recorded presentations from the vFairs virtual webinar platform to various social media channels, enhancing reach and engagement. The platform also easily streams to Facebook Live, YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, and more, ensuring that webinars attract a broad and diverse audience.

3D & Realistic Auditoriums

vfairs customization

vFairs elevates the experience of hosting webinars by transforming them into immersive, interactive events that mirror the ambiance of a real-life auditorium. Hosts can captivate their audience through the vFairs virtual event platform with bespoke virtual auditorium designs featuring a branded lobby and more, all customizable through a selection of design templates.

Interactive Features

vFairs networking features

vFairs, one of the best virtual conference platforms, is at the forefront of interactive webinar software and tools that bring your sessions to life. 

Attendees can dive into immersive video features, participate in breakout sessions for in-depth discussions, and engage in team-building activities. The platform’s interactive capabilities also encompass Q&A sessions, polls, and live quizzes designed to boost audience interaction and participation. 

AI-powered Platform 

AI powered tool with ChatGPT

vFair’s AI-powered webinar platform is designed to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of its hosts. Its webinar summary and chapterization tool allows organizers to add chapters and short summaries on the on-demand video allowing viewers to jump to a section within the webinar that they are most interested in. 

Moreover, the platform’s capability to flawlessly transcribe sessions into text further underscores its commitment to accessibility and convenience.  It empowers event planners to creatively repurpose webinar content in various formats, including blog posts and social media updates. This flexibility ensures that the audience remains connected and engaged with the event content well beyond its conclusion, enhancing the overall value and reach of the webinar.

Personalized Webinar Agendas

vFairs offers a highly customizable event experience, enabling attendees to tailor their participation by choosing the webinars and sessions that interest them the most. Recognized as one of the best webinar platforms, it ensures participants never miss a moment by facilitating the addition of sessions directly to their Google or Outlook calendars. 

Moreover, attendees can further personalize their experience by receiving notifications solely for specific agenda tracks. This platform empowers hosts to craft a more structured and engaging agenda by creating multiple session tracks, enhancing the overall event organization.

Accessibility Features

Accessibility Features

vFairs stands out as a webinar service provider, offering unique features to improve the attendee experience and simplify event management through its event management platform. vFairs provides comprehensive accessibility features such as assistive technologies and web assistance for attendees with visual and hearing impairments. vFairs strive to reach the widest audience possible by strictly following W3C’s WCAG 2.1 at the AA level and adhering to ADA and AODA compliance.

These features ensure inclusivity and accessibility for all participants. Additionally, vFairs supports multiple languages, facilitating a more cohesive and seamless event experience for a diverse global audience.

Reporting and Analytics

Reporting & Analytics

Organizers can benefit from robust performance tracking and analytics capabilities. These tools offer organizers a detailed understanding of attendee engagement through metrics such as views per session, replay counts, link clicks, and more, enabling them to extract actionable insights and optimize future events. 

Furthermore, the vFairs AI reporting chatbot places the event management platform at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, distinguishing it from others. The AI reporting chatbot saves time by gauging event performance, such as session attendance, content downloads, meetings booked, etc. 

Nevertheless, vFairs’ advanced event technology, such as the vFairs event mobile app, and commitment to exceptional customer support solidify its position as a top-tier provider in the webinar platform market. It offers a comprehensive and user-friendly solution for businesses looking to deliver high-quality online events.

Pros and Cons

Pros

“The project management was superb, from guidance and examples to help in planning and design to very timely replies regardless of time of day/week day or weekend. Never failed to find a solution to any of our requests and always professional and polite. Have worked with them on four online events now and always felt absolutely supported and confident in their management through to delivery. Jo J., Chief Executive Officer

It is a user friendly platform, One of the standout features of Vfairs is its intuitive interface, which makes navigation effortless for users of all technical abilities. Whether accessing the platform from a desktop computer, tablet, or mobile device, attendees can easily find the information they need and participate in sessions without encountering any major obstacles.” – Lisa P., Mid Market

Cons

“I didn’t have any major issues. My only irritation was on the back end and not being able to bulk upload the webinars. However, everything else they provide as part of the normal package far outweighed that slight inconvenience!” –  Verified User in Civic and Social Organizations

2. Cvent

Cvent logo

Next on the list of top webinar platforms is Cvent. This platform provides a straightforward approach for hosting dynamic virtual webinars. Cvent features a web tool suite for delivering high-quality content and user-friendly functionalities, enabling organizations to host events effectively while maintaining audience engagement. While Cvent offers many benefits, customers are often dissatisfied with the platform’s pricing compared to industry leaders.

 Some of the webinar platform’s key features are:

Multiple Presentation Types

Cvent’s webinar software boasts a versatile range of presentation styles enriched with engaging features like live chat and screen sharing. It also includes interactive elements such as Q&A sessions and polls to enhance attendee participation. Here’s a closer look at the types of presentation styles available:

  • Studio Broadcast is ideal for professional one-way presentations with visual control and branding incorporation.
  • Collaboration supports interactive two-way communication for workshops and engaging sessions.
  • SimuLive combines pre-recorded webinars with a live event feel, which is great for reaching diverse audiences.

Production Tools

Cvent’s webinar solutions are enhanced with advanced production tools. These include customizable backgrounds featuring a variety of preloaded options, flexible layout switching capabilities, dedicated accounts for speakers to engage in attendee chats, and much more.

Branding

Cvent’s website solutions offer limited but considerable branding opportunities, enabling webinar hosts to personalize their events. Users can upload their logos and tailor the attendee experience to their liking. Event planners can choose from light, regular, and dark themes for their registration websites and webinar pages, ensuring a customized look that aligns with their branding.

Pros and Cons

Pros

They also now have an online webinar software and hub that makes it easier to connect everything back to one another and host videos and other things as a repository to lead capture people well after an event has happened.”-  Rachel S., Director, Brand Marketing, North America 

“The upside to using Cvent would be the interactive opportunities it presents when it comes to interacting with the client.” Verified User in Hospitality

Cons

Costs are getting out of control and don’t match other event technologies across the industry. Overall, the structure feels and creates a sense of “nickeling and diming” the customer because Cvent is considered the “industry leader,” which puts many accounts in a place of settling for other technologies due to costs.” Lindsay B., Meetings Management Consultant

A few bits require workarounds and can occasionally not be intuitive to find where content is coming from to edit. Ability to test needs improvement.”  Rachel S., Director, Brand Marketing, North America 

3. GoToWebinar

goto webinar logo

GoToWebinar is third on our roundup of top webinar platforms. This platform delivers diverse webinar solutions designed to assist organizers in conducting events such as remote employee training sessions, webinars, multi-day conferences, and pre-recorded product demonstrations.

Nevertheless, the platform should be more user-friendly to better meet the needs of its customers. Users are skeptical of the platform due to its complexity.

The platform offers the following webinar solutions: 

Pre-recorded Events

GoToWebinar’s webinar software enables hosts to pre-record events that simulate live webinars, reducing redundancies and saving time.

Webcast Mode

The webinar platform allows up to 3,000 attendees to join the live stream directly from their browser, eliminating the need to download a mobile app or integrate to join the webinar.

Event Promotion

The webinar plan allows hosts to promote their events on GoToStage to increase awareness and attract more registrations. GoToStage gathers organizers’ content from their channel pages into a single hub for on-demand webinars, making it easier for viewers to discover.

Pros and Cons

Pros

“GoTo Webinar is one of the best and fastest tools to host corporate webinars. Creating a webinar is extremely simple and the customization options are great.” –  Gopal K., Technical Manager, Products

“Very good HubSpot integration; you can even integrate the forms in landing pages.” – Dafne G., Small-Business

Cons

“It is not usable in the browser, you have to download the software, and it looks from the 2000s, not very user-friendly at all. To set up a different background for your camera, you should download another software.”Dafne G., Small-Business

“For first-time users, setting up a webinar can be complicated. Unlike GoTo Meeting, there’s no direct way to download the GoTo Webinar desktop application. You’ll have to create and start a webinar from your browser and only then will it prompt you to install and open the application.” –  Sanjana P., Web Developer 

4. Hubilo 

Hubilo logo

Hubilo is a popular webinar platform that provides solutions comparable to those highlighted in our roundup of best webinar hosting platforms. It aims to enhance participant attendance, boost engagement levels, and deliver effective webinars for organizations. 

While the platform may have some limitations regarding event management platform capabilities, it offers the following features to support webinar functionalities.

Integrations

Hubilo’s online webinar software offers integrations with popular tools such as Mailchimp, Hootsuite, Microsoft Dynamics, Slido, and more to enhance event attendee engagement and automation. 

Email Marketing

Hubilo provides a sophisticated email marketing solution that works as the best tool for webinars, enabling users to craft personalized event communications and execute focused marketing campaigns.

Analytics

Hubilo provides detailed insights into event performance before, during, and after the webinar. The platform focuses on attendee engagement and provides multiple event analytics.

Pros & Cons

Pros

“Whether it is branded webinars or large-scale virtual events, Hubilo makes it possible to create these events within hours, and I can start onboarding attendees who can engage and network with fellow attendees way before the event day which gives a feeling of community.” – Jivitesh J., Director Global Events

“The user friendliness (easy to use!), the ability to brand the event, the interface, the customer service (thank you Musaib Maniyar for your quick responses, great help and flexibility!!).” – Verified User in Marketing and Advertising

Cons

“Hubilo’s user experience for admins can be hard to navigate. Many workarounds are required to complete the goals set by clients, and the site lacks customizability in the framework of the web pages.” –  Verified User in Events Services

“It has limitation which we have to work with, things that are set in a specific way in the backend and cannot be changed. The way we had to set-up our agenda was extremely manual, creating one by one session, we were also limited by our clients.” – Pauline L. Director of Operations

5. Bizzabo

Bizzabo logo

Bizzabo is a comprehensive event management platform that incorporates a robust webinar platform. It distinguishes itself with a suite of webinar-specific solutions, earning its spot among the best webinar platforms available. One of the popular platforms for webinars, Bizzabo, is designed to enhance the attendee pipeline, increase revenue, and facilitate the organization of successful events through its acclaimed webinar management software.

Similar to other platforms mentioned earlier, Bizzabo has left some clients dissatisfied due to its lack of engaging features and limited functionality.

Now, let’s delve into some of the standout webinar hosting platform’s features:

Studio Quality Video

Webinar hosting platforms like Bizzabo provide high-quality video for sessions, ensuring seamless streaming for pre-recorded webinars. They also offer live streaming with purpose-built software and personalized tools.

Engagement Features

Bizzabo’s webinar software offers various attendee engagement features, such as live calls to action, polling, Q&A, and virtual clapping. Through polling and Q&A sessions, attendees can actively participate in the webinar.

Pros & Cons

Pros

“Webinars ran fairly smoothly, though we did need some additional support for some technical components that needed to be custom built prior to our event.”Jessica R., Partner Marketing Manager

“The website set-up is quite systematic and easy to use. For instance, creating the agenda and adding speakers are very easy to do and easy to add to the site in the website editor. It also allows seamless export of registrants and the engagement data is very useful.” –Nicholas S. Marketing Manager

Cons

“It’s a nice platform but I would like it to be more intuitive. There are things in the set-up that are very important to do but we can forget to change, maybe to have a sort of notification would be great .For the language it’s not flexible. we have to create our own landing pages when we want to do webinars other than in English” – Lina G., Mid Market.

“The level of customization options available for event pages on Bizzabo is somewhat limited, which may not align with my preferences. Although there are templates and designs to choose from, making significant changes is restricted. This limitation makes it difficult to create a unique event that truly represents our brand.” –  Donna M., Founder

6. Zoom

Zoom logo

Zoom is a popular video conferencing platform that provides webinar solutions. It is well-known for its video and audio conferencing capabilities, allowing people to connect remotely via the app or desktop. These aspects make it a great fit for our best webinar software blog. 

However, it is essential to remember that Zoom has repeatedly been criticized for its security vulnerabilities, causing significant user problems.

Let’s take a quick look at Zoom’s webinar platform offerings.

Reporting and Analytics

The reporting and analytics feature of Zoom’s webinar platform allows webinar hosts to generate reports on registered attendees, including polling, attendee engagement, and Q&A for post-event follow-up.

One-click HD Screening

The one-click HD screen is a webinar solution that lets attendees easily share videos and audio clips during the webinar. This feature also allows participants to view panelists and presentations simultaneously.

Accessibility Features

Zoom’s webinar platform offers accessibility features such as closed captioning and keyboard shortcuts. These features help ensure that participants can equally enjoy the webinar sessions regardless of their impairment issues. 

Pros & Cons

Pros

“It is very user friendly and has tons of useful features to help give a great webinar class. It has AI tools and if for any reason you should have issues they always have customer support ready to help answer any questions.” Alberto S., Senior Loan Officer

Zoom has evolved its tools since the Pandemic. Their latest update which lets you choose to include yourself as a presenter in the slide or presentation is a helpful feature.” Eunice R., Division Coordinator 

Cons

“It would be nice if we could set the presenter invitations to block their calendar for a specific length of time prior to the webinar going live.” – Heather T., Director of Learning and Development

“Zoom events and webinars has a scope of improvement in providing security measures. The customer support services also need to be improved to resolve various issues faced by audience and event host.” –  Divyansh T., Assistant Software Engineer

7. ClickMeeting

ClickMeeting Logo

ClickMeeting is widely recognized as one of the best webinar software and is known for its reliable services. The platform offers a range of webinar features, including predictive demos, marketing, online courses and training, business meetings, collaborations, and hosting large events.

At times, users have experienced disruptions and interruptions while using the platform, leading to inconvenience during events.

Some webinar platforms provide key features that are well-suited for hosting webinars.Here a few offered by ClickMeeting.

Live Webinar

ClickMeetings’ Live Webinar feature allows webinar hosts to present content to up to 1,000 attendees in real-time.

Breakout Rooms

Breakout rooms is another popular webinar solution that can create up to 20 virtual classes and training sessions.

Virtual Backgrounds

ClickMeeting is webinar software that enables you to present your webinar with various background displays, allowing you to keep your background blurred, similar to Google Meet’s video conferencing tool.

Pros and Cons

Pros

“We use ClickMeeting daily for hosting educational webinars, and online meetings. It is a valuable tool, which helps us to extend our reach to a broader audience and thanks to the recording option gives us the opportunity to connect with those unable to attend our events live.” – Caroline K., Online Education Manager

“What I like most about the program is the opportunities it offers when organizing online meetings. I like the clarity of the interface, the ability to record meetings and share presentations.”- Joanna J., Mid Market

Cons

“I would very much like a customized design for the webinar rooms. The option of using the Unsplash archive is nice, but unfortunately it often takes a long time to find suitable background images. It would be nice if I could use my own images here and if there were more options when designing the webinar rooms.” –  Thomas L., Small Business

“There are a few negative points that cause the lagging of this premium tool. You can also face some glitches and bug issues while navigating.”Camia T., Enterprise

8. Zoho Meeting

Zoho meeting logo

Zoho is one of the most popular and reliable webinar platforms available. The platform claims to offer a secure video webinar platform to help organizers enhance their online presence.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that the platform must enhance its capabilities to offer automated webinar options. This improvement is necessary to ensure comprehensive webinar solutions without causing any inconvenience for event organizers.

The Zoho Meeting webinar platform facilitates real-time or on-demand events, connecting the audience to a larger audience using conferencing software for webinars.

Now, let’s take a look at one of the key features of the webinar platform: 

Video Webinars

Zoho Meeting’s webinar conferencing software offers video webinar features that enable the distribution of live video feeds of organizers and co-organizers, along with the webinar presenter. This tool engages and allows webinar hosts to share their screens and interact with the audience.

Customized Registration Form

Zoho Meeting’s webinar platforms allow hosts to create customizable registration forms with fields and questions related to the webinar. You can also promote your brand by adding a company name and link to the registration page.

YouTube Live Streaming

If you want a platform to reach a wider audience by live-streaming on YouTube, you can choose who can access your sessions and stream your webinar in real-time.

Pros & Cons

Pros

“We evaluated Zoho Webinar for our social non-profit organization for a month. We run an actual webinar with multiple hosts and approx. 100+ attendees.”  – Ashutosh K., Small Business 

“The Polls and voting option is very helpful in determining the best idea from different. Very easy to use and has better User Interface.” – – Neelam V., Software Quality Analyst

Cons

“The chat and messaging section does not appear in the middle of a webinar or video conference. Recording in the meet session is not allowed and also you will be charged whenever there is a new joiner in the meeting. Limit on the number of people that can attend a webinar or video conference.” – Neelam V., Software Quality Analyst

“They showed inability to conduct automated webinars.” – Sheril M, Small Business

9. BigMarker 

BigMarker logo

BigMarker is a web-based platform that combines webinar software with marketing features. It helps users host online events and web conferences. 

The platform should have a more manageable interface to better cater to the needs of its customers.

Here are some of the features worth knowing about:

Add your branding

BigMarker helps quickly sell tickets for your webinars, classes, or workshops and receive payments through PayPal.

Payment Options

With BigMarker, you can monetize your webinars, classes, or workshops with built-in ticketing and withdraw proceeds to PayPal.

Event Advertisement

The webinar software lets you feature your webinars by promoting them through email newsletters and sharing them on BigMarker’s social media channels.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Bigmarker is easy to use and to set up with numerous, great and flexible comprehensive features.” Mohsin D., Senior Account Executive

BigMarker’s webinar platform was a game-changer for us. It is seamless, interactive and is very user friendly. The user experience for both presenters and attendees is excellent..”Christina R., Small Business

Cons.

There are almost TOO many options and settings. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you want to be careful, or at least spend time learning what things do before you play with them..” – Eric V., Mid-Market

The main dislike of Bigmarker is it has bugs and it lags somewhat but the privacy and encryption is nice and the main dislike if the lags and bugs which delays the meeting times and joining time of attendees.”Sailesh R., Student Partner

10. WebinarJam

WebinarJam logo

The last on our list of best webinar software is WebinarJam. It is a cloud-based broadcasting technology that offers an all-in-one webinar platform. It is powerful and autonomous and provides key webinar solutions.

The platform’s lack of simplicity and ease of understanding often leaves customers feeling dissatisfied. Here are some of the features that the platform offers.

Meeting Management

WebinarJam’s meeting management tool is a widely utilized service for hosting webinars. This comprehensive service encompasses scheduling, creating agendas, and remotely managing attendees during a webinar.

Analytics and Reporting

WebinarJam’s platform offers a comprehensive analytics and reporting feature, including a dashboard on webinar traffic, region, attendance, and event monetization. Users can customize pages by designing and managing landing pages and webinar funnels.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Easy to use. You don’t need to install anything like goto.” – Verified User in Information Technology Services

“The best feature which I liked was making a recorded video into a live broadcast. It is solving the biggest problems of most young entrepreneurs. The features like adding a chat, creating a poll, showing the poll results, sending reminders before the webinar starts with customizable emails, a separate dashboard to reply to live chat messages.” – Verified User in E-Learning 

Cons

“The setup process was time-consuming and frustrating. I also hate having to pay for two systems when it could easily just be one. Lastly, you do have to use a clean browser without any extensions or you may have issues.” – Brady P., Lifestyle Architect

“No breakout rooms, no agency model available, and the awkward wait while the presentation goes live (and technically being live before you are “shown” live). Attendees not being able to see other attendees’ names. A few mobile issues. 10-second delay from talking to being heard by the audience. No saving of the poll results, support not great.” –  Theo P., Co-founder

Choose The Best Webinar Software For Your Next Event

 This extensive list will help you get closer to choosing the best webinar software for your needs. Although the best webinar software mentioned offers similar solutions, such as video and audio conferencing tools, accessibility features, and more, it’s important to think beyond the basics when making your choice. 

Among the best webinar software listed, vFairs offers more than just essential webinar solutions. Instead, it is a complete event management system with AI-powered webinar solutions, integrations, analytics,  and accessibility features to help you host a successful and interactive webinar. To learn more about how vFairs can be the best platform to host a webinar for you, book your demo now.

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Top 5 Boomset Alternatives: Your Guide to Boomset Competitors https://www.vfairs.com/blog/boomset-alternatives-competitors/ Fri, 05 Jul 2024 10:55:52 +0000 https://www.vfairs.com/?p=37128 Newly in, Hopin acquires Boomset, then shortly after, Boomset closes its doors.

Boomset appeared to be a rising star in the event management industry at one time. It offered users the promise of quick and easy registration, check-in, marketing and more. So when it closed it’s doors, savvy event organizers who relied on Boomset were left trying to fill the gap with a powerful tool they could rely on long-term.  

No worries! While Boomset may have exited the scene, we’ve got you covered with a lineup of the best event management softwares in the Boomset alternatives category. 

Top 5 Boomset Alternatives

1. vFairs

vFairs, recognized as the highest-rated virtual event app on G2, stands as one of the strongest Boomset alternatives. Offering a comprehensive suite of features, it’s designed to streamline both in-person and hybrid events. 

Think: branded registration pages, secure self-check-in via its mobile event app, badge printing, and QR code scanning all conveniently at your disposal.

vFairs doesn’t just stop at smoothing out registration and check-in, it’s your trusted partner for crafting memorable, personalized, and compliant event experiences that forge stronger customer connections. 

With vFairs in your arsenal, you can turbocharge engagement at any event—be it in-person, virtual, or hybrid—setting it apart from Boomset competitors. 

From an interactive activity feed and networking tools to agenda management, e-commerce tools,  Q&A sessions, polls, quizzes, gamification, and more, vFairs has all the bells and whistles to elevate your event experience.

Key Features

Mobile App

The vFairs mobile event app offers a comprehensive suite of features designed for seamless event management. It supports contactless check-in via QR codes to help attendees enter the event hassle-free. The app provides ample opportunities for branding to help planners create a unique event identity that matches their brand. You can also opt for a white-label version of the app to make it truly your own.

Organizers can improve attendee experience using the mobile app at the event. To facilitate networking, attendees can search for others using the app, book meetings and enter chat rooms. You can also provide advanced tools like smart matchmaking to help them meet people with similar interests. 

Event agendas and session management are crucial for organizing seamless experiences, providing attendees with clear and accessible schedules. The app also includes versatile, case-specific features like job advertising and digital certificates, catering to diverse event needs.

Digital resources such as detailed in-app analytics provide valuable insights for decision-making, while the ability to upload documents promotes a paperless environment, streamlining operations. Exhibitors benefit from e-commerce features, including product listings and order booking tailored for trade shows, ensuring a comprehensive and efficient event experience.

Event Customization

vfairs customization

Choose between configuration and customization to tailor your event setup to your needs. Configuration lets you adjust branded colors, logos, and text labels within predefined templates, providing a streamlined approach to maintaining a consistent and professional look. Customization, on the other hand, offers bespoke event designs, white-labeled apps, and custom features for enhanced engagement or ROI.

vFairs’ all-in-one event management software allows you to customize your event comprehensively, whether it’s virtual, hybrid, or in-person. Effortlessly personalize the design of virtual environments, landing pages, and booths to create a unique and engaging experience. Additionally, you can add custom fields to the registration form to capture information relevant to your specific needs, ensuring you gather essential data to optimize your event.

Event Ticketing

vFairs provides an all-in-one event management solution, simplifying event registrations and payments through its versatile ticketing features. Customize registration forms, implement tiered pricing, and enable group registration effortlessly. Payment collection is straightforward with PayPal and Stripe integrations, ensuring a smooth transaction process.

Tailor access to content for different user types with ease. Use the intuitive drag-and-drop form builder to craft personalized registration forms, offering options for text input, multiple-choice selections, and document uploads. This flexibility ensures you can capture all the necessary information for a successful event.

Event Reporting

vFairs keeps organizers informed with real-time insights into live event activity, empowering personalized event experiences by tracking individual user journeys. Organizers can comprehensively assess exhibitor performance and gauge attendee engagement through the mobile app, enhancing their understanding of event dynamics.

With pre, during, and post-event reporting capabilities, organizers gain a thorough understanding of the event’s success, providing valuable data for future planning and optimization. This comprehensive reporting ensures that all stages of the event are analyzed for continuous improvement.

The platform further streamlines data collection with an AI reporting chatbot, saving valuable time in gathering event data and navigating through lengthy CSV files. This tool simplifies the process, allowing organizers to focus on enhancing the event experience.

User Reviews

  • “I had a great experience with their team and… my assigned project manager was excellent! She was very patient and took the time to explain everything.” – Maria A., CEO 
  • “From the very beginning we were given focused support with plenty of training and assistance to pull off a major event in a short period of time. The platform and service are solid but, what sets vFairs apart are knowledgeable support team members and individualized handholding. Truly bar none!” – Megan C., Production Operations Manager
  • “vFairs offered a customized package to fit our unique needs. The staff have been incredibly supportive and easy to work with throughout the entire process. They always listen to our needs and work to come up with great solutions for all of our events. My customer success manager has always been responsive, helpful, and ensures everything is going well. My project manager is always incredibly prompt in handling my requests and makes sure that all of our needs are met.” – Jennifer C., Virtual Teaching Manager

2. Whova

The second spot on our list of the best Boomset alternatives goes to Whova,  which offers a comprehensive event technology platform that supports both in-person and hybrid events.

Similar to Boomset, Whova provides features for in-person events such as check-in, name badge creation, agenda management, attendee networking, and sponsor promotion, among others. It accommodates both free and paid events, allowing organizers to apply a small fee for registrations in paid events. The platform offers software for ticket creation and registration forms which integrates smoothly with the event platform, reducing reliance on third-party services.

However, while Whova enables customization for different ticket types and offers real-time sales tracking, users have expressed some dissatisfaction with their customer support team. Moreover, integration with other native conferencing software is not consistently smooth for many users.

Key Features

  • Event Badge Generation
  • Attendance Management
  • Live Polling
  • Real-Time Analytics

User Reviews

  • “I’ve attended 7 or 8 virtual conferences through Whova and always found it easy to use and keep track of where I needed to be. Communication with other attendees and speakers is easy. I enjoy using the app.” – Richard S., Defense & Space
  • “There are many features that cannot be turned off. There are emails that go out to attendees without notice. Definitions vary from the proposal stage to the implementation stage: a speaker is also considered an attendee, although they may not attend and just need to be listed on the paper presentation. The most frequent response from their Help Desk begins with “Unfortunately…” – Jason Paul G., Executive Director
  • “Easy, useful, we have used it for a tradeshow with about 600 attendees for 2 years now, definitely gets way more traction and use than any previous solution we’ve tried. Also perfect to use for lead tracking for exhibitors at a show.” – Bruce L., Rental and Services
  • “When arranging a meet up, your numbers are limited to 50 at a time and you are only allowed to offer two meet ups until you have four people having replied to say they will be there. At a conference with 1500 attendees, being able to message just 100 of them isn’t enough…particularly when some people clearly weren’t looking at their app so that invite was wasted!” – Dawn W., CEO

3. Webex Events (Formerly Socio)

Next on our list of the top Boomset alternatives is Webex Events. Webex offers an end-to-end event management platform suitable for organizing virtual and hybrid events. This versatile tool caters to the needs of both large enterprises and small businesses.

Webex events platform offers analytics for post-event insights, enabling organizers to measure event success and refine strategies. It proposes itself to be scalable and customizable, and offers interactive features for creating engaging branded experiences.

However, integration challenges with some third-party tools and resource-intensive requirements pose obstacles, particularly for users with older systems. It is also important to note that Webex is shutting down soon.

Key Features

  • Survey/Poll Management
  • Live Streaming
  • Real-Time Chat
  • Networking
  • Agenda Management

User Reviews

  • “The app enabled us to put a lot of different participant materials in a single, continually updated location (agenda, rules, announcements, hour-by-hour results, etc.) enabling our staff to spend much less time printing and distributing materials and much more time engaging with participants. ” – Evan G., Event App Producer
  • “The least helpful aspect of the Webex Events (formerly Socio) app was the training tool on streaming the sessions. We spent two days training only to find out the day of our event that streaming 4 consecutive sessions was nothing like streaming just one session.” – Laura C., Deputy Director
  • “From start to finish, we were well taken care of–from contract phase to event day. Again, we had the Orange Glove service so we had several trainings (staff, speakers, sponsors) and brainstorm sessions to help teach us about ways to maximize features and build an engaging virtual conference agenda.” – Julie H., Sr. Manager
  • “Webex is missing some basic features that are important to event professionals. There is no easy way to identify abandoned cart customers, for example. Tracking conversions from marketing efforts is a challenge as well since registrants must leave the site to register. Reporting is also rather basic.” – Phillip L., Small-Business

4. Eventzilla

Eventzilla is an event management software platform that provides comprehensive solutions for organizing, marketing, and managing events in various formats, including in-person, virtual, and hybrid, tailored to diverse business needs.

As an alternative to Boomset by Hopin, Eventzilla offers onsite event badge printing software that allows for customization of name badges with specific details. You can add logos, QR codes, event titles, and important attendee information like names and contact details. 

Eventzilla has positioned itself as a solution suitable for a wide range of events, including conferences, workshops, training sessions, social events, and fundraisers.  With features for adding abstracts and accommodation options, Eventzilla demonstrates its focus on the business market.

Eventzilla has some notable cons that potential users should consider. Firstly, it offers very few native integrations, which can limit its ability to seamlessly connect with other tools and platforms that event organizers might use. Secondly, it has limited marketing features, making it less suitable for those who need robust marketing capabilities to promote their events. Lastly, the platform results in low margins for low-ticket events, potentially impacting profitability for organizers dealing with lower-priced tickets.

Key Features

  • Use Registration Process
  • Badge Printing
  • Onsite Tickets And Registration
  • Contact List Management

User Reviews

  • “Eventzilla makes it easy to create events and customize how I want my event page to look like. It has a simple interface, making it easy for attendees to register for events. I am also able to send messages to my attendees all at once.” – Mayowa A.
  • “At the same time, the many ways you can customize Eventzilla also sometimes make it a bit hard to know where to look for what setting. I usually add a ‘test ticket’ for free to an event I create and then ‘test buy’ it to ensure everything is working as it should. That is a bit cumbersome, but is just a trade off for having lots of options.” – Tim K, Executive Coach
  • “Organizes registrations in one location, and forces the individuals to register themselves. (I don’t have to take phone calls/emails to register individuals into a spreadsheet and use a different system to collect payment)” – Cathy B., Administrative Assistant
  • “Some things are difficult to use for both admins and attendees. However, customer support is prompt.” – Robert G., Founder

5. Cvent

Cvent, our final contender among the best Boomset alternatives, is a cloud-based enterprise event management platform. By empowering businesses and event planners to manage, track, and analyze their events, Cvent emerges as a robust alternative to Boomset by Hopin. It enhances efficiency, improves attendee experiences, and ensures a meaningful return on investment.

It’s worth noting that Cvent’s pricing structure is not straightforward, and users often end up paying a lot of hidden fees. 

Additionally, some users find Cvent’s interface complex and not intuitive, requiring workarounds to locate and edit content. The company’s product growth strategy relies heavily on acquiring other technologies, resulting in a roadmap focused on integrating various modules. Cvent also charges for training by the hour at approximately $150, and the first year of professional services can cost around one-third of the software spend, adding to the overall expense.

In contrast, competitors like vFairs adopt different pricing models. At vFairs, clients are charged for specific feature add-ons, without billing based on attendee volume unless it exceeds a certain threshold, typically around 10,000 attendees.

If you’re looking for a little more, check out Cvents top competitors for more in terms of functionality.

Key Features

  • Customizable Branding
  • Live Chat
  • Survey/Poll Management
  • Agenda Management
  • Live Streaming

User Reviews

  • “Once I read and understand the program, it is easy with tutorials and articles in the help section to figure out what I want to do step by step. If those do not work there is an excellent customer service to assist.” – Mary Ann H., Event Coordinator
  • “Cost is a bit higher than other event management platforms, but tends to have very few glitches (if any) and provides excellent management of events from a couple of people to thousands. I have worked with other platforms that could not handle large groups without crashing, so the consistency in performance is a comfort. Oftentimes, you’ll find the cost of the platform is offset by time savings.” – Julie Michelle D., Program Manager
  • “Cvent is nice in that it has thought of many of the different scenarios planners need to communicate, offer registration for and track for each event. The integrated credit card processing makes handling the financial aspect of meetings much easier.” – Beth C., Executive Director
  • “I think that the reporting could be more robust!” – Nicole G., SMMS Operator

Key Takeaway

Among Boomset alternatives, vFairs emerges as the top choice for managing your next event. Unlike Whova, vFairs provides extensive customization options, including tailored design and registration forms. Compared to Webex Events, vFairs guarantees robust performance for events of any size. Event planners can easily integrate with several third-party platforms to expand their offering at the event which is a limitation for Eventzilla. Additionally, vFairs boasts an intuitive, user-friendly interface, addressing the steep learning curve issues associated with Cvent.

With vFairs, you gain comprehensive event management capabilities that enhance engagement and streamline operations for virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. Experience the difference firsthand by requesting a demo with vFairs today!

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9 Brilliant Virtual Product Launch Event Ideas You Need to Know https://www.vfairs.com/blog/9-brilliant-virtual-product-launch-event-ideas/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 14:54:18 +0000 https://www.vfairs.com/?p=37242 Creating a product involves a huge investment of time and resources, from initial ideas to technical tweaks, continuous improvements, and countless demos. After all that effort, the product deserves a launch that truly showcases the team’s hard work.

But planning a successful product launch is tricky. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula—each product needs its own unique approach. Plus, in the competitive race for consumer attention, it’s a challenge to make sure the right people notice your launch.

In this blog, we’ll explore innovative virtual event ideas to help you create an unforgettable product launch that captivates your audience and does justice to all the effort put into development. Whether you’re aiming for a global reach or a more targeted audience, these strategies will ensure your launch stands out.

What is a Virtual Product Launch Event?

A virtual product launch event is a digital or online gathering used to introduce and promote a new product, service, or initiative to an audience. It mirrors the structure of a traditional in-person launch but is entirely conducted in a virtual environment through various online platforms or software.

Virtual product launch

Key aspects of a virtual product launch include:

  1. Online Platform: Organizers host such events on digital platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, etc., or by dedicated event hosting platforms that offer features for live streaming, interaction, and engagement.
  2. Audience Engagement: Interaction with the audience is facilitated through live chats, Q&A sessions, polls, and sometimes even through augmented or virtual reality elements to make the experience more immersive.
  3. Content Delivery: Presentations, keynote speeches, product demonstrations, and promotional videos are shared virtually to highlight the features, benefits, and uniqueness of the product or service being launched.
  4. Global Reach: Virtual launch events have the advantage of reaching a wider, global audience as geographical barriers are removed. Attendees can join from anywhere with an internet connection.
  5. Cost-Effectiveness: They are more cost-effective compared to physical events since there’s no need for venue bookings, travel expenses, or physical logistics.
  6. Flexibility: Virtual events offer flexibility in terms of timing, enabling attendees to join from different time zones and allowing for the event to be recorded and shared later for those who couldn’t attend live.

Overall, a virtual product launch aims to generate excitement, engagement, and awareness around the new product or service while leveraging the benefits of online connectivity and interaction.

Benefits of Virtual Product Launch

Did you know the world has 4.33 billion internet users and 3.53 billion are on social media? That’s huge, right? It shows just how vital digital platforms are, and they’re only getting bigger. Why not leverage this and opt for a virtual product launch?

Trust us, the benefits of going virtual are convincing. By the end, you’ll see why we’re all in on virtual launches!

Reach a Global Audience Through Your Virtual Product Launch

A physical event restricts you to a limited audience. The venue can host a limited number of people and most of them come from within the same city. Hence, the reach of a physical launch event is very restricted. On the other hand, a virtual product launch helps in reaching out to a global audience.

Anyone with an internet connection and a laptop/smartphone can join from any part of the world. Additionally, an online platform can host several times more people than a physical event venue. This further contributes to taking your product launch event global with a virtual launch.

Conduct a Cost-effective Event

In a physical launch event, there are numerous costs involved. These include but are not limited to the cost of the venue, logistics, parking lot, marketing, equipment, and staffing. In the case of a virtual launch, you can avoid most of these costs. There is no hassle of booking a venue, taking care of the logistics, training staff for good service, and worrying about the décor.

By handing over all the worries of a virtual launch to renowned platforms like vFairs, organizers can have a hassle-free event. If you choose to go ahead with vFairs, you will get a dedicated manager for your event to ensure its success. Isn’t that great?!

Collect Valuable Data with an Online Launch

It is hard to get credible data from a physical event. A virtual product launch helps in overcoming this problem. Since everything is managed online, it becomes easier to get valuable insights about the event. Questions like the following can be easily answered if you go for a virtual launch.

  • How many people registered for the virtual event?
  • How many people actually attended the event?
  • How many people watched the entire event?
  • After how many minutes people started leaving the event?
  • Which segment of the event received the most traffic?
  • Which segment of the event was the exit point?

With the help of this data, you can understand the behavior of your target audience and tweak your future events accordingly.

Enhance Engagement Through Chat Tools

In a physical event, it is hard for attendees to engage in a conversation with the company representatives due to space issues and time constraints. In a virtual launch, this no longer remains a problem. A virtual product launch comes with chat tools that enable the attendees to get in touch with the company representatives.

Virtual event hosting platforms vary in their services but most of them provide audio, video, and text chat facilities. This not only enhances engagement during the event but also improves the overall event experience for the attendees, enabling them to remember the event for a long time.

Better Branding Through Webinars & Presentations

Webinars and presentations are key to a killer virtual product launch, letting you deep dive into what makes your product tick. With vFairs, attending is a breeze—no Flash, just seamless, secure interactions. Get everyone talking with live Q&A, polls, and real-time captioning, plus tools that spark connections and learning. It’s the dynamic, accessible setting your launch needs.

Big names like Apple are all in on virtual launches, showing off new iPhones to the world online. Why? Because going virtual means broader reach, lower costs, and solid insights, all while growing your business and racking up leads. Ready to make a splash? Launch your product with flair and watch your business soar.

How to Host a Virtual Product Launch

Virtual events have significantly transformed the way people participate in various gatherings, conferences, and entertainment activities, offering numerous benefits that traditional, in-person events might lack. Here’s how you organize an exceptional virtual product launch:

Step 1: Provide an Immersive Experience

A product launch’s goal is to immediately captivate and excite your audience. Without an engaging interface, interest fades quickly. For a standout virtual product launch, aim for an immersive experience. This means hosting your event in a 3D space that mirrors real-life venues, with various rooms branching off a central lobby for easy exploration. 

Features like animated avatars enhance realism, making attendees feel like they’re there in person. Plus, these spaces offer great opportunities for showcasing your brand with banners and standees.

Step 2: Promote your Virtual Product Launch Online

For any event, especially virtual product launches, aggressive promotion is crucial for drawing in a big crowd. Start by targeting your audience with tailored marketing through emails, hitting your email lists hard. Then, tease your event on social media with hints of “something new brewing” to spark curiosity and build anticipation. As the event nears, send out email invites with a registration link, and add a handy option to save the date directly in their calendars.

But don’t stop once they’ve signed up; people tend to forget. Keep their attention with reminder emails—one a day before and another an hour before your event—to ensure a great turnout.

Step 3: Enable Attendees to Experience the Product 

Another way to enhance the attendees’ experience is to offer them a feel of the actual product. While this is often easier to implement with in-person events, you might still be able to extend the experience virtually.

If you’re in the technology industry and are launching a new software tool, create a booth to host trials for it in your virtual lobby. You can make a few key modules accessible or show the main interface. A product simulation or a video of it in action could also provide attendees with a feeler of the real deal.

Step 4: Take Audience Input and Encourage Engagement

Virtual events often stumble with engagement; one-way chats just don’t cut it for a lively product launch. To spice things up, why not mix in live Q&A sessions? They let your audience dive in with questions, making the experience interactive. Plus, offering one-on-one slots or an interactive booth in a 3D space can cover those who can’t make it live.

This feedback loop isn’t just for show; it’s gold for product development, giving you real insights into what your audience craves or what tweaks your product might need.

Simply put, by nailing your virtual product launch, you eliminate the hassle of handling crowds, creating a seamless, interactive experience that everyone can enjoy, regardless of their location.

Step 5: Partner Up with Thought Leaders

To increase your digital reach, partner up with thought leaders in your niche for your virtual product launch. Influencer marketing works wonders for product launches as it boosts event visibility (and credibility) by lending their audiences to your event.

Invite them to host your event or indulge in a speaking session, where they offer their insights. You should also ask your partners to promote your event through their social channels and announce their appearance, ensuring greater reach. 

If you’d like to take things up a notch, offer them early access to your product and ask them to share their experience at the event. Industry leaders are trusted sources and their approval could mean a lot of business for your new product. And for the attendees, the event offers a convenient way to interact with their idols.

Step 6: Experiment with Games or Freebies

Want to really amp up the fun? 

Try gamification or hand out some cool freebies! Imagine setting up a scavenger hunt with clues about your new product, guiding folks to booths to chat with reps or discover product perks. The reward? Maybe an exclusive sneak peek or a freebie of the product. Or, how about a spin-to-win or lucky draw right from their couch? Everyone digs a good freebie, especially when it’s hassle-free. Here are some of the options:

  • Free vouchers or discounts
  • Early access to product
  • Cash prizes
  • Product merchandise (digitally delivered merch like wallpapers, or mailed merch like keychains or notebooks)

When done right, virtual product launches can be even more exciting than their in-person counterparts. As long as you’re making good use of your digital resources and taking the time to answer queries and engage with your audience, you’ll be able to get a lot of eyeballs on your new release.

Just be sure to advertise extensively, create immersive event spaces, provide an interactive experience, both with the product and your team, and experiment with games. And in this way, your audiences will be looking forward to all your future events!

How To Launch Your Product Virtually & Win Customers

Let’s take an example of two apps doing a product launch. App A, new to a busy scene, knew it needed a standout launch. App B, packed with fresh ideas, rushed to show off its groundbreaking promise. App A took two months to perfect its launch strategy, focusing on clarity and appeal. App B went big on hype but left people confused post-reveal. In the end, App A steadily climbed the ranks, while App B’s buzz quickly faded. 

The takeaway? A smart, well-executed launch is key to grabbing and holding interest. Let’s explore how to ace this.

Step 1: Understand your Customer

Before a product launch, we chat directly with customers—why, you ask? Even after thorough market research, talking directly offers deeper insights into their real struggles, in their own words. This sharpens your sales message by letting you use their language and address their needs in order of importance. It’s simple: a casual chat with a focus group of 10-15 people can make all the difference.

Step 2: Test, Test, and Test!

Bugs are the bane of software products, and despite the best efforts of your QA team, a few always slip through post-launch. The remedy? Dive into alpha and beta testing. Alpha testing lets your internal crew and keen users try the app, tackling tasks and hunting bugs—sometimes with rewards for the top bug finders. 

Then comes beta testing, opening the door to a wider user base to freely explore, use, and flag any bugs they stumble upon. It’s a hands-on way to catch those elusive bugs and smooth out your app before the big rollout.

Step 3: Find an Immersive Virtual Event Platform

A key component of your launch campaign is a marquee event, where you can announce your product and share important information with your audience. You’ll need a virtual event platform to successfully host your virtual software launch. This is going to be your ‘event venue’. And while there are tons of products available on the market, not all of them are created equal. 

Here are some of the most important features of a successful virtual product launch:

  • 3D event spaces that transport attendees to the venue.
  • Live and recorded webinars that enable attendees to interact with the speaker.
  • Event marketing features to bring more people to the event, like email marketing and landing pages. 
  • Networking features to help attendees engage with others at the event. 
  • E-commerce module to accept orders on the spot. 
  • Data analytics to collect lead information. 
  • Customizations for event branding.
  • Welcome videos. 

Step 4: Customize your Event Appearance

Branding is crucial for a virtual software launch as you want your attendees to remember you well. Use your virtual event platform to add and customize different rooms. Add logos wherever you can, use standees to market your services, and color code as per your branding guidelines.

Step 5: Prepare Live or Recorded Demos

Depending on your ease, choose between live and pre-recorded product demos. Either way, make sure that they’re both interactive and engaging. 

You’ll need to get in touch with your speakers beforehand and discuss the agenda of each session. This will help you align the content with the needs of your customers. During the sessions, be sure to take questions and encourage participation. The more engaging your event, the more invested your attendees will be in your product. 

Step 6: Create Marketing Collateral

Your virtual event will also need marketing collateral to nurture incoming leads. Create videos covering various use cases or explaining the features of the products. Publish product specification documents and install instructions, whatever you’d like. Your virtual event platform should allow you to upload these and let attendees save them as well.

For any successful product launch, you need to have a solid plan before you make any announcements. This will include:

  • Speaking to prospects and understanding how they express their needs
  • Testing the application thoroughly to catch any overlooked bugs
  • Using a dynamic virtual environment that lets you launch your product the right way
  • Devising a multi-channel marketing strategy for your product launch
  • Customizing the event to represent your brand
  • Getting ready for your speaker sessions
  • Creating videos and product documents to educate attendees in an engaging way.

And with that, you’ll be ready for a successful virtual launch that wins you leads right from the get-go!

9 Innovative Ideas to Help You Host a Winning Virtual Product Launch

Companies invest heavily in product development, from ideation to launch. Given the team’s effort, a spectacular launch is essential to honor their hard work. Yet, planning a successful launch is complex, with no one-size-fits-all strategy and the challenge of capturing consumer attention in a competitive market. 

Often, high-performing teams delegate launches to specialized teams or event companies, striving for a memorable debut. The stakes are high, as a poorly executed launch can cause a product to fail. To keep that from happening, you might want to take a look at these interesting ideas that can help you plan a killer virtual product launch.

1. Create a Constant Loop of Promotions with Giveaways & Contests

Brands often run giveaways and contests before the launch, which allows them to not just maximize awareness but also secure the involvement of viewers.

You could send your product to an exclusive group of participants whom you select via a contest, and they can in return spread the word about your product and share their positive reviews. The key aspect of this idea is to ensure its virality by getting the participants to tag their friends and share posts to create a constant loop of promotions.

2. Drive Organic Traffic with Blogs

Blogs have taken over today’s versatile digital landscape. This is because before making any purchasing decision, consumers like to do extensive research to educate themselves and validate their purchasing decisions. To drive organic traffic, you could get your content team to write about your product on popular websites and blogs. Draft compelling content that instead of being a shameless plug, provides value to the reader, identifies an issue, and organically establishes your product as the problem solver.

3. Spark Interest with Teasers & Videos

The kind of impact and engagement that videos draw is unprecedented. Not only are event videos much more watchable and appealing than text, but studies show that viewers can also retain the content of videos for much longer.

A tried and tested way of generating hype for your product launch is to shoot small teaser videos, that stoke the excitement of viewers and heighten their expectations before the release. Release your teaser a month before the launch so the campaign can gain momentum and share it on popular social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. These teasers can also be great for giving the viewers a feel of what might be in store for them without giving away too much.

A few days before the launch, share longer and more insightful videos that establish the need for it, reveal its key features, and demonstrate how it can add value to people’s lives. Behind the scenes, videos and footage of event preparations could also go a long way in maintaining the hype for the product up until the day of the launch.

4. Plan a Grand Virtual Event or Launch Party

A common way to grab headlines is to throw a smashing launch party that is festive and entertaining and creates the right kind of noise. To jazz up your event, you could set a theme, invite chief guests and speakers, arrange live performances, or organize activities to engage the audience, etc. 

Get your PR team to write press releases and capture the event happenings on social media so the launch can grab headlines and get people talking.

The event can employ rich interactive tools to educate visitors about the new product and encourage participation from their end with features like chat forums, webinars, polls, and videos available on demand. There are various other options available to virtually showcase the product by delivering product demos, personal pitches, or allowing them to simply download the resources.

You can completely customize the virtual product launch event, from the booths and workflows to your content to ensure it suits your needs.

5. Start a Countdown

Another way to create a strong sense of anticipation before the launch is to start a countdown on your digital channels. This will keep serving as a friendly reminder about the product launch while also constantly building up excitement for it.

6. Make Use of Community Engagement Campaigns 

Create a group of avid followers and check the vibe through pre-event community engagement tricks. This method helps gather potential supporters and gives you a peek into what your audience expects. Plus, get your community to hype up your product launch by organizing fun contests, giving away cool swag, or sharing stories of happy customers. When customers join in, they stick around.

Putting the community first in your chats and posts brings people closer, making them loyal fans. People love feeling like they’re part of something; involving them through community stuff stirs interest in your product.

7. Add Some Pizazz with a Virtual DJ

When it comes to product launches, the chance to dazzle exists in captivating venues adorned with striking lights and cutting-edge stage designs. Extend that enchantment to virtual events by introducing a virtual DJ, adding a touch of that celebratory vibe that brings an air of exclusivity to product launch gatherings. Music plays a pivotal role in setting the mood, establishing an unforgettable ambiance that’s bound to spark conversations among attendees.

8. Arrange Exclusive 1:1 Sessions

Apart from building up anticipation for your new product, conducting 1:1 sessions with speakers can be an enticing factor for those who are undecided about attending. Virtual events present unique capabilities that are often unattainable in physical settings. Providing exclusive VIP 1:1 sessions with speakers via video is an excellent method to offer added value to attendees and could serve as a compelling prize for a pre-event contest.

9. Add in a Virtual Social Wall

Incorporate a virtual social wall into your event. These walls serve to showcase and amplify the excitement and anticipation surrounding your launch, while also encouraging attendees to actively participate in the social discourse related to your brand. 

Integrating a virtual social wall into your virtual product launch enables you to curate and exhibit all event-related content, including user-generated material like selfies taken at your virtual photo booth by attendees.

How to Market a Virtual Product Launch

Step 1: Advertise your Product Launch Online

People will only make it to the event if they first hear about it. For this reason, you’ll need to invest some time and effort into marketing the event.

Let’s take a look at some of the most popular event marketing channels:

  • Email: Send out announcement emails to your existing email list via email marketing. Schedule reminders ahead of the launch so more and more people sign up for the event. A reminder 15 minutes before the event will boost your attendee count.
  • Press release: Send out a press release ahead of time to announce your launch. 
  • Social: Advertise on social media and drop hints on all your channels. This is a great way to build anticipation and hook your prospects in. 
  • Sticky bar: A sticky bar across your site will help inform other visitors about the upcoming launch.
  • Landing page: Publish event details on a landing page so prospects can learn everything they need to know before the event.

Step 2: Promote the Event on the Landing Page

Every virtual event needs an impactful landing page at its entrance. This page will serve two purposes:

  • Display the registration form to traffic coming in from all your marketing efforts 
  • Provide event details to prompt registrations

These two objectives are very important in driving sign-ups. For this reason, make it visually appealing and captivating. Add event details and a clear agenda. 

You will also need to make sure that the registration form is very concise, rather than being a hurdle to entry. All these steps will help you optimize your landing page for conversions! Learn how you can design effective landing pages for your virtual software launch.

Step 3: Engage Your Audience with Teasers and Previews

Creating excitement and anticipation is key to attracting a large audience to your virtual product launch. Share teasers and sneak previews of your product on your social media platforms, website, and emails. These glimpses can include behind-the-scenes content, product features, or testimonials from beta testers. The goal is to spark curiosity and keep your audience eagerly waiting for the full reveal.

Step 5: Utilize Interactive Content

To keep the momentum going, incorporate interactive content such as polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions related to your product. This can be done through social media or your event’s landing page. Interactive content not only engages your audience but also provides valuable insights into their expectations and preferences, which can be useful for tailoring your launch presentation.

Step 6: Conduct a Dry Run

Before the big day, conduct a dry run of your virtual product launch. This includes testing all technical aspects such as streaming quality, audio, and interactive tools like chat and polls. Ensure that all speakers and presenters are comfortable with the format and flow of the event. A smooth, glitch-free experience will make a strong impression on your audience.

Step 7: Follow Up Post-Launch

After the excitement of the launch, it’s crucial to keep the conversation going. Follow up with attendees through email with a thank you message, a recording of the event, and additional information on where they can purchase or learn more about the product. Also, gather feedback on the event to learn what worked well and what could be improved for future launches.

By following these steps and focusing on engagement, anticipation, and seamless execution, you can ensure that your virtual product launch is a resounding success, capturing the attention and interest of your target audience.

BONUS: How to Build an Effective Landing Page for Your Virtual Product Launch

Wondering how to draw crowds to your online event without a physical venue? How do you spark interest in your event before it even happens?

Don’t sweat it—your event’s landing page has got this covered.

A well-crafted landing page isn’t just any page; it’s your ticket to driving registrations for your online product launch. It’s about creating urgency and compelling action, not just existing. This section will walk you through creating a landing page that converts for your virtual product launch. Let’s dive in!

1. Be Clear about your Target Audience

Depending on the kind of product you are launching, you should have a clear idea of what your ideal customer base should look like. This is essential for structuring your communication in a way that’ll attract your target audience and convince them of the value of this event.

2. Design an Appealing Banner Image

Visuals play a significant role in engaging audiences. You have a solid product that is being launched. Use attractive images — either of the product or its useability to capture the attention of your visitors.

3. Explain What, Why, and When

Double down your efforts on writing a compelling copy. Provide all relevant information but also give them reasons to register for the launch by addressing their pain points.

The landing page must be easy to navigate with clear copy and interactive design. Confused visitors will leave the page, without taking any action. Don’t forget to mention:

  • Time of the event
  • Date of the event
  • About the host organization
  • What to expect at the launch

4. Agenda of the Event

A product launch — either physical or virtual — has multiple facets. You might want to add several webinars to talk about various specifications of the latest product releases, or you might want to engage your audience with keynote sessions by influencers in your respective industry.

It is, however, important to understand that your audience will be joining your event from remote locations, which means they are most likely to have very short attention spans. Therefore, providing the agenda prior to the event makes it easier for visitors — not only to understand what to expect from the event but to also help them plan their schedules according to the sessions of their interest. This also ensures maximum engagement during sessions as visitors are unlikely to be worn out by the time they enter their most relevant session.

5. Insert a Clear Call-to-action

What is the end goal of creating this landing page? Maximizing registrations at your online product launch. 

Your strategy isn’t absolutely foolproof if it ignores the primary action. Place a button that says “Register Now” loud and clear, and in the direct line of sight of your visitors so they know what is required of them. This will further direct them to the registration form, fulfilling your goal. 

6. Give Sponsors & Exhibitors the Limelight they Deserve

Just as in a physical event, sponsors and other participating bodies are the shining stars of online events as well. Adding their logos on your landing page would help drive a larger number of visitors from each one of their platforms as well as your own, maximizing registrations at your online product launch.

7. Dedicate a Segment to FAQs

As stated previously, a number of visitors landing on your event page would be looking forward to an online version of a product launch for the first time. To ensure you provide them with sufficient assistance, a section with frequently asked questions along with their answers would benefit users to a great extent, resulting in a more compelled audience and more signups.  

8. Promote on Relevant Platforms

Speaking of promotions, the success of every event depends on the number of relevant eyeballs that it attracts. You want to make sure the right people are targeted, so, you need to promote your landing page on every platform that your audience spends their time on. For example, if you are introducing a new range of gaming laptops at your online product launch, make sure to target young, tech-savvy gamers present on platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook.

Pro tip: Get involved in relevant groups on Facebook and push your event within discussions or post ads to grab as much attention as possible.

Key Takeaways

Virtual events are changing how we launch products, giving us tons of ways to be creative and get people excited. By using innovative event tech, businesses can reach people worldwide. Adding games, live chats, or immersive product tours increases your chances of sparking interest in your product and front-load pre-orders.

Being creative and trying new things in the virtual world lets businesses boost sales and get closer to their customers. So, get creative, do what your audience loves, and make that virtual product launch unforgettable!

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Top 5 Brella Alternatives & Competitors https://www.vfairs.com/blog/brella-alternatives/ Fri, 19 Jul 2024 07:52:34 +0000 https://www.vfairs.com/?p=37124 For event organizers looking for greater creative freedom and customization, frustration often arises with platforms like Brella. While Brella is recognized for facilitating reliable and efficient personalized 1-to-1 meetings at events, it can be perceived as too restrictive for those wanting more control over their event’s unique aspects. This sentiment is echoed by many in the industry who feel that Brella’s rigidity limits their ability to fully tailor their events to their specific vision and requirements.

To help you find the best fit for your unique event planning needs, we have rounded up a list of the top Brella alternatives for 2024, catering to the increasing demand for efficient and feature-rich event management solutions.

Brella Alternatives Comparison at a Glance

What is Brella: Overview

Brella is an event networking platform designed for large exhibitions and conferences, facilitating connections between attendees and sponsors through AI-powered matchmaking. Its main features include intent-based matchmaking, 1:1 meeting booking, video conferencing, and chat for face-to-face meetings. However, some users have noted drawbacks such as limited customization options and integrations, which can restrict the flexibility needed for more personalized event experiences.

Key Features

AI-Powered Networking

Utilizes artificial intelligence to intelligently match attendees based on their interests and goals, facilitating meaningful connections. This includes the capability to book 1:1 meetings and conduct video conferences for face-to-face interactions, enhancing networking opportunities at both physical and virtual events.

Event Management

Supports a hybrid model by providing features for both physical and virtual events. This includes live meeting areas for in-person interactions and virtual meeting areas equipped with tools for remote participants, ensuring seamless engagement across different event formats.

Agenda Management

Enables organizers to create and manage multi-track agendas, allowing attendees to choose from various sessions and tracks. Additionally, it offers the flexibility to present agendas in attendees’ local time zones, ensuring clarity and convenience for a global audience.

Attendee Communication

Provides a robust notification system to keep attendees informed about any delays or changes to the event schedule. This includes push notifications and alerts, ensuring attendees are always up-to-date with the latest information.

Content Management

Allows organizers to upload and manage sponsor and exhibitor content, making it easily accessible to attendees. This feature supports various types of content, such as brochures, videos, and presentations, enhancing the visibility and engagement of sponsors and exhibitors.

Reviews

  • “I use it for tradeshow events that I am attending to pre-book appointments for either before-the-show meetings or on-site. It’s great to see the attendance ahead of time. I had a login issue, and Support emailed me back in 3 minutes. After a couple of exchanges, they figured out the fix in under 10 minutes—very fast.” – Brendan S., Sales Rep
  • “It is an exceptional platform, but it lacks intuition and sometimes its use tends to be frustrating, adding that it does not contain a free system to get to know it a little and be sure that you want to buy it.” – Amelia g., Senior Software Engineering
  • “All needed tools are in one platform. The best part is that I have my calendar synch with my PC, as well I can access all my meetings and the events of the summit in one place; there were minor bugs in the earlier versions, but I have seen that all those bugs were solved in the latest version. I don’t see a tool in the market for events that cover all the event requirements and meetups like Brella for the moment.” – Mohamed H., CEO
  • “A bit restrictive in functionality at times. I hope they start giving the organizer more freedom to change things in the app without compromising on the great design. Still, there are slight lags and problems when signing on, we have had some attendees struggle to log in at times. I don’t see much of any other blocking problem on the platform other than that point.”  – Kristoffer L., CEO

Now let’s take a look at some of Brella alternatives.

Top 5 Brella Alternatives & Competitors

vFairs

Number one on our list of the Brella alternatives is vFairs, an all-in-one event platform and a great alternative to Brella, widely acknowledged for its adaptability in managing virtual, hybrid, and in-person events.

vFairs provides a dynamic virtual environment with customizable booths, networking lounges, and interactive elements designed to enhance attendee engagement. The platform seamlessly integrates virtual and in-person experiences, offering features like live streaming of physical sessions and virtual audience participation. 

Its comprehensive tech stack supports efficient event management across all formats, including event registration, ticketing solutions, and streamlined badge printing and check-ins. Additionally, vFairs offers custom-branded pages and intuitive mobile event apps, empowering organizers to create engaging experiences that resonate with attendees.

While Brella offers AI-powered matchmaking, 1:1 meeting booking, and video conferencing for networking, vFairs also offers the same features as Brella, including robust networking capabilities through its interactive lounges and engagement tools. This makes vFairs a versatile choice for delivering unforgettable events across all types of formats.

Key Features

Event Ticketing & Registration 

vFairs offers a comprehensive event management solution designed to streamline event registrations and payments across virtual, hybrid, and in-person formats. Customize registration forms effortlessly, implement tiered pricing structures, and facilitate group registrations seamlessly with vFairs event registration platform.

With integrated payment options through PayPal and Stripe, collecting payments is a breeze. Tailor access to event content for various user types with ease, crafting personalized registration forms using the intuitive drag-and-drop form builder.

Badge Printing & Check-Ins

Attendees can check-in seamlessly using vFairs’ event management software. They have the option to scan a QR code or use self-serve kiosks for self-check-in. Upon scanning the QR code, the badge printer is automatically prompted to print the attendee badge within seconds.

In addition to streamlined check-in processes, vFairs allows extensive customization options for virtual, hybrid, or in-person events. Personalize virtual environments, landing pages, and exhibitor booths to create a unique and engaging experience. Furthermore, integrate custom fields into registration forms to gather pertinent data that aligns with your event objectives.

Effortlessly generate and print tailored badges for attendees, exhibitors, and sponsore with our robust badge printing tool. Designed to simplify the badge printing process, this powerful tool enables you to create customized badges adorned with attendee names, logos, and pertinent information. 

Event Customization

Opt for either configuration or customization to tailor your event setup to your exact specifications. Configuration allows for adjustments such as branded colors, logos, and text labels within predefined templates, ensuring a consistent and professional appearance. On the other hand, customization offers bespoke event designs, white-labeled apps, and tailored features to boost engagement and maximize ROI.

vFairs’ all-in-one event management software provides extensive customization options for virtual, hybrid, or in-person events. Personalize every aspect, from virtual environments and landing pages to exhibitor booths, creating a unique and engaging experience. Additionally, you can incorporate custom fields into registration forms to gather pertinent data that aligns with your event objectives.

Mobile App

The vFairs mobile event app has essential tools for seamless operations. You can provide exhibitors and sponsors with various branding opportunities within the app with sponsor hub, splash ads, banners and branded booths. Ensure easy movement across the event for attendees with instant check-in at entry and floor maps. 

Foster engagement through live polls and timely notifications. Tailor the app to your needs with case-specific features like job advertising and automated certificates, supported by detailed analytics and eco-friendly document uploads. 

Lead Capture App & Lead Retrieval

Easily capture, qualify and monitor event leads with vFairs Lead Capture and Retrieval feature. Provide exhibitors with robust attendee search and filtration tools, enabling them to identify and connect with targeted participants seamlessly. 

With the ability to mark potential prospects as favorites and add contextual notes to each contact, exhibitors can enhance lead context, ensuring effective follow-up actions and fostering meaningful conversations. Onsite contact capture enables exhibitors to gather real-time data, which, combined with thorough event ROI analysis and data analytics, provides valuable insights. 

This comprehensive suite of features equips exhibitors with the tools they need to maximize their participation, drive valuable connections, and assess the success of their efforts at your event.

User Reviews

  • “I think vFairs’ Event Management Platform is extremely robust and extensive. I like that they have the internal processes and procedures in place to help facilitate our events “soup to nuts.” The coordination and integration between the website, mobile app, on-site representation, and backend support helped us elevate our brand and offer an enhanced experience for our clients and event attendees.” – Sandra  D., Small-Business
  • “We pushed the vFairs platform to its limits and beyond and vFairs are always keen to help us find a good solution! Our rep also was a great help in terms of helping take some tasks off my plate, something that I will be forever grateful for!” – Claire N, Event Manager
  • “ Loved having the options of having a desktop and mobile app experience. The team support was exceptional with being timely, accommodating and flexible with finding solutions that fit our needs. Overall, it was a positive experience that enabled us to have a highly impactful summit.” – Matt B, Mid-Market
  • “We had an upcoming event 6 weeks away, so my intent was to gather information for future events, but they walked me through the feasibility of implementing the platform for our event in the immediate future. With their support we were able to turn our in-person-only event into a hybrid event and expand our attendee base.” – Corbin S., Chief Administrative Officer

Whova

Next on our list of Brella alternatives, Whova offers  online registration, badge printing and check-in, attendee engagement, and  event marketing features. 

Its versatility caters to in-person, online, or hybrid events, making it a valuable tool for various organizational needs. 

The platform offers an event mobile app tailored for in-person events, facilitating seamless attendee engagement and access to event resources on-the-go. Additionally, it serves as a hybrid and virtual event platform, enabling organizers to host events in various formats. Its comprehensive event management tools include online registration and payment processing, streamlining the event planning process and enhancing attendee experience.

However, mastering its advanced features can be challenging for users without technical expertise. Additionally, the pricing structure is often perceived as complicated, with multiple tiers and feature sets spread across different packages, making it difficult for users to select the most suitable option.

User Reviews

  • “Whova is a one-stop shop and it has it all to drive attendee engagement and provide a space where organizers can effectively utilize and organize information about the event. Not only was it easy to use there were plenty of features and guides to help easily implement each of the available amenities through the available and speedy reply of customer support. ” – Tasha S, Small Business Owner
  • “It didn’t come with instructions’ ‘ from the event organizers so you do have to at least have some base-level smartphone skills and be intuitive to where you might need to be or what you might need to do. In this age, you have to be able to figure some stuff out without instructions so I don’t see this as a Whova deficiency but instead an intendee need for professional development if this was an issue for them.” – Melissa L, Project Manager
  • “As a Vendor, it would have been helpful if there were some live one-on-one chat. As a conference participant, it would be nice if there were a way to prioritize alerts. Much of what showed up as alerts wasn’t important to me and there were so many that I had a difficult time catching the things that were important, i.e., I missed a group notification.” – Melissa G, Program Evaluator
  • “It is quite overwhelming for first-time users with limited tech background and I think the User Guide could be improved to include some things that may be considered minor. Also, the mobile app should be updated to allow attendees to view event time in local time, as is the case on the web app.” – Piniel Tawanda Z.

Stova

Securing third place on our list of the top Brella alternatives is Stova. It emerged from the merger of Aventri, MeetingPlay, and Eventcore. From intimate gatherings to expansive conferences and exhibitions, Stova caters to events of all scales and types.

The platform offers comprehensive meeting management for seamless scheduling, alongside efficient online registration capabilities. It supports both virtual and hybrid events, catering to diverse audience preferences. Its event marketing tools allow organizers to promote effectively, while content management ensures rich event experiences. Additionally, networking and attendee management tools facilitate meaningful connections among participants, enhancing overall event engagement and success.

A user on G2 mentioned that STOVA lacks a clear product description for new users. Although training sessions are provided, they are insufficient on their own, making the role of project managers crucial in navigating the platform.

User Reviews

  • “Excellent service and response time. The platform delivered without a single problem and all last minute changes were accommodated without any issues. Streaming content was clear and professional with no interruptions or bandwidth challenges. It was perfect!” – Thomas F, COO
  • “Their pricing model leaves a lot to be desired. Everything seems ala carte, which made me feel like I was being nickeled and dimed. I would have preferred to have pricing based on a basic package, medium-sized event package, or a grande experience. It’s one thing to have some specialty ala carte items, but with so many options that should be standard, it made contracting hard.” – Gwendolyn P, Director of Global Events
  • “They are very professional, responsive, and knowledgeable about their platform. We felt handled through a new way of producing events and so much so that we decided to refer other clients to their services.” – Julia T, Producer
  • “The system is slow and a little clunky with specific things. Like the agenda, you have to go to a certain page to make edits, which once you figure out makes sense but it is not very intuitive. If there is a way to add several events in a day at once it would be amazing. It also has a very slow load time and there are some glitches like sometimes links are blue and underlined and other times they are the wrong color.” – Adriana L, Creator

Bizzabo

Bizzabo, one of the more comprehensive Brella alternatives, empowers organizers with a range of functionalities to streamline event planning and execution. From building event websites to facilitating ticket sales, fostering event communities, and offering attendees a mobile app, Bizzabo covers some aspects of event management. Its suite of analytics tools enables organizers to gauge event success effectively.

Bizzabo offers a comprehensive suite of features to streamline event management. Its registration tools simplify the user registration process, including payment processing and mobile check-in. The platform facilitates event creation, from website development to email automation and contact list management, enhancing marketing and communication efforts. 

Despite its popularity in the events industry, many users find Bizzabo challenging to use at first, leading to a time-consuming event setup process.

User Reviews

  • “The Bizzabo app is also a real plus when it comes to onsite communication and networking – it is also very easy to design and customize per our own needs.” – Benedicte F, Head of Global Communications
  • “It’s a nice platform but I would like it to be more intuitive. There are things in the set-up that are very important to do but we can forget to change, maybe to have a sort of notification would be great. For the language it’s not flexible. we have to create our own landing pages when we want to do webinars other than in English.” – Lina G.
  • “One of the best assets of using Bizzabo is its UI. It gives a very straightforward approach that makes it easy to use in implementing and monitoring forms and events, which is important since the Bizzabo platform is frequently used in our BAU tasks and its numerous features make it easier.” – Joe M., Production Manager
  • “Becoming familiar with all the­ features of Bizzabo can be time­ consuming. It might feel overwhe­lming at first. Although the platform prioritizes networking, incorporating additional virtual e­ngagement tools could enhance­ remote participation. The re­porting function is robust but could benefit from streamlining to make­ it more user-friendly.” – Yasmine H, Communications Coordinator

Cvent

Next on our list of Brella alternatives is Cvent which caters to a diverse range of events, including webinars, online, in-person, and virtual gatherings, offering specialized features like reporting and analytics, venue management, and email marketing. 

With a focus on simplifying manual event management tasks, Cvent enables planners to create branded events efficiently, saving time and effort. The software provides  tools for creating custom events with personalized backgrounds and layouts, while also offering features like surveys, polls, and emojis to boost attendee engagement. 

Speakers and organizers have the flexibility to present content in live, semi-live, or recorded formats, ensuring a dynamic and interactive event experience. However, the platform falls short of offering sponsorship opportunities within its mobile app, a feature commonly found in other Cvent alternatives. Additionally, its pricing model, which includes both an annual license fee and a per-registrant fee, varies based on the specific solution type, potentially complicating the decision-making process for users.

Check out the top Cvent alternatives.

User Reviews

  • “Once I read and understand the program, it’s easy with tutorials and articles in the help section to figure out what I want to do step by step. If those do not work there is an excellent customer service to assist.” – Mary Ann H, Event Coordinator
  • “Cost is a bit higher than other event management platforms, but tends to have very few glitches (if any) and provides excellent management of events from a couple of people to thousands. I have worked with other platforms that could not handle large groups without crashing, so the consistency in performance is a comfort. Oftentimes, you’ll find the cost of the platform is offset by time savings.” – Julie Michelle D, Program Manager
  • “Cvent is nice in that it has thought of many of the different scenarios planners need to communicate, offer registration for and track for each event. The integrated credit card processing makes handling the financial aspect of meetings much easier.” – Beth C, Executive Director
  • “I think that the reporting could be more robust!” – Nicole G, SMMS Operator

Key Takeaways

Among Brella alternatives, vFairs stands out as the top choice for event management in 2024. Unlike Whova, vFairs offers extensive customization options for design and registration forms. Compared to Webex Events, vFairs guarantees robust performance for events of any size. Unlike Eventzilla, vFairs integrates seamlessly with a wide array of tools. Additionally, vFairs boasts an intuitive, user-friendly interface, resolving the steep learning curve issues often encountered with Cvent.

With vFairs, you gain comprehensive event management capabilities that enhance engagement and streamline operations for virtual, hybrid, and in-person events. 

Experience the difference firsthand by requesting a demo with vFairs today!

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Pheedloop Review: An In-Depth Analysis of Features, Competitors, and Customer Experiences https://www.vfairs.com/blog/pheedloop-review/ Tue, 25 Jun 2024 08:30:39 +0000 https://www.vfairs.com/?p=37119 Wondering if you should choose Pheedloop for your event management needs in 2024? Don’t worry our Pheedloop review has got you covered.

Finding the right event management solution can be overwhelming, with so many options promising various features. We understand the struggle of scrolling through endless choices. To make your search easier, we’ve done the research for you. We’ve thoroughly evaluated Pheedloop, considering factors like ease of use, flexibility, scalability, and support in our review.

So, sit back, relax, and let us guide you through some of the good and the not so good the Pheedloop platform has to offer.

What is Pheedloop? 

PheedLoop is an event management platform that offers a range of features, including an event app, exhibitor and speaker management, an event registration system, and a virtual event platform.

PheedLoop offers event badging and check in and on-site support. The platform includes a dedicated virtual portal for fully virtual events and regularly incorporates customer feedback into its development process.

It has garnered predominantly positive feedback from its users, who commend its intuitive interface, customizable features, and comprehensive event management capabilities. Users particularly appreciate the platform’s seamless integration of various event planning aspects, including registration, ticketing, virtual event hosting, and networking. The platform’s responsive customer support has also been praised for its prompt and helpful assistance.

However, some users have found PheedLoop’s platform overwhelming, especially for first-time users, due to its extensive array of features and customization options. Additionally, occasional reports of technical glitches and limitations in certain functionalities have been noted. While PheedLoops offers affordability, some users on G2 find themselves wanting more customization options without having to incur additional costs for add-ons. Although customization is available, users may end up paying for multiple extras, which can accumulate and become pricey over time. This drawback highlights a balance between affordability and the desire for greater customization flexibility within the platform.

Key Features

Event Registration

PheedLoop app’s registration system is accessible from the main dashboard and can be embedded on other websites. It enables planners to manage ticket prices, promotions, waitlists, badge design, and event sales. The dashboard also displays registrations in progress, allowing planners to send reminders to encourage attendance.

The registration system synchronizes seamlessly with all your event portals. Attendees can manage their tickets, check-in, and badges directly from the event app. Similarly, the virtual event portal grants access to privileged content based on their registration status.

Mobile Event App

PheedLoop, available for iOS and Android, features interactive schedules, push notifications, badge scanning, lead retrieval, messaging, gamification options, and session check-in capabilities. PheedLoop’s event management software facilitates networking among attendees through a sophisticated meeting scheduler.  It also simplifies exhibitor lead retrieval by enabling exhibitors to capture leads effortlessly using any smartphone camera. 

Stakeholders Management

PheedLoop’s Stakeholder Management feature is designed to streamline the coordination and engagement of speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors for your event. This feature provides each stakeholder with a personalized portal that allows them to manage their event participation autonomously. Stakeholders can update their profiles, manage sessions, engage with live polls and Q&A, and upload necessary documents directly through their portals.

Gamification

PheedLoop integrates gamification elements into its event app, enabling organizers to assign point values to various interactions. Attendees can earn points throughout the event, view their scores on leaderboards, and potentially win prizes, even without actively pursuing them.

The gamification is seamlessly integrated into every facet of your event experience, allowing attendees to be rewarded simply for their active participation. 

PheedLoop Pros and Cons

Pros

1. Speaker, Exhibitor, and Sponsor Support

Exhibitors have the flexibility to run virtual booths alongside in-person ones. Automation of contracts and billing allows users to streamline the process for exhibitors and sponsors. Moreover, stakeholders are also provided access to private portals for seamless collaboration.

 

“Two things really stand out. The registration system really makes life easier. And the sponsor/exhibitor onboarding and management saves so much back and forth.” – 

Bryn S., Small-Business

2. Interactive Features for Networking

PheedLoop platform enhances peer engagement and interaction during presentations by offering live chat features. This allows attendees to actively participate in discussions, ask questions, and share insights in real-time, fostering a dynamic and engaging event environment.

“I loved the networking video group rooms – attendees could easily go face to face. Loved the option for exhibitors to do live video too! The simplicity of generating an event microsite was wonderful. We didn’t need anything incredibly fancy, just straightforward. Their schedule viewing options (by day, track, audience, etc) were excellent.” – Kate P., Consultant

3. Customization and User-Friendly Design

It offers a highly customizable platform, enabling organizers to effortlessly align the event with their company branding. From event websites to registration pages and mobile apps, users can tailor the platform’s appearance to reflect their brand identity, ensuring a cohesive and professional event experience.

“The platform is user-friendly and easy to navigate. Also, generating reports and sending communications to speakers is super simple.” – Christine L., Student Engagement Specialist

Cons

1. Ideal for Large Events Only 

Well-suited for running large events, this platform offers an overwhelming number of features, including detailed analytics, interactive exhibit booths, and comprehensive customization options. However, for small and medium-sized businesses, which are usually on a strict budget, this platform may not be suitable due to the high cost of numerous add-ons.

“If you are looking to target a large audience, PheedLoop app is most definitely the platform to use. As a small business, we don’t need a lot of the additional features Pheedloop has to offer. I almost WISH we were a larger company so that we can use all the cool features they have!” – Sara H.,Director of Information Technology

2. Integration Challenges and Technical Issues

Users have faced issues with the integration. The available integrations do not work seamlessly, leading to a glitchy experience. Constant changes in the platform’s backend can cause confusion and technical issues, which may disrupt live events. This instability may result in unexpected downtimes or errors during critical moments, making it challenging for event organizers to deliver a smooth and uninterrupted experience.

“The integration between their mobile app functions and the virtual portal functions were confusing and limiting for a fully virtual event. Attendees on tablet devices were unable to access chat functions. Attendees on mobile devices could not access much of anything. Thankfully, our attendees were mostly desktop anyhow!” – Kate P., Consultant

3. Customization Costs and Limitations

While PheedLoop offers a high degree of customization, this flexibility comes at a cost. Users often find that the additional features and custom options can add up quickly, making the platform quite pricey. This can be a significant downside for those on a tighter budget. Additionally, while PheedLoop provides extensive customization, some users feel that more customization options should be available at lower price points.

“The downside is that because it is customizable, you have to pay for all the extras, which can add up and get pricey.” – Verified User in Non-Profit Organization Management, Mid-Market

PheedLoop Pricing

PheedLoop’s pricing for the core system is billed annually and varies based on the number of attendees and the event format (in-person, virtual, or hybrid). The platform allows for an unlimited number of events to be hosted each year.

PheedLoops pricing for in-person events, additional add-ons such as on-site staff support and check-in kiosks can be purchased.

For PheedLoop virtual events, pricing can start as low as $1 per attendee, depending on the required modules, for access to a lightweight version of the core system with dedicated account support.

8 Reasons Why vFairs is a Better Pheedloop Alternative 

1. Extensive Customization Options

Get extensive customization options, allowing event organizers to tailor every aspect of the event experience. From customizable registration forms and ticket types to personalized exhibitor booths and branding, vFairs ensures your event reflects your unique vision. This flexibility enhances attendee engagement and aligns the event with your branding goals​

2. Seamless Third-party Integrations

vFairs excels in integrating with various third-party tools and platforms, ensuring a smooth and cohesive event management experience. Whether it’s incorporating CRM systems, payment gateways, or social media platforms, vFairs’ seamless integrations streamline operations and enhance functionality, making it easier to manage and promote events​.

3. Modular Platform

vFairs’ modular platform allows you to pick and choose the features you need, ensuring you only pay for what you use. This flexibility caters to events of all sizes and types, providing a cost-effective solution that can be tailored to specific needs. From virtual exhibit halls to networking lounges and gamification, vFairs’ modular approach ensures you have the right tools for a successful event​

4. Seamless Event Ticketing & Registration

vFairs provides a comprehensive event management solution, streamlining event ticketing and registration. The platform offers customizable registration forms, tiered pricing options, and group registration features, making it easy for organizers to tailor the process to their needs. With integrated payment options through PayPal and Stripe, collecting payments is simple and hassle-free.

5. Highly Intuitive Mobile App

The vFairs mobile event app offers essential features for streamlined event management. It allows for easy and contactless check-in using QR codes, supports branding and sponsorships, and facilitates efficient attendee networking. Additionally, the app includes engagement tools such as live polls and timely push notifications, enhancing the overall event experience for attendees.

6. Onsite Badge Printing & Check-in

The vFairs mobile event app provides essential features for streamlined event management. It enables easy and contactless check-in with QR codes, supports branding and sponsorships, and facilitates efficient attendee networking. Moreover, the app offers engagement tools like live polls and timely push notifications, enhancing the overall event experience for attendees.

7. Streamlined Sponsor and Exhibitor Management

vFairs caters to your sponsor’s goals across all event types. The platform offers features designed to attract event sponsors by helping them increase exposure, fill their pipeline, and generate new leads and sales. It assists exhibitors in showcasing their brand by providing customizable exhibit booths. Additionally, it offers primary placements, larger booths, and more space in the exhibit hall to our top-tier sponsors. 

8. Interactive Engagement and Gamification Options

Enhance attendee engagement and encourage interaction within your event by incorporating gamification. Increase traffic to key spaces and incentivize audience engagement with game elements, challenges, and rewards. Utilize features such as leaderboards, scavenger hunts, trivia games, live polling, spin the wheel, and other fun integrations to create a more interactive, immersive, and enjoyable experience for your attendees.

vFairs: Pheedloop’s Better Alternative

Pheedloop review

Final Thoughts

That’s all for our PheedLoop review and remember, the best event management platform for you is the one that perfectly suits your needs. Whether it’s ease of use, customization options, or stellar customer support, prioritize what matters most to you in your search for the ideal solution.

One platform that stands out is vFairs, which offers a comprehensive range of features, including customizable event websites, interactive exhibitor booths, and live webinars. vFairs excels with its user-friendly interface, extensive branding options, and exceptional customer service, making it a top choice for managing diverse event types.

Interested in exploring what vFairs has to offer? Book a demo today.

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Swapcard Review: A Look at Features, Pricing, Alternatives & More https://www.vfairs.com/blog/swapcard-review/ Mon, 01 Jul 2024 17:27:26 +0000 https://www.vfairs.com/?p=37031 Swapcard is an event management platform widely known for its innovative event engagement and networking solutions. Although the platform provides various event management tools, such as the Swapcard app, and registration tool, its feature sets are limited.

This  Swapcard review blog will explore the latest features, potential drawbacks, pricing information, and user reviews. We will also examine Swapcard alternatives, which offer more comprehensive feature sets for event planners like you who may be looking for other options.

Let’s start. 

What is SwapCard? 

Swapcard logo

Swapcard is an event management platform that supports in-person, hybrid, and virtual events. The platform is highly regarded for its effective use of tools to facilitate B2B matchmaking, which connects individuals based on their profiles, interests, and unique event experiences. 

In addition to event networking, the platform includes mobile app solutions, a live dashboard for tracking event performance, and registration tools.

SwapCard Key Features

Here are some of the most talked-about Swapcard features:

Mobile App

The Swapcard mobile app is designed to facilitate networking among attendees in the meeting space. Users can schedule meetings, navigate the event floor map, and access missed sessions through mobile devices. Event organizers can track the performance of their events in real-time through the app’s data analytics feature. 

Additionally, organizers can customize the app by changing background colors and adjusting it to match their event’s theme. However, it’s important to note that while partial customization is possible, creating a fully dedicated Swapcard mobile app may not be possible.

Analytics & Data Reporting

SwapCard provides powerful event analytics and data reporting tools. The integrated platform captures all event information in one convenient location, identifies key marketing signals, and unlocks valuable business insights to enhance event success.

It’s crucial to recognize that although Swapcard offers extensive event reporting features, it falls short in delivering a thorough post-event report to users who require it for in-depth event analysis.

Onsite Tools

The platform offers convenient onsite registration, check-in, and event badge printing services. Organizers can purchase the Swap Card-Go Box, which includes a badge printer, an iPad with a stand, an internet router, and more. The pricing ranges vary for different configurations of the hardware box.

However, it’s important to note that while SwapCard-Go makes event check-in and badge printing convenient, organizers still need to hire an event manager for onsite support, which costs $1000/day.

SwapCard Pros & Cons

Swapcard is an event management platform that simplifies your decision-making process. It’s worth exploring whether Swapcard is the right fit for you or considering Swapcard alternatives.

Pros

SwapCard provides a range of event management features perfectly tailored to users’ needs. Let’s explore the benefits of this event management platform.

Support Team

Swapcard users highly value the support teams’ reliability and trustworthiness, considering them an essential and dependable platform component.

Have a look at this user review:

Every time I contact Swapcard for assistance they are there to support me and resolve my enquiry quickly, professionally and friendly!” – Melissa T., Small Business

Easy-to-use mobile app

Swapcard’s mobile application features an intuitive and easy-to-use user interface. This allows users to navigate the app and access its various features seamlessly.

It has a good UI which makes it easy to navigate the app.” – Verified User in Information Technology Services, Small Business

Cons

Despite its highlighted benefits, SwapCard has significant drawbacks that fail to meet user expectations. 

Data Privacy Concerns

Swapcard employs third-party integrations to provide essential event features like gamification. However, this type of interaction can raise concerns about user data and privacy. Additionally, users have reported receiving excessive notifications and spam emails after signing up and logging in to access events on Swapcard’s platform.

They use a 3rd party for gamification, and we had issues with the set-up and functionality. Ultimately we made it work, however, we do not plan to use this feature in the future.” – Jamie G., Director, Meeting

Complex Interface

Users have expressed frustration with SwapCards’ complex interface and the lack of user-friendly software, which leads to extra time and effort spent on small tasks.

“Uploading the event attendees using their template proved to be a challenge. It was not as user-friendly as I would have liked it to be. I had to spend extra time doing a lot of trial and error. I hope they will improve that whole process/task. I felt the FAQ also lacked information at times.” – Linda T., Director for Student Professional Dev. & Employer Relations

SwapCard Pricing

Swapcard offers three pricing options : 

Starter: Self-serve plan for mid-sized events with up to 1,000 attendees starting at €490 /year. 

Professional: This plan is for conferences and franchises, with a limit of 10,000 attendees, starting from €3,990 /year. 

Enterprise: Custom pricing for more significant events with multiple events year-round. 

vFairs: Swapcard’s Better Alternative

vFairs is a comprehensive event management platform that provides services for in-person, hybrid, and virtual events of all sizes and types. The event industry recognizes vFairs for its innovative technology, intelligent features, and exceptional customer service.

The platform is always ahead of competitors by offering customized solutions to event planners and sponsors, resulting in a truly personalized event experience.

5 Reasons Why vFairs is a Better SwapCard Alternative

Are you looking for the best Swapcard alternatives? Look no further than vFairs! We’ve researched and compiled the top critical reasons vFairs is a clear choice. 

Intuitive & Secure Platform

vFairs is widely known for its user-friendly interface, making navigating easy for event attendees and organizers. The platform offers intuitive desktop software, and its mobile app further enhances the event experience.

Furthermore, vFairs takes data security seriously and complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). By utilizing best-in-class security measures, vFairs ensures the safety of customer data. Feel free to explore the security and compliance information and request full access to vFairs security documentation through this portal.

Self-serve Registration and Ticketing 

vFairs event registrationvFairs provides automated registration and payment processing tools to enhance event experiences. The event registration tool allows you to create a customizable registration form with automated audience segmentation, easy payment integration, group discounts, and more.

Moreover, the event registration tool offers bulk registration for attendees in groups. It provides a customizable registration process with event ticketing software and allows you to limit attendees per group to provide ultimate flexibility.

Advanced Mobile Event App

Mobile-Event-App

Unlike the Swapcard app, the vFairs event mobile app offers a fully personalized and customized event experience with a white-labeled mobile application. The vFairs mobile app significantly increases event engagement through polls, surveys, interactive games, video presentations, on-demand content, personalized notifications, and more. 

The app also facilitates event networking through easy contact exchange, smart video matching, live chat, and more. Additionally, the app provides branding and sponsorship opportunities with banner ads, splash ads, pop-up ads, and more.

Event Badge Printing App

vFairs Badge Printing

vFairs provides a comprehensive event management platform with advanced check-in and badge printing features. The event badge printing and check-in app allows attendees to easily self-check at the venue using personalized QR codes. This eliminates long queues and ensures a smooth and hassle-free check-in process.

Event organizers can create event badges in bulk using customizable badge layouts and templates. By incorporating sponsor or event logos in the badges, they can increase sponsorship opportunities and promote their brand.

AI-Powered Platform

vFairs AI powered event marketing

vFairs provides various AI-powered event solutions to streamline and speed up event planning. Unlike Swapcard, which offers AI-powered algorithmic matchmaking, vFairs offers smart matchmaking tools and other comprehensive AI-powered solutions across all platforms. Some of these include: 

  • AI-powered Email Builder: This tool helps create custom email campaigns for all audience segments in a fraction of the time. 
  • AI Writing Assistant: The AI-powered writing assistant effortlessly manages your brand’s social media presence and helps you promote your event to the target audience with eye-catching copy. The assistant also helps create unique copy for landing pages, video scripts for event promotions, speaker bios, and pre-and post-event press releases.
  • Webinar Summary and Chapterization: This AI-powered tool transcribes sessions from your Vimeo video library, creates engaging summaries, and easily organizes chapter breakdowns.
  • Reporting Chat Bot: vFairs reporting chatbot, empowers event organizers and attendees with real-time actionable data.

Customer Support

vFairs Customer Support

vFairs is known for providing exceptional online and onsite support for events. The platform is recognized for its experienced support team, which handles events from start to finish with utmost proficiency. The onsite customer support team manages everything from setting up the venue to handling customer queries, ensuring a remarkable in-person event experience.

Similarly, 24/7 online customer support deals with customer queries, technical difficulties organizers face, and more. To top it off, vFairs offers project managers with each project to handle your event to ensure a more personalized experience with no troubles.

vFairs vs SwapCard 

Have a look at vFairs Vs Swapcard review as per G2 ratings: 

vFairs VS Swapcard chart

Final Verdict: Choosing Swapcard Alternatives

Swapcard is a reliable event management software with advanced networking features. However, its features are limited, and if you require more advanced event features, you’ll need to integrate them from other providers. vFairs, conversely, has natively built features that ensure a smooth user experience and take away concerns about data privacy. Also, Swapcard is an off-the-shelf software, so if you are looking for bespoke solutions, consider exploring Swapcard alternative, vFairs. 

Schedule a demo with vFairs and take advantage of this opportunity to see what vFairs has to offer!

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