Gamification, the Secret Ingredient for Fun, Memory Boosting and Engagement!
A popular trend in the event industry is the rise of gamification, and for good reason.
By incorporating game elements and mechanics into non-game activities, event organizers can increase engagement, motivation and overall experience of attendees, and we’ll take a look at a case study of how gamification is being used in events, and provide some examples of how you can incorporate it at your next event.
Do you struggle to have your attendees retain information? Spending money on great speakers or spending time curating the perfect content, only to have your attendees completely tune out during your event or go blank once they leave or dial off?
Gamification could be the solution you’ve been looking for!
It is also proven memory booster for events, because it creates an interactive and engaging experience for attendees. The use of game elements, such as points, badges, leader boards and challenges, makes the event more dynamic and fun, which in turn helps attendees to remember the event better. Additionally, gamification can also help to create a sense of competition and social interaction among attendees, which can also enhance memory retention.
Gamification makes an event more memorable by providing a sense of accomplishment, which can foster positive emotions and memories. For example, when attendees earn points or badges, they feel a sense of achievement, which is a powerful emotional connection that will be remembered.
Moreover, gamification can make the information more sticky, in other words, the attendees are more likely to retain the information shared during the event, as they are actively engaging with it in a fun way.
Gamification can also increase the level of participation of attendees, as they are more likely to be engaged and participate in the event when it is gamified. This also helps to make the event more memorable as attendees are more likely to remember something they were actively involved in.
Case Study: The Trade Show Scavenger Hunt
One trade show used a scavenger hunt as a way to increase engagement and participation among attendees. They created a list of items or tasks that attendees needed to find or complete and incorporated a points system for each item found or task accomplished. This gamification technique helped attendees navigate the trade show floor by encouraging them to explore different exhibitor booths and attend specific sessions.
As a result, attendees were more engaged and motivated to participate in the event. The scavenger hunt also helped increase brand awareness and engagement, as some of the items on the list were specific products or services offered by exhibitors. The trade show reported that the scavenger hunt led to an increase in booth visits, and many exhibitors reported an increase in sales as a result of the increased foot traffic.
Examples of How to Incorporate Gamification into Your Next Event:
- Social Media Contests: Use social media to drive engagement by creating a contest or challenge that encourages attendees to share pictures or posts on social media using a specific event hashtag.
- Treasure Hunt: Create a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt where attendees have to solve puzzles or answer questions to find a prize.
- Digital Platform Games: For virtual events, create an interactive digital game to keep attendees engaged and promote networking
- Virtual Escape Room: use a virtual escape room to create a challenge that attendees must work together to solve, to get out of the virtual space
- Leader board: Create a leader board that displays the top performers or the attendees who have completed certain challenges or tasks. This will encourage attendees to participate and compete with each other.
- Gamified Surveys: Create a gamified survey that attendees can complete after sessions or meetings to gain points, badges or other rewards
Gamification is a great tool for event planners as it can enhance the engagement and participation of attendees which in turn can create memorable experiences and increase the retention of the information shared during the event. By incorporating game elements and mechanics, you can also create a more interactive and fun experience for attendees. Remember to keep your audience and event goal in mind when incorporating gamification, and have fun with it!