On 25 September, #EventProfs Network hosted a panel discussion on event content. A panel of experts from Mash Media, Haymarket, Who’s Who in Events and The MICE Blog, all moderated by Marco Forgione, CEO of EVCOM (former Eventia).

Event content is essential in today’s events industry. “We need to create anticipation, a buzz before the event”, said Kim Benjamin, event's special projects editor at Event Magazine, Haymarket.

Despite the technologies available, it was highlighted by Maria Schuett, Marketing Manager at Central Hall Westminster, a recent survey suggesting that the 82% of delegates do not engage with content. Using the sli.do technology for audience engagement, a survey was carried out at the event and 52% of the respondents mentioned that they don’t engage enough with event content because “I was not well-informed before the event” and 35% said “I don’t have time” to the same question.

An astonishing 53% responded that they are reluctant to engage with event content through technology because “too many platforms where I have to sign up”.

Leave your opinion here about content engagement.

Hellen Beveridge, Director & Curator at Who’s Who in Events and Pure Rocket Science, said “content must be relevant and statements are not enough”. She suggested that we need to go deeper on our content and, to create relevant content, we need to be active, search where our audience is and also leverage ambassadors to identify that content.

Annie Byrne, Journalist at Exhibitions News (Mash Media), mentioned that we need to invest more time in social media to research about what is the content the audience want and we need to be more proactive by asking them rather than just producing statements.

Irina Trofimovskaya, Publisher of The MICE Blog, mentioned that platforms such as Instagram and Facebook allow to engage the audience with more space for discussion than for example Twitter that limits the number of characters for each tweet.

Pickevent is launching shortly a group for event professionals to open these and other discussions, join conversations, share content but also relevant events for event professionals. Anyone interested in sharing quality content for event professionals is welcome to contact Jose Bort, CEO of Pickevent, who said “#EventProfs Network is an open community where we invite all event professionals and technologists to connect and learn through monthly meetups at Google Campus”

Top event technologies such as cvent, DoubleDutch, GenieConnect, sli.do and CatchTalkTV had the opportunity to introduce their latest technologies and giving the opportunity to the attendees to learn more about how to decide which technology will suit your event best.

#EventProfs Network events are free for event professionals. Upcoming events:

23 October: www.pickevent.com/e/eventticketing

20 November: www.pickevent.com/e/eventapps

11 December: www.pickevent.com/e/largeevents

If you would like to showcase your technology, contact #EventProfs Network on events@pickevent.com and follow them on pickevent.com/pickevent