The first step in successful event planning is how effectively you build a connection with your attendees.
For participants to feel connected, the event must, first and foremost, be interesting and interactive. You must build on post-event success if you want people to continue attending your events.
How to entice participants to return time after time and maintain their interest? Some people would claim that the concept of an event community is unreal.
Finding the appropriate tools and strategies can be all it takes to uncover the solution. In addition to that, the most effective community management approach and event technology are what you need.
For years, many event organizers have struggled with the expensive challenge of attendee retention. They spend a significant portion of the marketing budget trying to draw in new guests. But a lack of knowledge and marketing tips made the possibility of attendee retention just a dream.
So if you are on the same route, here are five suggestions for retaining attendees that can help you increase registrations at your upcoming event.
What’s the Secret to Success?
Event technology may assist you in engaging attendees, whether it is through an event app or a virtual event platform. This is so it can serve as the basis for an event community.
Delivering the kind of year-round participation that gives members more for their annual dues also implies that for associations.
One of your main selling points might be your yearly conference, but your organization can provide so much more with an event community.
Why Is a Community for Events More Economical?
An event community can increase the value you offer to your attendees while also lowering the overall cost of your event technology. It gets less expensive for each event when you host more modest-sized gatherings.
Using the same event technology for all of your community’s needs is more efficient, even in terms of the time spent learning a new platform.
Additionally, having several smaller events spread out throughout the year increases your chances of drawing new guests. Even attending your yearly conference might be a stepping stone to smaller, more costly local events and webinars.
Here are the best attendee retention tips for you:
Create Long-Term Content from Your Event
80% of participants come to an event to learn. However, just because your live event has ended doesn’t mean that learning has to end.
Select an event management solution that enables you to upload event materials so that anyone who couldn’t attend or wished to view them may do so.
To achieve greater attendee retention, keep the event platform operational even after the main event. Attendees can return frequently to view the content you shared when the platform was active.
After the event, you can also send guests a customized email that highlights the most engaging sessions.
Offering the option of watching the content again helps you develop a base of devoted attendees around whom you may sell your future event. To fully benefit from this an evergreen content portfolio is required.
Design a successful event marketing strategy
Starting the event’s promotion early is a terrific method to guarantee a greater attendance rate. Give participants of your current event a hint about the one you’ll be organizing soon, if possible. This serves as a reminder later on in addition to creating a sense of urgency.
The promotional strategy can be built once the initial announcement is complete. Utilize social media platforms to connect with more people. You might promote registration fee savings for early birds.
Additionally, hold a variety of local and smaller events throughout the year. This develops a community of attendees who are more likely to attend the following major event.
Offering branded gifts and participation certificates
It will demonstrate your appreciation. Celebrate a great event, but don’t forget to keep your brand name front and center as you do so.
Offer branded goodie bags to the physical attendees of hybrid events. While a gift card or coupon for attending the event is a nice gesture for participants who will be in attendance remotely.
You can collaborate with an exhibitor and provide your attendees with their coupons. Both the event engagement rate and the number of people visiting that exhibitor booth is increased by it.
A certificate—or an e-certificate in the case of virtual attendees—works as an incentive for greater event engagement if you’re conducting a seminar or webinar. They are more inclined to show up at your subsequent event as well.
Obtain direct comments from the audience
Understanding what keeps the audience on their toes and what kinds of information are most important and relevant to them will help you retain attendees.
Asking for direct feedback is the quickest and most efficient technique to discover audience preferences.
Conduct surveys before the event to find out what the participants are most looking forward to. As soon as a session is over, request immediate feedback.
A direct communication strategy develops a personal connection between your brand and the attendees and makes them feel appreciated. Feedback from attendees is essential if you want to continue hosting interactive events.
Send a customized follow-up message
Select an EMS that enables smooth connectivity between your CRM and the event registration tool. Gather all the information needed for a follow-up message using the registration tool.
The procedure will advance with an EMS that interfaces with your CRM. Having the data recorded in your CRM makes it simpler to have follow-up interactions. Before the event is through, you’ll be on track for post-event follow-up.
Summing Up…
If you want to host great events all year long, returning attendees are a huge benefit. Because of this, it’s critical to look after the people who attended the last event and gradually cultivate a foundation of devoted customers. The procedure is made considerably simpler for you with an all-inclusive event management solution. We believe these five pointers will be beneficial to you in the long term.
