Apple’s iPhone, Samsung’s Galaxy, a mind boggling HTC range, Nokia’s N8 and, of course, Blackberry...the world of smart phones can be a maze but they also mean that your convention or event doesn’t have to be.
While the buzzword of the moment may be ‘iphone app’, any Smartphone with access to an internet browser can give your attendees a chance to not only navigate around an event but also to comment and interact with it in real time.
Whether it is a mobile web application or a native smart phone app, the technology is set to change the world of event organising.
Event apps typically include interactive maps, updateable schedules, exhibit guides, session notes, sponsor banners, exhibitor lead tracking, social media, and much more. But perhaps most importantly the best apps offer the chance to start and continue conversations between you and your attendees, and between attendees themselves.
Imagine getting instant feedback to whether a speaker has made an impact on the audience, or running live audience response questions as the conference unfolds – all of which appear on every attendee’s smartphone, making interacting easy, fun and immediate.
Apps can be cost-effective and green allowing you to reach your audience without having to print reams of costly programs. Plus, you can increase ROI via lead generation and direct marketing that have concrete analytics and metrics behind them – all collected on the spot.
Even without benefits such as reducing cost, increasing brand awareness and facilitating networking, one of the main impacts of event apps is giving your attendees a great experience and easy access to your content on their own phones long after the event is over.
Before you choose a mobile application for your event, here are some tips on making sure you get the most out of the technology:
1. Promote the app: Attendees need to know an app is available and how to access it. Promote your app on the conference website, in marketing and registration communications, and with signage at the event. Have a dedicated hotspot area so attendees can go there and download it.
2. Know your venue: Make sure your venue has adequate Wi-Fi and/or 3G coverage as although some apps will work offline most include some components that require connectivity.
3. Understand the updates: Make sure that updates to the app take place in the background. If they don’t and there’s any congestion on the network, attendees may not be able to open the app to access the info they may need at a moment’s notice, like the room details for their next session for example.
4. Is it compatible? Find out how easy it will be for your attendees to access the app you intend to use. Many corporates issue Blackberrys to their employees but don’t allow external apps to be downloaded on them. A mobile web application will be app of choice for most corporate Blackberry users.
5. Check your timetables: Consider timelines – if you are building a native app (see below) the app store approval process times can vary, and as you usually need to build a separate app for each platform e.g. android, then development time can add up to eight weeks or more.
 6. How do you make last minute changes? Access to a content management system to make last minute amendments in real time is vital in ever-changing event schedules. Make sure the solution you choose includes a CMS.
7. What level of security do you need? Is your app available to everyone or do you need to password protect your content?
Peter Hair is co-founder of crowdcomms which delivers event apps, apps for exhibitor lead tracking and audience response. He started his career in the UK with audience response company IML.
Top
|