Preparing to hold a virtual event? Here’s how to decide how long it should last

Since the emergence of the pandemic, and the rise in online working culture, virtual events have taken the world by storm. Virtual events really are the future: diverse, adaptable, and perfect for companies great and small. Above all, we’ve learnt that although an event or function isn’t physical, it doesn’t mean it can’t be interactive, fun and enlightening.

With that in mind, are you preparing to hold a virtual event soon? Most hosts of a virtual event utilise the handy and efficient medium of a webinar platform. Making use of a viable webinar platform, interactive and informative, is a brilliant start for the success of your virtual event, but there’s a little more to a memorable virtual event than this. Really, a good virtual event is all about timing! We are here to help you decide how long your virtual event should last, so you don’t lose your guests’ attention.

First and foremost, the duration of your virtual event depends wholly on the content provided. If you’re presenting on quantum mechanics, it’s likely your presentation is going to last a little longer than another webinar on a less intensive topic! Nevertheless, there are some easy timing guidelines to follow.

Don’t make a day of it

Webinars and other virtual events, whether that’s a conference or talk show, ideally won’t last more than 4 hours. Arguably, 4 hours itself is quite a large chunk of time, particularly if your audience consists of working-age people. People are busy, so a virtual event has to capture and hold their attention for long enough, but not too long. It’s advisable to stick to the 2 hour mark for virtual events such as a webinar, conference or training session, depending on the topic discussed, an hour or two for a podcast, and saving the 4 hour mark onwards for entertainment-based events such as a concert or performance.

A general guideline is 2 – 4 hours for your virtual event, and it’s best to structure your event along this timeline!

Host your virtual event at the right moment

As companies start to budget for the inclusion of webinars in their marketing schemes, they begin to study exactly when they should be hosting their virtual events. Stay ahead of the curve, and run your virtual event at the right moment, too.

Mondays and Fridays, the beginning and end of the working week, are the best times to host a virtual event – when you’re more likely to capture the attention of your audience and retain it for a greater length of time. At the end of the week, watching a virtual event on a webinar platform is a deserved respite for many employees who simply want to engage in a topic without fuss. And, at the beginning of the week, attentions are sharp and open to interactive content. Host virtual events around the 1pm – 4pm mark, and your event is sure to be a roaring success!

So, if you are preparing to hold a virtual event in the near future, make sure you follow these guidelines to ensure that it lasts for the optimal duration.