How to Increase Attendee Interaction and Engagement at a Conference
Part of the conference organizing process is giving thought to how to cultivate and encourage attendee interaction and engagement. Attendee engagement is the level at which conference attendees actively participate and interact with an event.
Engaged attendees are fully present, attentively listening to speakers, engaging in lively discussions with fellow attendees, and actively participating in workshops. Disengaged attendees might be busy with their phones, attending few or no workshops, and only superficially interacting with others.
We host conferences to create an environment that encourages engagement and attendee interaction. The energy of a live event is unparalleled, but it takes deliberate effort from conference organizers to cultivate this interaction and engagement.
In this article, we’ll discuss strategies to enhance attendee interaction and engagement before, during, and after your conference. By using these strategies, you can create a dynamic and interactive conference environment that maximizes attendee engagement and enriches the overall experience for all participants.
Why attendee interaction and engagement matters
3 Strategies to Enhance Attendee Interaction & Engagement Before the Conference
5 Strategies to Enhance Attendee Interaction & Engagement During the Conference
4 Strategies to Enhance Attendee Interaction & Engagement After the Conference
BONUS: Using Technology to Enhance Attendee Interaction & Engagement
Why Attendee Interaction and Engagement Matters
Engagement is not just a nice-to-have; it will make or break the success of your conference. An engaging conference attracts more sponsor interest and ultimately increases sponsor satisfaction. An engaged audience not only benefits sponsors but enhances the overall conference experience, making it more enjoyable and memorable for everyone involved.
3 Strategies to Enhance Attendee Interaction & Engagement Before the Conference
Creating a buzz and building anticipation before a conference isn’t just about selling tickets, it’s also how you gain attendee engagement from the very beginning.
Social Media
Social media platforms offer a powerful way to start the conversation early and build excitement around your conference. Create official event social media accounts and establish an event hashtag that attendees can use to connect and share their thoughts and expectations.
Share relevant content, like as speaker highlights, session previews, and behind-the-scenes glimpses to generate anticipation. But don’t just yell into the crowd, encourage attendees to join the conversation by asking questions, hosting polls, and sharing valuable resources related to the conference topic.
Pre-Conference Launch Party
A pre-event launch party encourages attendees to start building relationships and networking before the official start of the conference. This can be a physical or virtual gathering where attendees can meet and connect with each other in a relaxed and informal setting.
Be proactive! Don’t rely on connections ‘naturally’ happening. Nurture networking by building in some structure to the event. Incorporate icebreaker activities or interactive games to encourage interaction among participants. We’ve had a lot of success using a platform called Gatheround. Whatever you do, remember to include opportunities for attendees to exchange contact information so they can reconnect later.d
We like encouraging people with the concept of ‘conference buddies’. A conference buddy is someone you meet at a pre-conference event and you both agree to connect with each other at least once each day during the conference. This is an especially good tactic for introverts or people who are generally shy.
Grant Platform Early Access
If your conference has a dedicated app or online platform, give attendees early access to take advantage of the pre-conference excitement.
Open up the event platform before the conference officially begins, encourage attendees to explore the platform, network with other participants, and familiarize themselves with the conference schedule and resources.
If the app allows it, ask attendees to create their profiles, upload their photos, and share their interests. You can also encourage engagement during early access by providing a message board in-app with pre populated discussion topics and questions.
By granting early access to the event platform, you empower attendees to take an active role in shaping their conference experience and establish connections ahead of time.
Photo by xcdesign studio
5 Strategies to Enhance Attendee Interaction & Engagement During the Conference
A successful conference goes beyond delivering informative content. We want to create an environment that encourages active participation and engagement from attendees. This means putting things into place during the conference to stimulate meaningful interactions, empower attendees to take the lead, and make the event a memorable experience.
Here are five strategies to enhance attendee interaction and engagement during the conference.
Interactive Sessions and Workshops
Your speakers and emcees shouldn’t be the only ones talking during the conference. Make the conference content an interactive experience instead of a one-way street by incorporating sessions and workshops that invite active attendee participation.
Look at each of your sessions and give attendees opportunities to engage with the content they’re consuming through discussions, Q&A sessions, and interactive exercises.
Use things like live polling, audience response systems, or breakout groups to get people talking and collaborating. Instead of relying on just one tactic, mix them up to appeal to as many people as possible.
By creating an atmosphere of interactivity, you enhance the overall attendee experience and make it harder for them to get distracted from the conference content.
Attendee-Led Activities and Sessions
Empower attendees to take initiative and become active contributors by incorporating attendee-led activities and sessions. This works particularly well in community focused conferences.
Offer designated time slots or spaces for attendees to showcase their expertise or lead discussions on relevant topics. Your attendees will surprise and delight you with their diverse conversations and encouraging peer learning.
Attendee-led sessions not only give a platform for attendees to share their knowledge but also a sense of ownership and engagement, they are part of the event and not just witnesses to it. Encourage attendees to propose and facilitate their sessions, sparking.
Gamification
Use the power of gamification to increase attendee engagement and participation during the conference. Gamification adds an element of fun and competition, making the conference experience more dynamic and engaging.
Reward attendees for their active participation and accomplishments throughout the conference by offering incentives, prizes, or exclusive experiences. The incentives should be targeted at your particular audience’s likes and values. An easy example: if your audience is vegan, don’t offer a steak dinner as a prize.
Game elements like scavenger hunts, challenges, or quizzes work well and are relatively simple to put together. In 2020, we implemented a scavenger hunt where some of the “items” to find were specific words or phrases from speakers that could only be “found” by paying attention to the sessions. We were blown away by how much the attendees loved it!
Ice-Breakers and Active Guided Networking Sessions
Networking shouldn’t always be left to chance during a conference. Like with a pre-conference event, Incorporate ice-breaker activities and structured networking sessions to encourage meaningful connections among attendees. Plan interactive exercises or facilitated discussions that prompt attendees to interact with one another.
You can also consider using networking technologies or apps that facilitate meaningful introductions and help attendees discover common interests or goals.
By providing a structured networking environment, you are taking the weight off of the attendees and make it easier for them to jump in. This is especially true post Covid-19 pandemic where we’re seeing attendees struggle to get back into the groove of in-person social interaction. Help them skip the awkward beginning part and create opportunities for attendees to engage with each other and build valuable connections.
[Start with people’s goals: what does this particular audience want to get out of networking?]
Event Hashtags
Keep building on the power of social media you established in your pre-conference work. Use it to enhance the attendee experience and extend the conference beyond the physical event space. Encourage attendees to share their thoughts, insights, and experiences using the event's designated hashtag. Display the hashtag prominently throughout the conference venue and incorporate it into presentations or interactive displays. Make it easy for attendees to know what to post by sharing prompts or asking questions.
Assign a team member to monitor and engage with the social content by contributing to conversations and amplifying the attendee-generated content. Event hashtags create a sense of community and enable attendees to connect and engage with one another both during and after the conference.
[Attendee generated content is great marketing material and market research for promoting future events. It’s easier to get people excited when you can point back to a post and say, ‘Remember how awesome this was?’.]
Photo by xcdesign studio
4 Strategies to Enhance Attendee Interaction & Engagement After the Conference
Surprise! Hosting a successful conference is actually just the beginning.
To maximize the impact of your efforts, maintain attendee interaction and engagement even after the conference is over. Through your post-event strategies, keep building connections, gathering valuable feedback, and laying the foundation for future successful events.
Here we’ll explore four powerful strategies to enhance attendee interaction and engagement after the conference.
Event Surveys and Calls for Feedback
One of the most effective ways to gauge attendee satisfaction and gather valuable insights is through post-conference surveys and feedback. Reach out to attendees shortly after the event and ask for their thoughts and opinions.
By collecting their feedback, you can identify areas of improvement for future events, understand attendee preferences, and address any concerns they may have. If you want to go a step further, sharing the survey results with participants furthers transparency and shows your commitment to enhancing the attendee experience.
Use online survey tools or dedicated event management platforms to streamline the process to efficiently collect and analyze the data. Keep any surveys short and easy to complete.
Post-Conference Email Communications
After the event, maintain a connection with attendees and keep them engaged. Post-event email communications is one avenue.
Craft personalized emails thanking participants for their attendance and highlighting key takeaways from the event. Share additional resources, such as presentation slides, whitepapers, or exclusive content related to the event topic. This not only gives value to the attendees but also serves as a reminder of the event and keeps your brand top of mind.
Consider creating a series of email sequences that give ongoing relevant information and updates to nurture the relationship with attendees over time. If you’re sharing good content, attendees will appreciate your contact.
Social Media Throwbacks
Take advantage of the event hashtag and continue to share content related to the event on social media platforms. Share photos, videos, and memorable moments from the event to create a sense of nostalgia and encourage attendees to reminisce. Engage with attendees by responding to their comments, sharing their posts, and asking for their favorite event memories.
By actively participating in conversations and amplifying attendee-generated content, create a sense of community that encourages ongoing engagement long after the conference ends. This is especially useful for conferences that happen on a regular yearly cycle.
Private Community for Attendees
Creating a private community for event attendees means a dedicated space for continued interaction and networking. Platforms like Slack, Discord, or even a dedicated forum on your website can serve as virtual meeting places for attendees to connect, share ideas, and collaborate. Encourage attendees to join the community by offering exclusive access to industry insights, expert Q&A sessions, or networking opportunities.
By nurturing a private community, you build deeper relationships among attendees and create a sense of belonging that extends beyond the event itself.
[For this strategy to be successful, you have to be committed to it for the long term. This method needs a lot of continuous hands-on attention, so don’t jump in lightly!]
BONUS: Using Technology to Enhance Attendee Interaction & Engagement
Here are some of our favorite tools for enhancing attendee engagement at a conference:
Webex Events (formerly Socio)
Enhancing attendee interaction and engagement is crucial for the success of your conference. By focusing on strategies that foster engagement and create opportunities for meaningful interaction, you can create a vibrant and memorable event. From pre-conference preparations to the post-event follow-up, these strategies will help you create an environment that keeps attendees actively involved and leaves a lasting impact.