It is fair to say that in-person conferences are often preferred over online ones.

Face-to-face networking, informal conversations over coffee and spontaneous discussions between sessions are difficult to replicate online, and they should not be forced.

An online conference is not a replacement for human connection in a room.

At first glance, a webinar and an online conference can look almost identical. People speaking online, slides on screen, an audience watching remotely.

But once you step back and look at scale, structure and expectation, the differences become clearer.

An online conference is a structured, multi-session event delivered entirely online.

Unlike a single webinar, it usually runs across several hours or even multiple days and involves multiple speakers, multiple sessions and clear progression across the programme. There is a defined agenda, deliberate transitions and someone actively holding the structure together.