Conferences have come a long way in recent years – mobile phones are now an integral part of bringing a livelier experience to meetings. But the real wonder is the widespread use of conference apps for meetings, all because the world is going mobile faster than ever. In this agile digital era, a host of apps on smart phones and tablets allows attendees to expand their networking, meeting programs, and schedule updates to offer a better management of meetings. There are even custom conference app platforms that allow you to have multiple features that include all of the above and more.
When taking a look into a crowd of conference attendees, we often find many sliding their fingers over iPhones, Blackberries, or Androids. Laptops almost seem archaic as they tend to be more useful before and after a conference, while mobile phones are the favored companion during the conference until the closing party.
Let’s see how these apps come are important for the multi-audience of organizers, attendees, speakers, and sponsors – basically anyone associated with the meeting.
1. Save Cost, Go Green:
In prior times, attendees were given detailed printed copies of the conference schedule. Today, printing and help desk costs can be reduced with the launch of event apps, which provide all the support attendees will need. Also, it is a great incentive for organizations that are looking for methods to reduce their carbon footprint.
2. Save And Do Later:
Many people tweet details about the talk they attend. Some apps can even collect and archive relevant tweets so they can be easily accessed later. Keep in mind, however, that care must be taken when posting critiques of data or the talk, given that tweets can be seen by anyone following along — including the speaker. Criticisms are acceptable, but users need to be just as diplomatic digitally as they would be in person.
In fact, tweeting at conferences can even lead to extending your professional network. Organizations often post meeting highlights on their Facebook pages or recaps on their blogs so that connections can stay updated. Attendees can maintain these connections by sending friend requests through Facebook or LinkedIn.
3. Add Value To Sponsors And Exhibitors:
Sponsors and exhibitors spend a huge amount to conduct the conference, so it is important to enhance their visibility using rich content in the app including: company logo, booth location, contact information, and a downloadable PDF or URL. This gives sponsors a bigger opportunity to engage with their audience as well as puts their materials directly in the hands of all conference attendees.
4. Highlight Your Speakers And Have A Dynamic Schedule:
Make the speaker more accessible by including his or her complete information in the app such as their bio, contact information, or conference materials. This can help attendees who still have questions or want to continue a conversation with the speaker after the conference has ended.
If you have any last minute changes to the schedule, this should also be incorporated into the app so attendees can be notified of any changes. Keeping up-to-date information is more appealing to people, making them more likely to attend the event. Conference apps can help communicate all the imperative information for a dynamic schedule such as overall schedule, pricing, hotel, and contact information. Attendees can even add events to their personal calendar to help with keeping a clear, set schedule.
5. Make Your Life Easier:
When an event is created in a new space or location, attendees are often unfamiliar with the new place and people spend time searching the venue. Imagine how much easier it is for the attendees to have all of this information in the convenience of their own pocket. Mobile apps allow users to create a reminder in their phone, complete with venue location, information, and even mapping capabilities.
6. Create A Last Minute Update:
Have a last minute change to the conference schedule? It’s more likely that attendees will get the update if they are pinged with the change on their mobile device. Any last minute updates to the program schedule (change in speakers, topic subject, etc.) can be conveniently conveyed to all attendees within no time through a mobile conference application.
7. Increase Your Online Reach:
Conference and special events can help with brand engagement. While it is always good practice to have physical banners to identify your brand at the event, businesses should also dedicate a webpage or blog post to the event. The app can point attendees to this webpage or blog post with a single click – allowing those who aren’t on a laptop to access your content and event information easily while simultaneously bringing more traffic to your site.
A mobile conference app can help easily connect vendors, sponsors, attendees, speakers, and more. Conference apps help optimize the overall event experience by providing all event details, updates, and information in one convenient, hand-held location, reducing any hassle and headache caused by unforeseen changes.
