Engagement of the attendee is one of the most important objectives for any event. In this three-part series, we’ll give you actionable tips for keeping your attendees engaged throughout every stage of their event experience.
The event experience doesn’t start at check-in. It starts months before the event actually starts with a promotional plan. Communication is key from the moment an event is formally announced until attendants arrive. Here are five ways to increase attendee engagement at events and involve, invest and excite attendees in advance about your event.
1. To start the conversation, use social channels
Your people spend a lot of time on social media, so get to know them where they are. Social media allows an easy and open line of communication between attendees and planners.
One client encouraged users to begin to interact and discuss specific content that would form part of the meeting. One technique they used (which proved successful) was to post a photo, asking users to capture it. Be sure to promote the location of your event and highlight the area’s interesting culture or food. Location can be a big draw, so speak it out!
2. Early introduction of the hashtag
Introducing your event hashtag early on allows attendees to become familiar with it, and it serves as a great resource for attendees to find news and updates in one central place.
As participants become familiar with the hashtag, they will continue to use it to keep the conversation going at the event (as well as afterwards). Consider asking your attendants to post photos using the event hashtag and use those photos to create a collage before the opening session.
3. Maximize the marketing of your email
Email is often the first touchpoint for attendees, so be sure to spend time crafting the right message. You might want to remind attendees about the previous year’s event by including stats from your event app or showcasing a highlight video.
Email also allows event professionals the opportunity to promote sponsors and vendors, discuss tracks or sessions happening during the event, and share responses to FAQs such as “Where should I book a hotel?” or “How far is the airport from the event location?” If you are using a mobile event app and are including new engagement features, be sure to promote those as well so attendees are aware that you are striving to bring them something new and different.
4. Customizable schedules
Custom agendas increase the likelihood of participants signing up for sessions they love. Make your agenda as customizable as possible when you create your event app, with tracks for specific topics, speakers, and more. The process of creating your own perfect experience is engaging in and of itself, and it will also help make you feel invested in your experience when you arrive.
5. Questions from the pre-event survey.png?w=177&ssl=1)
What’s the most effective way to anticipate what will be most engaging for your attendees? Ask directly to them. With a brief pre-event survey, you can do this and then use the feedback to deliver an experience tailored to your audience. You can ask questions that will drill down to attendee engagement at events, including:
-What do you expect from the event?
-What speakers are you most impatient with?
-How do you feel about the event’s location?
-What are the most likely app features to use?
Pre-event surveys are a great way to get people involved, and show them that their voice and experience is important to you.
How to help MeetingPlay
Follow these five steps and before your event your participants will feel much more involved and engaged. To see all our tips on attendee engagement at conferences, download our ebook – The Ultimate Guide to Improving Event Attendee Engagement. And if you’re ready to talk to a MeetingPlay expert about your next event app, contact us for a demo today!
About MeetingPlay
MeetingPlay is a mobile event app provider who develops intuitive, engaging and information-rich solutions infused with innovative technology, providing experiences that everyone will be talking about. Contact us today to find out how you can tap into the power of meaningful connections.
