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Updated Nov. 10, 2020. Restrictions on face-to-face gatherings due to the pandemic have led to a surge in virtual meetings. But while webcasts and digital networking sessions have proven wildly popular, they have many planners wondering if they can continue to bring in revenue. Compared to the arsenal of sponsorship opportunities available for in-person events, virtual-event possibilities can seem a bit more restricted. Rest assured there are creative ways to incorporate sponsor branding, exposure, messaging and complete virtual sponsorship packages for your digital events.
"Event planners should take a deep look at what their program is and how a sponsor can complement the main event," says Eli Gorin, CMP, CMM, managing director of event planning firm FHTglobal, which specializes in medical events. The company recently launched the FHTvirtual platform for digital events, which offers a number of features specifically designed to appeal to sponsors.
Gorin suggests that planners first consider what a sponsor might typically bring to the table for an in-person event, and applying that to a virtual-event context — from session sponsorships to on-site experiences. "Take your normal sponsorship opportunities and determine how canthose be virtualized," he suggests.
Meeting planners have a wealth of options when it comes to creating sponsorship packages that will appeal to both the potential sponsors and the attendees taking part in the digital event. Plus, recent research has shown that companies are eager to invest in digital events. To that end, we tapped Gorin and other industry experts for their virtual-event sponsorship suggestions. Here's what they had to say.