The Importance of Engagement at Live Events
The Importance of Engagement at Live Events
When it comes to hosting live events, engaging attendees should be the top priority. Event engagement refers to the ways in which events companies create meaningful interactions and experiences that keep attendees interested, involved and excited throughout the event. In a 2020 study by Bizzabo, over 80% of B2B marketing professionals ranked event engagement as an important key performance indicator (KPI) for an event.
Why does event engagement matter? Engagement is essential for creating a positive experience for attendees. When attendees are engaged, it drives their participation, which means that they are likely to be more involved in sessions, network with other attendees and interact with event sponsors and exhibitors. They are also more likely to feel satisfied with the event and view it as a valuable investment of their time and resources. This can lead to positive feedback and word-of-mouth marketing, which can boost attendance, create long-term relationships, and improve the event’s reputation.
Thus, keeping attendees engaged throughout the event experience is one of the critical factors in achieving success. But how do you engage attendees during live events? Here are some tips on raising your game in engagement efforts.
High-Energy Kick Off
Kick off your event with a bang! Depending on the size of your event, this can be some invigorating entertainment or a stimulating icebreaker that can get the attendees’ adrenaline pumping. If possible, get an experienced host or moderator who knows how to get your audience going, and keep their energy level up.
Event Gamification
Another way to keep your attendees’ energy up and running is to do something fun throughout the event. Gamification is an excellent way to reward attendees as they learn and engage. The type of games that works best depends on your attendees’ profile and your event’s goals. Some possible activities include scavenger hunts, social media competitions, etc.
Push Notifications
Push notifications are another popular way of reinforcing engagement, which can also serve as a valuable tool to remind attendees of interesting sessions they wish to attend. Attendees are usually very busy at your event and may not remember every session they want to attend or people they wish to meet. Real-time push notifications can help them stay connected and remind them when sessions are about to start. If games are happening, it is also a good way to nudge the attendees to participate in them.
Use Event App
Event apps have become an essential tool in recent years, and they can be much more than just a digital version of the event’s agenda. It can be a primary communication platform that alerts attendees of information, sessions and activities with well-timed push notifications. It is also helpful in engaging them in live polling, capturing surveys and feedback and much more. Use it wisely!
Live Polling and Q&A
Live polling can help connect the audience to the speaker without interrupting the session. At the same time, speakers can get feedback on the content by asking questions that attendees can quickly answer via the mobile event app. Nothing excites the audience more than seeing the results of the live polls display on stage as it makes them feel like they are part of the action.
Use the Right Event Management Company
Maintaining a high level of attendee engagement requires skills and knowledge that mostly come with experience. If you do not have the right talent in your existing team to do so, it is best to leave it to the professionals. There are event management companies in Singapore that have the ready resources and know-how to ensure your attendees remain riveted to their seat throughout your event.
As you can see, an engaging event is usually a successful event. By prioritising engagement, you can create more valuable and memorable experiences for attendees, leading to long-term benefits for all parties involved.
Call us at (65) 69966700 or email [email protected] if you wish to discuss your event management needs with us.