Attendee engagement isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s the difference between a forgettable gathering and an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re hosting a corporate conference, networking mixer, or hybrid seminar, keeping attendees engaged is key to boosting satisfaction, driving ROI, and creating long-term brand loyalty.
In fact, Convene reports as many as 69 percent of Gen Z event attendees say they wish events were more engaging, 39 percent wish they were more inclusive, and 32 percent would like to see more communication between organizers and attendees.
But great engagement doesn’t happen by accident. It starts well before your event kicks off and continues long after the final session ends. From personalized pre-event content to real-time interaction tools and thoughtful post-event follow-up, a well-rounded engagement strategy keeps your audience connected at every touchpoint. If you’re not communicating with your attendees before, during, and after your event, you’re missing a critical opportunity to capture valuable data and position your event—and brand—as a thought leader in your industry.
Here, the experts from Arch Meetings & Events are sharing proven tips and techniques to elevate attendee engagement before, during, and after your next event—so your brand stands out and your attendees stay connected.
Pre-Event Engagement Strategies to Spark Interest
Pre-event engagement lays the foundation for participation, excitement, and community-building, and it’s one of the most effective ways to set your event apart. Create buzz early on with a multichannel content strategy: email campaigns, teaser videos, countdowns on social media, and sneak peeks of speakers or entertainment to help attendees feel connected before the event even begins.
Make your potential attendees a part of your planning with pre-event surveys or Q&As that invite them into the conversation. Ask what topics they’re most interested in, what they hope to gain from the event, or how they’d prefer to engage. This can help you plan relevant content at your event while making attendees feel heard and invested.
An event app or online community platform can also be a powerful tool. A 2024 study from Bizzabo found that 68 percent of attendees consider it vital for events to offer a mobile event app, 55 percent of attendees agree that the in-person B2B conference mobile event app can make or break their event experience, and 45 percent of attendees say it’s vital to have a mobile app to ask questions and participate in the polls during event sessions.
These apps attendees build their profiles, connect with each other, and explore session options in advance. Offering personalized schedules, interactive polls, or content previews can boost both anticipation and participation. By building early excitement and establishing two-way communication, you’ll lay the groundwork for an experience that feels personalized, inclusive, and worth showing up for.
Once you’ve built a solid foundation of early engagement, it’s time to turn that anticipation into active participation—regardless if your attendees are joining in person or virtually.
How To Keep Energy High and Attendees Engaged During Events
While your pre-event efforts set the stage, once your event kicks off, it’s all about turning that excitement into active, ongoing participation. Maintaining that momentum is key to ensuring that your attendees stay engaged and involved throughout your event. Real-time interaction and opportunities for connection can make all the difference between a passive audience and an active, energized one.
Interactive sessions are essential to keeping attendees engaged. Swoogoo found that 48 percent of attendees prefer interactive content such as live polls, Q&A sessions, and audience-driven activities while 80 percent of event organizers reported an increase in attendee participation through interactive features. Incorporating these tools not only boosts attendee engagement but also provides real-time feedback, allowing organizers to adjust and enhance the experience on the fly. This keeps attendees feeling connected and part of the conversation, while also giving organizers key insights to improve the event as it unfolds.
Provide meaningful opportunities for attendees to network. Beyond just coffee breaks and networking hours, consider creating curated experiences or small group sessions based on attendees’ interests or industry roles. Offering digital networking platforms can help virtual attendees make connections too, and ensure they don’t miss out on the event’s community-building opportunities. Venues with dedicated breakout spaces can facilitate more intimate, focused discussions and allow for seamless networking in smaller groups.
Gamifying your event is another fun and effective way to keep participants engaged. Introduce challenges, leaderboards, or prize incentives for attendees who participate in sessions, engage in networking, or complete specific tasks. This adds an element of excitement, motivating attendees to stay engaged throughout the event.
After a successful day of learning, networking, and meaningful interaction, your attendees will leave feeling energized, informed, and connected—and ideally, wanting to hear more from you. Here’s where your post-event engagement strategy kicks in.
Keep the Connection Alive: Post-Event Engagement That Lasts
At the very least, a simple yet impactful way to stay top of mind is a personalized thank you message. Whether it’s through email, in-app notifications, or a handwritten note for VIPs, expressing gratitude shows attendees that their participation mattered. Include a recap of event highlights, key takeaways, or a downloadable content bundle to provide added value.
Next, gather attendee feedback while it’s fresh. Your attendees’ impressions are most valuable in the immediate aftermath of the event. Distribute surveys or interactive polls within 24–48 hours to capture actionable insights. Ask about session relevance, speaker quality, logistics, and overall experience to identify wins and areas for improvement. Use this data not only to enhance future events, but also to show attendees that their opinions shape your programming.
Remember that not every attendee might have been able to catch every session, and even those who did might want to revisit the insights. Offering on-demand recordings, presentation decks, or post-event blogs recapping sessions helps extend the lifespan of your content. This also creates shareable assets that attendees can pass on to their networks, broadening your event’s reach and reinforcing your brand as a source of thought leadership.
It’s important not to let your event community dissolve after your event’s closing remarks. Keep attendees engaged by inviting them to join a private LinkedIn or online community, subscribe to your newsletter, or participate in follow-up webinars or roundtables. You can also spotlight standout attendees or user-generated content from the event on social media to nurture continued connection and inspire future engagement.
Use your post-event communication to build anticipation for what’s coming. Whether it’s announcing the date of your next event, teasing a new content series, or opening early bird registration, giving attendees a reason to stay tuned reinforces the relationship and keeps your brand top of mind.
The Importance of Engaging Attendees Before, During, and After Events
From the first save-the-date to the final follow-up, attendee engagement isn’t just about creating memorable moments—it’s a strategic lever for event success. Markletic reports nearly half of marketers (49 percent) say audience engagement is the most important factor in hosting a successful event, and it’s easy to see why. An engaged audience is more likely to absorb your messaging, share their feedback, and become loyal brand advocates long after the event ends.
According to American Express GBT Meetings & Events, professionals consistently point to content (38 percent), venue (27 percent), and destination (25 percent) as the top elements that make an event unforgettable. But when thoughtfully executed, your engagement strategy ties all three together, amplifying your message, strengthening connections, and reinforcing the value of your brand.
Whether your goal is to increase ROI, boost retention, or gather actionable insights, a strong engagement plan before, during, and after the event is key. With the right tools and a trusted partner (like Arch Meetings & Events), you’ll build deeper relationships, drive better outcomes, and maximize the impact of every event you host.
