5 Expert Tips to Elevate Guest Experience at Networking Events

Learn how to create memorable networking events with expert event planning tips that enhance guest experience and foster meaningful connections.

Makena Marshall

January 19th, 2024

Group of people chatting at a networking event.

Creating a memorable event is hard. These days, so many things fight for guests’ attention that even if they take the leap of faith to attend an event, there’s no shortage of entertainment to be found elsewhere. It’s up to organizers to make an event worth staying for and memorable enough for guests to bring their friends next time. Here are five tips to make your event an unforgettable one.

1. Create Anticipation 

If we can learn anything from the Fyre Festival, it’s the power of anticipation and a good marketing team. You can influence an attendee’s perception of your event well before they set foot in the venue. A strong marketing campaign will draw attention to your event, build excitement and anticipation for those attending, and hopefully leverage FOMO for those not attending. 

 

For live events like concerts and festivals, share clips of your performers rehearsing and being interviewed. If you’re planning a conference, share biographies of your speakers or links to relevant and exciting work they’re doing. Another great way to build anticipation is engaging your followers by asking them what they’d like, taking polls, and connecting them with speakers or events based on their interests. 

 

One thing you absolutely do not want is your guest turning away because the ticket purchasing is too complicated. Using an app like Common will make ticket purchasing seamless and easy for your guests. Furthermore, guests can browse and register for the speakers and panels beforehand, building anticipation and personalizing the experience.

2. Use Technology

As mentioned above, a seamless ticket-purchasing experience and session registration are all part of a memorable guest experience. The use of technology can enhance your guest experience in various ways. Guests are tired of waiting in lines at events. Going to a concert these days means waiting in line to get into the venue, at the merch table, for the bathroom, and food. To avoid this sour event experience, a good event management app can help with online registration, ticket scanning at entry, and purchasing merch or food online. 

 

If multiple things are happening at an event at once, notifications and in-app agendas can help guests keep track of their most anticipated speakers and panels. You don’t want a guest to miss something they’ve been looking forward to for weeks!

3. Make Navigation Easy

A surefire way to make guests happy about their experience is by ensuring they can get around the venue without any confusion. Getting lost in an unfamiliar setting is one of the most frustrating experiences. Ensure all key rooms and areas are clearly labeled and easily found. Providing too much information is always better than leaving attendees feeling lost and needing assistance.

 

Include practical details in your registration materials, such as the Wi-Fi password and a floor map, to help attendees navigate the venue with ease. As mentioned above, an agenda that prominently displays when and where sessions will occur ensures attendees can quickly identify where they need to be. Missing a highly anticipated speaker or seminar can quickly tarnish their event experience. Access to an event map through the event’s management platform will reduce the chance of a guest getting lost or missing a session.

4. Have a Diverse Entertainment Plan 

Guest attend events for multiple reasons, but in a world of likes, shares, and comments, what they’re really looking for is connection. I’m not saying panels and speakers aren’t valuable, but make sure there’s time and space for your guests to connect. A diverse event plan, including panels, speakers, social hours, and morning coffees, will allow every guest to find what they’re looking for. 

 

In addition, your event’s value —whether it comes from exposure to industry advancements, an increase in knowledge, or simply a space to connect with like-minded groups of people—needs to be obvious to your guests. Make sure your guests know why they should attend every event/session.

5. Event Follow-Up Plan

Post-event follow-up plays a vital role in ensuring your event’s success and long-term impact. Beyond sending out standard post-event surveys, take additional steps to engage attendees and enhance their experience. For instance, providing a detailed summary document of each session can help attendees revisit key insights they may have missed or reinforce what they learned. If your event was a fundraiser or charity campaign, share updates on the outcomes their contributions made possible, such as meeting specific goals or personal stories of those impacted. Including photos, videos, or links to positive press can evoke nostalgia, highlight the event’s success, and inspire further social media sharing. These thoughtful touches not only leave attendees feeling valued but also set the stage for a deeper connection with your brand or cause.

 

A few days after the event, send personalized follow-up emails to attendees that reflect their unique event experience. Go beyond addressing them by name—reference sessions they attended or themes they showed interest in, and offer related resources, such as upcoming workshops, relevant articles, or local training opportunities. Tailoring communication to individual preferences shows genuine care and adds value to their participation. Thoughtful follow-up initiatives like these are essential to creating memorable event experiences, fostering a sense of community, and building lasting relationships that encourage attendees to return to future events.

 

Creating a truly memorable event requires thoughtful planning, attention to detail, and a focus on guest experience from start to finish. By building anticipation with strong marketing, leveraging technology for seamless interactions, ensuring easy navigation, offering diverse and engaging programming, and implementing a personalized follow-up strategy, you can leave a lasting impression on your attendees.

 

Each element, from the first promotional post to the post-event thank-you email, contributes to crafting a unique and valuable experience. The key is to make every attendee feel seen, supported, and excited to participate. By doing so, you’re not just hosting an event—you’re creating a space for long-lasting connection and opportunity.