As an event organizer looking at the cost-effectiveness of your marketing dollars, you are often faced with the critical decision: should I create a dedicated app for my event or rely on a mobile-friendly website? While both options have their merits, event apps offer a range of benefits that go far beyond what a mobile site can deliver. Let’s explore why an app is often the better choice for event engagement and success, and how Grandstand Apps can make this choice easier and more effective for your event.
1. Seamless User Experience
Apps are designed for mobile devices, offering a smoother, faster, and more intuitive experience when your guests are on-site at the event. Mobile websites depend on browsers and connectivity, apps provide quick and easy access to event information. In addition, an app offers the opportunity to only serve up those information sections that are specific to your on-site event. In addition, the annoying "cookie" requests from websites are not popping up on the user's device, leading to a greater sense of security and less annoyance for your guests.
At Grandstand Apps, we specialize in creating custom event apps that ensure a seamless user experience. Features like quick-load schedules, interactive maps, and easy-to-navigate interfaces help attendees get the information they need at the tap of a button, without frustration or delays while they try to manipulate through the large amount of information shared on a website, which often must include multiple types of information.
2. Personalized Engagement
An app enables event organizers to engage with attendees on a more personal level. Through features like push notifications and customized updates, attendees can receive real-time alerts about schedule changes, vendor promotions, or event highlights tailored to their preferences.
Grandstand offers powerful tools for these types of personalized engagement, allowing organizers to send targeted push notifications, in-app messages, and offers ways for your users to build their own customized personal itinerary & favorites list. In addition, an app will allow you and your vendors or sponsors to offer exclusive deals for app-users.
3. Offline Functionality
One of the biggest benefits of an app is the ability to work offline. Even in areas with poor Wi-Fi or no internet connection, attendees can still access essential event information like schedules, maps, and session details.
With Grandstand Apps, offline functionality is built into the app, ensuring that even when internet access is spotty, attendees stay informed. This is crucial for large-scale events where reliable Wi-Fi isn’t always available or events in rural or secluded areas without access to cellular or Wi-Fi networks. The Grandstand app ensures that your attendees can always access the information they need, regardless of network issues.
4. Enhanced Features and Integration
Apps leverage the full capabilities of a smartphone, like GPS, camera access, and calendar integration. These features enhance the attendee experience with real-time navigation, social media sharing, interactive maps, and more.
Grandstand Apps integrates advanced features like GPS-based maps, photo sharing, and scheduling features directly into the app. Our platform also allows for custom integration like location-based alerts or confirmation of location when completing a scavenger hunt.
5. Brand Presence and Recognition
When users download your event app, it becomes a part of their mobile experience. Every time they see your app icon, it’s a subtle reminder of your brand. With a mobile website, this constant visibility is lost, as users must manually search for the site.
Grandstand ensures your brand is always front and center by creating custom-branded apps with your event logo and colors. In addition to being a reminder of the brand, you can further your brand recognition with limitless customization of the design, colors, images, and more. Plus, your notifications can send reminders to return to the app for things like artist lineup announcements, schedule releases, or updates to tickets information.
6. Monetization Opportunities
Event apps can open new revenue streams through sponsored content, ads, and exclusive deals. In addition, apps provide valuable insights into user behavior, helping you refine and maximize your event’s monetization potential.
Grandstand Apps provides multiple monetization options for your event. From offering in-app advertising and sponsorship opportunities to facilitating ticket sales and exclusive event offers, Grandstand helps you maximize your event’s earning potential. Their analytics tools also give you deep insights into how attendees are interacting with the app, enabling you to refine your strategies for future events.
7. Real-Time Feedback and Engagement
With an app, collecting real-time feedback from attendees is simple. In-app surveys and polls allow for dynamic interaction, making it easier to adjust and improve the event experience on the fly.
Grandstand’s apps offer easy-to-use tools for gathering feedback during the event. You can embed polls and surveys, allowing for immediate feedback and insights. This lets you adapt to attendee preferences and make real-time adjustments to enhance the event experience. In addition, our analytics tools in the Admin allows you to monitor search terms to ensure the items your guests are searching for are identified well in the app.
Conclusion
While mobile websites can be useful for basic engagement, an event app offers a richer, more personalized experience that can significantly enhance the success of your event. From faster load times and offline functionality to personalized engagement and enhanced features, an app puts the power of your event directly into the hands of your attendees.
With Grandstand Apps, creating a custom, fully-featured app for your event has never been easier. Whether you need seamless user experiences, offline functionality, or powerful engagement tools, Grandstand is here to help you make your event stand out.
New