Once upon a time, not too long ago, people had an endless supply of emails in their inboxes inviting them to in-person events, but in the wake of the global pandemic that’s no longer the case. Now people are eagerly waiting for an event but with some caution still in the air.

This eagerness is actually another enormous sea of change and one that offers businesses an opportunity they should definitely not miss. Being among the first to bring back in-person events will help it to automatically make a big impact and a real chance to offer attendees a truly memorable experience and win their trust in your brand. 

But how can you make your first in-person event in a long time a success?

The Reality

The reality is that in-person events are, for the immediate short term at least, going to be somewhat different than they were just a few short years ago. For one thing, seating may be arranged for more space, leaving a lower attendance capacity – but smaller is not necessarily worse. A smaller in-person event can be easily targeted and encourage engagement from both the in-person attendees and those participating online.

However some people may still not feel comfortable returning to in-person events at the present time, so it may be a good idea to still have a virtual component or hybrid style to your first in-person event. 

Good Reasons

Even before the pandemic, interactive events that were just the right size needed to provide a real reason for people to walk through the door, and that is even more the case today, with Covid concerns still a reality for many people. 

Relevance is the key, especially given that most attendees will be limiting the number of events they frequent and will therefore inevitably give priority to those that are the most relevant to them. 

Event professionals need to give a real reason for people to come to their event. This can be done by gradual degree by starting off small to begin with. Invite lists and agendas should be tailored for maximum relevance, and it is vital to be providing an experience that simply cannot be duplicated in a virtual environment. Consider different event marketing strategies that can help with connection, participation and interaction, in order to encourage real engagement. 

And above all, attendees need to be assured that all of these things will be delivered to them in a safe environment. 

Trust

The trust people will have in an event can be impacted by a number of external factors, some of which can be controlled – such as the implementation of sensible precautions and protocols including pre-event testing requirements. There are also contingencies that can be taken on the day such as enhanced cleaning, social distancing and temperature checking that can be dealt with by event organizers. 

A code of conduct for the event should always be distributed at every event to ensure communication is thorough and completely transparent.

People are ready to come back together again, so make sure your in-person event follows the rules and creates an experience that is memorable, relevant and safe. Contact Alliant Events today to ensure your event delivers everything you want it to. 

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