What’s a virtual summit?

A virtual summit is a digital conference that takes place online, typically over a 2-3 days. It typically includes a series of webinars, panels, and keynote speeches from experts in the field, as well as opportunities for attendees to network with each other and engage with the speakers.

Hosting a virtual summit can be a great way to reach a large, global or regional audience and position yourself as an expert in your field. It can also provide an opportunity to connect with potential customers, partners, and other key stakeholders, build your brand, and drive leads and sales. However, hosting a virtual summit can be a significant investment of time, so it’s important to carefully consider your goals and your target audience before launching one.

There are several reasons why you should consider hosting a virtual summit:

Establish yourself as an expert: By hosting a virtual summit, you can position yourself as a thought leader and expert in your industry and demonstrate your commitment to educating and supporting your target audience.

Build your brand: Hosting a successful virtual summit can help build your brand by showcasing your expertise and demonstrating your commitment to providing valuable content and resources to your target audience.

Reach a wider audience: With a virtual summit, you can reach attendees who are clients of CPA’s, divorce attorneys, medical professionals, tax preparer, and any center of influence you want to connect with. These events are designed so you can gain access to their clients.

Connect with potential customers: The virtual summit provides an opportunity to connect with potential customers, partners, and other key stakeholders, and build relationships with them.

Drive leads and sales: By offering valuable content and resources, you can drive leads and sales from the virtual summit.

Save time and resources: Hosting a virtual summit can save you time and resources compared to hosting an in-person event.

Cost-effective: Virtual summits are generally more cost-effective than traditional in-person events, as you don’t have to worry about the expenses associated with venue rental, travel, and accommodation.

Hosting a virtual summit can be a great way to reach a larger audience and build your brand, but it requires careful planning and execution to be successful. Here are the steps to hosting a virtual summit:

Define your goals: Before you start planning your virtual summit, it’s important to clearly define your goals and objectives. What do you hope to achieve through the virtual summit? Who is your target audience? What kind of content do you want to provide? Answering these questions will help you to focus your efforts and ensure that your virtual summit is a success.

Choose a platform: There are a number of platforms that you can use to host your virtual summit, including Zoom, GoToWebinar, and WebinarJam. Choose a platform that meets your needs and budget, and offers the features and functionality you need to host a successful virtual summit.

Line up speakers: The next step is to line up speakers for your virtual summit. Choose experts in your field who can provide valuable insights and information to your attendees. Reach out to potential speakers and ask them to participate and provide them with clear guidelines and expectations.

Promote your virtual summit: Once your speakers are confirmed, it’s time to start promoting your virtual summit. Use social media, email marketing, and other channels to reach your target audience and get the word out about your virtual summit. Offer early bird pricing or other incentives to encourage people to register early.

Create your content: Create high-quality content for your virtual summit, including webinars, panels, and keynote speeches. Provide your speakers with clear guidelines and expectations, and make sure that the content is engaging and relevant to your target audience.

Host the virtual summit: On the day of the virtual summit, make sure that you have a solid plan in place to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Provide clear instructions to your attendees, and make sure that you have a support team in place to answer any questions or resolve any technical issues.

Follow up: After the virtual summit is over, follow up with your attendees to thank them for their participation and provide them with any additional resources or information they may need. Offer them the opportunity to opt-in to receive more information about your products or services, or invite them to schedule a demo or consultation with your sales team.

Virtual summits are one of my favorite marketing events. They take a lot of planning. We do two or three a year. To make the planning and set up process easier for our clients, we have created everything they need to be successful. We provide the instructions, content, email scripts, visuals, and more so you can get started right away.

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THE BOTTOM LINE:

Hosting a virtual summit can be a great way to reach a large, global or regional audience and position yourself as an expert in your field. It can also provide an opportunity to connect with potential customers, partners, and other key stakeholders, build your brand, and drive leads and sales.