YouTube and Vimeo are popular choices for streaming events because they are easy to use and people are familiar with the platforms.
However, YouTube and Vimeo may not be ideal for private and corporate event hosting. Switching to a virtual event platform could make a huge difference to your event. Virtual event platforms are designed to make virtual events more interesting, brand focused, and packed with features.
Understanding Online Event Platforms
An online event platform is software made to support any size of virtual meeting, from small webinars and workshops to big conferences. These platforms are created for event planners. They provide a range of features that you may not find on regular live streaming services (such as YouTube and Vimeo).
Key Features of Online Event Platforms
Online event platforms stand out because of their robust feature sets, which include:
- Custom Branding Options: Tailor your event’s look and feel to align with your brand. This creates a cohesive and immersive experience for attendees.
- Interactive Features: Engage your audience with real-time Q&A sessions, polls, and chat functionalities. Turning passive viewers into active participants.
- Analytics and Reporting: Gain valuable insights into attendee behavior, engagement levels, and more, allowing for data-driven decision-making.
These features not only enhance the event experience for attendees but also create events that resonate with the audience.
The Limitations of Traditional Live Streaming
While platforms like YouTube have made access to live streaming popular, they have limitations that can impact the event effectiveness.
Lack of Custom Features
YouTube, despite being a popular platform for live streaming, offers limited branding and custom options. This limitation poses a significant challenge for event organisers who want to create a unique and immersive event experience that aligns with their brand identity.
Branding Limitations: YouTube’s interface allows for minimal customisation, such as adding a logo to your channel or customising the video thumbnail. However, when it comes to the event page or live streaming interface, the options are significantly restricted. This makes it difficult for brands to create a cohesive look and feel that resonates with their identity and values.
Custom User Experience: Unlike online event platforms that offer tailored event spaces, YouTube does not support a custom attendee experiences. Event organisers cannot modify the layout, incorporate brand colours, or add custom elements that enhance the user experience and engagement.
Limited Interaction
Engagement and interaction are crucial for the success of any virtual event. YouTube’s interaction capabilities are mainly limited to comments, likes, and the live chat feature during streams. This basic level of interaction falls short of fostering meaningful engagement among attendees.
Real-Time Interaction: While YouTube’s live chat feature allows for some level of real-time interaction, it lacks the sophistication of interactive tools offered by online event platforms, such as live polls, Q&A sessions with upvoting features, and breakout rooms for smaller group discussions.
Networking Opportunities: One of the significant drawbacks of YouTube for events is the absence of networking opportunities. Online event platforms often feature networking lounges or virtual meeting spaces where attendees can connect, share contacts, and engage in one-on-one or group discussions.
Generic Analytics
Data and analytics play a pivotal role in understanding the success of an event and planning future strategies. While YouTube provides basic analytics such as view counts, likes, and comments, these metrics lack the depth and detail needed for comprehensive event analysis.
Attendee Insights: Online event platforms offer detailed insights into attendee behavior, including session attendance, participation in polls and Q&A, and interaction patterns. This level of detail allows organisers to gauge what topics or sessions were most engaging and why.
Engagement Metrics: Unlike the generic analytics provided by YouTube, specialised event platforms deliver advanced engagement metrics, enabling organisers to measure the effectiveness of different event segments, understand participant engagement levels, and identify areas for improvement.
Monetising events on YouTube can be complex and constrained by the platform’s policies and revenue-sharing models. This presents challenges for event organisers looking to generate revenue through their events.
Revenue Sharing and Policies: YouTube’s monetisation involves adhering to strict guidelines and sharing a significant portion of the revenue generated from ads or channel memberships. This model can be less favorable for event organisers who seek full control over their revenue streams.
Limited Monetisation Options: While YouTube offers some revenue generating options like Super Chat and channel memberships, these are not specifically designed for event monetisation. In contrast, online event platforms can provide a range of revenue generating features, including ticket sales, paid registrations, sponsorship packages, and virtual exhibitor booths.
While YouTube is a globally recognised platform for video content and live streaming, its limitations in terms of custom features, interaction, analytics, and monetisation present challenges for hosting branded and engaging events. Dedicated online event platforms offer a more tailored, engaging, and profitable alternative for event organizers aiming to deliver high-quality virtual event experiences.
Benefits of Hosting Your Event on an Online Event Platform
Opting for an online event platform over traditional live streaming services (like YouTube) can significantly enhance event organisers’ and attendees’ experience.
Enhanced Brand Visibility
- Custom Event Pages: Create event landing pages that capture your brand’s essence, making a strong first impression.
- Branded Live Streams: Incorporate your logo, colours, and other brand elements into your live stream, reinforcing brand recognition.
Increased Audience Engagement
- Interactive Sessions: Utilise tools like live polls, Q&A, and interactive chat to keep your audience engaged and interested.
- Networking Opportunities: Some platforms offer networking features, mirroring the social aspect of in-person events in a virtual environment.
Comprehensive Analytics
- Detailed Attendee Insights: Understand who your attendees are, how they interact with your event, and what content interests them.
- Engagement Metrics: Track engagement in real-time, allowing you to adjust your strategies to maximise attendee participation.
Revenue Generating Features
- Ticket Sales: Easily integrate ticket sales into your event platform, providing a seamless registration process for attendees.
- Sponsorship Opportunities: Offer sponsors valuable digital real estate within your event. This also creates additional revenue streams.
In Summary
Choosing the right platform to host your online events can boost event success and the experience of your participants. While YouTube and similar live streaming services have their place in the digital world, they can fall short when it comes to delivering a fully branded, interactive, and engaging events.
Online event platforms, by contrast, offer the tools and flexibility needed to create memorable and impactful virtual gatherings. These platforms provide a range of features designed to enhance brand visibility, engage audiences, and offer insightful analytics to help refine future events.
CrowdComms Online Event Solutions
If you need a comprehensive solution that combines a powerful and flexible platform with exceptional support, CrowdComms delivers a market leading platform.
With CrowdComms, organisers access a suite of features tailored to meet the demands of any event, from small workshops to large-scale international conferences.
The platform’s focus on custom branding, interactive engagement tools, and comprehensive analytics ensures that every event is not only successful but also provides meaningful insights. CrowdComms is also renowned for exceptional customer support, ensuring you have the guidance needed to make your event seamless and successful.
Selecting a virtual event platform that aligns with your goals and brand values is crucial. With its robust features and dedicated support, CrowdComms offers an ideal solution for those looking to elevate their online event hosting.
