Take a guess at how many times you check your device in a day. 10? 20?
According to a recent Deloitte study, the average number of times we look at our phones in a day is an astounding 47, reports eMarketer. It might be overly dramatic to label everyone with a smartphone as a ‘mobile addict’, but one thing’s for sure: our relationships with our mobile devices are notably influencing all aspects of our lives – including the way we engage with events.
Now’s the time for event managers to focus on winning back the attention of their smartphone-dependent audience.
Bar making your event a “no phones allowed” occasion, (which, to be fair, probably won’t go over well with attendees), you need to get to grips with the challenges of engaging an already distracted audience. The good news is, there are several ways to use our reliance on mobile devices to your advantage. The key to using our smartphone love affair as a means to drive engagement? Encouraging attendees to interact with your event via the device in their hand. Here’s how:
Make use of a mobile event app
Your attendees are already holding a device, so why not capitalise on the fact? We’ve written about the myriad advantages of using an event app before, but the number one benefit is that mobile event apps offer a convenient way for guests to interact with your event, in a way that’s familiar to them.
Include break-away areas that are specifically designed for personal and business calls
Your guests are going to use their phones whether you like it or not. One way to get them to compartmentalise their phone time while at your event is to include designated breakaway areas. Set them so to that attendees can charge their phones and attend to business and networking. This sends two key messages: one, that you understand and value your guests and have taken their needs into account, and two: that the use of mobiles is welcome, but it’s encouraged that the majority of phone time takes place in the breakaway areas.
Embrace the use of social media
But be smart about it. Keep your guests focused on the event at hand by broadcasting a dedicated event hashtag, with frequent reminders about your social handles and those of keynote speakers etc. Offering an in-app option to post directly to the user’s social accounts also keeps them from opening Twitter and getting lost in their newsfeeds – before they’ve had a chance to post about your event.
Reassess your event experience through the eyes of a smartphone-wielding attendee
This one might be a little harder to swallow. Sometimes, the reason guests are glued to their screens is that they’re bored. (Yes, we said it). And a yawn-inducing experience will make even the most enthusiastic attendee take to their phone in the search for something that’s more interesting. Make sure that you give your guests plenty to be excited about by incorporating multi-sensory experiences, high-energy presenters and constant stimuli. Guests may still take to their phones, but the chances are that much higher they’ll be tweeting about your event, instead of falling down a Facebook rabbit hole.
Want to get your corporate event guests off their phones and focussed on the event experience? We’ll help you create a corporate event that engages and delights your attendees. Get in touch, here.
