The final applause has faded, the venue is empty, and your event is officially over. But your work doesn’t have to end here.
In fact, the post-event phase is just as important as the event itself.
A well-executed follow-up can extend the impact of your event, deepen relationships, and keep your event relevant long after the closing remarks.
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Send A Thank You Note
The simplest and most personal way to follow up after an event is to send a thank-you note.
Whether it’s a heartfelt email or a physical card, expressing gratitude to attendees, speakers, and sponsors reinforces the positive experience they had at your event.
A thank-you note shows appreciation for their participation and engagement, which helps maintain goodwill.
It also gives you an opportunity to express how their involvement made the event a success.
And by personalizing your messages you can make your follow-up feel more meaningful and sincere.
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Share Key Takeaways And Resources
Not everyone will remember every detail of your event. So, it’s a good idea to send a follow-up email that summarizes the key takeaways and valuable insights.
This can include speaker highlights, session recaps, and any resources that were shared during the event.
If there were presentations, slides, or recordings, provide links to these materials so attendees can revisit the content at their convenience.
Sharing resources ensures that the knowledge shared at your event has a lasting impact and gives attendees something valuable to take with them.
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Create A Post-Event Survey
Gathering feedback is crucial for improving future events and understanding the impact of the current one.
A post-event survey allows you to gauge attendees’ satisfaction, learn about what worked well, and identify areas for improvement.
Ask both quantitative and qualitative questions to get a full picture of their experience.
For example, include Likert scale questions on session quality or venue satisfaction, as well as open-ended questions about what attendees found most valuable.
How Can Map D Help?
With Map D, you can create and distribute customized post-event surveys through the app. Our platform allows you to collect real-time feedback, making it easy to analyze responses and implement changes for future events.
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Engage On Social Media
Social media is one of the most powerful tools for keeping your event relevant after it’s over.
Encourage attendees to share their photos, thoughts, and key takeaways using a branded hashtag.
Then, engage with their posts by commenting, liking, and reposting to keep the conversation going.
You can also create a post-event social media campaign that highlights memorable moments from the event, including photos of attendees, speakers, and behind-the-scenes action.
This content helps to keep the buzz alive, while also providing you with valuable user-generated content to promote your next event.
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Host A Virtual Q&A Or Webinar
Extend the value of your event by hosting a follow-up virtual Q&A or webinar.
This allows attendees to revisit topics of interest and ask additional questions that may have come up after the event.
A webinar or Q&A session is also an opportunity to dive deeper into subjects covered during the event or provide updates on any ongoing projects or initiatives related to the event’s theme.
Offering attendees access to experts and thought leaders through a virtual follow-up reinforces your event’s value and keeps the conversation alive.
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Offer Exclusive Content Or Discounts
One way to keep attendees engaged after the event is to offer exclusive content, such as access to eBooks, videos, or industry reports.
You could also offer discounts or early access to future events, products, or services.
Providing something exclusive helps create a sense of continued value for attendees, encouraging them to stay connected with your organization.
It’s also an effective way to keep your event relevant, as attendees will feel like they are getting more than just the initial experience.
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Create A Post-Event Newsletter
Send out a post-event newsletter that recaps highlights from the event, shares additional resources, and provides updates about future events or initiatives.
Including a section on upcoming events or new developments in the industry gives your audience something to look forward to, while keeping your event top of mind.
Newsletters can also feature attendee success stories or testimonials, reinforcing the value of your event and encouraging others to attend in the future.
This ongoing communication helps keep your brand or organization relevant in your audience’s minds.
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Personalize The Follow-Up
A personalized follow-up goes a long way in building lasting relationships. Consider sending tailored emails to specific groups of attendees based on their interests or roles at the event.
For example, a sponsor might receive a different follow-up than a speaker or an attendee.
Personalization can extend to mentioning specific sessions or topics that were particularly relevant to the recipient, or offering a customized recommendation based on their interaction with your event.
By acknowledging attendees’ unique experiences, you show that you value their time and contributions.
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Foster Community Engagement
Encourage attendees to continue connecting by fostering a sense of community even after the event ends.
You can create a LinkedIn group, Slack channel, or other online forum where attendees can share insights, ask questions, and continue the conversations sparked at your event.
Fostering an ongoing community ensures that the connections made during the event continue to thrive.
This network can also serve as a resource for future events and initiatives, creating long-term value for both you and your attendees.
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Provide Certificates Or Recognition
If applicable, offering certificates of attendance or recognition for specific achievements during the event can make attendees feel valued.
Whether it’s a certificate for completing a workshop, winning a competition, or simply participating in a session, recognition encourages attendees to share their success with their own networks, extending your event’s reach.
Certificates are also a tangible reminder of the value attendees gained from your event, and they help reinforce the credibility of your organization or brand.
How Can Map D Elevate Your Follow-Up Process?
Map D is an event management platform designed to simplify your event planning, execution, and post-event processes.
We offer powerful features that enhance every aspect of follow-up:
Survey And Feedback Tools: With Map D, you can easily create and distribute custom surveys to collect attendee feedback, gaining insights into their experience in real time.
Content Distribution: Use the platform to send personalized post-event emails, share resources like presentations or videos, and even promote future events or products.
Social Media Integration: Leverage Map D’s integration with social media platforms to share event highlights, attendee posts, and behind-the-scenes content, keeping your event alive online.
Data Analytics: Map D’s powerful analytics provide valuable insights into attendee behavior, which you can use to enhance future follow-up efforts and improve engagement.
By integrating Map D into your post-event strategy, you can simplify your follow-up process and ensure that your event’s impact continues long after the final applause.
