How IBM Leveraged Virtual Events to Reach a Global Audience
How IBM adapted and succeeded during challenging times by leveraging the power of virtual events. A comprehensive account of IBM's success story and lessons learned from their virtual event strategy
Hey there, tech enthusiasts!
International Business Machines, better known as IBM, has been a leader in technology innovation for over a century.
From their early days in computer hardware to their current focus on artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and quantum computing, IBM has consistently pushed the boundaries of what's possible in the tech world.
But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, even a company as large and established as IBM had to adapt quickly to the new reality of remote work and virtual events.
In this blog post, we'll dive into how IBM embraced virtual events to reach a worldwide audience, generate leads, and create an interactive and personalized experience for attendees and how businesses of all sizes can learn something from IBM’s strategy.
So, if you're ready to learn how IBM made the shift to virtual events, buckle up and read on!
Pre-pandemic trends
IBM has a long history of organizing in-person events, including large-scale conferences like IBM Think and IBM InterConnect. These events typically brought together thousands of attendees from around the world, including customers, partners, and industry experts.
IBM's in-person events were known for their high-quality content, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities. Attendees had the chance to hear from IBM executives, learn about the latest technologies and solutions, and network with other attendees.
The shift to virtual events
However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced IBM to rethink their approach to events.
With in-person gatherings no longer feasible, IBM had to pivot to virtual events to continue engaging with their audience.
While the transition to virtual events presented some challenges, IBM was able to leverage technology to create engaging and immersive experiences for attendees, which included live chats, polls, and breakout rooms for networking.
IBM realized that virtual events could help them reach a wider audience, generate more leads, and offer attendees a more immersive experience.
To make their virtual events successful, IBM focused on creating high-quality content that was relevant to their target audience.
The results?
The results of IBM's virtual events have been impressive.
IBM's flagship conference, Think 2021, had over 125,000 attendees from 170 countries, making it one of the largest virtual events ever.
IBM's virtual events have -
had a 40% higher attendance rate compared to its in-person events
an average attendance rate of 70%, which is significantly higher than the industry standard.
generated over 200,000 leads for the company
and they have seen a 50% increase in engagement compared to in-person events.
Key takeaways
Virtual events can be just as good, if not better, than in-person events. IBM's virtual events had higher attendance rates and generated more leads than their previous in-person events.
Get creative with technology to make your virtual events stand out. IBM used cool technologies like virtual reality and AI to create an immersive and personalized experience for attendees.
Don't forget about quality content and networking opportunities. IBM made sure to provide valuable content and opportunities for attendees to connect with each other.
Keep experimenting and adapting. IBM's virtual event strategy was constantly evolving, and they were always looking for new ways to improve the attendee experience.
Virtual events are here to stay. Even as in-person events return, virtual events will continue to be a valuable way to reach a global audience and save on costs.
By keeping these key takeaways in mind, your business can create amazing virtual events that people will want to attend and that will drive results.