Are your events struggling with low attendee participation?
Traditional conference formats often miss the mark when it comes to keeping people engaged.
That’s where gamification comes in.
Gamification can turn passive attendees into active participants by adding game-like elements to your conference.
In this article, we'll explore eight effective gamification ideas you can use to help create an exciting and interactive experience at your next event.
1. Pre-Event Surveys
Encourage your attendees to fill out pre-event surveys to earn points and boost engagement before the conference even begins.
Send out surveys asking for feedback on topics of interest, session preferences, or goals for attending.
Offer your attendees incentives like early access to certain content or extra points for completing the survey.
Related: Survey Questions to Maximize Your Event Success.
2. Social Media Feeds
Use social media to create hype for your event and encourage attendees to share their experiences, photos, and success stories.
Set up a digital social wall during the event where attendees can post photos and updates using a designated hashtag. Link it with a mobile event app for instant sharing and a live feed everyone can scroll through.
You can even kick this off before the event by encouraging people to share that they’re attending—rewarding them with points for spreading the word.
For example, you can design game challenges like “Share your favorite conference moment” or “Post a picture with the keynote speaker” to have your attendees earn points or rewards.
Related: 10 Event Management Apps to Streamline Your Event Planning.
3. Home Game vs. Away Game
To increase engagement and participation at your conference, consider incorporating internal company metrics into your event strategy. This approach can be illustrated through the “Home Game vs. Away Game” concept.
Home Game
Begin six weeks before the event by introducing the “home game” component to your attendees.
This involves setting and announcing key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics that your attendees can work towards in their everyday roles.
For instance, sales teams might aim to increase the number of sales calls made or deals closed before the event.
By aligning these pre-event goals with daily business activities, you can create a fun and motivating competition among your attendees.
Away Game
Once at the event, transition into the “away game” phase.
Here, the focus shifts to activities and achievements that occur on-site. Translate the pre-event metrics into event-specific challenges.
For example, create opportunities for attendees to continue their competition through interactive sessions or live performance tracking during the conference. This not only maintains the momentum from the pre-event phase but also amplifies the competition at the event itself.
In the franchise sector, this strategy can be especially useful. By tying the event’s gamification elements to franchise-specific metrics (such as growth rate, NPS score, or CAC), you draw attention to the conference while reinforcing regular business goals.
4. Team-Based Activities
Encourage your attendees to network at your event by engaging attendees in team-based activities and challenges.
Think carefully about how you form teams. You could mix members from different departments to foster cross-department collaboration or keep teams within departments to strengthen existing bonds. Each approach has its benefits.
What task should you choose? From classic team-building exercises to inventive DIY tasks, there's a range of activities you can incorporate.
For instance, teams could be asked to find and photograph specific items around the venue or solve puzzles related to the event theme.
Related: 23 Create Conference Activities Ideas.
5. Team / Individual Fun Competitions
Break up content-heavy sessions with interactive and entertaining competitions.
Organize contests like push-up challenges or costume contests to infuse some fun into your event schedule. Include audience participation activities and stage games to keep energy levels high and attendees engaged.
However, keep in mind your attendees’ preferences and your company culture. Not everyone may enjoy these summer-camp-style games, and some might find them a bit too "silly."
Related: Elevate Your Events – And How to Cater to the Modern Attendee.
6. Corporate Social Responsibility
Give-back events are a great way to connect with your community and support your corporate social responsibility efforts.
Set up on-site volunteer activities such as assembling care packages for military personnel or creating sports kits for children.
Encourage your attendees to participate and contribute, highlighting your organization’s effort to participate in meaningful causes. This not only provides a rewarding experience for attendees but also strengthens your company’s brand image.
Related: 8 Corporate Social Responsibility Event Ideas For Your Conference.
7. Networking Challenge
To gamify the networking experience at your event, consider the following strategies:
- Develop a system to track and measure the extent of networking activities among attendees. Implement concepts such as stamps, passports, or tallying sheets where attendees record their interactions.
- Set clear goals for attendees, such as the number of exhibitors they should visit or the number of new colleagues they should connect with.
- Offer prizes or incentives for those who meet or exceed networking targets. For example, reward or give special recognition to attendees who collect the most stamps or who connect with the most people.
Related: 8 Conference Workshop Ideas to Elevate Your Next Event.
8. Treasure Hunting/Easter Egg
Add an element of excitement to your event with a treasure hunt designed to encourage exploration. Here are some examples you can incorporate into your event:
- Create a list of tasks or “easter eggs” that attendees need to find or complete throughout the event. These tasks could include attending specific sessions, finding certain items, or interacting with key people at the event. For example, during a session, the speaker might mention a keyword that attendees need to remember in order to complete a task or collect a reward.
- Incorporate interactive challenges such as taking photos with executive team members or other key individuals. For instance, attendees could be tasked with finding and photographing themselves with someone from accounting or HR.
- Provide attendees with a detailed list of the tasks they need to accomplish. This list should include important sessions to attend, key people to meet, and specific items to find. Offer rewards or incentives for those who complete the list or achieve certain milestones.
Discover why incorporating gamification into your next conference is a game-changer by reading our article.
Do I Need Incentives in Gamification?
Incentives and recognition are crucial components of an effective gamification strategy.
While the rewards don’t have to be of significant monetary value, they do need to resonate with your audience.
For some, like sales teams, simply earning points and recognition might be enough to spark their competitive spirit. Salespeople, in particular, are often naturally inclined to compete, and a well-structured points system can be a powerful motivator.
However, it’s important to tailor your incentives to the specific needs and motivations of your audience.
For instance, franchisors might be more motivated by non-monetary rewards, such as exclusive access to leadership or executives. Offering a VIP dinner on the last night of the event can also serve as a significant incentive.
Think beyond traditional, dollar-based rewards and explore other forms of recognition that can be equally, if not more, effective to your group.
The Value of a Professional Host or Emcee
To pull off gamification successfully, having a professional host or emcee is a game-changer. This person keeps the energy up, ensures the event stays fun, and guides everyone through the experience.
If your organization has a lively personality on board, consider tapping them to be your in-house cheerleader—a good hype person can make all the difference in keeping the gamification process on track and attendees engaged.
While all events benefit from someone who can energize the crowd, gamification really shines with this in place. A skilled emcee can get people out of their seats, actively participating, and excited throughout the event.
This is especially crucial when delivering tough news to your attendees. Even in challenging situations, creating a fun and engaging atmosphere can help attendees stay motivated and ready to tackle what’s ahead.
Let’s Plan Your Next Conference
GoGather has years of experience in conference logistics and event management services, crafting memorable experiences for high-profile brands.
Unlike other event management companies, GoGather works closely with you to create experiences and activities that are creative, streamlined, and smart. Let’s brainstorm your next event together.
COMMENTS