Building a Thankful Audience

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we thought it would be a good time to go beyond reflecting on what we are thankful for and look instead at what you want your event attendees and sponsors to be thankful for as they leave your events.

Beyond learning something and meeting great people, what do you want your attendees to get out of the event?[Tweet "What do you want your attendees to get out of the event? #GovEventsBlog"] Here are four things we think event planners would be grateful to hear:

1. It was a personalized experience - Today we are surrounded by "recommended for you" messages and are able to curate our news feeds. Why should our experience at events be one-size-fits-all? For sponsors, be open to tailoring sponsor packages to meet the goals of companies. One may want to drive their social media presence while another wants everyone walking out with logoed product. For attendees, look for ways to organize and present the sessions that speak to their interests rather than just presenting a flat schedule they have to hunt through to find what they want to attend.[Tweet "Why should our experience at events be one-size-fits-all? #GovEventsBlog"]
2. It was a unique event - How can you break from tradition (either yours or your industry's)? It may be as basic as choosing a new type of venue. Look at your speakers--could you add in someone from outside of your industry that brings an applicable perspective? Look for activities to incorporate into the event that are comfortable for attendees to participate in but provide a break from the normal rhythm of events.
3. They stayed in touch -- Social media provides a great avenue for interacting with attendees, speakers, and sponsors before, during, and after the event. Monitor social media and find the people who are talking about the event and the issues that are being discussed. Share their posts and let them know if you agree, disagree, or even just simply heard what they had to say. Follow-up emails and even postal mail can also be customized to extend the personalized experience they had at your event.
4. I can't wait for the next one - If attendees are energized by your event, don't make them wait months or even a year for the next one. Look for ways to build an online community, be it through a social media group or as a community site you run on your site. Think about having smaller, targeted events between large events to keep them engaged and actively collaborating. Online events can also help bridge the gap between in-person gatherings. Look for topics being discussed within the community and set up a webinar.

[Tweet "What feedback are you most thankful to get after an event? #GovEventsBlog"]What feedback are you most thankful to get after an event? Share your thoughts in the comments.