What are some of the key differences between webinar tools and vConferenceOnline.com’s event platform?

Many times, there are questions about using a webinar tool to put together a virtual conference or tradeshow event.  A virtual conference platform is quite different from that of a webinar or meeting tool.  The differences revolve around several key factors.  While this list is by no means all-inclusive, since every event is different, it does show some of the big differences between the approaches of the tools.

The Event Environment

Element/Area	Virtual Event Platform	Webinars
Event Lobby (including signage and sponsorship/partner options)	Yes	No
Multiple sessions	Yes	No
Multiple tracks of simultaneous sessions	Yes	No
Single attendee sign-in to access multiple sessions	Yes	No
Chat environment at both the session and event level	Yes	No

The Presentation of Sessions, Supporting Assets and Numbers of Attendees

Element/Area	Virtual Event Platform	Webinars
Customized navigation buttons in session room – for supporting materials for the session	Yes	No
Ability to move between session rooms and tracks	Yes	No
Live, simulated live, on-demand sessions intermixed in event	Yes	No
Attendee counts can range from zero to 10’s of 1000’s	Yes	No
Sponsorship options between sessions	Yes	No

Other Features in the Virtual Event Platform That Simulate an In-Person Conference

Element/Area	Virtual Event Platform	Webinars
Multi-day, multi-track events	Yes	No
Customizable exhibit hall booths, per vendor/sponsor/department	Yes	No
Customization of lobby, session directory, session room and other page backgrounds for look and feel	Yes	No
Activity tracking – sessions watched (and for how long), booths attended, overall system usage	Yes	No
Gamification of the overall event	Yes	No

Summary

The differences are many. While webinar tools are built for collaboration between small groups for a single presentation, virtual event platforms, like vConferenceOnline.com, provide event broadcasts and interactions to everything from small to large audiences and offer the same capabilities as full-scale in-person events.