Attendees at professional events like conferences, trade shows, and business events now expect more than passive sessions. They want to make meaningful connections, get real-time updates, and have interactive experiences that go beyond traditional networking. The event networking app has emerged as a game-changer that revolutionizes attendees’ networking and keeps them connected afterward. This not only boosts engagement but also retention of the participants. In this article, we will delve into how an event networking app has become a tool to increase engagement as well as retention of potential participants.
Key Features of An Event Networking App That Boosts Engagement
A networking app for events is more than just a digital platform. They’re comprehensive tools equipped with a host of features designed to enrich the attendee experience. Here’s a look at key features of an event networking app that enhances engagement and boosts attendee retention:
1. Personalized Connections Through Algorithm-Driven Matchmaking
Event networking apps use algorithms to match attendees to those who share similar interests, professional backgrounds, and goals in order to create meaningful connections. By analyzing attendee profiles, preferences, and interactions, the event networking app suggests the best people and like-minded individuals to make connections with. As a result, each connection made is highly relevant and allows attendees to maximize their networking potential.
2. Customizable Schedules and Agenda-Building
Event networking apps enable attendees to create customized agendas according to interests, preferred sessions, and selected networking opportunities. This personalization ensures that each attendee’s experience is unique and focused on sessions and the interactions that would matter the most to them. A personalized schedule not only enhances engagement during the event but also keeps the attendees organized and motivated to participate.
3. Real-Time Communication
In-app messaging is one of the features that provide attendees with the opportunity to talk to each other instantly. Instead of relying on email or other communication channels, attendees can schedule meetings, or engage in group discussions within the app. Real-time communication enables immediate exchange of information and ideas, further elevating the engagement of attendees on a deeper level.
4. Interactive Event Maps and Navigation
For larger events, it may be cumbersome to navigate an intricately complicated venue. An event networking app includes interactive maps, enabling attendees to locate specific parts of the venue, find particular booths, or even locate other attendees based on common interests. Such features minimize the frustrations of losing one’s way and leave more time for content engagement or networking.
5. Gamifying the Experience
Gamifying the experience of the attendees is a great feature to boost engagement and increase retention. Gamification can be implemented using points, badges, leaderboards, or challenges to make the event experience more interactive and fun. Moreover, gamification uses attendees’ natural competitiveness and desire for achievement to motivate them to complete certain tasks such as attending sessions or meeting new people. Such incentives may increase participation and the experience of the event further.
6. Easy Access to Speaker and Attendee Profiles
Networking apps provide detailed profiles for both attendees and speakers. It makes it easier for attendees to start relevant and engaging conversations when they can view profiles to learn about others’ backgrounds, roles, and interests. Attendees are also more likely to approach speakers or fellow participants when they have context about their expertise and interests.
7. Event-Wide Notifications and Updates
Event networking apps can send instant notifications about last-minute changes, session reminders, and exclusive networking opportunities. By keeping attendees informed and up-to-date, these notifications help them stay engaged with the latest event developments and ensure they don’t miss valuable networking opportunities.
8. Enhancing Engagement through Seamless Interactions
An event networking app is designed with the purpose of making smooth, organic interactions so that people can network effectively with one another. A smooth interaction is key to building meaningful engagement. For instance, attendees can easily access the detailed profiles and interests of participants to find potential connections quickly and start a conversation at a deeper level.
Along with these features, a networking app can also use icebreaker questions or prompts to encourage users to engage with each other in a conversation. By breaking down barriers to interaction, you can create a more comfortable environment for networking to ensure that attendees can build connections in a stress-free and intuitive way.
Learn more: 11+ Networking Ideas to Make Your Events Stand Out
Increasing Attendee Retention With Event Networking App
Event networking apps aren’t just about engagement during the event. They play a crucial role in increasing attendee retention by building lasting connections and maintaining interest long after the event has ended. Here’s how:
1. Engagement Beyond the Event
Thanks to an event networking app that extends attendee engagement beyond the event itself. Attendees can keep conversations going and participate in post-event discussions which creates a sense of continued interaction. Therefore, networking doesn’t have to end as the event concludes since attendees can nurture the relationships they formed through the app. As a result, it keeps the event experience alive and relevant.
2. Community Building
An event networking app has the power of creating a sense of community among attendees. When people feel they are part of a community, it boosts their retention at events. Therefore, attendees are likely to return for future events when they feel that they belong to a community no matter whether it is corporate events or tradeshows. They would like to come to attend another event to reconnect with familiar faces and strengthen existing relationships.
Events networking apps are often integrated with community-building features such as discussion boards, and group chats, where people with the same interests can collaborate and stay in touch. With a strong and engaged community, organizers create a loyal base of attendees who are likely to participate in future events.
3. Feedback and Gaining Data Insights
Networking applications also serve as an excellent method for gathering attendee feedback and data patterns on engagement. Organizers can gather insights as to what their audiences enjoyed and what they could do better by having in-app surveys and analytics. This data helps organizers fine-tune future events to meet the needs of the attendees. Therefore, feedback is often translated into action. When this happens, the attendees feel appreciated and are more likely to stay engaged and return to future events.
Real-Life Example of the Use of Event Networking App
Real-life examples provide insight into how networking apps have transformed the attendee experience. For instance, Web Summit, one of the world’s largest tech conferences, has integrated a networking app that facilitates connections between attendees, based on their specific interests and professional backgrounds. The app’s matchmaking feature has been crucial in helping attendees make relevant connections and its engagement features have boosted the overall event experience, leading to high retention rates.
Final Thoughts
Event networking apps have become a necessity for organizers in the quest to boost engagement and retain attendees. With features like matchmaking, personal schedules, and community-building, these apps ease and create meaningful interactions beyond mere networking. This way, networking apps are creating an entirely new level of attendee satisfaction and loyalty through engagement before, during, and even after the event.
