Influitive Channels: Tips and Best Practices for events

Use Influitive Channels for your next Event!

Event Planning

• Design some advocate-exclusive swag - Branded goodies are a common especially at conferences. Regardless of whether you are offering swag to the general public, consider producing something that's exclusive to your advocates. A special VIP lanyard or tag to add to their conference pass, or a T-Shirt they can wear around the event are good candidates of swag that advocates can use to show off their elite status.
• Make sign-ups on the spot easy - If you are planning a physical event or are participating in a conference and have a booth, make sure there are cards with a QR code or printed join code url to hand out, or alternatively a laptop that customers can use to join your advocacy program. 
• Plan for rewards - Contests that run for the duration of an event can be incredibly powerful in boosting engagement. When running a contest like this, ideally have an attractive reward for the winner (it could be one of your products, a limo ride to the airport at the end of the event, or free licenses for your SAAS software for a specific period for example).

• Get feedback - If this is an annual event you have held before, ask advocates for feedback on the previous event. What did they like/dislike? What could have been better? You can also have advocates vote for the reward of your event contest, or suggest what swag they would like to see. Make sure you forward the feedback you get to your events team and implement the suggested changes where possible.
• Identify potential speakers - Ask advocates ‘Are you interested in speaking at event xyz?’

Pre-Event

• Create a new group specific to your event, then publish a challenge asking your advocates if they will be attending. Use the ‘Join an Influitive Group’-stage type to direct those who indicated they are coming into this group.
• Facilitate networking amongst your advocates by posting a challenge where attendees can introduce themselves, and share what they are most looking forward to. This will lower the treshold to continue the discussion in person at the event.

• Allow advocates to share their best advice for making the most of your event. 
• Include challenges where you educate your advocates on relevant topics such as networking, prospecting, etc. and engage them in a follow-up question encouraging to contribute with their own tips.

• Use the 'Complete an online action'-stage type to direct advocates to your event registration page. You could promote a special registration discount to your advocates through the hub as well.
• Give advocates the opportunity to schedule 1-on-1's with executives/Customer Success Managers/other contacts or breakout session spots during the event.

• Get your advocates spreading the word about your event socially. Use stage types like 'Post to Twitter' or 'Share a link'. Make it easy by offering a default tweet they can use: ‘I’m attending event xyz. Join me by registering at [insert link to registration page]!'

• That sounds good doesn’t it? If you have some hot prospects in attendance, who better for them to speak to than one of your top advocates?
• Publish a challenge asking advocates if they would be willing to spend 15-20 minutes speaking to prospects. This could be formally arranged in a meeting room, or something less formal where your advocates hang out at your booth and speak to those who drop by.

• Boost engagement with an exciting contest that runs for the duration of your event. Include a special prize. 
• The contest can start in the weeks leading to the event to get advocates started on the Leaderboard. 
• Check this article for ideas on missions and special contests

• Who said events had to be so serious? Incorporate some entertaining challenges into your Channel and you’ll be sure to collect some great testimonials after the event (spoiler alert!)
• Ask advocates what their favorite song is. Use their answers to create a playlist that is to be played between sessions. We kid you not, people will literally get up to boogie while screaming “this is my song!”
• Advocate flashmob! Need we say more? Ask advocates if they would like to participate in a flashmob. You can set a date/time to congregate at the event, come up with your dance and the rest will be history.
• Get advocates sharing their tips of fun things to do outside of the event. 

During Your Event

• Coordinate an advocate breakfast, lunch or dinner. This is an exclusive, invite-only opportunity for your shining stars.
• VIP seating. Reserve front row seats at your keynote or highly attended speaking events for your advocates.
• You know that Nexus line at the airport where everyone blows by you, while you patiently wait to go through security? Ya….your advocates want that Nexus line, so give it to them. A designated advocate only check-in line.
• Give advocates a shout out during opening remarks. Thank them for being in attendance. It will not only make them feel special, but it was also make others inquire as to how they can be “one of them.”

• Make sure you are reminding advocates about your big points contest with a special prize, if applicable.
• You can also do mini-missions during the event. Make sure you keep these extremely simple (The first person to complete a small scavenger hunt, or the best selfie featuring an executive wins for example)
• If offering rewards for contests that start and end during the event, make your rewards time-sensitive and redeemable on the spot; e.g. winner gets a front-row seat or priority access to a popular session.

• Make sure event schedules and other important information is readily available in the Channel in your hub. To keep e.g. the challenge that contains this key info visible at all times, you can set it up as multiple completion and 0 points to ensure it won't disappear from advocates' home pages as they go back to check it.
• Promote and remind about key sessions you want your advocates attending.

Recruiting at events

• Use a join code to display your hub’s sign-up page on an iPad or laptop.
• To sign-up a new advocate, use Incognito Windows (not Incognito Tabs) on your browser to ensure you don’t have any issues with cookies as you switch from user to user.
• Once an advocate signs up, help them complete their first challenge to show them how the hub works.
•  Also encourage them to download the Influitive app on Apple or Android so they can continue completing event challenges on the go.

Common technical issues

If a new advocate can’t get into their new account, investigate the following:

• Did they misspell their email or password when signing up?
  • If so, go into their advocate profile on the back end and update their info.
• Are they a member of another hub?
  •  If so, they will receive an error message that says, “account already taken” as they need to login with the exact same password they used for their other Influitive account. To fix this, email Support to have them reset the advocate’s password.

After the event

• Similar to the challenge you published during the event planning stage, ask your advocates what they liked/disliked about the event. What would they like to see next year?
• Testimonials are a great touch for next years event collateral. Ask your advocates for a testimonial describing their experience at your event. What did they get out of it? Why would they recommend others in the industry attend the event?

• If you ran a contest for the event, promote the winner in a challenge. As a nice surprise you could pick a second and third place winner as a bonus. 

• Ask advocates to share their favourite moments, insights, and/or takeaways.
• You can follow up with advocates with a challenge that compiles the top responses from other advocates.

• Make it easy for avocates to continue discussions they started with each other at your event. You may want to e.g. share the list of attendees of your exclusive advocate meetup throught a post-even challenge to ensure everyone gets connected.

• Remind advocates that the fun doesn't end with the event, and that there is a ton of ongoing exciting activity for them to participate in in your hub.
• Take advantage of the positive post-event spirit by asking for testimonials and referrals