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Welcome to Creator columnswhere we bring in a HubSpot expert The creator votes to blogs that inspire you and help you grow better.
Many people are surprised to learn that I am an introvert. I don’t get my energy from being around a lot of people (although I like being with people).
Instead, I get energy from charging itself.
This is why the spaces we build at The Creative Collective and CultureCon take into account not only the experiences of extroverts, but also ambiverts and introverts.
As you build your next event or conference, it can be tempting to consider a very narrow perspective in your approach.
But in today’s competitive environment, where individuals have numerous options to spend their time, the importance of creating participants feeling something cannot be overestimated.
Let’s move on to my five tips for making sure your attendees feel inspired, energized and connected at your next big event.
Imagine you are going to dinner, you walk into the dining room and look at the arrangement of dishes.
Your eyes glance down at the plates and notice that each guest has their name written in a nice font. You can’t resist the urge to find your name written.
The level of satisfaction you feel when you find your name cannot be described, but it is special. No doubt, we all like to be seen and considered.
When you’re planning an event for hundreds (or thousands) of people, it may not be possible to write everyone’s name individually on a place card, but you can still tailor the event experience to individual preferences to increase engagement.
From customized plans to personalized networking suggestions, making participants feel recognized as individuals fosters a deeper connection.
It’s really amazing how much music can affect how you feel when you walk into a room. Walk into a room where there is silence and it’s a little uncomfortable — you walk into a room where happy music is playing and your shoulders start to move.
One of the reasons I love Delta Airlines is their commitment to comfort. You get on the plane and soft music plays, and you walk past the Delta flight attendants and they have a smile on their face.
Even the pilot comes out to smile at the passengers and let them know they are in good hands. Delta knows that when their customers are comfortable, they are happy, and they go the extra mile to ensure that comfort is at the forefront of the customer experience.
Consider Delta as you build your next experience. How can you bring convenience to any touchpoint of your event?
From playlists to dedicating a corner of the room to allow attendees to relax and refresh to get back to social interactions — there are so many ways to prioritize a cozy atmosphere.
This consideration not only improves the experience for introverts, but also contributes to a more inclusive atmosphere overall.
The success of your event depends on careful consideration. Every step of the event should take into account the guest’s journey.
Is the path from registration to the first touch point unrealistically long?
Is there a clear journey of movement or is the flow of guests setting up for congestion?
Is one bar enough for the number of visitors you expect?
To consider these details, I always recommend creating a consumer journey map (but with three key stakeholders in mind):
Every aspect of the event should be carefully planned, from venue selection to refreshments. Small touches can make a big difference in how attendees perceive their experience.
Communication is my love language, and the students love it too!
As you plan your event, clear and consistent communication before, during and after the event helps manage expectations and inform attendees.
Using event apps for real-time updates can also improve engagement throughout the event.
Here are the key elements of an event communications plan:
CultureCon has become an industry leader in immersive experiences. We love to create a textured atmosphere where our community can interact and touch our brand because it was created just for them.
Immersive experiences transform traditional engagement by creating multi-sensory connections with your community. These experiences go beyond passive observation and invite participants to create new and complex memories with your brand.
From adding 20-minute question-and-answer segments at the end of panel sessions to layering opportunities for guests to get to know each other with interactive activities and game moments, adding dimension to your event doesn’t have to be an expensive production build.
For example, at CultureCon we introduced “office hours,” which are intimate small group sessions that follow the panel for collaborative problem-solving sessions.
Infusing your event with memorable moments like this will resonate with your guests long after the event is over.
A truly memorable event doesn’t end when the last speaker leaves the stage.
Careful follow-up communication can reinforce positive memories, drive ongoing engagement with your brand, and invite your community to stay connected until the next event.
A little trick I use is to draw out my ‘Thank You’ message before the event so I don’t have to start from scratch afterwards and can dive in and adjust accordingly.
Focusing on how you make your attendees feel isn’t a ‘nice to have’ – it’s a fundamental aspect of successful event planning.
By focusing on personalization, comfort, attention to detail, thoughtful communication, immersive experiences, and effective post-event follow-up, you can create an environment where attendees truly feel seen.
And when people feel seen, they will come back for that feeling — again and again.