Report: More businesses are going virtual

One big reason is the cost savings; if businesses can save on travel expenses they can focus more on product placement, lead generation and marketing. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said they would not host or attend sales kickoff seminars and 76% report that their businesses have already begun to take advantage of the convenience and cost savings offered by holding virtual events.

Denise Persson, ON24 Chief Marketing Officer said, "The current economy makes online event alternatives very compelling, since they usually cost only a fraction of a physical one. But an equally important trend is that many employees are already participating in online social networking groups, so they are happy using these same behaviors to make the most of their
company events. They are as comfortable developing relationships online as in person, and they prefer the greater amount of information and sharing that online events provide."

The one downside, according to respondents, is that they won't get the face time through virtual events that they would get in person; but most say this results of this are negligible. Why are businesses turning to the virtual world? Cost and convenience are the biggest reasons.

With virtual shows or launches, sales teams can attend trainings or seminars on their own time schedule without missing out on valuable time at the office. Teams also report that they like to share webinars that are especially helpful; being able to email a link is vastly more efficient than sending another person to another seminar across the country.

Tags: ON24, online seminars, trade shows, virtual trade show, webinars