The general public is increasingly expecting to get “more than what they bargained for” in all facets of their lives. In the conference industry, this can be achieved by personalizing conferences to make delegates feel as if the conference was specifically designed for them. With the latest technological innovations, personalizing a conference is a lot easier than it seems. The truth is, consumers yearn for personalization of events, and this is how to do it.
Event Apps
By using an event-specific app, you can guide delegates to sessions and locations based on what interests them. This is incredibly useful when you have multiple breakaway rooms with different sessions happening at once. Apps can also be used to send push notifications to alert delegates before the start of a session.
Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)
Radio-frequency identification uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. For events, these tags can come in the form of a card, badge or wristband that can simply be tapped against a sensor to enter a breakaway room, make a purchase, etc. Bosch’s tabletop microphones have a card based RFID functionality that picks up who is seated at each microphone. In addition, the RFID card can also be linked to other Bosch access control systems.
In terms of personalization, RFID provides organisers with information on how delegates moved through the event, giving them insightful information for their next conference.
Live Polling
Live polls don’t just provide you with an excellent way of interacting with your guests, but they also assist in gathering important information in real time. For presenters, polls are a useful tool for altering the direction of a talk based on the feedback. Although this is an excellent tool for enhancing personalization, it is also important for keeping delegates engaged.
Breakaway Rooms
Breakaway rooms work incredibly well for high-level conferences that focus on multiple topics. This tactic brings personalization to life because it provides delegates with the luxury of deciding which topics to engage in.
To end off, here are some stats that were gathered in a recent study conducted by Eventsforce:
89% of event planners send personalized event invitations
16% of event planners send personalized push notifications and concierge services on apps and mobiles
58% of event planners use personalized registration
24% of event planners provide personalized on-site experiences, catering and giveaways
71% of event planners use personalized event communications
18% of event planners use survey questions
18% of event planners use personalized agenda scheduling and networking
4% other
View the Eventsforce infographic here
The year 2020 will bring with it a host of new conference trends and we have no doubt that personalization will be top of the list. If you wish to make a lasting impression amongst your delegates, this is indeed the way to go.
