Drawing attendees with one day only registration discounts and early bird rates is only one part of the equation; keeping attendees engaged is another.
To avoid attendee burnout, provide a place to escape and relax such as a quiet or relaxation lounge and make sure attendees are aware of their availability.
To provide ample networking opportunities, try taking attendees outside of the conventional venue. Find a fun, unconventional and creative atmosphere off-site to encourage interaction. Some associations have tried carnivals and amusement parks to spark interest. Create a buddy system to further encourage newbies to participate.
Be sure to maximize your mobile app. Don’t just repackage print programs – create interactions for attendees, such as inviting them to participate in polls, scavenger hunts and one-time only special events.
Create a year-round presence. Since so many people spend nearly three hours a day on mobile apps, this will keep your attendees thinking about you long after the event is over. More content and networking can engage existing members and urge non-member attendees to join by helping relive the memorable and fun experiences.
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly popular and available. Voice-activated devices like Amazon’s Alexa can answer attendee questions and alert staff to meeting room needs. These devices can also schedule meeting rooms, control lighting, temperature and troubleshoot connectivity issues.
Post-meeting uses for artificial intelligence include facial detection to skip to different points in a meeting recording. There’s also a speech-to-text transcription function for assistance in writing blog posts and quotes for social media in a fraction of the time it would take to type them.
Most important, pay attention to what your attendees and your speakers think. Their comments and suggestions can provide more valuable insights into future trends than a crystal ball ever could.