What we learned by switching our in-person events to virtual during the coronavirus pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic upended industries nearly overnight — businesses moved their operations online and employees started working remotely. A major industry disruption happened in the events space, as governments and health officials banned large public gatherings, and individuals went into varying degrees of lockdown in early March. A cascade of canceled events soon followed. 

While we don’t think the pandemic has eliminated the value of face-to-face networking, we recognize the unique benefits of virtual events, particularly during this transformative time. 

Digital events offer: 

• A global audience: Unlike in-person events, virtual events aren’t limited to a physical location. That means that we can market to and invite a much wider audience.

• A wider pool of potential speakers: Since we aren’t confined to a specific market or city, we can recruit from a much broader talent base. 

• Programming that is most timely and relevant: We can program and market virtual events faster than in-person events, which require additional production work. This quicker turnaround means that the content shared is that much more timely. 

• More flexibility for attendees: At in-person events, attendees typically need to be in a seat in a particular venue for a number of hours. With virtual events, attendees can tune in from anywhere and reference lessons learned or catch up on what they missed with recordings. 

For those reasons, in early March, our events team pivoted to digital and launched “Business Insider Spotlight” to connect with and serve our audience.

“Business Insider Spotlight” is a digital event series where our editors discuss key topics that are resonating within our newsroom. We bring in experts and thought leaders for behind-the scenes-insights and updates on timely industry news. 

Watch the sizzle reel to learn more about the event series and sponsor benefits: