The one thing every single one of your guests has in common? Their smartphone. More accurately, their reliance on their phone for everything from organising their day to ordering their dinner. The ubiquity of smartphones is something event organisers can no longer ignore. In fact, it’s something that the event industry as a whole should not only embrace but use to their advantage. The way to do this? Via the use of event apps.
Mobile event apps enable you to elevate the entire corporate event experience by increasing engagement and interaction.
Guest-centric event apps put your attendees front and centre of the event experience, making it easier for them to engage with content and other attendees. They have instant access to personalised event agendas, polls, key content and live event feeds. Instead of leafing through reams of (wasteful) paper, they can quickly browse lists of speakers, the layout of the venue and the day’s agenda. What’s more, they can get a head start on their networking and connect with fellow guests – all with the swipe of a button, using the device that’s already in the palm of their hand.
Let’s look at how the use of a mobile event app might play out at a corporate event:
Right from the start, an event app builds anticipation and sets a precedence of a convenient, guest-centric experience.
One of your guests, Sam Smith, receives your email invitation, which contains a link where she can download your event app. She clicks, downloads, and is delighted when she’s greeted by name.
Guests can access all of the information they need – before they’ve even set foot in your venue.
On the morning of the event, Sam opens her event app to check what time her first session starts, and the best route to take to the venue. Scrolling through the list of attendees, she’s delighted to see that an industry peer she’s been wanting to chat with will also be there. Using her event app, she sends him a message asking if he’d like to catch up at tea-break.
Thanks to their event app, guests enjoy a seamless check-in and an insider’s glimpse into the days’ proceedings.
Sam arrives at the event, simply scans her QR code and picks up her name tag – there’s no unnecessary standing in line, twiddling her thumbs. Thanks to the easy-to-use map of the venue, she makes her way to the conference hall and finds her seat. With a couple of minutes to spare (that she would have used trying to navigate her way around the cavernous conference centre), she scrolls through her app and reads up on the keynote speaker. His name rings a bell, so she does a quick Google search and realises she has his book on her bedside table. She can’t wait to hear him speak in person!
An array of interactive content encourages increased interaction.
The MC begins by reminding everyone that they can send any questions or comments they have during the talk via their event app, and the speaker will answer them once he’s delivered his address. As an introvert, this is incredibly useful for Sam who often foregoes partaking in Q&A’s due to the fact that she has to stand up in front of hundreds of people. Feeling confident, Sam asks the speaker for a selfie, and uploads it to Twitter, tagging it with the event’s hashtag. Seconds later, her post appears on the live event feed and instantly receives several likes and shares.
Attendees are that much more likely to share their thoughts when it’s easy and convenient to do so.
Sam sits down to lunch and receives a notification saying that the venue for the last talk of the day has changed. While she drinks her coffee, she connects with a potential client via the event app. After a full day of speeches and workshop, Sally answers a poll about her experience at the event.
An event app doesn’t only benefit attendees, but you as the event organiser, too.
You have a direct line of communication with every single guest, as well as an arsenal of information about them that you can use to tailor future communication and events to their specific needs. Your guests are left with a long-lasting, positive sentiment about your brand and are eager to attend your future events. A win-win, all thanks to mobile event apps.
We work with SA’s leading event app providers to bring events into the 21st century. Get in touch to find out how we can assist you with a bespoke mobile event app to elevate your guests’ experience.
