Attracting the next-generation attendee is an urgent priority for nearly every conference organizer, {FIRST_NAME| }. Is your conference demographically challenged?
Some are attacking this by deploying a "get them while their young" program. They'll offer significant discounts, travel grants and free membership to lure students or young professionals. While this makes sense at face value, we're realizing that if you are not attracting mid-career professionals (who young professions work with and admire), the tactics fall flat.
From an education and experience design standpoint, we find that if you meet the needs of young professionals, veterans won't be repelled. They actually want the same experiences. Here's a short list:
Participatory learning and networking experiences
New, advanced and hi-tech content
A hassle-free, good customer experience
Openness and transparancy…grow trust
Alignment to their passions or beliefs
Easier said than done, right? We'd love to hear how you are tackling this. If you'd like to weigh in, reply to this email. Meanwhile, we hope you find a nugget or two in this month's issue.
Understanding Generation Y
Sick, fully sick, wicked grouse, rocks, going off, that's a bomb. I know you think I am describing how you feel after too many Chardonnays on a Friday night, but according to Generation Y that means you are doing a really great job.
Why Gen Y Doesn't Matter the Way You
Think It Does
Depending upon what research group you subscribe to the collective members of Gen Y will eclipse the earning power of the Baby Boom generation sometime around 2018. This fact has marketers scrambling to figure out…
American Millennials:
Deciphering the Enigma Generation
Things move fast with Milleninials. Catch this updated look at Millennials, their interests, their needs and the power they have when it comes to consumer spending.
Millennials! Leadership! NextGen Association Models! Puppies!
It seems that every week (at least), there is another book, blog posting, magazine article, news story, and/or BuzzFeed photo journal about the next generation, and what they do (or could do) well, and where they fail…..
Guaranteed To Disrupt
Your Conference:
The Generational Divide
If your conference is not prepared for the astonishing change in new attitudes and behaviors of the under 30 crowd, you are going to be left behind at the altar crying for more Baby Boomers…
