While marketing trends come and go, events will continue to connect businesses with their audience in 2024. No longer a pandemic necessity, the hybrid event approach has become the new norm, offering more opportunities for brands to enhance reach and engagement.
Hybrid events strike the ideal balance. LinkedIn says, “Hybrid events offer the best of both worlds: the face-to-face interaction of in-person events and the convenience and accessibility of virtual events. Virtual events, on the other hand, are a more cost-effective and sustainable option for businesses that need to reach a large audience.”
Key Benefits of Event Marketing
If you’re considering a virtual, in-person, or hybrid event as part of your brand marketing plan this year, you’re making a great move. Here’s why:
Virtual Engagement
Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies are becoming integral components of hybrid events, offering immersive experiences to virtual attendees—connections that build positive brand interactions. Consider using these tech tools to create more engaging and interactive experiences, such as live polling and gamification.
Data-Driven Insights
Advanced analytics and artificial intelligence transform events into data-rich environments, enabling marketers to gain valuable insights and refine their strategies. For example, you can use data to track attendance, engagement, and ROI –and then use that insight to make changes to future events or to shape follow-up communications.
Personalized Attendee Experiences
We know that consumers value customized experiences from the brands and organizations they support. AI is the ultimate tool for making meaningful, well-tailored connections: Use AI to recommend speakers and sessions to attendees, create personalized schedules, provide product or service suggestions, and more.
Sustainability Focus
With a growing emphasis on sustainability, more events are adopting eco-friendly practices, including virtual attendance options to reduce carbon footprints associated with travel.
Enhanced Networking Opportunities
Hybrid events leverage interactive platforms to facilitate networking, fostering meaningful connections among participants, whether they’re in a physical venue or attending virtually.
Join Shamrock for Our 2024 Event Series
Every year, our team at Shamrock hosts free virtual and in-person events for our customers and vendor partners to introduce new product lines, demonstrate technologies, and showcase services. Here’s what we’ve got in store for 2024:
March:
Virtual Branded Swag Decorating Showcase highlighting techniques for personalizing branded swag and apparel, featuring pre-recorded segments and live demonstrations.
June:
Virtual Employee Engagement Event featuring a live panel discussion with Shamrock customers sharing their solutions for recognizing employees and retaining talent in today’s competitive job marketplace.
September:
Hybrid Tradeshow Expo offering a full line of tradeshow marketing essentials, from displays and signage to branded giveaways and collateral.
October:
In-person Product Showcase in Cleveland with the latest premium branded promo, apparel, swag, and corporate gifts to help build brand recognition and reach.
We’ll provide more information as these events get closer, including dates, times, and event details.
A final thought about event marketing
Event marketing is a powerful tool for sharing information and engaging your audience. It’s also scalable – from an in-person office event to a national online expo, the possibilities for making connections are endless. There’s an option and a format that suits every industry, scope, and budget.
If event marketing is something that you’d like to explore, reach out to start the conversation. From online virtual event hosting to event promo and collateral, we manage all aspects of event marketing for customers across the US. We’re here to help.
