3 ways to make your next corporate event engaging, memorable, and more than a little fun!
What’s the best event you’ve ever attended? (Okay, besides a wedding, a birthday, or a Beyoncé concert).
Think about work events.
I know, I know. The words “work” and “event” don’t seem like they really go together.
But trust us, they don’t have to be bland.
Think of putting on an event like it’s a Neapolitan ice cream sandwich. You don’t get just one flavor, you get the perfect balance of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry.
In that same vein, the best conferences, retreats, or product demonstrations are more than just a single note.
Give your attendees variety; give them interactivity; give them, dare I say it, a little bit of fun.
When an event comes together in the right ratio, you get something irresistible that people talk about long after it ends.
And the results speak for themselves. According to Forbes, 85% of consumers are more likely to purchase a product after participating in a marketing event.
So, without further ado, here’s a three-pronged approach— a Neapolitan, if you will— to engaging, memorable events.
1.Make your events more flavorful
Take a risk with your format or theme. Attendees may come to your event learn, network, or team-build, but they stay for memorable experiences.
That means getting creative. I don’t know whose idea it was to include not one, not two, but three ice cream flavors in the same sandwich, but the risk definitely paid off. People come to professional events to have fun, even if they’re there for work, too.
Here are three ideas to engage your attendees and get their brain juices flowing:
Kick off a presentation off with a short round of trivia.
Have an interactive game booth at your next conference.
Set aside time during a work retreat to get to know each other.
The options are truly endless! The only bad idea is to keep doing things the way they’ve always been done.
Need some event inspiration? We’ve got you covered.
2.Having fun doesn’t mean skimping on logistics
While some elements of event planning (speeches, performances, games) are obvious, many of the finer points are invisible… at least, if they’re done properly.
When putting together your next event, we recommend creating an extensive battleplan to capture your pre-, during, and post-event details. That way, nothing falls through the cracks.
Start with the basics:
The type of event
When and where you’ll host it
Theme ideas
Then, get more granular:
The app you’ll use to manage and coordinate
Your invite list and form of contact
Sponsorship opportunities
Don’t worry, our team has a free event planner you can download to get the planning process going.
3. Swag with swagger
If you’re going to hand something out at your next conference, tradeshow, or industry summit, make it memorable, useful, or, better yet, both!
The best event swag gets used long after someone takes it from your booth. (Spoiler: it’s not another t-shirt).
Think outside the box and create something that adheres to your brand and makes people remember you.
We’ve worked on some really fun, unique pieces with Microsoft. For example, we helped produce things like a portable speaker, a packing cube, and a tape measure to give attendees during various event or product promotions.
Let’s make your next event a perfect mix!
Hosting or attending a conference, work retreat, or tradeshow? Get ready to wow with the coolest event and the best swag your fellow attendees have ever seen.
Let’s talk about what you’re planning and how we can help. Contact matt@emminc.com to get started.
Matt Erspamer
Senior Copywriter