The success or lack of it thereof of just about any event can be easily gauged by the attendance in successive events. This is because success is not a one off thing. On the contrary, success requires multiple conformations in the form of well-attended events. This is only possible courtesy the efforts you put into turning even first time attendees into event regulars as quickly as possible. If you were to have a successful event with a very high attendance rate, yet fail to replicate this feat in subsequent events, then the initial event would just simply become a flash in the pan. This is why it is imperative that you turn your first-time attendees into event regulars. This is how you can go about doing precisely that:
- Create hype and offer guidance
An event is only as good as its advertisements. For first time attendees you will need a separate page or set of pages on your website. It should have all the relevant information available, including date, time and event venue, beforehand. In fact, even your regulars should find the page helpful. Here, you will have to automatically assume that your first timers have no idea about event networking or conference survival. You should include tips for anything and everything from note-taking to networking. You should also create a blog full of tips for attending your event. For example, how to act on a great idea or advice on meeting new people.
Promote various pre-event activities
You should always try to encourage all of your first-time attendees to go ahead and register for any of your pre-event programs. This will encourage them to meet like-minded people before the main event. At the same time, such activities would also be excellent icebreakers for the actual event, itself. It will save people the time to get to know each other prior to starting the main event. You can also offer outdoor activities and even volunteering opportunities before the main event.
- Use translation equipment
Translation equipment can easily make or break just about any event. Look at it this way. If a person doesn’t understand a word being said at an event, it is extremely unlikely that this person would want to attend subsequent events and become a regular. That is not going to happen. This is why the seminal importance of using translation equipment such as fully equipped interpreting booths can never be overestimated. Such booths are a really great way to ensure attendee interaction as well as communication. They will ensure that seamless communication flows throughout the event and there are no language barriers.
- Make first time attendees feel truly welcome
You can give them personalized name badges that display “their first-timer” or for that matter, their “new member” status. These badges might be transparent or based on the colors of the event. You can even adorn them with distinctive and colorful ribbons too. Apart from that, it would be a great idea to give them a welcome gift of the kind that will truly surprise and delight each and every first timer. Finally you can ask event veterans to act as ambassadors and check in on new comers and guide them until they learn their ropes.
- Make sure you follow up
If your core goal is to turn first time event attendees into regulars, you should stay in touch with them. A simple post-event call or even an email just might do the trick. This way, they will know that you are keeping them in the loop. You can also ask them about their experience and take into consideration their feedback so that you can incorporate it into your subsequent events. You can also ask event buddies, namely your event ambassadors to keep in touch with their charges so that they will be more than eager to attend subsequent events.
- Conclusion
All of your events can become roaring successes if you convince your first time attendees to become your event regulars. This is possible if they feel welcome and are able to understand the proceedings courtesy fully equipped interpreting booths. You can also keep in touch with them after the event so that they feel special and would want to keep attending your events.
