When you’re running a conference, you want it to be one that people will learn from, and remember in the future, especially since a huge part of the motivation behind putting on a conference is to improve your own business. This can be via increased brand recognition or networking. See our top tips to make sure you a leave a positive impression on your guests.
Invest in your production
Whether participants are paying to be there or you’re footing the whole bill to promote your company, having a high production value will instantly make people feel as though the conference has something valuable to offer them. Ensure your choice of location conveys the message of your business, whether we like it or not individuals with judge on the overall package not just your product.
There are simple things you can such as do to instantly improve production value such as;
Use a rear production system so the speaker isn’t crossing into the light of a projector screen. Invest in high quality products and materials when handing them out to participants, a perceived level of value can leave a lasting impression.
Ensure the quality of your lighting
Having good lighting will make a bigger difference than you might think when it comes to running a great conference. According to North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, the amount and color temperature of lighting greatly influences the mood of participations, some types of light make people feel weary whereas when using the correct lighting you will be have a more alert and engaged audience.
Nothing can be more distracting for an audience or speaker then having flash photography inside, so ensuring you have the correct lighting set up is paramount to capture your event.
Document and photograph everything
Document your conference is essential, it allows you to create content for further promotion and awareness of the company or product. It can help spread the news about it and your company long after the conference is over.
Make sure to schedule enough time for each of your presenters to get some nice photographs after they speak that both you and they can use for PR. You’ll also want plenty of shots of the participants that they can share on social media.
Focus on branding
Everything that people see and everything that you hand to people during the conference should have your logo and company name on it. The more people hear and see your name, the more likely they are to remember it, and put you front of mind for future business opportunities. You have option to use things like pens and notepads however they are some companies which can really help you think outside the box and help you create something that will resonate with your audience.
Widen your audience
There will always be people that aren’t able to come to your conference because of scheduling conflicts or any number of reasons. Fortunately, there are some fairly simple ways that you can widen your audience during and even after the conference to allow even more people to participate. This is also a way that increases the production value of your conference.
During the conference, you can stream parts of it such as keynote speakers and other presentations. When you extend initial invitations, be sure to mention that parts will be streamed to allow a greater number of people to participate. After the conference, you can get the recordings of these parts of the conference and post them online.
Also encourage your attendees to use a predetermined hashtag, as you will be able to get live feedback as well images and videos from your guests’ point of view.
By taking these simple steps, you can run a great conference that everybody will be talking about.
