Keeping an audience engaged in a meaningful way can be challenging. Attendees today are more demanding and expect new ways to experience content and connect with their peers – they are also quick to criticize if an event doesn’t quite hit the mark. Long sessions, networking small-talk, and digital distractions can make it difficult to hold their attention, which poses a challenge for planners striving to produce a successful experience.
While traditional engagement strategies like Q&A sessions, panel discussions, live polls, and networking breaks remain effective, today’s audiences are looking for more creative interaction, and memorable moments in unexpected ways.
So, here are some ideas to help engage your attendees and enhance their overall experience.
- Embrace the Outdoors
Consider hosting sessions outside! Many event destinations offer beautiful outdoor spaces, which provide a refreshing change. This concept not only enhances mental well-being but also creates a unique and memorable experience for session attendees. Whether it’s a fireside chat, workshop, or a walking meeting, a new environment encourages more conversations and will most likely leave a lasting impression.
- Add a Mystery Guest Speaker
Build excitement by featuring a surprise guest speaker or industry icon for a special appearance. Use effective marketing strategies to drop hints and clues leading up to the reveal and keep guests fully engaged and speculating. This type of hype can enhance real-time conversations, social media buzz, and audience interaction as attendees react to the big reveal. Furthermore, the surprise factor not only boosts session attendance but also increases energy levels.
- Flash Learning Sessions
Short pop-up style learning moments scheduled to capture attention and keep audiences engaged. These bite-sized sessions can take the form of TED-style talks, 10-minute presentations, behind-the-scenes stories, and so much more. To enhance engagement further, consider giving attendees the chance to contribute their own knowledge and experiences to these quick sessions as well.
- Attendee Driven Open Spaces
Empower attendees to take the lead in shaping discussions by providing them with the opportunity to build an agenda based on their top priorities. This engagement strategy is a great way to craft meaningful conversations, and valuable interactions for all those who choose to participate. By driving discussions on relevant topics, attendees gain a sense of accomplishment and shared purpose as they contribute to the overall success of the event.
- Interactive Community Wall
Set up an interactive wall where attendees can post insights, a daily buzz word, and experiences. Depending on the audience size, use sticky notes, digital screens, or an AI-generated word cloud that evolves throughout the day / event. Not only is this a great conversation starter, it’s an excellent way to collect some additional data from your audience.
- Insta Moments
Consider adding a creative activation that can function as an insta moment or photo opportunity for attendees. It’s a fantastic opportunity for attendees to interact with the event’s brand and theme, and encourage them to share their photos on social media. This not only increases event visibility but also creates a sense of connection among attendees. The shared photos and posts can spark conversations and encourage networking. Additionally, having a designated photo spot ensures that attendees have a fun, interactive activity to enjoy throughout the event.
Incorporating interactive engagement strategies is essential for keeping attendees excited and invested in the event. By taking the time to determine which strategies will be most suitable for your audience, you are already one step closer to keeping energy levels high and adding value for attendees. As event planners, it’s crucial to keep exploring innovative ways to elevate experiences, and ensure it is not only educational but also engaging and unforgettable.
Ruby Sohi is founder and lead event planner at Royal Blue Events Management. She has more than 15 years experience in event production and marketing. She was nominated as ‘Event Professional of the Year’ in 2020 by the Canadian Special Event Awards and is actively involved in the community. She has served as a board member for the American Marketing Association (Toronto) as VP of Programming and Events and International Live Event Association (Toronto) as VP of Marketing & Communications and as VP of Education for CanSPEP. Ruby has delivered events across Canada and is based in Toronto, Ontario.
