This document provides lessons learned from using engagement tools at over 10,000 events with 3 million attendees. It discusses why engagement is important for effective learning. Traditional lecture-based learning results in only 20% knowledge retention, while active learning approaches lead to 70-90% retention. The document outlines common barriers to engagement, including attendees not participating, presenters not adopting tools, and a lack of follow-up after events. It provides tips for improving participation, such as incentivizing and gamifying engagement. It also suggests educating presenters on the benefits of tools and requiring them to address questions after events. Measuring engagement goals and using data to improve is also recommended.

2. Audience Engagement
Tools
Lessons Learned After 10,000 Events

3. Poll Question
Was increasing attendee engagement a goal for
your events in 2019?
A) Yes
B) No

5. Poll Question
A) Yes
B) No
Will increasing attendee engagement be a goal for
your events in 2020?

13. If There Are So Many Tools
Making Engagement So Easy …

14. Why Are Event Organizers
Constantly Searching For Ways
To Improve Engagement?

15. 3 Million Attendees
10,000+ Events

16. Proven Results
200%
Increase in Speaker
Adoption of ARS
300%
Increase in Session
Evaluation Responses
50+Administrative Hours Saved

17. We’ve learned a lot about what it
takes to successfully Engage
attendees

18. What Does Engagement Mean
For Events?

19. Event Engagement is the degree to which
attendees are fully participating in and
captivated by your event.

20. Event Engagement involves all aspects of
your event — from registration to
education to networking

21. I’m going to focus on engagement
as it relates to the educational
sessions

22. Why Engagement Matters

23. People attend conferences to learn

24. The format for
teaching really hasn’t
changed much over
the past 2,000 years

25. Look Familiar?
You
M
e

26. Unfortunately the most effective learning
doesn’t happen by simply listening
=+

27. Effective learning happens when attendees
are participating & engaged
+ =
Participation Engagement Active Learning
?

28. After 2 Weeks We Remember…
Read - 10%
Hear - 20%
See - 30%
Observe - 50%
Say - 70%
Say & Do - 90%
Teach - 99%
The Cone of Learning by Edgar Dale

29. 10% of what we READ
Read - 10%
Hear - 20%
See - 30%
Observe - 50%
Say - 70%
Say & Do - 90%
Teach - 99%
The Cone of Learning by Edgar Dale

30. Read - 10%
Hear - 20%
See - 30%
Observe - 50%
Say - 70%
Say & Do - 90%
Teach - 99%
The Cone of Learning by Edgar Dale
20% of what we HEAR

31. Read - 10%
Hear - 20%
See - 30%
Observe - 50%
Say - 70%
Say & Do - 90%
Teach - 99%
The Cone of Learning by Edgar Dale
70% of what we SAY

32. Read - 10%
Hear - 20%
See - 30%
Observe - 50%
Say - 70%
Say & Do - 90%
Teach - 99%
The Cone of Learning by Edgar Dale
90% of what we SAY & DO

33. Lecture style learning results in only ~20%
knowledge retention
Read - 10%
Hear - 20%
See - 30%
Observe - 50%
Say - 70%
Say & Do - 90%
Teach - 99%
The Cone of Learning by Edgar Dale
{Passive

34. Active Learning results in 70-90%
Knowledge Retention
Read - 10%
Hear - 20%
See - 30%
Observe - 50%
Say - 70%
Say & Do - 90%
Teach - 99%
The Cone of Learning by Edgar Dale
{Passive
{Active

35. Why Does Active Learning Work?
As far as your brain is concerned,
engagement and reward are the same
thing.
Dopamine is released and many benefits
related to learning result from it.

36. Typical Attention Span During Presentation
Introduction Content Conclusion

37. Actively Engaging attendees even just once every 15-20 minutes
can increase the knowledge retention by up to 70% !
Introduction Content Conclusion

38. People Want To Engage

39. Everyone Wants To Engage

40. So Why Does Engagement
Matter?

41. People attend conferences to learn

42. Being Engaged Improves Learning…
Effective
Learning

43. By achieving their #1 goal, attendees will have a higher ROI
on their decision to attend…
Effective
Learning
Increased Attendee
ROI
R
O
I

44. By being engaged throughout, attendees will have a better
experience at the event…
Effective
Learning
Increased ROI More Satisfied
R
O
I

45. And thus more likely to attend again next year, attend other
events you offer and tell others about their experience
Effective
Learning
Increased ROI More Satisfied Repeat Attendance &
Referrals
$
R
O
I

46. Why To Use Engagement
Technology

47. The Hard Part Is Keeping Attendees
Engaged

48. What Made Steve Jobs So Engaging?

49. Most Presenters Are Not Steve Jobs

50. Not All Content Is Sexy

51. We know that active learning works
but what options do presenters have
to create that active environment?

55. Poll Question
What is the most common fear among Americans?

57. Public Speaking is
The Most Common
Fear in America

58. 75%
3 out of 4 attendees won’t raise their hand to participate if
being called on requires speaking
Source: National Institute of Mental Health

59. But this is the traditional way
attendees are asked to participate

60. Traditional methods build a barrier between 75% of
attendees and their only chance to participate

61. Now Think About ESL Attendees or
Those with Disabilities

62. We Surveyed 500 People About
Their Feelings on Traditional Q&A

63. There Was An Overwhelming Response in
Terms of the Most Despised Aspect…

64. Microphone Hijackers _

65. Hijackers Aren’t in the 75% That
Won’t Raise Their Hand

66. Did You Raise Your Hand When I
Asked About Steve Jobs?

67. Everyone Wants To Engage.

68. What’s More Engaging?

71. This is Where Technology
Comes Into Play

72. Engagement Tools Are Just
Better Mousetraps

73. Technology Empowers EVERYONE
to Participate.

74. Not Just Those Willing to Raise Their Hand

75. Technology Alone Is Not a
Solution

76. Participation Engagement
=

77. To truly engage we need to go further —
something needs to result out of that
participation.
Attendees need to see why it matters.

78. How To Successfully Engage

79. What Causes Low Engagement?
1. Attendees Don’t Participate
2. Presenters Don’t Adopt the Tools
3. “On-Site Only” Engagement

80. How To Successfully Engage
1. Tips that are simple to implement
2. Ideas that will excite you
3. Recommendations that will scare you

81. What Causes Low Engagement?
1. Attendees Don’t Participate
2. Presenters Don’t Adopt the Tools
3. “On-Site Only” Engagement

82. People Want To Engage.

83. Why Attendees Don’t Participate
‣ Aren’t encouraged to participate
‣ Can’t figure out how to participate

84. Attendee Participation - Simple
‣ Make easily accessible to attendees
‣ Reminders & clear instructions (explain the why)
‣ Encouragement at the start of the session
‣ Evaluation reminder at end
‣ Have presenters do ice breaker polls

85. Attendee Participation - Excite
‣ Pre-Event Engagement
‣ Incentive & Gamify

88. Attendee Participation - Scare
‣ Use in General / Opening Session
‣ Replace Q&A mics entirely

89. What Causes Low Engagement?
1. Attendees Don’t Participate
2. Presenters Don’t Adopt the Tools
3. “On-Site Only” Engagement

90. Presenter Adoption Is The Largest
Challenge You’ll Face Related To
Engagement

91. Why Presenters Don’t Adopt Tech
‣ Unaware it is available
‣ Tool is too complicated or they assume it will be
‣ Requires extra effort
‣ Don’t understand the benefits
‣ “What's in it for me?”

92. Poll Question
A) Making presenters aware of tool
B) Perception of complexity / difficulty
C) Laziness / Requires Extra Effort
D) Education on the benefits of engagement
E) Incentive / What’s in it for me?
F) Other
Which of these is the biggest barrier to presenter
adoption?

94. Innovation Adoption Curve

95. Presenter Adoption Curve
10% will jump
at opportunity
10% will not
use unless
required

96. Presenter Adoption Curve
80% need to see the ‘why’

97. Presenters - Simple
‣ Have an organized presenter communication strategy
‣ Educate on benefits, Show the “why”, focus on ease, provide inspiration
‣ Engage w/ presenters that show interest
‣ Host informational webinar
‣ Be there for questions

98. Presenters - Excite
‣ Pre Event Engagement
‣ More likely to use tool if they see engagement
‣ Can use insights to adjust content
‣ Use successful presenters in process, as inspiration

100. Presenters - Scare
‣ Get rid of Q&A mics entirely
‣ Consider a dedicated engagement staff role
‣ Require presenters to follow up on unaddressed Q&A

101. “Conferences i/o is so engrained in our
educational programs that if a presenter
doesn’t add follow up answers to the Q&A
within a day or two, our members will be
sure to let us know"

102. What Causes Low Engagement?
1. Attendees Don’t Participate
2. Presenters Don’t Adopt the Tools
3. “On-Site Only” Engagement

103. On-Site Only Engagement
‣ Orgs don’t measure or don’t know what to measure
‣ Participation does not equal Engagement

104. ‣ Start with a clear goal and define what success means for you
‣ Plan how to measure goal
‣ Use data / insights collected and create content afterwards
‣ Show you're listening / care
On-Site Only Engagement

105. ‣ Presenters need seamless transition from presentation slides to Polls
‣ Look for a tool that fits your process best
‣ Staff or presenters responsible for set up
‣ Ask Vendors for templates / resources / help
‣ Reminder slides, presenter benefits resources, webinars, etc.
‣ Preparation & Testing
‣ 90% of our on-site issues are due to presenters not testing on site
Other Tips

106. “An engaging speaker isn’t engaging
because they draw big crowds.”

107. “The are engaging because they
maximize the relationship with the
audience when they speak, which as
a result, draws big crowds.
- Scott Gould