Social media has changed our professional world. With new mobile technologies, every experience is communicated in real time. These advances have extended the lifecycle of events, with the event and its audience being able to communicate before, during and after the event takes place. Being able to do this has refined how event professionals do their job, and improved the management of their consumer relationships. Before social media; target audience, attendance and feedback were separated, manual stages. However, now the event can communicate with its audience fluidly; enhancing the benefits for both parties.
With the crippling pressure of expense mitigation due to the global economy, event professionals are being forced to cut back on anything potentially luxurious such as staff or advertising. New tools such as the iPad have apps designed to help revolutionise a day in the professional life of an event’s organizer. Since the introduction of these apps, event organizers have waved “So long!” to countless sheets of paper and even the most distinguishable item used by event professionals the world over; the clipboard. The iPad has hundreds of nifty apps which can be used to integrate the entire event planning process, as well as the marketing and social media. Using technologies such as these means an individual event professional can reach multiple audiences all at the same time, optimising communication and reward.
One app, which is constantly being developed and has made my job smoother than a dachshund’s rear goes by the name of Eventbrite.
Making everything from advertising your event to enabling consumers to buy tickets online an absolute doddle! The Eventbrite Entry Manager also makes checking guests in easy and manageable, without any trawling through printed guest-lists. Even tickets can be stored on a smart phone and scanned by the event host on arrival; so many trees can be saved! Eventbrite also makes tracking your event attendance super efficient by creating graphs containing all the important data such as daily and total ticket sales.
Real-time communication, if not managed efficiently, can be damaging.
Social platforms such as Twitter and Facebook are helping the event integrate its audience, but it also gives an audience the power to make or break an event, company or cause. Without effective public relations or community management, a negative tweet can damage any project.
In short, mobile technologies are becoming more important and even essential to many industries including the events industry.
New apps are being launched almost daily, each with their own specialized style to help events professionals working in different areas. Social media has made advertising and integrating your event into a community almost effortless, allowing your target audience to be reached directly. But be warned, making your event live can open it up to mass-ridicule if you do not provide the customer/consumer with what they’re expecting. Calling all event managers: treat yourself to an iPad, it will save your life at some point!
Top 5 Super Helpful event apps:
- At number 1 for good reason, Eventbrite is easy to use, simple tools and integrative data. Every event managers’ bezzy mate.
- Super Planner is a business app, which helps any event professional stay super organised. It has venue, staffing, and catering calculators to do the hard math for you!
- MindMeister is great for all us creative types, it helps you record, process and prioritise those inspirational thoughts.
- One of those great iPad apps which makes paper obsolete is Sign My Pad. Sign any contract or agreement at the event without having to haul your filling cabinet around with you.
- There are tonnes of so called ‘helpful’ calendar apps on the market, but Pocket Informant HD is definitely worth checking out!