The millennial generation represents a significant audience to consider as organizations make plans for technology at their events. Understanding millennial’s preferences—especially those in their 20s—not only helps capture the attention of people who might be attending your meeting, conference, or trade show for decades to come but helps position your event for the long haul by taking the pulse of new technology trends.
Continue reading to learn what factors are important to the millennial crowd in their 20s and what technology must be implemented to capture a younger audience.
A Mobile Friendly Experience
While smartphone and tablet usage has surged in every age bracket, millennials engage in a wider variety of apps and use their mobile devices more frequently than older generations. The fact your younger attendees are more in tune to mobile devices and willing to embrace new features might not be shocking, but many organizations fail to innovate their mobile experience at events to account for important expectations.
A native mobile app with the event’s agenda and important logistics is now considered a bare minimum; push alerts, registration, and dynamic features like live polling and interactive exhibitor maps should all be rolled out and continually updated, along with more recent trends like pairing mobile devices with augmented reality or artificial intelligence to enhance and improve the attendee experience.
More Social Media Options
Taking advantage of popular social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn is great, but savvy event hosts should also turn their attention to Instagram and even newer hits like Snapchat if the platform fits your brand and audience. Millennials are typically the first generation to latch onto the latest and greatest social media platform; integrating these mediums into your event via a mobile app, designated hashtags, and more only serves to generate buzz and engagement.
Enhanced Networking
Matchmaking isn’t just limited to dating apps; plenty of events are using artificial intelligence to parse attendee data and pair people together who have common professional or extracurricular interests to ensure everyone at the event is networking to their full potential. In addition to matching two attendees, exhibitors and sponsors can also be paired with attendees who have shown an interest in their offering—or have the criteria to make a match likely—and save everyone added legwork in the process.
Better Personalization
Millennials are used to websites and social media recommending relevant products and services based on their browsing history. They’re also used to crafting their experiences through unique user profiles, product customizations, and more. Think outside of the box to make each person more unique than the letters on their nametag. Generating attendee data in advance through registration information and surveys enables event hosts to better manage meal preferences, welcome gifts, social events, and other small touches that give each individual a personalized experience.
A Meaningful Impact
Technology often promotes positive change without going the extra mile. Mobile event apps, for instance, significantly reduce paper usage at events and helps organizations go green. Consider further steps like coordinating with a local charity or promoting a cause at social functions. Take other actions to help the environment, too, like relying less on plastic water bottles or other items when feasible alternatives exist. Technology plays a role in these initiatives even when the change isn’t technology-based by leveraging tech to notify attendees, create incentives, and urge people to share these initiatives on social media.
