Every year we like to take a look at which of our blogs are the most popular. It can help us understand corporate event trends for the previous year and the one on the way. Virtual events have taken center stage for much of this year, and our top 10 for this year show that our readers have taken a keen interest in both virtual and hybrid events. These are our best event blogs for 2021, covering everything from pre-event surveys to virtual event analytics and the best event swag.

1. 9 Pre-Event Survey Questions You Should Be Asking Attendees

No matter what kind of event you’re planning, one of the most important aspects of planning is to have a good understanding of your target demographic. The simplest and most foolproof way to find out what your target audience wants is to ask them. With that in mind, we put together a list of pre-event survey questions designed to help you gain insight into your audience. We also offer tips on question types and survey design, so you can gather useful and actionable information from your event attendees.

2. The Pros & Cons of Moving Your Event Entirely Online

When live events first started getting canceled, the entire industry went into a temporary slowdown while event organizers and hosts tried to figure out how to proceed. In many cases, the answer was postponement. Others turned to virtual events as the solution for live event cancelation. But it’s not an easy decision to make.

In this piece, we go into detail on the pros and cons of turning a live event into a virtual one. Virtual events have their limitations—such as the lack of face-to-face interaction and the difficulty of organic networking. However, with fewer barriers to entry and huge data-gathering potential, virtual events have big advantages too.

3. Your Event Planning Timeline Template

An event planning timeline is a checklist of every task, stage, and phase involved in planning an event. It’s laid out in chronological order, starting as early as 12 months before the event is scheduled to take place. Having a timeline is a must for every event, no matter how small. It:

Ensures every task is completed on time and on budget
Helps you organize and coordinate all the contractors and other people you’re working with
Helps you manage changes and deal with problems

In this post, we offer tips for developing a timeline, and we’ve also created a timeline template you can download and use as-is or modify to suit your event timetable.

READ AND DOWNLOAD: https://www.proglobalevents.com/blog/event-planning-timeline/

4. Virtual Events Provide Better Analytics Than Physical Events: Here’s How

While live events are considered the mainstay of the events industry, virtual events have specific advantages that make them an excellent alternative. One of the major benefits of a virtual event is that it generates a wealth of attendee data. And along with that, it’s very easy to collect and analyze that data. In this post, we discuss exactly why virtual events are so ideal for data collection and some ways in which data can be used to glean insight into your audience, as well as ways that data analysis can improve the attendee experience.

5. Successful Event Marketing Strategies: Examples and Best Practices

What makes any particular event marketing strategy effective? The answer differs depending on the event—as well as your goals for that event—so there’s no single universal strategy that works in every situation. Here, we offer several examples, including some from the ProExhibits design team, that show how great results can be achieved when your marketing strategy—and your exhibit design—is informed by your specific event goals.

6. 6 Reasons an Immersive 3D Virtual Event Is Better Than a Webinar

Videoconferencing is an important communication tool, especially when in-person meetings aren’t possible, but now that 3D virtual environments are a possibility for events, it’s a whole new ballgame.

An immersive 3D environment can add so much to an event, and in this post, we explain why it’s such an effective option. An immersive environment is visually interesting and engaging and helps attendees get into the right frame of mind to absorb information. It also encourages and facilitates networking and lets attendees actively choose how they interact with event content.

7. Choose from These 13 Corporate Conference Floor Plans to Get the Most Out of Your Guests

How much thought do you give to room layout when planning an event? Choosing the right layout can be more important than you think, as it affects not just traffic flow but also how easy and practical it is for people to talk and collaborate.

In this post, we talk about your options for event room layouts and how different kinds of layouts are suitable for different purposes. If you’ve ever been unsure of what room layouts to use or are looking for some new ideas, this is a must-read!

8. When to Go Custom: Outdoor Exhibition Booth Design Options

Many event types are perfectly suited for outdoor locations. Think:

Sports and fitness-themed events
Live music festivals
Agricultural events
And many others

But the outdoor event environment is very different from indoor spaces, and it’s important to consider this when designing booths for outdoor events. For outdoor events, it’s often beneficial to go for a custom exhibit that takes this into account. This may mean, for instance, a larger exhibit that makes a bigger visual impact. Or it might mean a customized mobile exhibit that’s built for traveling, so you can take your booth on the road.

9. 25 Swag Bag Items People Will Actually Want

What makes good event swag? Are attendees still interested in the same kinds of items they were 10 or 20 years ago? The truth is, what makes swag good hasn’t changed—it’s still about things people like and will use. What has changed is the kind of items people find useful. Flash drives are out, PopSockets® and lifestyle gear are in! This piece is all about what makes good swag and how paying attention to just two simple principles will help you choose great swag gifts. Plus, we offer 25 ideas for swag items that are popular right now.

10. Corporate Event Invitation Templates for New Attendees, Repeat Attendees, VIPs, and More. You Need These in Your Arsenal.

Event organizers work hard at creating events that delight and amaze attendees. But how hard do they work at the event invitations that get people in the door? If you’ve ever wanted to up your event invitation game, this post is for you. We discuss what makes an invitation work and offer sample invitation templates for a variety of attendee groups.

Happy New Year, from Everyone at ProGlobalEvents!

Our best event blogs of 2021 capture what’s on the minds of everyone in the events industry. Take note! And keep reading in 2022. We’ll continue to provide the most useful and entertaining corporate event content you can read, share, and put into practice in the coming year.