Here we are again. It’s mid-January and Blue Monday is upon us. For some, the 20th of the month is nothing but a grey blur of bills and bad weather; for others, this is the point when new year’s resolve begins to crack and waver. Ever perceptive, event planners know that this is a time of muted spirits and dulled enthusiasm. Likewise, these professionals also know there is a tried-and-tested way to infuse every event with success and even joy.
Event-tech — whether it’s used to simplify the planning process, collect and analyse data, or bolster attendee engagement — is the planner's not-so-secret weapon against the January blues. At a time of year when cheer is scarce, this is a gentle reminder of all the good things that event-tech has to offer planners and their audiences.
A tool for smarter planning
Blue Monday — widely referred to as “the saddest day of the year” — comes at a point in the calendar when many are already deep in a state of self-analysis. Whatever the desired aim or goal, January is naturally a time to reflect upon the tactics and strategies that worked the previous year and — most importantly — those that didn’t.
Planners are no strangers to self-reflection, but event-tech offers a tangible way of improving individual internal processes. What’s more, the very nature of event-tech means planners can channel these behind-the-scenes tweaks to the benefit of their external activities. As a brief example, let’s consider how event-tech can be utilised to enrich certain aspects of the planning process:
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Data analytics: There’s a wealth of data behind every event. Event-tech is an all-encompassing tool that can be used to gather and analyse information from previous events. This ensures that planners make decisions firmly rooted in and guided by data.
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Automation and integration: A solid event-tech solution offers planners the chance to automate repetitive tasks like registration, ticketing, and email marketing. What’s more, a good event-tech platform should also feature integration with project management software — like Asana or Trello — to streamline task management functions. Simply put, event-tech’s automation and integration capabilities ensure that planners can focus on their event rather than mundane administrative tasks.
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Real-time monitoring: Data isn’t just for improving future events; event-tech also allows planners to monitor real-time data during an event. This level of agility enables them to make on-the-fly adjustments to agendas and schedules.
Improvements to internal planning processes are one thing, but using those tweaks to spark engagement is something else. At this time of year, the benefits of event-tech can (and should!) be harnessed by planners as a means of engaging with a target audience jaded by the dull days of winter.
Health and wellness: How event-tech can help you tap into a timely vibe
On that note, it’s worth considering that health and wellness — whether that be physical, mental, emotional, or even financial — is at the forefront of many minds this time of year. Use this vibe as an opportunity for engagement. Gauge the feedback you receive to weave elements of wellness into your event. These points should not only enhance attendees’ wellbeing but should also serve to boost their overall engagement with your event. From subtle and simple to slightly more vigorous, here’s how event-tech can help ease those January blues:
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Harness your event app for health. Event apps are a tried and tested tool in your event-tech arsenal. Depending on your event offering, you might be able to weave in a session explicitly focused on health and wellbeing. If that’s the case, go beyond the obvious and develop an app that enables attendees to personalise their schedules. This allows your audience to take sessions at a pace that leaves them feeling engaged and invigorated rather than drained and overwhelmed. You may also be able to use your event app to signpost them to health and wellbeing resources. This more subtle approach enables attendees to engage with wellbeing at their own pace and in the privacy of their own minds.
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Gamification. As a kind of aside to the above point, consider incorporating elements of gamification into your event app. This creates a positive and interactive vibe that can promote an enlivening element of social engagement among attendees.
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The power of networking. On that note, networking — just the very basic act of one human being interacting with another, either in-person or digitally — can be a powerful tool for health. Use the networking tools offered by your event-tech to foster a sense of community and support among attendees.
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Wellness sessions for hybrid and remote attendees. Saving the most obvious and interactive option for last, wellness sessions — if you feel that your attendees would welcome them — can be incorporated into your event for in-person attendees as well as for a remote audience. From gentle meditation and breathing activities to slightly more active stretching and yoga sessions to motivational talks, there is a huge range of wellness activities to consider. If you feel this more active wellness element will enrich the personal experience of your attendees, use the tools offered by your event-tech platform to weave an appropriately themed session into your event.
Blue Monday might be here, but canny event planners know exactly how to fight back against the doldrums of January. Whether they want to revitalise their own planning procedures or perk up a jaded audience, event-tech offers a way to brighten every occasion with success and joy.
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