Guest Author: Samantha Whitehorne, Associations Now
Like new employees, first-time conference attendees will benefit from a smooth and successful onboarding experience. Some ideas for building an attendee onboarding strategy that will turn first-timers into long-timers.
I’ve had onboarding on my mind for the past few days for two reasons: one, because we have a new editor joining the Associations Now team next week, and two, because ASAE is in the process of implementing a new employee orientation and onboarding process—and our newbie will be one of the first to go through it.
As you know, how a new employee is treated and welcomed during those first days can make or break his or her experience. A smooth and well-thought-out onboarding experience will leave them feeling prepared and excited, while a poorly executed welcome is sure to give them pause and may even lead them to second-guess why they joined your team.
And for those of you planning and executing conferences, you should handle onboarding new attendees like you do new employees. The right strategy will not only make newbies feel welcome but also encourage them attend again next year.
What should your attendee onboarding strategy include? Here are three ideas to consider:
