Chapter 6: Strategies to retain delegates & turn them into customers

A well-executed event has the potential to convert a delegate into a returning and loyal customer, but what tactics can be undertaken to maximise the number of returning delegates you have access to?

Feedback Forms

Feedback forms are a valuable data source that are often forgotten about, or not submitted timeously. For them to be as accurate and helpful as possible feedback forms should be distributed as soon as the event is over. The content of the feedback forms provides valuable data for marketing and events to enable them to improve the quality of future events, by listening to your audience.

  • So, what best practice steps can you adopt for your feedback forms?
  • Remember to ask questions about each stage of the event
  • Consider the language(s) your questions should be framed in
  • Are the questions direct? Try to avoid ambiguity and make them as clear as possible
  • If you are submitting multiple choice questions do not give delegates more than four options per question
  • Give thought to the layout and design of the form. Make sure the font is legible and the template attractive on the eye
Q&A Best Practice

As we mentioned in our last post, the Q&A session has always been a highlight of conferences and events. For this reason, it must be incorporated into the agenda, and have enough time set aside to address enough questions.

Remember: the more questions that are asked, the more engaged your audience will be. If the speaker is well recognised or the topic of discussion is something that participants are very opinionated about, you can expect a lot of questions and this should be reflected on your agenda’s time allocation.

But there may be occasions when you cannot accommodate every single question. To keep delegates engaged post-event, you can use our event solution to collate all the outstanding questions and have them answered and the content submitted to participants within 24 hours. As well as asking the questions, you also send out the message that everyone plays an important role in the community.

Building Networks

It’s important to remember that interest in a subject area extends beyond the end of your event. Retain interested delegates by inviting them to other groups and digital channels and communities so that important conversations can be maintained. It also gives you valuable data on their likes, interests, and habits.

The future is digital. It’s time to tech-up and get to grips with the tools that are available to take your events into new territory.

Event Options is an expert in streamlined and professional approaches to event management.

Contact us to partner with us.