“Millennials” seems to be a buzzword across many industries. The millennial generation is one of the largest in history, and as these young individuals move into their prime spending years, they will have a great impact on the economy. No matter what industry you are in, there is a good chance that millennials will be one of your target audiences for a future event. Though there is plenty of information out there about marketing to millennials to get them excited about your event, what do you do once you’ve got them there? Engaging millennials can be difficult as they have different expectations and values than previous generations. Below, we will offer 3 tips for keeping your audience engaged at millennial events:
1. Create a more interactive experience
The typical millennial spends 18 hours a day consuming media and checks his or her smartphone about 43 times a day. With this increased media consumption and focus on staying connected, it can be difficult for them to focus on one thing for extended periods of time. The best way to remedy this is by creating an interactive event experience. Incorporate video, social media engagement, and interesting activities into presentations. Encourage peer-to-peer interaction and group discussion into event activities to keep things interesting.
2. Incorporate technology where you can
Millennials are the first generation of digital natives, meaning that they have grown up around technology and are very comfortable with using it regularly. Technology has become so ingrained into their daily routine that some may even feel lost without it. Using tech tools is a great way to keep the audience interested in presentations and exhibits. Create an event hashtag and use it to start a conversation about the event and keep attendees connected. You can also develop an event app to provide important information or event updates and allow attendees to connect.
3. Don’t sell. Start a conversation
Most people respond better to a friendly conversation than they would a direct sales message. This is even more true for millennials. The millennial generation has become adept at identifying and ignoring sales messages. This means your event should aim to create an authentic connection with attendees rather than a business to customer relationship. Engage with them on social media, create opportunities to get to know them one-on-one, and offer them valuable takeaways.
These event tips are a great starting point for planning events aimed at millennials. Though capturing this audience’s attention may sometimes be difficult, it is worth it in the end. This generation can become loyal brand advocates if you engage with them and offer them something of value.
Talk to a McVeigh Global Meetings and Events event planner and learn more about how to keep engaging millennials engaged at your next event.