It’s one of the most popular sponsor opportunities but with a little thought and planning event organisers can take this simple activation to a whole new level.
Below are 5 low-cost ways that incorporate thought leadership, interactive networking, gamification, sustainability, and social media into your badge & lanyard sponsorships.
- Gamification: in this scenario a QR code is printed on the lanyard or badge that attendees scan at the sponsor booths to collect points, answer trivia questions, or participate in a digital scavenger hunt. Participating exhibitors and sponsors can be asked to offer a prize a gift certificate or exclusive access to a lounge area.
- Social media integration sustainability: in this situation, attendees are encouraged to take photos of themselves wearing their badges and using a specific event hashtag at the sponsor stand. You could offer a prize for the most creative or engaging photo or have it as a bit of fun. Equally, you could see other ways delegates might use their lanyards for post-event. Mine makes a very good car key holder. This can increase brand exposure for the sponsor and generate buzz on social media.
- Interactive lanyards: rather than just having the lanyard carry the badge you could use a multi-purpose lanyard that doubles as a pocket for business cards or phone-holder. Furthermore, the badges or lanyards could have built-in icebreakers or conversation starters printed on them. Here is a list of 48 icebreaker ideas
- Content creation: this is a variation of the gamification idea where attendees can scan a QR code on their badges to access exclusive content, like downloadable white papers, industry reports, or event presentations. This will provide value to attendees and generate leads for the sponsor.
- Networking facilitation: in this situation, you use the lanyard and or badge to incorporate features that help with networking. This could include lanyards with color-coded sections that indicate attendees' areas of interest or seniority level, or lanyards with writable sections where attendees can write the problem they want to solve from their attendance. This can spark conversations and make introductions easier.
By implementing these ideas with some planning and collaboration with your sponsors, you can create a more interactive and memorable experience for the sponsor and attendees at your events, all without a significant increase in budget.
