3 Simple Ways to Create a Meaningful Event

“…people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~Maya Angelou

By Oxana Rudenko

It does not matter what kind of event you host, it should be all about the emotions. Even if someone might consider certain types of events like conferences as “boring” and “unemotional”, that is actually not the case. It is up to the event management team to make it emotional and therefore memorable. People hardly remember all the details of an event, or all the information they got there, but they are likely to remember the atmosphere and the feelings they experienced during it. That is a key point to make your event outstanding. 

But today I want to discuss what else can be implemented to create a meaningful event.

1. Bring something “fresh”

Unleash  your full imagination to make your event different. Of course, it is easier to use ideas and developments which you’ve used before and which received good feedback from the attendees. But that would be doing a disservice for your attendees. If your next event is the same as the previous one, who will remember it? Wow your attendees to keep them coming back. I don’t mean that each event should be totally unique, no. But the attempts to bring something new in it would be rewarded for sure. 

Have you heard of the “isolation effect”? German psychiatrist and pediatrician Hedwig von Restorff conducted an experiment and found that when participants were presented with a list of similar items with one distinctive, isolated item on the list, they were more likely to remember that distinctive item. In other words, humans tend to remember something that stands out. 

Or the so-called “Proust phenomenon” when the combinations of sounds, smells, and emotional expressions may recall some facts from memory. All of these rules might be helpful in planning your event as well.  

2.  Be on trend

Be aware of what is popular now, new trends in the event industry, and new technical tools and devices which might be interesting for your audience. 

For example, augmented reality is becoming more and more popular. Augmented reality is an interactive version of a real-world environment. It deals with digital visual elements, sounds, and other sensory techniques. It can be quite pricey and not appropriate or affordable for every event, but everything “digital” can help you to catch attendees’ attention. 

The world around us is changing faster than ever before. We have to align our sails with the wind!

3. Increase engagement

Nothing mentioned above will work if the participants aren’t engaged during the event. I mean, if they are just sitting and listening to the speaker or walking around and watching, it’s easy to get side-tracked.  

Incorporate interactive elements. Instead of just presenting information or showcasing products, create opportunities for attendees to actively engage with the event. This could include hands-on activities, breakout sessions, or interactive displays. This will make the event more memorable and meaningful for attendees.

To better understand what will be attractive to your audience, involve them in the planning process. This will also help to build buy-in and ensure that they are invested in the success of the event.

Try creating a focus group before the event. It could consist of past attendees or people who are interested in participating in the future. A focus group can help you with activation ideas. But keep in mind that all people are different and their reasons for being a part of the event might vary. What I mean is some types of activations should be just for fun, others – for education or other purposes. 

A professional MC, speakers and DJ are a half of the success of your event. They have to totally understand the audience’s needs and interests and resonate with them. 

Interaction with the audience on different social media platforms before, during and after the event will strengthen your connection. But you should monitor what platforms are most frequently used by your audience and what platforms are gaining momentum.

And the last thing I want to say is to dive in to every event as if it is the only one you run. A dedicated approach to everything that you do will ensure the success and make your event meaningful and memorable for everybody.  

If you want to know more, book a free 30 minute consultation with Amber here.