Kevin McFarlane, Product Development Director at Concise Ltd., outlines the rules of optimising audience engagement at events, and describes how technology can play a useful role.

Recorded 3 May 2017 at a MedComms Networking event in Oxford. Produced by NetworkPharma.tv

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

ABSTRACT:

Concise has been in the events industry for more than 20 years, helping organisations in all sectors to connect and interact with their audiences and stakeholders by harnessing mobile technologies.

At a typical conference event, delegates may be asked to sit through seven hours of presentations. Yet, according to multiple studies, the average person’s attention span is just 20 minutes. There is a clear need for increasing audience engagement, starting at the planning stage. Ensuring great speakers and content is key. Criteria for successful engagement need to be set at this stage. Organisers need to ensure that events benefit attendees, and then to keep communication with delegates flowing before, during and after an event.

Technology is a great enabler for delegate participation. Voting systems are one of the most long-standing tech tools. Prototype voting systems used dedicated hardware, but the technology is now absorbed into apps such as Concise’s Chime. Live chat apps, such as GChat and Instant Messenger, can enable delegates at events to chat in real time. Topic forum apps are another great way to encourage discussion before, during and after an event, extending its lifespan. Meeting selection apps allow delegates to select events, such as break-out sessions, from a programme, giving them a sense of control. App analytics can help to assess delegate feedback – of critical importance in planning future events.

Written by Penny Gray, Freelance Medical Writer

A free report based on the discussions at the Lunch and Learn events mentioned in Kevin’s presentation can be downloaded at http://www.concisegroup.com/uk/news/Concise-MedComms-Report-April2017

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

We are building a library of free webcasts, like this one, for the global MedComms Community and others at http://www.networkpharma.tv and we’d welcome your suggestions for new topics and speakers.

Full details of this MedComms Networking event are at http://medcommsnetworking.com/event_030517.html

Kevin’s presentation (PDF format) is at http://medcommsnetworking.com/presentations/mcfarlane_030517.pdf

Kevin’s Linkedin page is at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmcfarlane/

More about Concise can be found at http://www.concisegroup.com

Filming and technical direction by Mario Crispino, Freelance Cameraman & Editor

[For the avoidance of doubt: this video is intended to be freely accessible to all. Please feel free to share and use however you like. Cheers, Peter Llewellyn, Director NetworkPharma Ltd and Founder of the MedComms Networking Community activity at http://www.medcommsnetworking.com]