Mobile event app use is soaring and if you don’t yet use them, you will
YEAR on year, adoption and usage rates are soaring in the mobile event app industry, writes Darren Edwards.
This is welcome news for event managers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees, but while adoption and downloads are important, it’s the usage that ultimately leads to return on investment for all involved.
So: We’re seeing significantly more take-up, content views and handout downloads – along with increased networking between participants at each event. In addition, by using state-of-the-art mapping and routing tools, time saved navigating around events is at an all-time high. Organisations are employing more effective communication strategies and gaining useful information from tools like iBeacons, Geofencing, targeted alerts, and live audience response systems within the App.
In fact, at the recently-completed PCMA Convening Leaders in Vancouver, Canada, there were 6,000+ downloads of the mobile app – with 3,826 attendees at the live event. That’s more than a 130 per cent download rate! However, even more impressive was the usage. Statistics detailed bookmarked sessions at more than 38,000. That is more than 10 sessions per attendee added to their individual schedules.
To what do we attribute these high rates of usage?
1. Increased awareness of the organisation’s app In some cases, events are in their second or third year of deploying a mobile event app. As the reach grows with the number of users, so does their interest in the content being delivered. In addition to this, event organisations have become more proficient at marketing event tech tools. Awareness is at an all-time high through use of prominent event signage, the use of QR codes, email marketing, social media marketing and employing innovative strategies that include ‘how to’ videos. The lesson here is to start with an event app sooner rather than later, and to promote it everywhere.
2. Ease of use Mobile event apps began winning technology awards several years ago and they’ve continued to innovate, adapt to new ideas, and become extremely user friendly. Key advancements, such as contextual help within the app, have gone a long way toward making navigation and usage commonplace at events. Just remember to ask yourself: What is my organisation and event app provider doing to make life easy for the first-time user?
3. Event organisers and meeting planners embrace apps Organisations have communication strategies, as well as emergency action plans. They have growth and revenue objectives and target markets. Today, it’s all about new products and culture. Mobile event apps that are properly deployed work in conjunction with all of these important corporate initiatives. Your mobile app provider should be able to consult best practices and share techniques that deliver results, including developing your app into a year-round tool for delivering strategic communication and content to your members and participants.
4. Increased comfort with the technology Mobile apps are everywhere, but still in the development phase of capabilities. More and more meeting participants use an app at some point in their daily lives and many of us are eager to deploy new technologies, but we’re also ‘getting there’ as an event community. Tell users: It’s ok to step out of your comfort zone. 5. Organisations aren’t providing alternatives Organisations are forgoing the option to hand out printed copies of the full agenda. During live sessions, physical handouts aren’t being passed around. With a strategic decision to stop printing, organisations are saving money and practising sustainability. They have moved to full implementation of the mobile app.
The world has changed. If you don’t demand technology at your events, I guarantee your attendees will. If you haven’t deployed an event app at your events or are considering the use of event technology but just aren’t certain that it the right approach, talk to your event technology consultant or your app developer and ask for case studies or testimonials from those who have jumped in.
About Darren Edwards Darren Edwards is the founder of Invisage Creative Services in Australia. With more than 22 years’ experience in the meetings and events industry, Darren continues to explore and develop creative design and innovative technology products to the benefit of the global event industry. Contact: info@invisage.net
Mobile event app use is soaring and if you don’t yet use them, you will
YEAR on year, adoption and usage rates are soaring in the mobile event app industry, writes Darren Edwards.
This is welcome news for event managers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees, but while adoption and downloads are important, it’s the usage that ultimately leads to return on investment for all involved.
So: We’re seeing significantly more take-up, content views and handout downloads – along with increased networking between participants at each event. In addition, by using state-of-the-art mapping and routing tools, time saved navigating around events is at an all-time high. Organisations are employing more effective communication strategies and gaining useful information from tools like iBeacons, Geofencing, targeted alerts, and live audience response systems within the App.
In fact, at the recently-completed PCMA Convening Leaders in Vancouver, Canada, there were 6,000+ downloads of the mobile app – with 3,826 attendees at the live event. That’s more than a 130 per cent download rate! However, even more impressive was the usage. Statistics detailed bookmarked sessions at more than 38,000. That is more than 10 sessions per attendee added to their individual schedules.
To what do we attribute these high rates of usage?
1. Increased awareness of the organisation’s app In some cases, events are in their second or third year of deploying a mobile event app. As the reach grows with the number of users, so does their interest in the content being delivered. In addition to this, event organisations have become more proficient at marketing event tech tools. Awareness is at an all-time high through use of prominent event signage, the use of QR codes, email marketing, social media marketing and employing innovative strategies that include ‘how to’ videos. The lesson here is to start with an event app sooner rather than later, and to promote it everywhere.
2. Ease of use Mobile event apps began winning technology awards several years ago and they’ve continued to innovate, adapt to new ideas, and become extremely user friendly. Key advancements, such as contextual help within the app, have gone a long way toward making navigation and usage commonplace at events. Just remember to ask yourself: What is my organisation and event app provider doing to make life easy for the first-time user?
3. Event organisers and meeting planners embrace apps Organisations have communication strategies, as well as emergency action plans. They have growth and revenue objectives and target markets. Today, it’s all about new products and culture. Mobile event apps that are properly deployed work in conjunction with all of these important corporate initiatives. Your mobile app provider should be able to consult best practices and share techniques that deliver results, including developing your app into a year-round tool for delivering strategic communication and content to your members and participants.
4. Increased comfort with the technology Mobile apps are everywhere, but still in the development phase of capabilities. More and more meeting participants use an app at some point in their daily lives and many of us are eager to deploy new technologies, but we’re also ‘getting there’ as an event community. Tell users: It’s ok to step out of your comfort zone. 5. Organisations aren’t providing alternatives Organisations are forgoing the option to hand out printed copies of the full agenda. During live sessions, physical handouts aren’t being passed around. With a strategic decision to stop printing, organisations are saving money and practising sustainability. They have moved to full implementation of the mobile app.
The world has changed. If you don’t demand technology at your events, I guarantee your attendees will. If you haven’t deployed an event app at your events or are considering the use of event technology but just aren’t certain that it the right approach, talk to your event technology consultant or your app developer and ask for case studies or testimonials from those who have jumped in.
About Darren Edwards Darren Edwards is the founder of Invisage Creative Services in Australia. With more than 22 years’ experience in the meetings and events industry, Darren continues to explore and develop creative design and innovative technology products to the benefit of the global event industry. Contact: info@invisage.net
YEAR on year, adoption and usage rates are soaring in the mobile event app industry, writes Darren Edwards.
