How to enhance the attendee experience at any event

A truly great event not only meets expectations, but also exceeds them. From the first interaction with marketing materials to the subsequent emails, each touchpoint shapes the attendee experience. Successful activities make participants feel valuable, participate and eager to return.

Event professionals can make sure their parties stand out by using a smarter framework designed to create a great experience that attendees can’t help but talk about. By combining wit, immersive, shareable, extraordinary and responsive elements, events become memorable experiences that leave a lasting impression.

Witness: Make the experience smart and compelling

Witness does not mean using humor, it may be subjective. This means using smart language, being more creative and always having fun. Just making attendees smile will make them feel more connected to the event.

Every aspect of the event from signing up emails to direction signage should be designed to be fun and engaging. Instead of the standard “Welcome to sign up”, try something like that, “You did! Let’s start this party!”

Read more: Why Early Bird Registration Specials Don’t Work and Other Implications in New Mariz Research

Custom name badges with fun, prompts to start conversations can also set the tone for a more interactive experience. Witty language can also be used to direct signage, announcements, programs, slideshows, and even in the bathroom. Injecting wit into the experience keeps it fresh and memorable.

Immersive: Designing an experience that attracts attendees

Part of what the attendees should have when they walk in. An immersive experience will attract the senses, eliminate friction and ensure a smooth journey from start to finish.

Read more: Lessons from the immersive New Orleans experience

One way to achieve this is to ensure that all event elements are well thought out. Poor design (e.g., confusing signage, awkward arrangements, or unclear communication) can disrupt the process and frustrate attendees. Instead, every part of the event should flow seamlessly into the next one.

Thoughtful details such as ambient music, strategic lighting, seductive scents and unique snacks can have multiple senses. Interactive elements such as real-time polls, augmented reality experiences, or hands-on demonstrations provide depth to engagement. The more seamless and multi-sensory the experience, the more attendees will feel.

Shareable: Encourage organic word of mouth

Your attendees should be your best marketer. The key to making the event shareable is to create moments, and people naturally want to take out their phones and tell others.

Share is encouraged by designing spaces worth mentioning, unexpected surprises or exclusive experiences that attendees are pleased to talk about. Think of a beautifully designed lounge with interactive digital displays, surprising guests or unique giveaways as examples.

The best word of mouth marketing happens when people share their moments organically – so you don’t have to ask. It’s intentionally the moment you want people to share with friends, colleagues, and social media followers.

Extraordinary: Raise events above expectations

Ordinary events are forgotten; extraordinary events leave lasting effects. But extraordinary doesn’t necessarily mean expensive – it means better than the average person!

One of the easiest changes is to use double-sided badges hanging from the appropriate length so that they don’t keep flipping. This allows people to focus on the conversation rather than trying to read the name characters.

Small details usually have the greatest impact. But this is working in both directions. Seemingly minor inconveniences, such as insufficient charging stations, uncomfortable room temperatures or lack of healthy snacks – can be reduced quickly from the experience. Thoughtful planning ensures that even the smallest details will contribute positively to the overall event atmosphere.

Response: Interact with attendees before, during and after the event

Participants like the feeling of hearing and recognition, and how the event handles communication can achieve or destroy its reputation.

Read more: It’s all about participation!

Responsiveness means answering questions and solving them quickly, and interacting with attendees after the fact. Go beyond the standard survey, collect meaningful qualitative feedback through open-ended questions, focus groups, and social listening, and use AI-driven analytics to identify common topics.

When attendees post information about the event, acknowledge their comments and have a conversation. Consider sending personalized follow-up activities to show the focus of their specific experience.

in conclusion

A truly special event does not need to include all the wise elements, but the more components the merger is, the more memorable the experience becomes.

Participants want not only another meeting—they crave an immersive, engaging and thoughtful experience that is educational and entertaining. Elevating events with witty, immersive, shareable, extraordinary and responsive elements ensures they will be remembered, talked about and expected.

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Dan Gingiss is an international keynote speaker and customer experience expert who believes that outstanding experience is your best competitive advantage. His 20-year career includes leadership positions at McDonald’s, Discover and Humana.

Gingiss is the author of two books: “Experience Manufacturer” and “Winning in Social Customer Service”, who co-hosts the award-winning “Experience!”. podcast. Learn more dagingiss.com.