It goes without saying that the primary goal of keeping your attendees interested in whatever you are offering them is by keeping them happy.
Humanity has wondered the key to perpetual happiness for centuries, without success. Luckily, you only need to do so during the length of your event. Phew!
With these five methods, you can ensure that you will keep your meeting attendees happy and engaged through the duration of your conference.
1. Boost their energy
Conferences and events can grow tiresome quickly. Not particularly because your activities are boring, but because energy runs out if things extend for too long. Coffee is the obvious go-to but caffeine is only momentary and a lot of it can cause a crash!
Pro tip: You can't crash if you never stop drinking coffee
— Death Wish Coffee (@DeathWishCoffee) November 7, 2019
Remaining in the same position or environment for long can decrease attendees’ energy, while extended presentations oversaturate their concentration. The solution, then, is to provide a regular change of pace or ambiance.
You can achieve this by providing interactive food stands, adding aesthetically pleasant stands, providing means of movement within the conference, and areas to promote networking.
2. Create opportunities for teambuilding
Networking is a fundamental aspect of conferences, and one of the primary pulls for attendees to assist to your event. Keep them happy by providing them with plenty of opportunities to create connections, increase business, and form long-lasting bonds.
You can stimulate this through different teambuilding events! Things like classic methods such as roundtables always work, but putting together interactive events really helps attendees make new friends. Not sure where to start, check-out Meetingscouts own teambuilding tips!
3. Innovate through clever use of technology
New technology is a conference’s best friend. Not only do they enhance the attendee’s experience, but they also make planning simpler, elevating your event to a brand-new level.
Even if Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality are not technologies that fit within your budget, attendees are bound to enjoy the use of event apps to make checking in more accessible. Likewise, free WiFi and charging stations are almost required nowadays.
4. Listen to feedback
Everyone enjoys being appreciated. If your attendees feel like their presence is welcomed, their voices heard, and opinions considered, odds are they’ll be repeat customers.
Keep open communication channels with each attendee by communicating often, answering their questions promptly (or create a chatbot to do it for you!) and, overall, listen to them. Never criticize them or complain about them!
Likewise, be receptive to their opinions and input. Organize polls or surveys to receive their feedback, and try to take it into consideration. If your attendees feel they have made a positive change, they will know that they are part of something bigger—and will inevitably return.
Not sure what to ask? Read these 15 sample post-event questions from SurveyMonkey.
5. Free stuff!
Everyone likes freebies! Receiving a gift gives the impression that assisting to your conference is a total gain. Thus it encourages attendees to go.
While it may be intimidating to include freebies in a restricted budget, you don’t have to think big. Of course, tech gadgets would be amazing and typically well-received, but you can offer things that are relatively inexpensive yet clearly valuable.
E-books, courses, or innovative bags full of goodies are incredible alternatives to make your attendees leave with a smile on their faces. Even useful company shwag like pens, umbrellas, are nice because they aren’t just “throw-aways.” Free stuff that is not useful include business cards, advertising leaflets, and candy wrappers. You want to give a gift that people will see repeatedly and be reminded of you.
Get started!
Adding any of these ideas to your next meeting will ensure that everyone leaves happy and will want to return! Hosting your meeting at an exciting hotel is always an important step to happy conference goers. Let Meetingscouts help you find your next hotel
Meetingscouts loves happy attendees! Contact us today and we can help you find your next hotel!