Here's What You'll Need from an App for Conferences in 2024 (plus 8 options) |
In the past year, a number of members of the Mighty Team went to Craft and Commerce, ConvertKit's annual conference held in Boise, Idaho. The highlight was the experience we had using the app for conference!
The market for event apps is growing, with over 72% of conference organizers saying that apps were crucial to the success of a recent conference. The research conducted by G2 found that 65percent of event organizers are planning to make use of a conference app for things like check-ins, AI and QR codes or even VR experiences.
In this post this article, we'll draw on both our knowledge and experiences to talk about the elements that make a good conference app. We'll cover:
- What makes a great conference application.
- How to choose the best mobile conference application.
- 10 of the top conference apps.
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What exactly is an app for conferences?
Conference apps provide an immersive experience similar to an event that is live, or hybrid. The first iterations of these apps consisted of calendars for conferences that were mobile. Since the development of technology, conference apps have evolved to include more features to serve members-things like managing members' tickets, ticketing and more dynamic calendars.
But a modern conference app extends beyond a simple schedule. We can use tech to make conferences better. Engaging. More successful.
A conference app can be a software program that
- Helps attendees find and connect with life-changing people.
- allows attendees to develop new content, and then add it to the events.
- Takes care of payment, registrations, and tickets.
- The conference is delivered via the own app with your logo.
What we have learned at a meeting through our app
Boise, Idaho was baking during the summer heat. When the conference started, we felt the excitement. It was a great conference with amazing keynote speakers such as Ali Abdaal and Cody Sanchez as well as a talk on starting a million-dollar community by our CEO Gina Bianchini.
The magic of the event came from an amazing lineup of speakers, an amazing venue, and most importantly-300plus amazing artists who gathered together to make it happen. You know. This is the stuff that every conference requires.
But behind the scenes there was a different thing going on:
- Chat in the conference app had been exploding in "strategic selfies" (speaker John Meese suggested that we use the pictures")
- The attendees were organising posts, organising, and even hosting their own amazing gatherings to discuss things such as white-water rafting, running or the sunrise canyon hike (for people who can manage the early morning wake awake).
- Creators were sharing the projects they had been working on, or asking for help-and the mobile conference app was filling up with responses!
- When you walk around Boise's town, you'll find new friends grabbing lunch in one of the many great Boise dining establishments (and it's likely that this included potatoes in some form).
And the app helped this happen!
The app for conference wasn't only for scheduling and ticketing. It was a dynamic virtual conference that took place alongside the real one. Sure the app was populated with the conference basics and was extremely helpful!
However, it was participants who helped make the app for conference come to life with stories, pictures asking for help and ideas for everything from business ideas to gluten-free dining options located in Boise.
This is what helped it function to such a degree. This is what you need to be looking for when using a conference application.
What to look for in conference apps
- A conference schedule (obviously) However, there are also RSVPs and engagement with sessions within the application.
- Fantastic communication tool to use for sending messages, emailing attendees , and answering support questions or issues.
- The tools for connecting attendees to one another: for example, rich profiles, social links, chat & messages. The true magic of an app for conferences is that attendees can find and meet virtual connections and spill onto the real world.
- Features for unleashing attendee creativity. Allow attendees to make content, upload images, write short or long-form texts, upload videos and even have questions. Once the participants engage in the app-without you having to do anything, it can increase the worth of your conference. The momentum will keep up until the next event.
- Tickets, payment, and registration. If your application supports the backend for your event, be sure that you are able to collect payment as well as track lists of members and connect members after.
- Simple building, hosting, and supporting It shouldn't take your whole team long to build an application for conferences off the ground, and running beautifully.
The things we loved which worked with the application
As we think about the factors that made our mobile conference app successful, here's what we loved:
- Attendees organically shared the notes they took during sessions via the feeds for discussion that are specifically set up.
- Live icebreakers which led to users using the app to meet people IRL (ie. "Find people who are the same height as you and snap a photo of them ).
- Local Boiseans (is this right?) hosting meet-ups in conjunction with some of their favorite local eateries and outings. (The Karaoke session was the highlight. )
- The running chat in the days before, during, and following the conference continues to give. As an example, Natalie Parmenter (the creator of Primary Focus), gave the shoutout above after fellow members helped make her launch a success!
- ConvertKit has opened recording and studio spaces for people to drop in and record media. (If you're ever in Boise, you can schedule your time to stop by and use them for free! )
The top mobile conference app options
1. Mighty Pro
the best app for conference participation. application
Mighty Pro builds conference apps deployed on G2's top-rated community management system. Mighty is an application that has more than $1 million of communities than the rest, and this includes amazing conferences.
Mighty Pro has been building applications with a brand name since. The app portfolio includes more than 400 branded apps that are designed by brands and creators like Tony Robbins, TED, Mel Robbins, Marie Forleo, Jim Kwik, and Matthew Hussey.
What can you do do using Mighty Pro.
Interactive scheduling
Mighty allows you to create an interactive conference schedule for attendees to interact with. The landing page can be created for specific sessions, and participants are able to RSVP and communicate or chat during the conference. Members will be able to see who will be attending the session and connect.
And of course you are able to make direct livestreams of the session and/or post session videos on the appropriate Spaces following.
Member Engagement Similar to None Other
Mighty is the top community management program for community management on G2 for years, and that's not because of "features."
You go to a conference to get acquainted with people, don't you? That's why Mighty has built in the tools to make this happen! Each attendee will be prompted to write a biography. They could utilize AI to create one if they're not able to.
The software produces interactive lists of member profiles that can be sorted by interest, activity, or even geography. The ability to fly out profiles of members helps you find interesting people, and the AI engine will even inform that you share something in common, and even start conversations.
Community after the conference
Mighty offers more content options than just the basics of a conference, however. This is why it's the ideal platform to keep community going over and above the conference.
Spaces is customizable using 8 core functions: activity feeds chat members, tables of contents (for the course) or events, pages, one event, or a hashtag. Here are some ways that Mighty Hosts are currently using these features after a conference:
- Regional gatherings that are hosted by supermembers.
- Re-cutting the conference materials into a virtual course or another learning experience.
- Continuing to post posts on topics that your members want to know about.
- Introducing themes, tickets venues and more. for the next conference and building buzz.
- A livestream or virtual event in between conference calls.
Mighty is really good at keeping the engagement and conversation going beyond the event, if you're interested.
The conference is running
In terms of running the conference, Mighty can handle payments across 135 currencies. The app can offer different tiers and bundles, aswell being able to control who is able to use which parts of the application.
And Mighty has analytics you won't find anywhere else. They provide the data that you require to understand what worked and what wasn't, as well as to identify which members devoted the most time and effort, and to analyze the conference's revenue.
Apps for conferences with brand names
If you'd like your conference application to be featured in the App Store and Google Play Store under your company name, this is the way to go.
Here are a few of the best parts of Mighty Pro:
- The support for branding and splash screens, notifications branding and app best practices
- App submissions
- Integrates with ConvertKit's professional plans (up to 10,000 users).
- Assistance from community strategists who will help you make your event a hit both in attendance and revenue as well as how to build an event community that operates its own.
With the latest insights from 400+ companies with 6- and 7-figure revenues, we'll show you not only how to meet your goals, but exceed those goals.
It is possible to find out more about Mighty Pro by clicking here.
or, if you're still not ready to launch a branded conference app yet it's possible to get started with no cost.
2. Accelevents
Branded conference management app
Accelevents Conference app provides the tools to register and check-in to the conference, accessing the conference program and creating a personal schedule. It has smart features, such as live streaming, as well as a virtual exhibit hall, it is able to manage hybrid or live conferences.
Accelevents offers member management tools like profiles and bios that can assist attendees in connecting and finding their way to each other. And on the day of the event you are able to do check-ins or print badges. You can even run challenges and polls within the app.
A drawback is the fact that Accelevents users have encountered issues dealing with the management of break rooms. This is great for running the conference. It's just not as powerful when it comes to connecting participants.
Accelevents has features
- Apps with branding to manage your conference registrations along with badge printing as well as your conference schedule.
- Certain in-app network and connection options such as livestreaming, QR scans, virtual sponsorship tables and polls
3. Swapcard
Fantastic Conference Management App
Swapcard is a cool concept as a conference software packed with great features. As with Accelevents, Swapcard is good at managing a conference schedule. Participants can print badges and scan QR codes and design a agenda using their RSVPs.
It is a great platform for sponsors to promote their content as well, creating places for sponsorship content Chats, meetings, and chats management.
However, the best feature of Swapcard is designed to facilitate networking. With its attendee profile and a network-friendly UX to search for and message potential contacts or leads (plus connections to social networks), Swapcard is great for introductions.
Swapcard has features
- Conference app (with branded options) for managing registrations and badges as well as access management
- A feed for discussion Event guide, customized suggestions, session ratings, and livestreaming
- Tools for network communication: AI matchmaking, profiles and messages
4. Stova
Stova (formerly Aventri & Meetingplay) is a scheduling and management system that is suitable for conferences. It is crucial to note that Stove does not offer branded apps (you can host your conference through the Stova app).
Stova was designed for online events and provides some fascinating options for conferences. Its most notable features include conference delivery: breakout rooms, livestreaming, as well as chat. In addition, it has a 1:1 networking scheduler that is an excellent instrument.
Stova also offers some features that are good for organizing and planning events, including the ability to send out emails and budgeting for conferences.
Stova includes
- Good virtual-first conference app including livestreaming, breakouts and networking rooms, as well as the virtual lobby
- Event planning as well as event marketing tools: emails and budgeting
5. Bevy
Bevy started as an app to manage online and in-person events but it recently shifted into community events. This is great for coordinating a conference, with registration, check-in, ticketing and management of lists. You can host a virtual conference too with virtual meetups, chats, webinars, and recordings. It also has an option for discussion. Bevy has a drag and drop tool for building webpages and landing pages for event websites.
Bevy is a great online platform however, its community-based features are quite simple. In essence, Bevy hosts forums that offer chat and message options. But these are really quite simple. The platform is not made for the connections that a real community platform gives users.
Bevy features
- Combines events and community together with event management and production of virtual events
- Live engagement features like chat & messaging and forums as well as webinars, meetings, and chat rooms.
- Drag-and-drop page builders for conference pages
6. CVent
CVent is another conference app developed to facilitate virtual events as well as managing events. Similar to other apps on the list, it is able to create conferences websites, sell tickets, and host content. The toolkit for event management is integrated for live events (things such as venue and hotel selections) as well as a webinar-like option for virtual event. In fact, it's probably the best for planning events.
However, CVent has no chat or community options and is not intended for connecting attendees with each other.
CVent is a feature of
- App for running an event. It includes promotional, planning, and "day-of" management options.
7. ON24
ON24 is a basic web-based conference platform that can work as a virtual conference application. There are polls and chat features to go along with the webinar. They've also recently added new features such as breakout sessions and video chats.
with registration, form-building as well as the ability to personalize the conference using the colors, fonts and images of heros It's a great basic application for a virtual conference.
ON24 offers features
- Webinar-based platform that engages capabilities built-in
8. VFairs
VFairs is a virtual and live event application that concentrates on features to manage conferences. Registration for forms, printing badges the ability to check in via QR, maps of venues, and agenda building it's an ideal participant-centric application to help attendees navigate the conference.
VFairs offers branded mobile conference apps as well as onsite help for live conference. You can integrate it with your CRM as well, and VFairs offers important event statistics to help you understand what's working in your conference.
VFairs features
- Registration and ticket printing, badge printing and various other day-of-management tools.
- Platform for hosting virtual events which incorporates networking, gamification along with other presentation options.
Conclusion
We know how amazing a conference can be, helping attendees learn, grow, and make connections lasting for the rest of their lives. A conference is a great opportunity to grow your brand as well, increasing your visibility and improving your profit margins.
A great conference software makes all these possibilities take place!
If you want to find out more information about how to get an individual conference with your own branding and community app, check for Mighty Pro. .