When you hold a 3D virtual event, there’s more than one way to execute the perfect plan. You can opt for an event that’s designed and built from the ground up as a fully customized event experience. Or you can choose a pre-built event template that provides the elements you need with fewer customization options. Both kinds of design have their pros and cons—but which one is best for your event?
What’s a Custom 3D Virtual Event? And What’s an Event Template?
A custom 3D virtual event is exactly what it sounds like. With this option, your immersive virtual event is built from scratch. This means it can be customized completely according to your specifications. If you want a totally unique virtual venue that doesn’t look like anything that’s been used or seen before, this is the way to go.
Full customization can take your virtual event to some exciting places because it’s possible to build almost anything you can imagine. Whether you want to inspire your attendees with incredible natural views or motivate them with busy cityscapes, full event customization makes it possible. And not only can you put your venue anywhere, you can include a fantastic range of content and design features in the venue itself—all custom-built to accommodate your specific event needs.
If that sounds like more design detail than you want to worry about when you hold 3D virtual events, here’s some good news: With event templates, you don’t have to!
In the world of virtual events, a 3D event template is a virtual venue that’s already been designed and created. It’s similar to how a turnkey WordPress or other website solution works. The code’s been written, and most of the design decisions have been made. All it needs is your own branding and other event content to be slotted in, and then it’s ready to go.
Templates typically come with features such as:
- A lobby
- Session rooms
- Breakout spaces
- A scalable exhibit hall
- Plenty of branding opportunities
They provide support for multiple content types, and some even allow you to integrate live video streaming and conferencing.
Pros and Cons of a Custom 3D Virtual Event
Pro: You Get a Unique Venue That Meets Your Needs
With a custom 3D virtual event, you can literally have the venue of your dreams. With live events, you’re limited by what venues are available. With 3D virtual events, there are no booking schedules to worry about. You’re not limited to venues that fit your specific physical event needs. Whatever your event needs are, a custom build can meet the brief.
Pro: You Have a Lot of Say in the Design Process
When your event venue is built from scratch, specifically for your event, it gives you a lot of opportunity to contribute to the design. You can be involved in the design process right from the start, so you can be sure the final build looks and functions exactly as you need it to.
Pro: A No-Limits Approach to 3D Virtual Events
Put together, all of this means that there are no limits to what you can build. With a live venue, you’re restricted by the square footage that’s available. That’s not a constraint with a 3D virtual venue. Virtual environments are infinitely scalable. If your event grows larger than you were expecting, you can easily add extra session and breakout spaces, or expand the exhibit hall.
No limits also means real-world logistics don’t have to apply. It might be wildly impractical in the real world to host an event outdoors in the middle of winter. But in a virtual world, bad weather can be eliminated, and your event can take place in a sunny tropical paradise any time of year.
Con: It Can Take Time to Put Together
Whether it’s a live venue or a virtual one, starting the design process from scratch means it takes longer to put it all together. The custom option isn’t an immediate one, and it’s important to start the process well in advance of your projected event date.
Con: It’s the Pricier Option
Another natural consequence of this level of service is that the custom-build is the pricier option, compared to a template-built virtual event. If you have a tight budget, this option isn’t necessarily right for small niche events. A fully customized 3D virtual event is perfect for those large national or international once-a-year events where it’s important to make a big splash and get the best results for sponsors, stakeholders, and attendees.
Pros and Cons of a 3D Event Template
Pro: It’s Relatively Fast to Put Together
Working with a template typically means speed. It’s faster to put these types of virtual events together, because the bulk of the code is already written. With a template, you get a pre-built solution that’s ready to go once you’ve slotted in your event-specific content. It’s not an instant process, but it’s possible to put a virtual event together this way more quickly than a fully custom virtual event.
Pro: It’s a More Affordable Option
If you’re new to 3D virtual events or your company wants to host multiple 3D events each year, the template option saves you money as well as time. The template option requires less design work to put together, so it’s a more affordable option.
Pro: It’s User-Friendly
Using a 3D virtual event template tends to be the most user-friendly way to host a virtual event. The venue’s already been built, so you’re free to focus on other aspects of event organization.
Con: Fewer Customization Options
The main downside to using a virtual event template is that they typically come with fewer customization options compared to the custom-build option. This means, for instance, that there might be fewer branding opportunities with the event space or that you have fewer choices as to what the venue’s architecture and décor look like. That being said, most templates do provide plenty of space for branding. And many have customization options that let you alter the décor or add extra space if it’s needed.
Con: Fewer Advanced Features
Another potential downside to choosing a 3D virtual template is that, depending on the platform you choose, you may have fewer analytics tools or other advanced features. Depending on your specific needs, that may not be a problem. If analytics are important to you, look for a platform that offers template-style virtual events with the advanced features you need.
Making the Right Choice for Your Event
The question of whether to choose a custom virtual event vs. a virtual event template is one that can have a major effect on the success of an event. And because this is one of the first choices you’ll make when planning a 3D virtual event, it can feel like a very high-stakes decision. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to feel confident about making the right choice. While they are very different options, there are usually clear indications as to which will best suit your event.
Do you want…
- To get your events up and running quickly without having to make a lot of creative or design decisions?
- A solution that will work for the multiple types of events your company holds throughout the year?
- A 3D virtual event option that has a user-friendly learning curve?
Then a template-style event is what you need.
Or do you want…
- To be involved in the venue design process every step of the way?
- Lots of scope for designing a unique event venue for a big, high-profile event?
- The ability to customize your event and venue to fit specific needs?
Then the custom 3D event is your best option.
Custom or Template: Which 3D Event Style Will You Choose?
Whether you go for a template-style online event or the fully customized option, a 3D virtual event has a wide range of benefits both for you and your attendees. Whichever event style you go with, your attendees will enjoy an event that’s immersive and engaging, from the first second to the last,