Strategies for Engaging Online and In-Person Attendees

With the rise of virtual events, it’s become more important than ever for organizers to engage both their online and in-person attendees. But how can you make sure everyone feels included and invested in the event? Read our article and learn how to engage and keep attendees interested in your event.

How to Keep Attendees Engaged During Virtual Events 

Keeping a crowd entertained isn’t as easy as it sounds, so here are some strategies for engaging both online and in-person attendees. 

Use Interactive Tools

Interactive tools are a great way to engage your event attendees, whether online or in-person. These can include live polls, Q&A sessions, and gamification features. For example, you could use a live polling tool to get feedback from attendees, run a quiz that participants can answer using their devices, or feature a live AI translation app if you have multilingual guests and speakers. 

Not only do these tools encourage engagement, but they also make attendees feel like they’re part of the event. 

Provide Opportunities for Networking

Networking is an important aspect of any event, and it’s even important to have a plan for when attendees are virtual. To improve engagement for virtual events, try creating breakout rooms or chat rooms to allow your attendees to connect with others who share their goals, interests, and knowledge. 

For in-person events, you can prepare a designated networking area or organize a social gathering after the main event. 

Encourage Social Media Engagement

Nothing keeps people engaged like social media participation. Prepare event-specific hashtags that attendees can use whenever they post updates on social media. You can also spread the word further by sharing their posts on the event’s official social media channels! 

This will foster a positive and welcoming environment, allowing your participants to feel part of a larger community. It can help your event reach a broader audience. 

Use Visual Aids

Let’s face it, no one wants to read paragraphs and listen to people speak for hours on end during long presentations. Visual aids can keep monotony in check, providing your attendees with slideshows, videos, and infographics to help them understand the idea and message you’re trying to convey. 

The same goes for in-person events. Long presentations can easily bore participants, so be sure to include interactive displays, live demonstrations, and even exhibits they can engage with. 

Offer Incentives

In every aspect of life, who doesn’t enjoy rewards? Raffles, giveaways, and product or service discounts can incentivize participants to continue engaging in your event, regardless of how long they’ve been in attendance. 

Provide Clear Instructions

One of the things that keeps attendees from being fully immersed in an event is confusion or uncertainty. Be sure to provide clear and concise instructions to participants on how to engage with the event, whether they’re attending virtually or in person. Step-by-step guides on using interactive tools, accessing networking opportunities, and participating in social media are some things you should remember. 

Tailor The Event to the Audience

One of the most important lessons in marketing is always to know your audience, and handling events is no different. Consider your attendees’ interests, goals, and even the type of event you’re organizing. Tech conferences, for example, will be met with more success if you feature interactive demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and in-depth demonstrations. 

What if Attendees Speak Another Language? 

Some events have multilingual speakers and guests. You can offer content in multiple languages with event interpreting or an AI translation app.

By tailoring the event to your audience, you can ensure its participants feel relevant to them and their interests. This can help increase engagement and make the event more interesting and successful. 

Add AI Translation Tools to Your Virtual Event

The success of events lies in technological innovations, and most guests nowadays aren’t content with simply listening to a speaker on stage anymore.

Request a demo from our team at Boostlingo and find out how our tools can make your virtual events more engaging!