Virtual events are becoming more popular and profitable in the digital era. They offer many benefits for event organizers and attendees, such as increased reach, flexibility, engagement, and cost-effectiveness. However, planning and hosting a successful virtual event is not as easy as it sounds. You need to have a clear strategy, a reliable platform, a compelling content, and a way to monetize your event.
In this article, we will share some tips and tricks on how to make money with virtual event planning. We will cover the following topics:
- How to set up a paid registration for your virtual event
- How to provide sponsorship opportunities for your virtual event
- How to sell digital lead capture to your event exhibitors and sponsors
- How to sell ad spaces on your virtual event website
- How to sell merchandise and event swag for your virtual event
How to Set Up a Paid Registration for Your Virtual Event
One of the simplest and most common ways to make money with virtual event planning is by charging a fee for your event registration or ticket sales. This can help you generate revenue and cover your expenses, as well as create a sense of value and exclusivity for your event.
However, to convince your potential attendees to pay for your virtual event, you need to craft a unique selling proposition (USP) that highlights the benefits and outcomes of your event. You need to answer the question: why should they choose your event over others?
Some of the factors that can influence your USP are:
- The topic and theme of your event
- The speakers and experts of your event
- The agenda and activities of your event
- The networking and learning opportunities of your event
- The feedback and testimonials of your previous events
You also need to consider the pricing and packaging of your event tickets. You can offer different types of tickets with different levels of access and perks, such as:
- Early bird tickets with discounted rates
- VIP tickets with premium features and bonuses
- Membership passes with unlimited access and replays
- Single-day or multiple-day passes with flexible options
- Group packages with bulk discounts and incentives
How to Provide Sponsorship Opportunities for Your Virtual Event
Another way to make money with virtual event planning is by attracting and collaborating with sponsors who are willing to support your event in exchange for exposure and leads. Sponsors can help you boost your event budget, credibility, and reach, as well as provide additional value and resources for your attendees.
However, to attract and retain sponsors for your virtual event, you need to offer them various opportunities to showcase their brand and products, as well as measure their return on investment (ROI). Some of the ways you can do this are:
- Displaying their logo and banner on your event website, registration page, email campaigns, and social media channels
- Featuring their video and audio ads during your event breaks, transitions, and intermissions
- Creating a virtual exhibit hall where they can set up their booths and interact with your attendees
- Incorporating their messages and offers into your event gamification and rewards system
- Hosting their sponsored sessions, workshops, demos, or roundtables during your event
- Providing them with digital lead capture tools and data to collect and follow up with their prospects
How to Sell Digital Lead Capture to Your Event Exhibitors and Sponsors
One of the most valuable assets you can offer to your event exhibitors and sponsors is the opportunity to collect and nurture leads from your event attendees. Leads are potential customers who have shown interest in their products or services, and who can be converted into sales and revenue.
However, to sell digital lead capture to your event exhibitors and sponsors, you need to provide them with tools and data that can help them capture and qualify their leads, as well as follow up and communicate with them effectively. Some of the tools and data you can provide are:
- QR codes and badges that can be scanned and exchanged between attendees and exhibitors or sponsors
- Chatbots and forms that can be used to collect and verify contact information and preferences of attendees
- Surveys and polls that can be used to gather feedback and insights from attendees
- Email and SMS campaigns that can be used to send personalized and targeted messages to attendees
- CRM and marketing automation systems that can be used to store, manage, and segment leads
How to Sell Ad Spaces on Your Virtual Event Website
Another way to make money with virtual event planning is by selling ad spaces on your virtual event website. This can help you generate passive income and cover your expenses, as well as provide additional exposure and traffic for your advertisers.
However, to sell ad spaces on your virtual event website, you need to have a well-designed and optimized website that can attract and retain visitors, as well as display relevant and engaging ads that can generate clicks and conversions. Some of the factors that can influence your website design and optimization are:
- The layout and navigation of your website
- The content and copy of your website
- The speed and performance of your website
- The SEO and keywords of your website
- The analytics and tracking of your website
You also need to consider the types and formats of ads that you can offer on your website, such as:
- Banner ads that can be placed on the header, footer, sidebar, or content area of your website
- Pop-up ads that can be triggered by certain actions or events on your website
- Video ads that can be embedded or streamed on your website
- Native ads that can be integrated or blended with your website content
- Sponsored content that can be created or curated by your advertisers
How to Sell Merchandise and Event Swag for Your Virtual Event
One more way to make money with virtual event planning is by selling merchandise and event swag for your virtual event. This can help you generate additional revenue and profit, as well as create a sense of community and loyalty for your event.
However, to sell merchandise and event swag for your virtual event, you need to have a creative and appealing design that can reflect your event brand and theme, as well as a reliable and convenient delivery system that can ship your products to your customers. Some of the products that you can sell are:
- T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and other clothing items
- Mugs, bottles, cups, and other drinkware items
- Bags, backpacks, cases, and other accessories items
- Pens, notebooks, stickers, and other stationery items
- Books, ebooks, courses, and other educational items
Virtual event planning can be a lucrative and rewarding business, if you know how to make money with it. By following the tips and tricks we shared in this article, you can monetize your virtual event in various ways, such as:
- Setting up a paid registration for your virtual event
- Providing sponsorship opportunities for your virtual event
- Selling digital lead capture to your event exhibitors and sponsors
- Selling ad spaces on your virtual event website
- Selling merchandise and event swag for your virtual event
To make your virtual event planning easier and more efficient, you can use a virtual event platform that can help you with all the aspects of your event, such as Stova or Glue Up. These platforms can help you create, manage, and monetize your virtual event, as well as provide a seamless and engaging experience for your attendees.
We hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us. We would love to hear from you and assist you with your virtual event planning needs. Thank you for reading and happy planning! 😊
