How to Use Event Collateral to Boost Attendee Engagement
The success of an event isn’t entirely about sessions, speakers, or location – it’s about the experience you offer to your attendees, and event collateral is a crucial part of it.
From the moment attendees are invited to the moment they leave the event, carefully planned event collateral can enhance their experience and influence engagement at each point of contact.
Whether it’s custom badges or interactive digital tools, these elements drive engagement at every touchpoint. To make the most of your efforts, working with an experienced event management company in Australia can help elevate your strategy and ensure every detail supports your goals.
In this post, we’ll explore how event collateral can enhance attendee engagement before, during, and after your event.
Designing Event Collateral That Engages
Designing event collateral that resonates with your audience is crucial. Below are some tips for developing good collateral:
Align with Your Brand: Ensure that your collateral is the same message, tone, and style as your event. Whether it’s a brochure, digital app, or virtual background, everything should be cohesive with your event branding and theme.
Personalisation is Key: Personalised experiences help make your attendees feel unique. Custom name badges or schedules can contribute to the sense of exclusivity, helping them feel more invested in your event.
Incorporate Interactive Elements: Interactive elements like QR codes or event apps can make collateral more dynamic. For example, scanning a QR code could reveal exclusive content, or attendees could participate in live polls at the event.
Distributing Event Collateral Effectively
The way you distribute your event collateral is just as important as the design itself.
Before the Event: Start engagement early by sending out digital swag, sneak peeks, and event directions in advance. This will prepare your attendees for what is coming and create anticipation.
At the Event: For live events, provide materials such as badges, programs, and event timetables at attendees’ arrival. For hybrid events, ensure both virtual and live attendees have equal access to event materials through apps or online platforms.
After the Event: Send follow-up emails with exclusive content, event photographs, and thank-you notes. For virtual events, give attendees access to session recordings or downloadable content to extend their experience.
Measuring the Success of Your Event Collateral
It is essential to measure the success of your collateral to improve future events.
Measure Engagement: Use analytics in your event app or website to track how often attendees interact with your digital content (downloads, clicks, etc.). This gives you an idea of what content was most popular with your audience.
Collect Feedback: Post-event surveys or social media polls can give you feedback on what content was most successful at engaging attendees. Use this data to refine your strategy for future events.
To truly bring attendee engagement to the next level, follow these best practices:
Use Gamification: Insert interactive elements like quizzes or point systems for session attendance or participation in event activities.
Provide Value: Instead of handing out promotional flyers, try providing useful content like checklists, guides, or industry trends that attendees can take home.
Think Sustainably: Consider eco-friendly alternatives for physical collateral or go digital to reduce wastage and increase your green factor.
Event collateral is vital in sustaining attendees’ attention and making your event memorable. By strategically designing, distributing, and measuring the impact of your event collateral, you can make the attendees’ experience more fulfilling, enhance brand awareness, and increase engagement during and after the event.
Creating unforgettable events starts with thoughtful planning and impactful collateral that resonates with your audience. From in-person, hybrid, or virtual events, the right strategy can increase engagement and deliver exceptional outcomes.
If you require personalised advice and tailor-made solutions to make your next event unforgettable, contact experts who understand how to make your vision a reality. Make the initial step towards a memorable experience — collaborate today.
