Association Marketing Hacks to Surprise, Energize Conference Attendees

What if your conference was simply more interesting than other events? It’s the little, unique association marketing tips that get remembered and there’s no shortage of creative, low-cost ways to transform the conference experience into an energized event.

Here are some easy ideas (hacks) to tweak your next conference to get people talking, energize interaction, and create a lively experience that becomes an in-demand, annual destination.

Simple, Fun Hacks to Rev Up Your Conference

What if your conference was just done a little differently? Would it get attention if the napkins on your banquet tables were black instead of white? What if your staff members were attired in matching shirts, hats or wardrobe promoting your conference theme? Do you think attendees would remember receiving cool, unique gifts right at the registration table? Signs point to yes!

Here we’re taking a lighter approach by simply concentrating on fresh, easy ways to make attendees say, “What a neat experience – can’t wait until next year!”

To create that memorable “Wow” factor, consider:

• Sending pre-conference PSA’s on the questions attendees worry about such as dress codes, types of food, wi-fi availability, parking, etc.
• Easing content overload through extra breaks during sessions to keep people awake, interested and networking.
• Changing the atmosphere by scheduling presentations in outdoor areas or at nearby attractions.
• Placing coolers with free water, sodas and snacks throughout the meeting spaces.
• Making a ton of tech charging stations and outlets available to attendees – you are now the conference veteran’s best friend.
• Printing oversized nametags with big, bright fonts for long-distance readability.
• Adding attendee hashtags and e-mail addresses to these bigger nametags.
• Tweaking usual snacks to something different – bite-sized scones instead of donuts, fresh-cut veggies in place of chip bags.

Make Your Association Conference Great… Please!

By putting easy and unique tweak ideas into action you can elevate your next conference into a fresh, original and inventive/interactive experience. Each aspect of your conference lends itself to imaginative conference hacks from venue and giveaways to speakers and meals.

Let’s explore some stranger hack ideas that may or may not spark some ideas for your next conference.

• The “Old School”: In addition to the online conference community you’ve created (Smartphone attendee support centers, interactive kiosks, etc.), go old school with a white board and colored dry-erase markers for attendees to draw on, leave messages, tell where they’re from, etc.
• The “Bob Barker”: List various prizes and fun penalties on a game board and let attendees spin the wheel. You’ll be amazed how fast this draws a crowd.
• The “Why Would They Do That?”: If your staff isn’t already attired in theme-related outfits, have them dressed in various costumes for absolutely no reason. Put a cowboy as greeter. A Bill Gates look-alike handing out conference materials? Well, okay. Keep it fun (but politically correct) and get people talking.

What are your ideas? Again, the purpose of a creative conference hack is to deliver positive, unexpected and special touches to the attendee experience because it’s the little things that often have the biggest impact. Make your next conference an energized event by hacking the norm and delivering a fresh experience.