The power of word-of-mouth buzz about something – no matter what it is – isn’t something you want to underestimate if you’re planning an event. Follow these six tips and you’ll be well on your way to having an event attendees want to tell all their friends about.
Address every little complaint
While it’s impossible to keep everybody happy down to the smallest details, one thing you can do to smooth over any bumps is to address every little complaint. Even if it’s about something you think is small or silly, take the time to make the person complaining feel like you’ve genuinely heard them and care about what they have to say. And, of course, do your best to deal with the complaint and fix it if at all possible.
Surround yourself with like-minded people
One of the best things about attending events is that it gives you the chance to meet people who are just like you, whether that’s somebody who shares your passion for a certain hobby or who does a similar sort of thing to you. Usually, your chances are pretty decent of at least meeting a few new people who you have some common ground with. That’s the first step to making new friends or professional connections – and that’s the sort of thing that people love to talk about!
Schedule several breaks where people can connect
It’s all well and good having a bunch of like-minded people together in the same place. But…you should also do a bit of preparation to make sure they’ll actually have time to meet each other! It’s no use just having them sitting next to each other listening to a series of presentations. Down-time is always much appreciated at an event, particularly if it’s a long one, as it gives people a chance to both relax and to meet other attendees.
Use matchmaking apps
There are all sorts of apps that will pair up your event attendees to get them talking. These apps can be a really simple and easy way to take some of the stress out of getting people to introduce themselves. They’re often similar to Tinder where users get presented with a profile they might find interesting and can swipe right if they like what they see.
Consider a pop-up location
A pop-up location just means a temporary location; it “pops up” for your event and then goes away afterwards. The idea comes from shops who would create a short-term experience for their customers that they could only get for a limited amount of time. Brands have used all sorts of locations for these pop-up shops, from boats to temporarily vacant stores to even one held underwater. These spots might be a store for a day or two, and then a swanky cocktail party the next.
Look at what everyone else is doing – and see if you can do something different
Often times, one of the best ways to get people talking about your event is just to do something different. Don’t be afraid to play with the rules a little bit and really go for it. If you have a idea for something unusual but that you think will be a big hit, why not try it out? There are lots of tried-and-true things you can do to make your event a success, but there are also times when you should do your own thing, no matter what the rulebook says.
