The OpenWater Blog

Stop! In the Name of Post-Event Surveys

Conference planners know that the success of a conference depends in part on attendance this year. But in the broader scheme of things, conference success means being able to not only attract attendees this year, but setting up the same attendees to return in subsequent years as well. After all, attracting returning attendees is more important and useful than if you were to target new attendees alone.

But, how are you going to do so?

Below, we explore 5 tips that help.

1. Use New Speakers

There are some industry experts you may want at your abstracts conference every year. And, while this is constructive and will attract entrants, offering new perspectives is important as well.

Recruit speakers who offer unique perspectives on popular topics in your industry or add diversity to the rest of your speaker lineup. After all, while it’s important you use your conference to further your organizational goals and image, it’s also important that you stay on the cutting edge of your industry with new, interesting ideas (in the form of new speakers and new presentations).

2. Provide Fresh Content

A similar issue can occur if you’re using new speakers every year but are allowing these speakers to present on the same topic time and time again. Attendees, especially those who have attended in years prior, won’t want to return to have the same experience every year.

Of course, you should present on the big topics in your industry and developments that have been made in those areas. However, you don’t want to limit your conference to just these topics. Broaden your horizons and you’ll be able to generate more interest in your conference from past entrants.

3. Switch Up Your Theme

Most abstracts conferences come with a theme. This theme is useful for your organizational needs and gives attendees a frame of reference as to what they can expect from your conference each year.

As you can imagine, if your theme remains unchanged, attendees from previous years may feel little incentive to attend because they’ve essentially “been there, done that.” But, by changing the theme alone, you can pique interest, even in those who have attended your conferences for years.

The best way to choose a theme is to select a broad topic that’s highly relevant to your industry. Moreover, the topic should be of particular interest to the demographics you’re trying to attract.

4. Deliver Content in New Ways

Technology changes weekly, if not more frequently. In the world of abstracts conferences, this means there are always new ways to present conference material and engage with attendees. By considering your target demographic, you can choose a technology solution that is suitable and will enhance what might otherwise be bland content.

Organizations often switch up traditional printed content with content available via:

• A mobile application, like OpenWater;
• A specific, content-based website; or
• Via USB or other technology-based tools

By making content available in several formats, you’re showing your attendees that you care and are willing to do extra work to make their conference experience unforgettable both this year and in years to come.

5. Offer a Variety of Session Formats

Most abstracts conferences are run the same way: The speaker stands on stage and lectures on the presentation content. However, this isn’t very engaging, no matter how interested attendees are in the subject matter.

You can switch up your sessions by using workshops and roundtables to get attendees interested in speakers. More importantly, attendees retain information better when they’re able to engage with it. As such, you’re doing attendees a favor and distinguishing your conference in a way that is sure to attract repeat attendees from year to year.

Your Best Target Audience for Next Year’s Conference Has Already Been to Your Conference Before…

In the worlds of abstracts conferences, there is new information to be learned and trends to be discussed every year. If you market and structure your conference appropriately, you’ll easily attract repeat attendees from year to year while lending an air of prestige and authority to your organization.

If you’re unsure where to begin, you may even want to survey attendees from previous years to see what they liked and what they want to see in the future. Doing so is the simplest way to ensure you’re doing everything possible to recruit from your existing pool of attendees.

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