Steps To Increase Audience Engagement At Events

Audience engagement is the lifeline of a successful event. It goes beyond just entertaining attendees—it creates interactive, memorable experiences that allow brands to stand out and grow. Engaged attendees not only feel connected to your event but also offer valuable data through their participation, which can be leveraged to improve future events.

Engagement starts long before the event and extends well after it’s over. Let’s explore 20 specific and actionable tips to boost your event engagement to new heights.

1. Make It Fun

Fun and learning can go hand-in-hand. You can infuse your event with excitement by:

• Creating pop-up experiences like VR or AR demos tied to your theme.

• Hosting quirky photo booths with instant printing to take home branded memories.

• Playing music during breaks or between sessions to keep energy levels high.

2. Engage Influencers

Industry influencers are a great way to promote your brand. Invite relevant influencers to attend and share their experience. Their engagement will encourage their followers to join the conversation, extending your event’s visibility to a wider audience. Here is how you can maximize their impact:

• Provide them with a VIP experience and exclusive access to speakers or behind-the-scenes moments.

• Help them create real-time content such as live Instagram Stories or Q&A sessions.

• Tag and mention them on your social channels to amplify reach.

3. Plan Compelling Sessions

Ensure your sessions stand out by focusing on these aspects:

• Feature thought leaders or popular figures who can draw a crowd.

• Use different session formats like – interactive panels, fireside chats, and hands-on workshops.

• Shorter sessions are generally more impactful. Keep your sessions concise. 20-30 minutes is ideal for keynotes.

• Give them Q&A opportunities to keep the audience engaged.

4. Use Live Polls

Live polls can be a great icebreaker and allow audiences to interact with each other. Use tools like Slido or Mentimeter to ask questions like:

• "What’s the biggest challenge you face in _____?"

• "Which of these solutions would you like to hear more about?"

Share the poll results instantly to spark discussions and make attendees feel heard.

5. Host a Game or Competition

Gamification can hook participants all evening and boost engagement. Some of the most common games hosted at corporate events are scavenger hunts, trivia contests, rapid fire, etc.

A scavenger hunt requires attendees to visit different booths, collect stamps, or scan QR codes for a chance to win exciting prizes. Trivia contests can test audience knowledge while keeping them entertained. 

Digital leaderboards show participant rankings to make it a healthy competition. You can give out prizes relevant to your event and brand. Audiences love gift hampers, premium access to products, exclusive merchandise, and gift cards.

Now, you might be thinking – won’t this be super distracting? Actually, no! These games are in fact designed to prevent folks from bailing. Sometimes, they just need a brain break. Such people can passively enjoy the event from the sidelines while still staying — versus leaving the venue, checking their phone, etc.

6. Host a Q&A

Dedicate time during or after key sessions for open Q&A. Encourage attendees to submit questions via the event app or social media. To make it more interactive, let attendees vote on which questions they want answered first. You can also host a post-event Q&A panel with popular speakers. Some speakers are naturally good at engaging the crowd. Your goal should be to look for such speakers in your industry. If your speaker line-up is dope, there will be no worries of your attendees fleeing away. 

7. Send Out Surveys

Follow up with attendees by sending surveys asking for detailed feedback, such as:

• "What did you enjoy the most about the event?"

• "What improvements would you suggest for future events?"

• "Which session was the most valuable and why?"

Analyze their answers to find trends and make informed decisions for your next event.

8. Send Thank You Emails

Personalize thank-you emails to make attendees feel appreciated. Include a recap of event highlights or links to recorded sessions. Give them access to exclusive resources like whitepapers or eBooks. A special discount or early-bird access for your next event can hook them even more and be a win-win for you.

Conclusion

If you are looking for an experienced corporate event planner in India, contact Encore Events today. We have been in this industry for over 11 years with 2000+ events planned across India and our teams manage everything end-to-end – from venue sourcing, vendor negotiation, overseeing contracts, on-site coordination, branding, and much more. Whether you are planning to host a product launch, team retreat, or a conference, we have experience in a wide host of events.