One of the exciting things about the event industry is that it is always evolving due to market changes, consumer preferences, and awe-inspiring innovations in event technology. However, this does mean that event organizers need to stay on top of new event trends. 

While you might think that you can simply recycle your event strategy from prior years, this year, you may need to get a little more creative – 2022 is expected to bring some new developments and a couple new challenges. Take a look at the 2022 virtual event trends that you should be on the lookout for:

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1. Increased Need for Flexibility Amid Uncertainty 

If you’re not quite sure how to move forward with your 2022 event planning, you are not alone. While this year was being hailed as the year that things would finally return to normal, it can be hard to predict what the new normal will look like. 

Is it possible that there will be a COVID surge later in the year or that a new variant may emerge? Yes. That doesn’t mean that you should refrain from planning events, though. It just means that flexibility and contingency planning will be a major component of 2022 event strategies. 

Plan ahead to avoid event cancellations. Planning all events with a robust virtual component will always make it easier to shift from hybrid to virtual seamlessly if conditions change. Check out our blog on Omicron’s impact on the events industry to learn more about how to keep your attendees and your investment safe by taking proper health precautions and preparing to shift to fully virtual or smaller, more localized hybrid events if necessary.

2. Asynchronous Virtual Event Experiences 

While live interactive virtual sessions are still a fan favorite, there is a growing demand for asynchronous virtual event experiences.

Asynchronous virtual events make sense for a number of reasons: 

  • The event can be ongoing. As more people discover the event they can register and view the content. This can help fill gaps in your virtual event schedule and ensure that people coming across your website or event page always have access to content immediately. If you don’t have any upcoming events available for registration or viewing, your leads or prospective attendees may forget or lose interest in your company.  
  • Allowing attendees to view content asynchronously allows them to more easily fit event content into their busy work and life schedules. 
  • Asynchronous virtual events may be more suitable for global audiences who span many different time zones. 
  • There is growing discussion around asynchronous remote work, meaning that in addition to different time zones, there may soon be different work schedules to take into consideration when scheduling sessions. 
  • Pre-recording content for simulive sessions is often more convenient for prominent speakers whose speaking schedule may be too packed to attend your event for a live session.

3. Data-Driven Event Strategies

Many organizations had to rapidly adopt hybrid event strategies over the pandemic, and while there was a learning curve, they are now learning how to better leverage the data reporting features that virtual event platforms provide.

This year, we expect event organizers to build their virtual event strategies more heavily around their event data from last year and their events going forward. This data provides valuable insights into consumer or attendee behavior. Organizers can see how attendees interact with event content, sponsors, and one another. By leveraging this data, they can build virtual event experiences that will be even more engaging – and will produce better results.

4. Delving into The Metaverse 

Virtual events will soon be coming to the metaverse.

The metaverse is a combination of virtual reality, augmented reality, and video where users can work, socialize, and attend events within a digitalized world. Many companies are planning to use the metaverse for social networking, to enhance remote business collaboration, and build even more immersive virtual events.

Keep an eye on our blog and LinkedIn to stay on top of updates on when you may be able to attend or host events in the metaverse.

5. A Push Towards Hybrid Events 

Hybrid events are widely expected to become the go-to event model for large scale events.

Part of this push comes from changes in how people wish to live and work in the post-pandemic era. While some people are eager to return to the office and feel a nostalgia for the in-office collaboration of prior years, there are also many people that aren’t ready to commit to a full return to office. Even if your company is making in-person work mandatory, many of your clients are probably offering some form of distributed work arrangement, meaning that reaching them won’t be as simple as inviting everyone to a singular event center.

So, how do you host internal and external company events that can reach office-based employees, hybrid staff, and fully remote workers and clientele? By offering hybrid events that allow everyone to choose how they participate, and that encourage interaction between all attendees regardless of location.

Leverage the Latest Event Technology With Social27 Virtual Event Platform 

Looking for a way to host your own virtual or hybrid event? Social27 Virtual Event Platform has all the features event owners need to build a distinctive and memorable virtual event and achieve their strategy objectives.   

Set up a demo today to learn more about what Social27 has to offer and prepare yourself for the new age of events.