In this episode, we discuss how to help event speakers become more engaging and interactive. I emphasise the importance of pre-event meetings with speakers to align goals and expectations, as well as to understand their expertise and presentation preferences.

I highlight the need for event organisers to clearly communicate their vision and goals to speakers and provide resources and training to support their success, and how by creating a collaborative and speaker-friendly environment, events can be more dynamic and impactful.

Ready to dive deeper? Download your free guide, five ways to elevate your attendee experience without breaking the bank HERE

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This episode discusses the benefits of hybrid events and how they prioritise the attendee experience. Clare explains that hybrid events combine the best of both worlds, in-person and virtual, to create a truly inclusive and engaging experience. she emphasizes the importance of offering options to attendees, as they have more choices than ever before. Hybrid events allow for a wider audience by removing barriers to entry and can elevate the in-person experience. Clare also highlights the value of focusing on quality over quantity at in-person events and the budget-friendly nature of hybrid events.

Keywords

hybrid events, attendee experience, inclusivity, options, in-person events, virtual events, engagement, quality over quantity, budget-friendly

Takeaways

• Hybrid events combine the best of both worlds, in-person and virtual, to create an inclusive and engaging experience for attendees.
• Offering options to attendees is crucial, as they have more choices than ever before.
• Hybrid events can elevate the in-person experience and focus on quality over quantity.
• Hybrid events are budget-friendly and allow for a wider audience by removing barriers to entry.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction: The Game Changer of Hybrid Events

03:01

Hybrid Events: More Than Just Technology

03:53

Elevating the In-Person Experience

06:09

Hybrid Events: Achievable and Budget-Friendly

07:14

Choosing the Right Format and Platform

09:05

The Variety and Benefits of Hybrid Events

11:09

Ready to dive deeper? Download your free guide, five ways to elevate your attendee experience without breaking the bank HERE

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In this episode I look at ways to transform attendees from passive spectators to active contributors.

Discover how letting attendees shape the agenda through session submissions, voting, and 'unconference' sessions can create a more dynamic and engaging event experience.

I suggest various ways to empower attendees, such as gathering feedback, co-creating content, offering flexible schedules, using technology for real-time engagement, and encouraging attendee-driven discussions.

Takeaways:-

Giving attendees control and autonomy at events leads to higher engagement and satisfaction.

Empowering attendees through feedback, co-creation, and flexible schedules enhances their experience.

Using technology for real-time engagement and encouraging attendee-driven discussions fosters active participation.

Ongoing conversation and feedback after the event are essential for continuous improvement.

Prioritising the needs and desires of attendees creates a valuable and engaging event experience.

Chapters

00:00

Introduction: Prioritizing the Attendee Experience

04:18

Empowering Attendees Through Feedback and Surveys

08:04

Fostering Attendee-Driven Conversations

• 10:34

Ready to dive deeper? Download your free guide, five ways to elevate your attendee experience without breaking the bank HERE

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A big part of making an event successful is building a community. You can do this before, during, or after an event. Giving attendees the opportunity to be part of one can make them feel connected and valued.

My guest today has a background in creating engaging events. Liz Lathan is the co-founder of The Community Factory, a group that helps people build and run communities. Apart from being an engagement expert, she is also a writer, investor, speaker, and avid traveller.

In this episode, Liz walks us through practical strategies that we can use to build a community around our events and how to keep them engaged.

Here are the highlights:

(06:26) Generating an environment for connection.

(10:03) What is your definition of community?

(14:13) Don’t be afraid to create a community around your speakers.

(18:15) Does your community have an identity?

(22:16) Simple ideas that can make a difference.

contact Liz Liz Lathan LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizlathan

The Community Factory- https://www.thecommunityfactory.com/

Club Ichi, community for B2B event marketers https://www.weareichi.com

Ready to dive deeper? Download your free guide, five ways to elevate your attendee experience without breaking the bank HERE

Connect with Clare:

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In episode 4 we talk about the human experience at events and the need for better event design.

We also touch on the topic of EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) in events and how it is often treated as a tick-box exercise and emphasise the importance of creating inclusive events that prioritise the human element.

TAKEAWAYS

* Events should prioritise the needs and preferences of attendees

* Consider different learning styles and accessibility needs

* Basic comfort, such as comfortable seating and good acoustics, is important

* EDI (Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion) in events should go beyond a tick-box exercise The events industry still has work to do in addressing EDI issues

* Inclusivity should be considered in all aspects of event planning, not just as a compliance measure

* Inclusive events attract a wider audience and create a positive brand story

* Considering the needs of all humans, including those who are neurodiverse or have disabilities, shows a commitment to diversity and social responsibility

* Design a variety of session formats, including breakout spaces, quiet zones, and comfy seating areas.

Ready to dive deeper? Download your free guide, five ways to elevate your attendee experience without breaking the bank HERE

Connect with Clare:

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In this episode, Clare Forestier discusses the importance of having a clear objective for successful events. She highlights how unclear objectives can lead to events falling flat and the needs of attendees not being prioritised. Clare emphasises the need for a clear objective to guide every decision made during event planning. She suggests that a clear objective benefits event planners, suppliers, and attendees by ensuring that everyone is aligned and engaged in achieving the goal. Clare provides tips on defining a clear objective and encourages listeners to take action and define their objectives to create impactful events.

Keywords

clear objective, successful events, event planning, attendee needs, decision-making, event goals, event success, measuring success, event design, engagement, event impact

Takeaways

Having a clear objective is crucial for the success of events.

Unclear objectives can lead to events falling flat and the needs of attendees not being prioritszed.

A clear objective guides every decision made during event planning.

A clear objective benefits event planners, suppliers, and attendees by ensuring alignment and engagement.

Defining a clear objective involves attributing a measurable action that attendees should take after the event.

Measuring success is important to evaluate the impact of the event.

Event design, content, and investments should align with the clear objective.

Creating an event that makes attendees feel heard, valued, and inspired increases the likelihood of achieving the objective.

Taking action and defining a clear objective is essential for creating impactful events.

00:00

The Power of a Clear Objective

03:29

The Importance of Clear Objectives

06:56

Benefits of Clear Objectives

10:57

Designing an Event to Achieve the Objective

Ready to dive deeper? Download your free guide, five ways to elevate your attendee experience without breaking the bank HERE

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In this episode, Clare Forestier discusses the importance of securing wider event team buy-in for the attendee-first concept. She emphasises the need to involve suppliers, speakers, and the emcee early in the event planning process to create a truly attendee-first event. Clare shares a story about a client who had to make expensive decision, highlighting the importance of tapping into the knowledge and expertise of all event team members.

Takeaways

• Securing wider event team buy-in is crucial for creating an attendee-first event.
• Involve suppliers, speakers, and the emcee early in the event planning process to tap into their knowledge and expertise.
• Get all event team members in a virtual room to share plans, objectives, and expectations, fostering a sense of ownership and collaboration.
• Collaborate with speakers to ensure interactive and attendee-centric presentations.

Ready to dive deeper? Download your free guide, five ways to elevate your attendee experience without breaking the bank HERE

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Welcome to episode one of Not The Same As Last Year!

I’m Clare Forestier, a professional business host, media trainer, and presentation coach. I’ve been an event host for years now, covering webinars, trade shows, conferences, engagement dinner parties, in-person association meetings, and much more. I’m here to share some of the valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way.

This first episode is all about ensuring that your community gets the best experience at your events. We’ll start by looking at five reasons why your attendees might not be getting the best value at your events and how you can change this.

Here are the highlights:

(04:03) Make them feel heard and involved.

(08:20) 5 reasons why your event model is falling short.

(10:22) Interaction and connection.

(12:13) What is your top priority when you organise an event?

(13:25) Designing an event that’s going to feed your attendees desires.

Ready to dive deeper? Download your free guide, five ways to elevate your attendee experience without breaking the bank HERE

Connect with Clare:

WEBSITE

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YOUTUBE