To me, conferences are mostly dog and pony shows. There is a lot of preening over which company has the biggest set up, most unique, the prettiest booth babes, most fun giveaways, etc. However, if you look past all the hoopla, you’ll find conferences serve a greater purpose. They offer valuable face-time with the people you really want to connect with – existing and potential customers, business partners, the media, etc.
As a self-professed tech nerd, I have found a few applications that give events and conferences a new futuristic spin and take networking to the next level. At a time where almost everything has already been “done,” these apps can be a great way to get noticed!
GooseChase – This application allows you to easily control and track games between groups of people. The game can be as passive or intense as you would like – popular ideas in the past have included scavenger hunts, photo hunts, and flash mobs. Contestants have access to basic analytics, real time feeds, extra mission options, etc. that lead to friendly competition and team bonding among members.
DoubleDutch Flock – This application provides an event platform where attendees, speakers and sponsors can interact with content, share what they’re learning and access information directly from their mobile device. The app also has a games features where users can get points and earn badges for checking in, connecting with people, adding photos, etc. Companies also have the opportunity to brand themselves and offer tangible in-app offers and prizes.
These are just a couple of applications that are out there designed to inject new life to conferences. What are the most interesting conference-related ideas and applications that you’ve seen recently?
