As marketers aim to improve the outcome of their organization’s events, more and more are more closely examining the role and event management technology features. Typically reserved for event planners, technology for events is moving beyond its “planning” roots into a lead-generating, brand-building role.
As you explore options for event management that supports your marketing goals, consider these five essentials:
1. Mobile App
Your event management platform should have an integrated mobile component, allowing you to quickly and easily deploy a mobile app for every event. Look for mobile web-based applications that are automatically generated as you set up each event. The app should offer attendees instant access to announcements, Twitter feeds, private agendas, important event information, and appointment schedules.
2. Marketing Automation Integration
If you’re like most organizations, nearly one-third of your marketing spend is on events. Accurately tracking the return on this spend is critical. By integrating event management and marketing automation systems, the data generated before, during, and after the event, can be used to enhance the lead-to-revenue cycle while improving the power and effectiveness of the event itself.
3. Lead Intelligence
Attendee data from events can be used to transform attendee behaviors into engagement statistics and interest scores that can be used to optimize your sales and marketing follow-up. This can only happen when your event management technology is equipped to capture profile, engagement, and interest data, captured throughout the lifetime of an event and combined with data from marketing automation systems. Combined, this data can be used to generate a rich and accurate picture of each individual customer and their unique needs.
4. Appointments
When you can empower all event stakeholders to achieve their event objectives through deeper engagement between the right participants, your event will succeed. Look for an event management platform that allows for both self-scheduled and automated “matched” appointments. These event management technology features will significantly enhance the overall experience at your event by engaging attendees, powering connections, and accelerating business.
5. Personalized “Event Views” for Attendees
Customers simply don’t want to feel like a number and in the same way, event attendees don’t want to feel like they’re being served up a one-size-fits-all experience. Look for an event platform that allows attendees to obtain a view of the event, on their terms. In other words, a central resource specifically curated to align with their profile and event goals, with access to their personal agenda, 1-to-1 meetings, travel information, and other relevant content.
Bonus: Other Event Management Technology Features Not to Be Missed
According to Skift Meetings, the top considerations marketers are ranking in event management technology are:
- Product support (79%)
- Features (78%)
- Analytics (69%)
With both product support and analytics ranking so high, it’s always important to remember to scratch beneath the surface of any event management technology you’d implement. And taken together, these “must-haves” will help position your events for maximum impact—both for your attendees and your organization.
P.S. If you came here because you’re looking at event management technology features, you’re in the right place! Check out Certain’s event management software.