17 Proven Event Engagement Tips to Boost Interaction at Your Next Event

Last week, I hosted a small community event, and guess what the dress code was? Pajamas!

The dress code may seem a little informal, but the engagement? It was off the charts. Honestly, it may have ev en outshone the “suits-only” event I ran last month.

The learning?

People don’t remember what you said or what they wore; they remember how you made them feel.

Be it a virtual webinar that you attend with shorts on or a professional corporate event, the goal is the same: boost participation, conversation, and connection. Once you nail the strategies to do so, your attendees won’t just show up but will stick around, talk about it, and come back for more.

What is Event Engagement?

Event engagement refers to the interaction, participation, and emotional connection that attendees have during an event. Engagement doesn’t count for the number of people just showing up, but for the ones who actually engaged with the event and felt connected.

High engagement makes your event stick. It gets people talking about your brand, keeps them coming back, and yes… even boosts your ROI. In plain terms: if attendees remember it, rave about it, and return next time, you’ve nailed it.

For B2B marketers, event engagement strategy isn’t just a “nice metric”; it’s the thing that separates memorable events from those that just exist in an inbox somewhere. The events that nail a real connection get repeat attendees and a fan base, not just a spreadsheet full of names.

That’s why it becomes essential for marketers and event organizers to master event engagement tips that consistently lead to a memorable event.

Pre-Event Engagement Ideas

Before your event begins, the experience has already started in your audience’s mind. Here’s how to turn anticipation into action with smart event engagement ideas:

1. Create a Custom Hashtag That Sparks Conversations

Create custom hashtags for your event and don’t just slap them on banners for decoration; actually use them. Drop it into invites, the event page, and all your socials. Get speakers, sponsors, and even HRs using it. Pair it with taggbox social walls, and watch your attendees build a mini online club before day one.

2. Start the Conversation Early

Don’t wait until your first slide is on screen – by then, half the crowd is already scrolling through LinkedIn or checking their inbox. Start chatting with them early; that’s a solid event engagement strategy that makes people feel involved. Send out quick emails, tease a sneak-peek video, or even drop a cheeky poll or two. Give people something fun to do before day one so they already feel like they’re “in” on it. You can also display audience engagement right on your website or registration page using a social wall. People get excited about an event when they feel like they’re part of it.

3. Make Your Event Accessible for All

Accessibility isn’t the “nice-to-have” box to tick; it’s step one. Have translations, captions, ramps, and assistive tech ready to go. If some attendees are tuning in virtually, give them proper real-time subtitles. Make it easy for everyone, and they’ll actually stick around.

4. Understand Your Audience

Pre-event surveys aren’t just spreadsheets for your intern’s hard drive; they’re actual gold. Ask what people want, how they want it, and if they need any special setup. Use this info to make the agenda feel tailor-made. You’d be surprised how much “we care” can be worth in attendee loyalty points. Moreover, you can also share attendees’ posts around the event on your social wall to showcase what they are excited about. A personalized approach is one of the simplest yet most effective event engagement tips for loyalty and retention.

5. Communicate Like a Pro

Go everywhere they are: email, SMS, push notifications, social DMs if you’re feeling bold. Drop countdowns to create urgency, early-bird perks for the FOMO crowd, and little social sneak peeks to spark curiosity. You should also highlight user-generated content or feature shoutouts on a social wall. Remember, you’re basically building hype until opening day loud enough for the neighbors to hear.

6. Choose the Right Event Engagement Software

Not all event engagement tools are created equal. Sure, there’s Bizzabo, Eventify, or Cvent, they’ve got polls, social walls, games, and networking features. It helps turn your event engagement strategy into real-time conversation.

But here’s the thing: features don’t always create connection. That’s where Social Walls stands out. It doesn’t just keep people busy; it pulls them in. Real posts, real reactions, real voices, all showing up live on one screen.

So, don’t just pick the sparkliest one; pick the one that fits. Right tool + right crowd = them remembering your event long after the coffee’s gone cold. Now that you have generated the pre-buzz, let’s see what event engagement tips to follow during the event.

Turn Pre-Event Hype into Real Connections

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Real-Time Event Engagement Ideas

Alright, so you’ve nailed your pre-event buzz. Now comes the tricky part — keeping that energy alive during the actual event. Let’s be honest, no one wants to sit through another dull session. Here are some event engagement tips to keep your audience awake, curious, and maybe even smiling.

1. Bring in a Great Host

A good host is like espresso for your event, keeps things lively, sharp, and flowing. Whether it’s in-person or hybrid, pick someone who can handle both the stage and the screen. A fun emcee knows how to throw in quick reactions, read the room, and make even the awkward silence sound intentional.

2. Make the Audience Part of the Story

Events get dull when it’s just one-way chatter. Use social walls, polls, or live Q&As to get people jumping in with their opinions (even the bold ones), a great event engagement strategy always includes participation. A few spicy questions or on-the-spot votes can turn quiet viewers into active participants. Doesn’t matter if it’s hybrid or virtual event, what matters is people feeling like their voice actually counts.

3. Use a Live Hashtag Wall

A live hashtag wall is a must-have engagement centerpiece for modern events. It pulls in posts, photos, and videos shared under your event hashtag across platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok — and displays them dynamically on big screens or event apps. This not only encourages attendees to share more content but also gives sponsors organic visibility and one of the most powerful event engagement ideas to turn your crowd into contributors. Each time someone sees their post featured live, it sparks excitement, boosting participation naturally.

4. Gamify the Experience

Gamification isn’t just trendy jargon. Set up mini contests, digital photo booths, or leaderboards to reward interaction. Also, make sure you showcase these activity interactions on your digital screen in real-time. Everyone loves to see their names on the big screen, consequently, engagement increases.

5. Create Space for Connection

Not every minute needs to be packed with noise. Give your audience breaks, real ones, to chat, snack, or just think. That’s often when the best connections happen. While they unwind, throw in some attendee shoutouts or behind-the-scenes snaps on the display. It keeps the vibe warm, human, and connected, without pushing interaction. Sometimes, the most genuine engagement happens when you simply let it.

6. Measure and Adapt in Real Time

Don’t wait till the end to figure out if people were bored. Use your event app to track polls, participation, and dwell time. If engagement dips, tweak it then and there. That’s what a real event engagement strategy looks like: responsive, human, and a little bit brave.

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Post-Event Engagement Ideas

Okay, so the event’s done, now don’t just ghost everyone. Real engagement happens after the final thank you. Here are some no-fluff event engagement ideas to keep your crowd hooked beyond the closing slide.

1. Express Gratitude

Send thank-you emails, or even handwritten notes to attendees, speakers, and yes the tech heroes who saved the day. It’s not just politeness; people remember how you made them feel. It builds emotional recall — the heart of all strong event engagement strategies.

2. Ask for Feedback (Don’t Be Shy)

Surveys and feedback aren’t just some tiring paperwork that you can ignore. They’re essential to make the next event less meh and more wow. Plus, asking makes attendees feel like their opinion actually matters, even if they’re brutally honest. Using tools like Social Walls for creating a digital wall allows you to get instant event feedback through snap-up features where attendees can just scan and post about the event.

3. Show Off the Best Moments

Share pics, videos, and the stuff from your social wall. People love to relive the good bits or brag about being featured in that hilarious photo. Spread these on socials or emails, and keep those good vibes rolling.

4. Keep the Chat Going

Don’t let conversations die. Use event hashtags, Facebook groups, or whatever platform your crowd likes. It’s the online equivalent of “Hey, let’s grab coffee next week.”

5. Talk About Your Next Event

Use testimonials, social proof, and early-bird perks to kickstart the buzz. People hate missing out, so give them a sneak peek at what’s coming and how they can jump in.

Don’t Let Event Engagement End at Goodbye

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Event Management Made Simple with Social Walls

When executed properly, what may seem like a normal event to the absentees can be a lifelong experience for the attendees. After all, it’s not impossible to curate an event that everyone engages with- you just need the right event engagement strategy that turn every moment into a meaningful connection.

Just follow the event engagement tips properly and partner with the right social wall solution. Social Walls helps you show off attendee content in real time, make things interactive for the guests, and keep the conversation alive, all in all, turning a one-day event into a lasting memory.