Virtual events can generate millions in revenue and thousands of subscribers.
Or they can waste 6 months of work and leave you with an empty email list.
I’ve hosted dozens of virtual events over the past decade. My students and I have collectively generated tens of millions in sales using virtual events.
But I’ve also seen creators waste entire years building events that got 50 registrations. And spend months creating content that nobody watched.
The difference comes down to avoiding 21 critical mistakes that kill most virtual events.
In this guide, I’ll show you each mistake and give you the exact fix. These insights have helped my students go from zero to five and six-figure events.
By the end, you’ll know exactly what not to do when planning your online event.
Let’s dive in.
Table of contents
Understanding virtual events
Virtual events are online gatherings that connect people without physical locations. They include types like webinars, virtual summits, online conferences, online workshops, and more.
Virtual summits work especially well for creators. You bring together expert speakers for a multi-day online event, offer free registration, and monetize through premium passes or related products.
Now let’s look at the biggest mistakes that kill the success of virtual events.
21 virtual summit mistakes
Why Most People Who Try Virtual Summits Struggle & Fail
Mistake #1: The wrong process
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- Create and follow a proven blueprint
Navid Moazzez
@thenavidm
Don’t let equipment stop you. What matters most is connecting great content with an eager audience. Everything else is secondary.
Mistake #2: The wrong topic
Choosing the wrong summit topic….
- A virtual summit for everyone is really for nobody.
- Go specific rather than broad and general. Narrow down your niche until it hurts!
- Niching down allows you to target the needs and desires of your audience more specifically. You will also be able to get more opt-ins and sales, and it helps you position yourself as the go-to expert in your industry much faster than if you go more broad.
- Your marketing efforts will be more effective and you’ll be able to communicate more clearly once you define your niche.
- For example, instead of creating a more broad and general “online marketing summit”, I would recommend that you go even more niche, and create a “Video Marketing Summit” or “List Building Summit”. If you’re in the health niche, rather than putting together a general “health summit”, you can put together something more specific like “Home Yoga Summit” or “Paleo Summit”.
If you’re in the health niche, rather than putting together a general “health summit”, you can put together something more specific like “Home Yoga Summit” or like my student Steph did (who were very skeptical about summits and joining VSM at first), she created the Women’s Strength Summit, which turned into a big success with almost 20,000 opt-ins and over $50,000 in sales.
Remember: Focus on finding your ‘“Sweet Spot” and go back to watch video #1 to learn the 5 steps to coming up with your profitable virtual summit theme.
Virtual summits work in literally any niche, and in Virtual Summit Mastery I have a list of 100(!) successful summits in different niches that you can model and steal the ideas from.
Takeaway: You’ll typically be way more successful if you create a summit that focuses on a specific topic, rather than a broad one.
Mistake #3: The wrong positioning / hook
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Mistake #4: The wrong offer
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Mistake #5: The wrong speakers
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Mistake #6: The wrong launch plan
A successful launch needs a well-crafted strategy. AI tools can guide your launch process, automating tasks, optimizing your marketing efforts, and ensuring everything goes off without a hitch.
Mistake #7: The wrong tools
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Mistake #8: The wrong content
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Mistake #9: The wrong summit funnel
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Mistake #10: The wrong summit agenda
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Mistake #11: The wrong summit promotion strategy
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Mistake #12: The wrong communication
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Mistake #13: The wrong delivery
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Mistake #14: The wrong recording setup
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Mistake #15: The wrong timing
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Mistake #16: The wrong summit length
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Mistake #17: The wrong summit bonuses and incentives
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Mistake #18: The wrong tracking
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Mistake #19: The wrong follow-up
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Mistake #20: The wrong goals
Setting unrealistic or unfocused goals can set you up for failure. AI can help you set, track, and achieve SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) that lead to summit success.
- Your goals should not just be SMART, but fulfilling.
- Include the success of your attendees in your goals.
- Think long-term. Don’t chase quick rewards or five minutes of fame.
Mistake #21: The wrong value proposition
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✨ More resources
- Virtual event examples
- Virtual event ideas
- Virtual event sponsorships
- What is a virtual conference?
- Best virtual summit software
- Best virtual conference platforms
- Best video conferencing software
- What is a telesummit?
FAQs
Here are some common questions and answers people ask about common virtual event mistakes and how to avoid them.
What is a virtual event?
A virtual event is an online gathering where people register to access expert sessions, workshops, or presentations. Common formats include virtual summits, webinars, online conferences, and digital workshops. Most offer free registration with optional paid upgrades for lifetime access and bonuses.
What are the most common virtual event mistakes?
The biggest online event mistakes are choosing topics that are too broad, starting promotion too late, not having a clear monetization strategy, poor speaker selection, and treating it like a one-off project instead of a business asset.
How can I avoid technical difficulties during my event?
Test everything beforehand. Do practice runs with your speakers, have backup internet (phone hotspot), and keep your setup simple. Record sessions in advance when possible rather than going live. Always have a backup plan and communicate clearly with attendees if issues arise.
How long should I promote my virtual event?
Start promoting your virtual event to your own audience 3-4 weeks before launch. Activate speakers and affiliates 2 weeks before. The most successful events build momentum over time, not through last-minute pushes.
Do I need a big audience to host a successful virtual event
No. Many of my students started with zero audience and built five-figure businesses from their first event. Virtual events actually help you build an audience while generating revenue.
Do I need a big audience to host a successful virtual event?
Use social media, email newsletters, and partnerships to reach your target audience.
How do I choose the right speakers for my virtual event?
Focus on alignment over fame. Choose speakers whose audience matches yours and who can deliver actionable content. A mix of rising stars and established experts works better than chasing only big names.
How do I keep my audience engaged throughout the event?
Focus on actionable content that gets results. Use live elements like Q&As, kickoff hangouts, and breakout rooms. Create urgency with limited-time offers and bonuses. Most importantly, deliver real value – engagement follows when people can actually use what they learn.
What is the impact of a lack of follow-up after the event?
Not following up can result in lost relationships and missed opportunities for feedback or future events.
What’s the difference between a virtual summit and a webinar?
A webinar is typically one session with one speaker. A virtual summit features multiple experts over several days, offering much more value and higher conversion potential.
How can I measure the success of my virtual event?
Use metrics such as attendance rates, engagement levels, and feedback surveys to evaluate success.
How much does it cost to host a virtual event?
You can start with a few hundred dollars for basic tools and equipment. Most successful events reinvest their profits into better production for future events.
Can virtual events work in any industry?
Yes. My students have succeeded in niches from harp music and tennis coaching to insurance and play therapy. If there’s an audience, virtual events can work.
How do I price my virtual event all-access pass?
The most successful virtual event hosts price between $37-$97 for the all-access pass. Test different price points and focus on the value you’re delivering rather than competing on price.
What platform should I use for my virtual event?
For recording summit sessions, use Riverside, Descript Rooms, StreamYard, or Ecamm Live. These platforms give you professional quality without the complexity. Avoid Zoom for professional events – the quality isn’t as good. Pick one platform and master it rather than switching between multiple tools.
What happens after my virtual event ends?
The best hosts turn their events into long-term assets. Repurpose content, nurture your new list, launch backend offers, and plan your next event. One event should fuel months of business growth.
Final thoughts
Virtual events are one of the most powerful ways to grow your online business in 2025.
But only if you avoid the mistakes that kill most events before they launch.
The 21 mistakes in this guide have cost creators millions in lost revenue and wasted time. Don’t let them destroy your event.
Here’s what to focus on:
- Choose a specific niche that you understand.
- Create an irresistible offer that people actually want to buy.
- Master one promotion method before trying others.
Most importantly, remember that your first event doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to avoid these critical mistakes.
My first virtual summit made $20,000 with affordable tools, basic equipment, and zero experience… because I focused on delivering value and avoided the pitfalls that ruin most events.
Your virtual event can do the same.
Now you know exactly what not to do. Time to start planning what you will do.
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