Should You Host an Online Event?
As a business owner, you may have considered hosting an online event like a summit, bundle, or conference. These types of collaborative events can be a powerful way to grow your audience, build credibility, and connect with other industry leaders. But is hosting an online event the right move for your business?
In this in-depth blog post, we'll explore the key factors to consider when deciding whether to host an online event.
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What is an Online Event?
An online event is a collection of resources, presentations, or interactive sessions that you can put together to increase your visibility and reach. This could take the form of a summit, where you curate a lineup of speakers to present live or pre-recorded talks over the course of a few days. Or it might be a bundle - a compilation of digital products, courses, or other valuable content that you offer to your audience, either for free or at a discounted price.
Other types of online events include conferences, which are similar to summits but may have a more interactive, workshop-style format, as well as interview series, challenges, and multi-day workshop programs. The common thread is that these events leverage collaboration and the power of community to deliver value to your audience and raise your profile as a thought leader in your industry.
The Benefits of Hosting an Online Event
So why should you consider hosting an online event for your business? There are several key benefits to keep in mind:
Grow Your Email List
One of the primary reasons businesses host online events is to grow their email list. By offering valuable free content and resources, you can attract new leads and convert them into subscribers. This gives you the opportunity to nurture those leads and turn them into paying customers down the line.
In fact, research shows that email marketing continues to be one of the most effective ways to reach and convert your audience. Hosting an online event can be an excellent list-building strategy to fuel your email marketing efforts.
Boost Your Visibility
When you host an online event, you're not just putting your own brand and expertise in front of your audience - you're also tapping into the audiences of your event partners and collaborators. Each speaker or contributor you bring on board will help promote the event to their own following, exposing your brand to a much wider pool of potential customers.
This cross-promotion can be a powerful way to increase your visibility and reach, especially if you're collaborating with influencers or industry leaders who have a larger following than your own. It's a win-win for everyone involved.
Build Credibility and Authority
Hosting an online event also positions you as an authority figure in your industry. By curating a lineup of expert speakers and delivering a high-quality, valuable experience for your audience, you're establishing yourself as a trusted resource and thought leader.
This can have a lasting impact on your brand's credibility and reputation. Customers are more likely to trust and do business with a brand that they perceive as an authority in its field. Hosting an event can be an excellent way to solidify your expertise and cement your status as an industry leader.
Deepen Connections with Collaborators
Finally, hosting an online event can be a great way to build deeper connections with your industry peers and collaborators. Working together to create an engaging, high-value experience for your shared audience can foster new relationships and strengthen existing ones.
These connections can lead to future collaboration opportunities, such as being featured on each other's podcasts or guest posting on each other's blogs. They can also open the door to joint ventures, co-created products, and other mutually beneficial partnerships down the line.
Is Hosting an Online Event Right for You?
While the benefits of hosting an online event are compelling, it's important to carefully consider whether it's the right move for your business. Here are some key signs that it might be time to start planning an event:
You're in a Growth Phase
If your business is in a growth period and you're looking to accelerate your progress, hosting an online event can be a great way to give your growth a boost. By tapping into new audiences and building your email list, you can fuel your marketing and sales efforts and take your business to the next level.
However, it's important to make sure you have the capacity and resources to take on the project of hosting an event. Putting together a successful online event requires a significant investment of time and effort, so you'll need to ensure you have the bandwidth to see it through.
You Have a Solid Plan and Collaborators in Mind
Another sign that it might be time to host an online event is if you already have a clear vision for what you want to create and a list of potential collaborators in mind. Having a strong event concept and a network of industry peers you can work with can make the planning process much smoother.
If you've been mulling over ideas for an online summit, bundle, or conference, and you already have a shortlist of speakers or contributors you'd love to work with, that's a great indicator that the time is right to start turning your vision into a reality.
You Have a Promotion-Worthy Offer
Finally, hosting an online event can be an excellent way to promote a new product, service, or program that you're launching. By building anticipation and excitement around your offer through the event, you can drive more sales and maximize the impact of your launch.
If you have a validated offer that's been selling well, or a new product you're excited to bring to market, an online event can be the perfect platform to give it the spotlight it deserves. Just be sure to have a solid plan in place for monetizing the event and converting attendees into paying customers.
Lessons Learned from Hosting an Online Event
If you're feeling inspired to host an online event, you're in luck - my recent Energy Savers event is the perfect case study to learn from. I recently hosted a free, not-so-live debrief where I shared all the behind-the-scenes details, including the numbers, the lessons learned, and the feelings that went into bringing the event to life.
You can sign up to watch the free debrief recording and submit your questions for the Q&A. I'll be diving deep into everything it took to plan and execute the Energy Savers event, so you can get a firsthand look at what it really takes to host a successful online event.
Getting Started with Your Online Event
If you've decided that hosting an online event is the right move for your business, here are some key steps to get you started:
Define Your Event Concept and Goals
Determine the type of event you want to host (summit, bundle, conference, etc.)
Identify the core theme, topics, and format of your event
Establish clear, measurable goals for your event (e.g. list growth, revenue, brand awareness)
Build Your Event Team
Identify potential collaborators and speakers to feature
Assign roles and responsibilities to your event team
Establish clear communication and project management systems
Develop Your Promotional Strategy
Create a content and social media plan to build buzz and excitement
Leverage your collaborators' audiences through cross-promotion
Optimize your event registration and sales pages for conversions
Deliver an Exceptional Experience
Ensure a smooth, seamless event experience for your attendees
Provide high-quality, valuable content and resources
Foster engagement and community throughout the event
Maximize Your Event's Impact
Nurture your new email subscribers with a strategic follow-up plan
Leverage event recordings and content for ongoing marketing
Identify opportunities for future collaboration and partnership
Hosting an online event is a significant undertaking, but it can be an incredibly rewarding and impactful way to grow your business. By carefully considering the factors we've discussed and following a strategic plan, you can create an event that delivers real value to your audience and propels your brand forward.
Ready to take the next step? Sign up for the free Energy Savers event debrief to get an insider's look at what it takes to host a successful online event
