Let’s be honest: not all virtual event platforms are created equal. Some are sleek and intuitive. Some are… not.
Just like the process of picking the perfect venue for an in-person event, it’s just as critical to find the correct virtual home when organizing a meeting, conference or webinar. Some will make your vision feel like a Hollywood production, while the wrong fit can end up feeling more like a middle school talent show. During the pandemic.
One of our core beliefs at Revent is that there is no perfect platform and that every event is unique. It’s why we’re platform agnostic, to better understand what’s available, what’s exciting, and where each option excels. Let’s walk through why this early decision is arguably the most important one you’ll make when planning.
Virtual Events: Your Platform IS the Experience
During live, in-person events, attendees remember the venue, the catering, the lighting, the vibe. But for virtual and hybrid events, the platform IS the venue. If your virtual event platform is clunky, confusing, or unreliable, your audience doesn’t blame the software. They blame the event.
Platforms that create great experiences always meet our go-to checklist:
The interface must be intuitive for attendees. Think about the average age of your audience. Are they tech savvy? Or do they need a lot of support? Would they prefer a simple and straightforward experience, or something more customizable and interactive?
Platform support that can get you to a HUMAN, 24/7. cause when you need it… you really need it!
Interactive tools that are feature rich and play well together (polls, Q&A, chat, gamification).
Provide solid analytics for post-event reporting. Real data that can help make decisions for future events.
A clean and flexible registration process, with bonus points if it integrates with your CRM systems.
If it can’t do those things — or if it technically can but involves strange workarounds — you may have a problem!
Hybrid Events Raise the Stakes
Hybrid events add another layer of complexity. Now you’re not just serving one audience, you’re designing two separate experiences. Ensuring you’re working with a platform that prioritizes hybrid events helps bridge the gap between physical and digital audiences, so everyone feels like they’re part of the production.
The platform should provide the following for both audiences:
In-person attendees need:
An easy to use application that they can download to their device
Agenda access and RSVP to sessions
A map of the event
Networking and connection with both in-person and virtual attendees
Meeting scheduling
Connecting with sponsors without having to visit every booth
Your virtual audience needs:
Connecting and chatting with both in person and virtual attendees
Meeting scheduling
Connecting with sponsors
Crystal-clear streaming with dynamic camera work, on-screen graphics
Engaging digital interaction, not just a chat!
A platform that makes them feel included in real time, not like they’re watching on demand
As many of us have experienced, the wrong platform can create a disconnected experience where your virtual attendees feel like an afterthought.
Not All Events Need the Same Platform
Would you host a gala in the conference room you had your team meeting on Monday, and where the donuts sit on Friday? We are going to go with no, of course not. The same rule applies for virtual events. It may seem like the simplest option to just rely on your office’s trusty conferencing platform, or whatever worked well enough last year, or whatever is free (which nothing is, without caveats).
Now we are going to say this one loudly for the back… THE BEST VIRTUAL EVENT PLATFORM DEPENDS ON YOUR GOALS.
A collaborative virtual meetup is going to have vastly different needs than a multi-day conference. A livestream to LinkedIn and YouTube is totally different then a fundraising gala with auctions and entertainment. Some events need heavy networking, while others just need a live video feed with a chat box. Sometimes you need pristine broadcast level production, while other times you want something more accommodating for guests around the world, and everything possible in between.
Choosing a platform without aligning it to your event strategy is like choosing a venue before you know how many people are coming.
Why Revent Consulting Is Platform Agnostic
That’s why we’ve been preaching the platform agnostic gospel since Day 1 at Revent. Our loyalty is to your event and your goals, not to a software contract.
When we talk to review platform options, we always start with the following:
The why? Evaluate your goals
Understand your audience
Analyze your engagement needs
Review your budget
Consider your internal tech
Factor in production requirements
Then we recommend the platform that actually fits. Sometimes that means a large, enterprise-level virtual event platform, and sometimes it’s something leaner. Being platform agnostic allows us to design unique experiences instead of forcing your event into a pre-set template. And trust us — your audience can feel the difference.
At Revent we believe technology should serve the experience, not dictate it. And that’s why we stay flexible, curious, and ready for whatever comes on the horizon. Our goal isn’t to sell software, but rather to produce an event that works as intended.
And maybe — just maybe — avoid the middle school talent show vibes altogether.