With the advancement in technology digital events have become a huge part of the event industry. Today’s events are not restricted to pen and paper for registration, long queues for check-ins, etc. In today’s digital age events have also become digital, organizers opt for technology that allows them to host a digital event that can enhance the experience of the attendees and make event management more simple and efficient. As the event industry is moving forward with technological advancement, the digital-first approach to events has become a core part of the events. If you don’t know what a digital-first approach is, continue reading this blog and we will learn what a digital-first approach is and strategies for the digital-first approach.
What Is a Digital-First Approach for Events?
Digital-first approach for events is an approach that prioritizes the use of technology or digital channels for hosting events. These channels help event organizers host, plan, manage and execute the digital event. With the help of a digital-first approach, the event organizers will not have to rely on the traditional in-person method of hosting an event. They can add elements of virtual and hybrid events with the help of a digital-first approach. As a result, they will be able to create an interactive and engaging event for the attendees.
The digital approach includes the use of digital tools such as QR codes, mobile event apps, event platforms, registration, ticketing platform, etc to create a digital event and to manage event logistics. These digital tools streamline the process of events.
10 Strategies to Power Your Digital-First Event Approach
Now if you are wondering how you can add a digital touch to your event below are 10 strategies that will help you host an event with a digital-first event approach:
1. Event Badges
Event Badges have become an important part of the event digital approach. With the help of event badges organizers will be able to identify the attendee, speaker, management staff, etc. These event badges are customizable which gives event organizers an opportunity of branding as they can customize these badges with unique designs, logos, the name of the event, etc. These badges can also be used by event organizers to manage access at the event. With the help of on-site event badge printing, organizers can easily provide attendees with the badge on-ground.
2. Event Registration & Ticketing Platform
With the help of online event registration and ticketing event organizers usually tend to attract more attendees to the event. For event registration and event ticketing, there are a variety of event platforms available in the industry. These event platforms are perfect tools for the digital-first approach to the event. You can either choose an event platform that can manage both event ticketing and event registration or you can opt for a dedicated event ticketing platform or event registration platform. These platforms are must-haves because they help in managing the registration and ticketing process and make it more efficient.
3. CRM For Events
CRM for online events or in-person events is becoming a crucial aspect because it helps event organizers manage the data of the attendees. With the help of the CRM software, the event organizer will be able to track information like the engagement rate of event attendees, and the number of registrations, it will help track attendees’ data from to finish. You can integrate your event CRM with an event platform, mobile event app, etc. And the attendee data that you will generate with it will help you offer your attendees a more personalized event experience.
4. Create Interactive Content
We don’t need to emphasize how important the content is for any event. Irrespective of the event you are hosting you will have to create content that is interactive and that keeps your audience engaged. So make sure you plan your content in advance for different parts of your event such as marketing and promotional content, landing page content, and interactive content for question and answer sessions, polls, surveys, feedback forms, etc. Content will play the most important role in the success of your event so make sure you create high quality visual content that can attract your attendees.
5. Mobile Event App
Creating a mobile-friendly experience for your event will help you create a unique and user-friendly experience for your event. A mobile event app is a perfect digital event tool that can help in enhancing the experience of the users before, after, and during the event. So make sure you are using a mobile event app for hosting an event. There are a variety of apps available for an event like an event registration app, event ticketing app, hybrid event app, and in-person event app. All these apps are customizable and come with features that offer information to the attendees regarding event venue, timings, schedules, and sessions, and act as a medium of communication between event organizers and attendees.
Event digital apps can also be used during the event for live polls, feedback collection, questions, and answer sessions, etc.
6. Invest In High-Quality Video Production
Now that digital events have become a huge part of the event industry it becomes important to use high-quality equipment for video production. With the rise of event digital platforms, it is necessary to invest in high-quality video production equipment so that you can create video content for marketing, promotions, etc. By using quality content for the video you will be able to attract your target audience. So make sure you are using equipment that helps you create high-quality content.
7. QR Codes
The QR codes have become a part of digital events as they help organizers create a seamless event check-in process. QR Code For Event Registration and Ticketing is one of the best event digital tools that can help in making the process of event registration, event ticketing, and check-in easy and efficient. Event attendees can simply scan the QR code with the help of a mobile event app, register for the event and purchase the tickets. QR codes can also help in managing access at events. They can increase the security at the events.
8. Leverage Social Media
The next event digital tool for the digital-first approach for the event is social media. Social media is a robust and powerful tool that can help you effectively market and promote your event. You can use social media ads for the promotion and marketing of your digital event. Social media platforms can effectively be used by event organizers to engage their online audience before, after, and during the event. They can run social campaigns to keep the audience engaged and use different strategies like social media contests to create buzz about your event online.
9. Offer On-Demand Content
On-demand content tends to attract more audiences and help event organizers reach a wider audience. Event organizers can host an online and on-demand digital event by using event platforms or mobile event apps. Not all the attendees can be part of your live or in-person event so it becomes necessary to record your event so that you can offer it on demand. On-demand content will provide flexibility to event attendees; they will be able to watch your event whenever they want.
10. Monitor And Analyze the Data
The last strategy that we have for you is data analysis and monitoring. If you are hosting a digital event you will have an opportunity to monitor and analyze all the data that you collect during the event. This will give you an insight into the event and help you understand the behavior of your attendees. For monitoring you can use CRMs, or event platforms, all the digital tools that you will be using will offer you insights into the event.
Why is the Digital-First Approach the Future of the Event Industry?
Below are some reasons why the event digital approach is the future of the event industry:
- The first and foremost reason why the event digital-first approach is the future of the event industry is that it makes the event more accessible to the audience. With the help of online event platforms, mobile event apps, and event registration and ticketing platforms, event attendees can access the live event from anywhere they want, and they can book tickets and register from wherever they want.
- The digital-first approach is a cost-effective method of hosting, planning, and executing an event. With the help of digital tools the use of paper, and stationery is reduced and manpower for handling and managing is also reduced. Using digital tools for events is more cost-effective rather than the traditional method of hosting an event.
- Engagement is an essential part of the events and with the help of a digital-first approach, it is easy to keep the audience engaged before, after, and during the event. Mobile apps and event platforms help organizers keep the audience engaged with features like live chat, polls, surveys, questions, answers, etc.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, the event digital-first approach is the future of the event industry. It helps organizers host a digital event with tools like event platforms, CRMs, QR codes, mobile event apps, event badges, etc. By leveraging these digital tools you can create a seamless event experience for the event attendees. If you want to host a fully digital event you can connect with us. At Dreamcast, we help event organizers host events that are unique, and engaging and help them achieve objectives. From QR codes for events to mobile event apps, we do it all. So connect with us or Book your free demo today!
Frequently Asked Question
Digital-first approach for events is an approach that prioritizes the use of digital tools and technology for the events. With the help of these tools, event organizers can plan, manage and execute the event effectively and efficiently.
There are various benefits of using a digital-first approach for events like less event cost, easy accessibility, more flexibility, enhanced user engagement, and improved event insights.
To power the digital-first approach you can use tools like mobile event apps, event platforms, QR codes, CRM’s social media platforms, etc
The event’s digital-first approach enhances the attendee’s experience by offering a variety of digital tools that allows event attendees to access the event from anywhere they want. Plus these digital tools offer event organizers an opportunity to personalize the event attendees’ experience.
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