Top 5 Things Attendees Want to See at a Conference

Designing a conference is about more than choosing a venue and a list of equipment. It’s about creating an experience that prioritizes the event’s attendees and the purpose for the meeting.

What is it that you’re hoping the attendees take away at the end of the conference? What do you need them to learn? How would you like them to act or think differently in the months to come? Most importantly, what are attendees hoping to take away from the conference, and how can that help you achieve your goals?

Keep reading to learn the five things attendees want to see at a conference and learn why they matter.

1. A Customizable Experience.

The attendees of a conference have different levels of experience, roles within the organization, special interests, and more! Which means, it’s likely that not every attendee is hoping to take away the exact same thing from the meeting.

Some may be focused on networking with peers, while others care more about engaging with the organization’s leadership teams. Others may be looking for educational opportunities and hands on workshops. There may even be attendees who enter the event without a clearly defined list of goals, but figure out what aspects of the meeting will be most beneficial to them along the way. Not to mention, some information will be inherently more relevant to some attendees than others based on how long they’ve been with or been interacting with the organization, what their role is, experience level, educational background, and more!

Your conference can serve each kind of attendee when you utilize a schedule and plan that allows each attendee to pick which sessions (outside of general sessions or gala events) that most closely align with and are most relevant to their goals, interest areas, and needs. By giving attendees the option of which breakout sessions, networking activities, and educational demos they attend, you’ll empower them to get the most out of their experience.

2. An Engaging, Relevant Meeting.

We’ll make a bold statement: nobody wants to spend several hours a day for several days on end in a ballroom where they are being talked at – just like nobody wants to spend time at an event only to find out that most of the information shared wasn’t relevant to them.

By using a variety of session types, such as experiential activities, collaborative workshops, hands on events, small breakouts, gamified sessions, and more, attendees will stay focused and engaged. It will give them the opportunity to learn new information in a way that is interesting, different, and makes sense for the content.

Meanwhile, breaking up into smaller groups will allow attendees to go to sessions that are relevant to them, prioritizing everybody’s needs without having attendees sit through hours of presentations just to get to the topics that concern them.

3. Facilitated Networking

Making time for networking is a great way to get attendees to mingle and get to know one another. However, if every networking session directs attendees to a room where coffee and snacks are available, it may not result in many new connections being made. Many people will find themselves meeting up with people they already know and are comfortable with, or may choose to skip the event altogether.

Instead, try to create opportunities that facilitate conversations and help people branch out more.

Think about a breakout or educational demo. Is there an opportunity to have people work together? Consider assigning seats so that people are paired with those outside their usual circle. The activity will help open the conversation, and as people get to know each other, they’ll get more comfortable expanding their circles for the rest of the meeting.

4. The WOW Factor.

The messaging that attendees take away from your conference is undoubtedly the most important thing to you – but the first thing they’ll likely share with friends and family is the WOW factor. 

The wow factor can be anything that gets attendees excited. From unique venues to added production items like an LED tunnel entrance, projection mapping, interactive media, guest speakers, entertainment, and more, the wow factor does more than surprise and delight attendees. It’s memorable, boosts engagement, and gives attendees something exciting to look back on.

Not to mention, it creates great opportunities for attendees to post about the experience on social media, which, in turn, can drive more people to your organization’s website or inspire additional conference goers to attend in following years.

5. Technology That Enhances Their Experience.

All conferences incorporate technology – the wow factor may even be something especially innovative, exciting, or unexpected! However, we believe that it’s important to use technology in a way that makes the event more engaging, interactive, or accessible.

Simply put, it doesn’t matter how cool something is if it’s in a location where it won’t get much foot traffic and attendees rarely see it, or just doesn’t have much use or relevance during the event.

Instead of using a fun trend that may not really fit the venue or needs of the event, make sure that the technology you use enhances the audience experience. Things like interactive LED panels that can be used during sessions by presenters or in expo halls by attendees give that “wow” moment while also adding to the functionality of the event. Meanwhile, apps for gamification can help attendees learn while encouraging them to get more involved with the event.

What technology will add to your experience, rather than detract from your budget without having a big impact, really comes down to each specific conference, the location, attendees, and goals. By bringing your production partner into the conversation during the concepting stage of the event, we can help you zero in on what technology will not only bring the wow factor, but help you achieve your goals.

A conference doesn’t need to either be fun, exciting, and engaging OR have clear and consistent messaging. In fact, when you consider your attendees and prioritize their experience, you’ll find that your event goals not only take center stage, but that your audience is in the right mindset to fully absorb your messaging.

Do you want to see how these tips can apply to your next conference? Reach out to us by email at [email protected] or telephone at (204) 226-5565 to learn how we can create an incredible attendee experience at your next event.