14 Ways to Boost Event Engagement

Elevating event engagement from simply just attending an event to actively participating requires a thoughtful blend of creativity and strategy.

Capturing the attention of attendees and inspiring invested and active involvement has become paramount for events to become a true success.

What’s the point in getting people to your event if they aren’t going to get involved?

When conducting live event PR campaigns, it’s vitally important that the audience is made aware of the different ways in which they can engage with an event. 

In this article, we will discuss different audience involvement ideas you can use to boost your event’s engagement.  

What is the Meaning of Engagement in an Event?

Event engagement refers to the level of interaction, participation, and connection that attendees have with an event. 

It goes beyond mere attendance and involves creating a meaningful and immersive experience that captivates and involves participants. 

Event engagement involves a range of activities and interactions that keep attendees interested, involved, and invested throughout the event, and in turn building brand awareness for your business along the way.

That can include interactions with speakers, networking opportunities, interactive sessions, hands-on activities, discussions, and more.

By focusing on creating an engaging and interactive environment, event organisers aim to leave a lasting impact on attendees and achieve the desired objectives of the event.

Why is Engagement Important? 

Engagement holds a high significance as it serves as the cornerstone of meaningful interactions and outcomes across events. 

Engagement transforms passive attendees into active participants, encouraging discussions, creating memorable experiences, building community and forging lasting connections. 

Having boosted engagement at an event is a catalyst for innovation, as it encourages collaborative thinking, diverse perspectives, and creative problem-solving. 

High event engagement is indicative of an event’s success as it leads to increased attendee satisfaction, better retention of information, returning customers, and a more positive overall experience. 

How Do You Increase Event Engagement?

Here are some creative ways to engage an audience at your event:

1. Clear Goals and Objectives

Define clear goals for your event and what you want attendees to take away from it. 

This will guide your planning and help you design engaging activities and sessions that align with your objectives.

2. Interactive Sessions

Incorporate interactive elements such as workshops, panel discussions, Q&A sessions, and live demonstrations. 

Engage attendees in discussions, encourage questions, and provide opportunities for them to actively participate.

3. Technology Integration

Leverage event technology such as event apps, live polling tools, and interactive presentations. These tools can facilitate real-time feedback, audience polls, and enhance overall engagement.

See how AI can help with your events.

4. Diverse Content Formats

Offer a mix of content formats, including keynote speeches, breakout sessions, networking activities, and hands-on workshops. 

This caters to different learning styles and keeps attendees engaged throughout the event.

5. Gamification

Introduce gamified elements like scavenger hunts, challenges, quizzes, or contests. Offer rewards or incentives for participation and achievement to create a sense of excitement.

6. Networking Opportunities

Designate time for structured networking sessions, icebreakers, and informal gatherings. Facilitate connections among attendees, speakers, and sponsors to foster engagement.

7. Audience Interaction

Encourage audience interaction by asking thought-provoking questions, conducting live polls, and allowing attendees to share their experiences and insights.

8. Engaging Speakers

Curate a lineup of dynamic and engaging speakers who can captivate the audience with their storytelling, expertise, and relatability.

Influencer marketing strategies can be deployed here as having an audience that resonates with an influencer can skyrocket engagement levels. 

Finding influencers for your event can be a difficult process, which is why we can take on that task for you. 

9. Visual Enhancements

Use captivating visuals, multimedia presentations, and eye-catching displays to enhance the visual appeal of your event and keep attendees engaged.

No one wants to attend an event that has bland visuals and a boring design. 

10. Social Media Integration

Create event-specific hashtags and encourage attendees to share their experiences on social media platforms. 

Display live social media feeds during the event to showcase attendee posts. Social media has a huge role to play when it comes to engagement as the platforms themselves are designed for users to engage with. 

So ensure your event is set up for social media engagement opportunities. 

11. Well-Designed Spaces

Pay attention to the event venue layout and design. Create comfortable seating arrangements, lounge areas, and interactive zones that encourage mingling and engagement.

Having a diverse space allows attendees to mix things up when they want to either network and engage or need a break. 

12. Post-Event Engagement

Keep the engagement going even after the event ends. Provide follow-up resources, host webinars, or continue discussions on social media or online forums.

Having a post-event sequence can be a game-changer for your event. You’ll be able to stay at the forefront of your audience’s mind even long after the event is over.

This encourages positive engagement with future events as the audience will know and trust your brand. 

13. Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Incorporate elements that align with sustainable and socially responsible practices. Showcase initiatives that resonate with attendees’ values and encourage them to participate in meaningful activities.

14. Feedback 

Gather feedback from attendees to understand their preferences and areas for improvement. Use this information to enhance future events and tailor engagement strategies.

Strategies that Help Boost Event Engagement

We hope you take some real value away from our top event engagement ideas, and that you can deploy them to boost engagement at your event. 

As a live events and entertainment PR agency we understand the importance of having great engagement at events.

We’ve worked with some of the largest entertainment brands in the industry to come up with innovative strategies that have boosted their event engagement, ensuring impactful campaigns and continued success. 

Please reach out to us if you run a live event and want a new and effective PR campaign that’ll get real results.