Top 8 Pros & Cons of Hosting Company Events in the Metaverse

With technology evolving at a dizzying pace, it can be difficult to wrap your head around everything -- but one thing is for certain: the Web3 era is among us and poised to revolutionize how our clients engage with their audiences. The metaverse, which frequently incorporates  Web3 technologies, enables connections that defy geographical boundaries while offering unparalleled, immersive experiences. 

As we look to support our client partners, what better way to enrich our understanding of the benefits, risks, and challenges of tapping into the metaverse than to jump head first and test it out ourselves? Our team recently hosted an event in the metaverse to learn the ins and outs of this new technology. Here are our key takeaways: 

Benefits and Opportunities

1. Unparalleled Accessibility & Reach: One of the critical advantages of hosting an event in the metaverse is the unique accessibility it offers, while providing an in-person feel. Participants from around the globe can attend without physical travel, transcending geographical boundaries. Our event drew an audience spanning the continental US, attracting employees who would have been unable to join a physical gathering. This increased accessibility can lead to higher attendance and engagement.
2. Scale While Saving Money: By hosting events in the metaverse instead of organizing more traditional, physical events, businesses can significantly reduce costs. Marketers can minimize or eliminate expenses related to venue rentals, logistics, and travel. Plus, virtual environments can easily accommodate many attendees, enabling scalability without the constraints of a physical space.
3. Immersive & Interactive Experiences: The metaverse opens up exciting possibilities for immersive and interactive experiences that surpass the limitations of physical events. In virtual reality and 3D environments, attendees can engage with virtual objects, explore remarkable and otherworldly spaces, and interact with one another in novel ways.
4. Enhanced Networking & Community Building: Virtual events in the metaverse offer unique networking and community-building opportunities. Through features like chat rooms, virtual lounges, and interactive elements, attendees can connect, collaborate, and explore new ways of engaging. Our event included a dedicated Happy Hour segment, providing an informal atmosphere for networking and meaningful conversations, which, as evidenced in our follow-up survey, left a lasting impression on attendees.

Risks and Challenges

1. Technical Requirements & Learning Curve: While the metaverse presents exciting possibilities, it comes with technical requirements and a learning curve that can pose challenges for participants. Access to compatible hardware and stable high-speed internet connections is essential. Also, the need to familiarize oneself with virtual environments and controls can be intimidating. During our project, we provided thorough instructions and troubleshooting support to mitigate these challenges.
2. Limitations in Physical Presence & Sensory Experience: Unlike physical events, the metaverse cannot fully replicate the sensory experiences and physical presence of face-to-face interactions. It is essential to recognize that the metaverse offers a different, albeit immersive, experience and manage attendee expectations accordingly.
3. Potential Technical Glitches & Limitations: Virtual events are susceptible to technical glitches, such as server crashes, software bugs, and connectivity issues. These interruptions can disrupt the event experience and hinder attendee engagement. It is vital to have contingency plans, conduct thorough testing, and be ready to address any technical issues promptly, especially when hosting on a large scale.
4. Audience Familiarity & Adoption: Not all attendees will be familiar with the metaverse concept or comfortable with virtual reality technologies. It will take time for people to adopt and embrace the metaverse as a viable platform for events, potentially limiting the audience size in the early stages. A few ways to combat this issue are providing thorough instructions ahead of time, offering learning opportunities for folks to become familiar with the platform, and offering incentives to try something new.

By leveraging the metaverse intelligently, businesses can create impactful virtual events that foster connections, drive engagement, and position themselves as pioneers in the evolving landscape of Web3 technologies.

Please contact us for more information on the metaverse or to help plan your first/next event and don't forget to check out our latest metaverse event here!