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How can games optimize your events and get the most out of them so that your attendees are not bored to death? It turns out that gamification tools work wonders in the MICE industry, and today we're going to take a look at how you can benefit from them!
Gamification definition
Gamifiaction is the use of game-like elements to engage and motivate people and get them to change their behavior.
Gamifying your event can help you attract more attendees and get them to share their experiences with others.
There are many ways to make an event fun, such as contests, awarding points for certain activities, and giving prizes. These incentives can be used to reward participants for their attendance or to encourage participation in certain events.
Another option is for participants to complete a certain number of tasks before they can unlock higher reward levels. This is intended to encourage the commitment of all participants and create the feeling that it is worthwhile to fulfill all requirements.
Examples of gamification
The following gamification examples show that the method can be implemented in many different ways and can contribute to various business objectives:
- Escape games: Players have a limited amount of time to rummage around, open chests, discover new rooms and solve a series of puzzles.
- Lego Serious Play: Serious games are a moderated process that combines the advantages of playing and building with Lego bricks with topics from the business world.
What are the benefits of gamification?
Gamification is a great way to increase engagement, satisfaction and employee and customer loyalty at events. First of all, there are various benefits for participants such as increased engagement, community, awareness and motivation. For event organizers, there are also many data points that can be gained from the system (insights, instant feedback, etc.). In general, it can be said that having such events at your events is a benefit for both sides.
What are potential barriers to incorporating gamification at events?
It is an effective tool for events that want to increase participant engagement and give them the feeling of having achieved something.
However, the process has its pitfalls. The lack of time is the biggest challenge.
In addition, technical problems can lead to some players not being able to enjoy the event. For these reasons, it is important for event organizers to consider how they want to integrate gamification into their events before implementing it.
How is gamification applied?
Events are an effective way to engage an audience and create lasting memories. One way event planners can achieve this is through gamification. The basic principles include the following:
-A clear goal or objective
-Strategies, either for virtual or hybrid events, to achieve goals that would be difficult to achieve in real life.
-Targeting specific target groups based on their needs and wishes. This makes it easier for participants to choose the events they want to attend themselves
-Time and effort will vary depending on how much time you have before the event begins, how much time you spend planning, etc.
Leaderboards
Leaderboards were among the most successful tools. They rank participants in order from first to last place and allow competition between those who perform best. This encourages participants to work harder and stay focused, knowing that their position is up for grabs at any time.
The rankings can be prominently displayed in the event space so that everyone can see where they stand. Another more discreet option is to display only a ranking number next to each person's name.
Live Polling
Live Polls are a great way to add gamified elements to your event. The live polling tool allows attendees to answer questions in real time on their mobile device. This is an easy way to engage the audience and get feedback from them.
You can even send text messages with the results of the vote or use it for opinion polls, quizzes or preference questionnaires. Real-time voting gives participants the opportunity to actively participate in your event. Using a live streaming platform, they can share their opinions and thoughts with each other as well as with you, the event organizer!
Scavenger Hunt App
Scavenger is an app that makes the scavenger hunt experience fun. Like a scavenger hunt, players are given a list and clues about the items they need to find. The difference is that players are not looking for these items in the real world, but in virtual reality. This turns the game into a scavenger hunt in 3D space with limitless possibilities and no restrictions on what can be found.
Word Clouds
Word clouds are advantageous for online events as they provide a visual representation, engage participants, enable a game, provide real-time feedback and facilitate analysis.
More articles on this topic:
5 tips for more interactive events
The future of events: Hybrid Events
10 tips for a successful online conference
No Show Rate: Definition, Calculation and Risks
Conclusion
As you may have already realized, games are a powerful tool. If you can get your attendees excited about participating in your events, this will lead to more successful events.
Plus, it can be done at a low cost that won't break the bank for you or your participants. Consider using this type of game at your next event and see what it does for you!
You may become addicted to all the good things that happen when you use some good old gaming techniques at your events. You'll soon find that the tasks and puzzles are not only fun, but also give participants a chance to socialize outside of the event.