If you’ve ever attended business and corporate conferences, then you know that most of them follow a very boring formula:
- Coffee + Muffins for Breakfast (if you’re lucky)
- Thanking the Sponsors
- Opening Keynote Speaker
- Another Presentation
- Short Lunch Break
- Another Presentation
- Maybe a Panel Discussion
- Maybe some breakout workshops
- The Closing Keynote
In the end, you’ll leave exhausted by a fully packed day, too little breaks and way too much information that you could ever remember.
In today’s age, conferences and events that follow this formula won’t be able to survive too much longer. Organizers can’t just focus on creating great content anymore. Especially when most of the content could also be found on YouTube and watched from the comfort of your home.
"Attendees who pay big bucks for a conference do so for the experience."
Your big-name speakers will help you sell tickets, but will they help you create a community of people that come back every year?
Take a moment to visualize what the attendee experience could be like if you decided to stand out from the common conference structure:
So, how can you create a memorable experience at your conference like this?
Simply focus more on how you want to make your attendees feel at your event, rather than how many speakers and workshops you can cram in your schedule.
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~ Maya Angelou
When you’re planning your next event, consider this:
I am super excited to be launching a new way to network for conferences, events and retreats called LevelUP – Authentic Networking with the Chief Fun Officer (CFO) of FUNdamentals of Play, Luis Serrano.
? Learn more about LevelUP and request more information
Together, we use PLAY and CONNECTION activities to break down barriers and build authentic relationships at your conference or event.
People attend conferences, not for the content, but to connect with people in person. So next time your members / attendees come together, don’t just sit and wait, hoping that networking will happen automatically.
Unlike typical networking events, LevelUP focuses on creating real connections through activities that help people get out of their comfort zone, sincerely connect and find ways to support each other.
When we lead with generosity and genuinely want to support others, we create stronger connections and professional friendships that last a lifetime.
