‘Tell me a story.’ If you think that only your kid(s) test your patience, every night before going to bed, think again!
Are we not fascinated with stories? Probably that’s why we call news items as news stories.
Storytelling is an effective means to pull people’s attention. No wonder then that event planners use storytelling as an effective means to engage audiences.
Those who still haven’t thought about leveraging the power of storytelling to enhance engagement, encourage networking and collect quality leads, it’s high time to add storytelling in event plans.
Event planners can also take help of an effective event planning app.
Let’s go through 5 strategic rules to unleash the power of storytelling in events.
1: Stories must relate: We’ve heard (or read) multiple stories yet we’re more likely to remember the ones we can relate with. It is needless to say that event sessions will be contextual. Along with sessions, marketing and branding materials and even entertainment programs should follow the core concepts of events.
- Drill down to the kernel of event objectives.
- Start expanding from the kernel.
- Help speakers with content.
- Don’t let them veer away from subjects.
- Content must relate to subjects.
Stories that don’t relate often confuse.
2: Stories must converge: Many times, sequels of popular stories include tangential stories. To expand on a related concept is effective if the dots are accurately connected.
- Even a simple question can be a pre-event teaser.
- Surveys, live QA and polls can be valuable resources for creating tangential stories.
- One can consider using an innovative survey app to quickly launch live polls and QA-s.
3: Storytelling should be fun: Audiences are attracted towards messages and media. Engaging stories are told in a simple and light-hearted manner.
- Think about popular TedTalks. Speakers share anecdotes etc. in a simple way. Even somber life-stories are presented in simple, easy manners.
- Event planners can sit with exhibitors and sponsors to create engaging content. Emotional videos, interactive games or swag giveaways can be just a few ways to reach out to attendees.
- Exhibitors and sponsors can take help of a good exhibitor lead app to tell stories in unique ways.
- Pre-event educational sessions and post-event discussions/debates on open forums can be effective media of storytelling.
4: Storytelling should be creative: Every person relates to a story in his/her own way. We know about the immense popularity of ‘Choose your Own Adventure’ books with children. Events can encourage participants to discover their own stories in similar ways.
Organizers of comic-cons harness the power creative storytelling to engage participants. Latter can share their versions of comic series via interactive games, cosplays etc. It is easy to organize engaging games with the aid of event gamification and AR apps.
5: Stories should extend event shelf life: Go beyond generic outcomes of storytelling like to raise sale of tickets or to hook audiences at education sessions. Great stories can keep the excitement alive, long after the end of events. They help extend the shelf lives of events.
Different social media platforms can be used to converse with audiences. One can choose from popular event apps to generate stories from hashtags.
Parting thoughts
To go beyond confines of event venues, event planners should weave stories into every component. We can help event planners to tell engaging stories using the latest tech tools. Write to us, grab demos and get consultations for free.
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