An event app can bring huge benefits to almost any kind of event. However, when considering this option for your next event, it is vital to know your potential audience.

Knowing Your Audience

To decide whether an event app is right for your event and audience there are a number of points to consider:

• In the run up to your event consider how reachable your attendees are. Are they contactable within minutes or hours? This will indicate the degree to which your audience use their smartphones and, therefore, how likely they are to engage with your event app.

• Another good indication of how your audience will receive your app is whether any promotional emails you send are received through mobile or through desktop. This will suggest how often your audience are likely to check their phones. Will they even use an event app?

• Audience demographics are an obvious consideration. This information will also indicate how specific details of your event app could be tailored to your attendees. Age is a key factor e.g. millennials will almost definitely engage successfully with your event app.

• It is important to take note of any social media activity at your past events. How often was your event hashtag used? How often was your event discussed online? This will indicate whether your attendees would benefit from a multi-platform event app with an activity feed.

Importance of Planning

Your audience will be at the front of your mind during any decision in your event planning process. This should be the same for your event app. Taking time to define your target audience first will save you a lot of pain in the future, whilst ensuring that your app receives a positive reception from your delegates.

Think about how your attendees will benefit from your event, what is their reason for being there? For example, attendees often agree that networking is one of the most valuable aspects of a conference, so you may want to push this on your event app through the use of gamification.

Event apps work for the majority of audiences, your attendees will love it. However, knowing your audience will allow you to tailor your event app to them, allowing your attendees to make the most of your event.