For those looking to energize their events and increase their positive post-event rating, the key element may be increasing event engagement. The challenge may be in identifying event engagement ideas that will produce your desired results.
This article will examine the significance of event engagement and why it matters. We will review 10 compelling event engagement ideas that are designed to impress. We will explore how technology can help and how you can best measure your results.
Let’s raise the level and expectations for your next event. Here is how to engage your event audience more effectively.
What Is Event Engagement, and Why Does It Matter?
Event engagement is the process of getting and holding the attention of attendees at an event. Its goal is to provide opportunities for participation in as many ways as possible. Event engagement opportunities should stir interest, provide value, and increase involvement.
Staging an event is not unlike putting on a party. People are invited to attend, but their experience may be far different. Those who sit along the sidelines may enjoy the atmosphere and an occasional conversation. Those, however, who get up, network, get involved in group discussions and even dance, will likely have a better time. If you were to survey those who attended the party, the ones who were active and participated would likely say they had a more enjoyable experience.
Your corporate event is not dissimilar. Those who are artfully engaged will likely do and learn more, network more, and more fully enjoy your event. The result is often post-event surveys that shine!
Engagement matters because it can be the difference between a conference, expo, or meeting that was “fine” or “satisfactory” and one that was “exceptional” and “impressive.”
How to Create an Attendee Engagement Strategy that Impresses
An engagement strategy is a written plan that outlines how you can best interact with your audience. A strategic engagement plan serves to focus planners on specific elements of an event and how to maximize engagement and the overall experience of each.
There are certain proven steps that can be taken to ensure a more successful event through engagement.
Here are some tips to consider when creating your event engagement strategy.
Your Strategy Should Be Attendee Focused
When attendees are engaged, everyone wins. Sponsors are satisfied, sessions are filled and energized, and the audience get a return on their investment of time and money.
Know Your Attendees
The better you know your audience, the more efficiently you can keep them engaged. This includes their experience level in the industry, what they are looking for at the event, and what their expectations are. Use this knowledge to strategize how to engage them through sessions, seminars, break-out sessions, and panel discussions, that will likely be of interest.
Ensure Initial Impressions Are Positive
Walk through the attendee registration process and take steps to make it simple and seamless. Anticipate FAQs and answer them ahead of time. Provide sufficient signage and staff to minimize confusion. Avoid any early missteps and look for ways to wow your audience as soon as possible. An automated registration process can go a long way in achieving this goal.
First impressions matter and can set the mood for the entire event. Avoid speed bumps that may serve as a barrier to engagement.
Keep Your Audience Connected
Review your best options for keeping in touch with attendees during the event. This can be done through your website, text messages, social media, on-site video screens, and message boards, and announcements. There are apps that can enhance the user experience and engage your visitors efficiently. Ensure events are well promoted, and any changes are quickly communicated.
Real-time communications and engagement allow you to test the temperature of the room during an event and make adjustments accordingly.
Proactively Create Networking Opportunities
A successful event engagement strategy should include a focus on networking opportunities. While networking at events can certainly occur organically, it is much too important to not promote and organize. Surveys frequently show the importance of networking for most attendees, and activities should be planned.
This part of your strategy could include creating rest areas or lounge areas where attendees can take a break and decompress. This can provide a more relaxed atmosphere for attendees to network.
Determine How Successful Engagement Will Be Measured
Identify how you will measure the success of engaging visitors through surveys, session attendance, social media feedback, vendor engagement, and post-event comments.
Use engagement activity from previous events as a measuring stick and set new, higher standards for engagement.
10 Powerful Event Engagement Ideas
If you are ready to power up engagement levels at your event, here are some useful, practical, and proven ideas.
1. Create an Engaging Environment
Ensure your event has an open atmosphere that encourages engagement. Avoid walls and barriers and facilitate vendor engagement. Provide seating that promotes interaction. Avoid traditional audience set-ups in front of a stage that tends to separate an audience from a speaker. Instead, encourage presentations in the round or with angular seating with wide, accessible aisles.
2. Provide a Speaker Orientation
One of the best ways to make sure your event engagement strategy permeates through your entire event is to connect with presenters, panelists, and speakers, encouraging them to use interactivity in their sessions. This may include Q&A sessions, quizzes, or questionnaires, walking through the audience, and through small post-presentation sessions that could be more personal.
Enlist the help of your speakers and presenters in making your event more engaging. Let them know that you place a priority on engaging the audience.
3. Schedule Entertainment and Fun Events
Education and networking are an important part of any event, but don’t forget to keep attendees entertained and involved. This can include musical entertainment, comedy, quiz shows, and industry-related trivia. These more light-hearted events can contribute and sessions can deliver smiles, good memories, and favorable post-event ratings. These light-hearted sessions can contribute to the ebb and flow of your overall event.
4. Check In With Attendees
You can keep attendees connected through an event app, texts, social media, live event chats, and others. You can use these vehicles to monitor the success of your event through surveys and quizzes. Ask attendees what they like about your event and what areas should not be missed.
5. Organize Raffles and Giveaways Throughout The Event
Everybody likes freebies and hourly winners of swag during your event can keep your event sounding alive while engaging your audience. Enter members upon arrival or include them through your automated registration and sign in process. Announce their names through your event app and audible announcements. This can help add energy to the event and increase the importance of announcements.
6. Make Unique Networking Opportunities Accessible
Most attendees are looking to expand their connections in the industry. Some, however, may be less outgoing than others. Encourage those who may be more timid in your audience with creative ideas like speed networking, a throwback video game center, team events, and more. Explore how technology can make exchanging information easier, especially for those who are less outgoing.
7. Upgrade Event Production and Presentation Levels
How attendees will feel and be engaged during your event can be greatly influenced by their audible and visual experiences. Make sure you budget enough for unique decorations, lighting and lighting effects, video screens, and sound. This is not just an event; it should be a sensory experience that attendees may want to capture on their cameras and share. Offer a “Selfie Center”.
8. Upgrade Promotional and Giveaway Items
Raise the quality of promotional items you use for branding. Odds are, visitors have enough pens and koozies. Take the time to explore more unique and practical items. Consider velcro-adjustable visors, quality-branded pizza cutters, and reusable water bottles. Include sponsor logos to help defer costs.
9. Offer Access to Advanced Technology
Create a technology center where visitors can experience cutting-edge technology hands-on. Even if the technology is only peripherally related to your event, the experience can still be enlightening and enjoyable. You may be able to partner with a technology-based company to sponsor and/or operate the area. Include technology like the latest wearables, AI, and consumer products.
10. Meet and Greet Sessions
Are there people in your industry that your attendees would appreciate having the opportunity to meet and greet? If it is not someone actually involved in your industry, maybe it could be someone who can somehow be related to your mission. Think along the lines of a minor player in “The Office” or some other business-related television program. This can be a fun and interactive event that attendees are certain to share and remember.
Leverage Event Technology Software
Event technology can streamline and contribute to the success of your event. Using technology is not just a convenient option for managing your events; it is a must in today’s environment.
Here are some examples of event technology available to help propel your event to the next level.
- Event Management Software
- Event Marketing Tools and Technology
- Partner Planning Software
- Budgeting Software for Events
- Virtual and Hybrid Event Planning Software
- Event Registration Software
- Virtual and 3D Planning Technology
How to Measure Event Engagement
Measuring your event engagement can depend on the software and tools you use to engage your audience. If you use social media, for example, to engage and communicate with your audience, the increase in your traffic can provide a good frame of reference. Emails, texts, and app activity and usage are also valuable.
You can also refer to attendance figures at your event and scheduled sessions and programs. Event engagement can also be measured through surveys, questions, quizzes, raffle participants, and more.
Post-event Engagement Ideas
It is estimated that for every day that passes after your event, your engagement level can drop by 20%. It is crucial that you connect with attendees ASAP following an event if you want valuable post-event engagement and input. Here are some ideas.
Send Out a Satisfaction Survey
Be sure to include specific questions about their experience, including ease of registration, available sessions and topics, networking opportunities, and career development opportunities. These post-event surveys can not only help you evaluate the quality of engagement activities, but help in planning future events.
Ask For Open Ended Feedback
Ask respondents to provide details about their experience. Inquire about what they enjoyed, what they found less than satisfying, and what they would add or change for upcoming events.
Send a Thank You Note
Let your attendees know you appreciate their support and attendance. You can express your appreciation with an early registration discount for next year’s event. It is also a good opportunity to ask for feedback.
Provide an Event Wrap-up
Use social media and your website to wrap up the event and how it was received. Include highlights and details of the event, along with photos and short videos.
Conclusion
Simply put, the most critical element to ensure a successful event is quality attendee engagement. It elevates your audience into active, involved participants. Start by creating a vibrant event engagement strategy. Implement ideas that raise the standard of your event. Stay connected with your audience. Finally, follow-up to measure the results of your efforts.
Insure the success of your next event with the help of MemberClicks. Our Registration Technology makes the process easy for you and seamless for your attendees.
Learn more and schedule your free product demo.
