It seems like there’s a mobile app for everything these days, so it’s no surprise that they’ve made their way into the event planning world. Today, one way to keep your event engaging and interactive is creating an app for it. A great event app can make the event more immersive for attendees, facilitate a better experience, and even increase revenue.
5 Reasons to Get an Event App
1. Event apps allow you to go paperless.
Printed materials for events pose a number of problems for event planners, especially because most events go through a number of changes before the big day (or days) arrive. Locations, times, sponsors, speakers, and agendas can all change on a dime, and reprints cost a lot more than that. Then, there’s the question of how many units to print and the costs involved in doing so. With an app, changes to the event can be made almost instantly and printing and mailing costs are reduced or eliminated (that also makes event mobile apps better for the environment!)
2. Event apps allow you to provide more content.
Printed material is limiting, but with an app, you can include a wide variety of information, including multimedia resources and presentation slides, so attendees can see where their interest lies and plan their schedules around various showcases. If you’re planning a large conference or trade show, an app for conferences allows you to map out where exhibitors, speakers, and events will be so that attendees can easily navigate the venue and find what they’re looking for.
3. Event apps increase attendee interaction and networking.
Event mobile apps can be synced across multiple devices, keeping opted-in attendees notified of any changes and sending a notification when an event is getting ready to begin. Some apps also allow attendees to participate in live polls or discussions before, during, and after the event, further building engagement. An event app is also useful for networking. Attendees can connect with others through trade show mobile apps and keep in touch afterward without ever needing to collect a business card (with some apps, they can simply scan an attendee’s name tag).
4. Event apps help increase exhibitor and sponsor revenue.
An event is a great way for exhibitors and sponsors to target a very specific audience. You can monetize your event app and drive traffic to their booths by creating exhibitor and sponsor pages that highlight their company or products with downloadable collateral. To add further value, allow them to place ads and use targeted SMS text messaging. Another nice feature you can provide is giving attendees the ability to schedule a one-on-one meeting with any exhibitor right through the app. All of this starts providing exhibitors and sponsors with an ROI before the event has even begun!
5. Event apps provide real-time analytics
When it comes to the success of an event, most planners (and those who’ve hired them) want to see hard numbers. How many people attended? Which day had the most traffic? Which speakers brought in the biggest crowds, and what exhibits were most popular? A good event mobile app can qualify these questions, which makes planning the next event much easier. That’s not all; following the event, you can also send attendee surveys through the app. This lets them know you value their feedback, and can assist in future event planning. Having an attendee-first mentality is crucial for any event and an app provides just that, making it an event best practice. Not only does it show that you’re with the times, it also shows that you’re interested in making attendees lives easier and providing a better experience. With the right event app, your next event can be more effective, more manageable, and with luck, more profitable.
