How to use push notifications in your event’s App

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What would you think if you could send instant messaging to all attendees at your event?, and what if you could do it before, during and after the event?

Push notifications allow event organizers to send messages to attendees who have installed event’s app on their devices. We always talk about native applications because notifications are sent through Markets, Apple App Store and Google Play.

Any event professional can imagine countless uses to this feature, before, during and after the event.

With evenTwo we have had enough experience and next we can present some ideas of how to use push notifications:

  • Before the event:

    • Reminders.- For example the time and event’s place, asking attendees to sign up with the App…

    • Announcements.- Last minute changes.

  • During the event:

    • Changes in rooms, delays…, any information that may be helpful to attendees.

    • Promotions, contests, polls, surveys…, information that improves interaction with attendees.

  • After the event:

    • Satisfaction survey notification.

    • Upcoming events.

    • New documentation available on the App…

As you see there are many possibilities to use push notifications but our experience gives us two simple tips:

  • No abuse of notifications.

  • Try the information will always be helpful or interesting to attendees.

Any comments are welcome, at this time we realized that who better knows his attendees is event organizer and is who can best handle this feature. How would you use push notifications in your event mobile App?

Your event App, native or web?

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Any event organizer understands the advantages of mobile applications for their events. But, is it better a mobile application or a web application?

You can obtain almost the same features in a native mobile application as in a mobile Web, but which from a browser in case of mobile Webs. When we talk about event’s mobile Web application we mean an app that runs in the browser but is fully adapted to the event, not the event that the Website is accessible from mobile.

Next we will list the main advantages and disadvantages of each of them and our experience with evenTwo:

Mobile Web App for events

Advantages

  1. A Mobile Web App for events could be accessible from Android, iOS operating systems, but also Blackberry, Windows Mobile and others. This would be the main advantage.

  2. You can store the event data when you first walk using HTML5 features. Work offline, but is too small storage such speakers would not fit images or maps.

Disadvantages

  1. The application runs in a browser, which does not have the same response as a native application.

  2. You can not receive push notifications (instant messaging).

  3. Not in the Markets, it has to be accessed from a URL to access the application.

Native App for events

Advantages

  1. It can be found in the Markets, which helps in the promotion and visibility of the event, it’s easier to find and gives a better image of organizer.

  2. If the App is well designed and following design patterns of each operating system, is easy to use for the attendee as it works similarly to any application on his device.

  3. The response speed is much better than a mobile web app running on the operating system itself and not through a browser.

  4. You can receive push notifications, something very interesting to the organizers before, during and after the event, as we mentioned in a previous article.

Disadvantages

The main problem is you have to develop an app per platform, so the attendees should have the same operating system on their devices that you have developed.

  1. When installed on the device takes up space, which is difficult for users who have little storage space. It is important to develop not heavy apps.

Conclusions Native App vs. Web App

We have been for more than a year creating Apps for events. On each project we create native Apps for iOS and Android and a mobile Web with storage for other devices.

To take one recent example, in november 2013 we created “EBE 2013” apps. There were more than 1.000 downloads between different apps but only 4% used mobile Web. With this information we know that users really prefer native apps but it’s important to give access to any attendee to your event’s App regardless of their devices.

evenTwo 2.0 new features

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This post describes the new features developed in evenTwo during the last quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2014. Mainly we opted for tools to promote networking between attendees and the possibility to have multiple events in the same app.

6 is a platform to create mobile apps for events, conferences and congresses.

Next are detailed improvements made already available in different evenTwo plans:

Multi-event 

We have developed a new evenTwo version with multi-event features. It means that now we can create an app with multiple events with all their corresponding data. In the same way, now we will able to send push notifications to all users who have been downloaded app or only for users who have been used one single event.

You can download an evenTwo multi-event sample app in your iOS or Android device.

Messaging between attendees 

To encourage interaction with the app and networking between attendees we have created a feature that allows sending messages between attendees. From the attendee screen and being logged in the app, you will be able to send messages to another attendee.

Conversation wall 

As messages between users, to encourage networking between attendees we have developed the possibility to have a conversation wall for the entire app or linked to each session. The way of working of this feature is similar to an internal social network that allows users registered in the app watching comments of other attendees and send their own comments.

Surveys

evenTwo allows surveys creation in app. In the same app could be created multiple surveys with their own date allowed to send. The types of questions allowed are text, range of values, list of values and yes or not.

Survey results could be viewed in a graphical way in evenTwo Backend and can be downloaded to analyze them in a spreadsheet.

New speakers screen 

We have redesigned the detail screen of a speaker to enhance appearance and how speakers social networks are shown. Now you can also share information on external social networks from this screen.

Add to device calendar and social share 

We have created new features on agenda sessions. Now, moreover to add to favourites an agenda item, users will be able to create and event in their own device agenda. That means that in their own agenda they will have events with corresponding session information.

Also in speakers and agenda users could share information to social media sites.

You can download an updated evenTwo sample app in your iOS or Android device.

evenTwo new features – Instant voting and live audience participation

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Recently we talked about evenTwo new features as Multi-event version, messaging between attendees, conversation wall or surveys. We continue advancing with other features to improve relationship between all event’s stakeholders. For example we have developed the possibility to insert videos even watching video streaming.

So now we’re back with a new feature ti perform live feedback and encourage audience participation.

The main idea is to replace the famous voting keypads, a technology that is no longer needed and also had very high costs. Now most people have a smartphone that can replace that device. But how does it work?.

It’s simple, from the evenTwo backend tool you can create different voting tracks (so you can have simultaneous voting in different sessions). The tracks can be defined as public or private (user registration required). Once created tracks questions can be created and associated with an App icon or a specific session. Questions can be programmed or launch live, have a response time and can also determine if the user will see the graphical results on the screen of his device or the speaker will show them in a large screen. The vote can be terminated manually by the administrator without waiting for the response time is consumed.

What if the attendee doesn’t have smartphone?, or he doesn’t installed the app?, will not be able to vote?. Each room has their own URL voting accessible from any browser, so he should not need to access from the app.

Here is a video with the process:

Click here to access to HQ version of this video

Now that we know how works evenTwo live polls, what are the uses of this feature?. Instant voting have a lot of uses in an event, from a vote to choose between candidates up just for the speaker to assess the live audience response to certain topics, improving communication and interaction with attendees.

We will return soon with amazing new features in evenTwo.

An App for corporate events and incentive travels?

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evenTwo was born more than a year ago as a platform to create Apps for events, conferences and congresses.

One thing that we didn’t think was to use this platform to create Apps for incentive trips, corporate events or business meetings, but the market has introduced us closer to these events.

Since we launched evenTwo have been many companies that have trusted us and we have requested for Apps for these types of events, including several pharmaceutical companies such as Astellas Pharma and large companies in other sectors as Mapfre or Telefónica.

But how can an App be useful in this kind of event?

Really the operation of Apps developed withevenTwo for incentive trips and corporate events is different from the Apps we create for conventional events and conferences, why?, because the main objective here is focused on attendee service.

 What differences are there between Apps for other public events and incentive trips?:

  • Privacy and security.- In an App for corporate events like an incentive trip the security and data privacy are very important. Only attendees could have access to data. For this reason only attendees will have user and pasword to download event data, moreover login process is protected with SSL and other security measures.

  • Attendee service.- Service information is essential for users in this kind of events. The App is focused on useful content for user / traveler, besides the agenda we can set flight information, information about restaurants and hotels, sitting in gala dinners, dress code…

  • Communication.- One of the attractions in this type of Apps is to be able to communicate with the whole group. There are three types of communication, from the event organizer to attendees, among the attendees themselves and attendees to the organizer. The event organizer can send push notifications (IM type) to attendees at any time, which is useful for any change or notice. In addition, attendees can send private messages to others. Moreover we can configure a conversation wall where attendees can post comments, upload photos, vote comments from other. Finally, you can configure satisfaction surveys and feedback instantaneous communication from the attendees.

  • Gamification.- You can also add gamification features in this type of incentive trips and corporate events to liven up the experience and motivate attendees.

And what if during the journey we have no connection?, if no connection can not access to communication features, but the rest of functionalities.

Truly this is an application that had not thought at any moment for evenTwo, but so far being incredible experiences and with excellent valuations of attendees.

You can download a trial version of what would be an incentive trip and see how it works:

Apple

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/expansoft-ny-incentive/id942073502

Android

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.eventwo.expansoftincentive

User is demo@eventwo.com and password is incentivo.

evenTwo Guide, the App for professional events

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Today we officially launch evenTwo Guide. What is evenTwo Guide?, is another way to have an App for your event, conference or congress, at lower cost.

With with evenTwo we develop fully customized Apps for events, conferences and congresses. We work with clients such as Telefonica, SAP, Orange, Mapfre, Dircom… and our Apps are used in large events, for example in the Madrid Management & Business Summit, ECR Forum Moscow….

What is? 

And what is evenTwo Guide?. Is an application that anyone can publish his professional event for free. This is a unique App where attendees can find the event that are attending and download to their devices.

If the event has advanced features (Premium) as conversation wall, list of attendees, messages between participants …, the attendee can register or logging with LinkedIn to access them.

evenTwo Guide is available in Apple App Store and Google Play.

Why? 

We have developed evenTwo Guide seeking two things:

  • We want that professional events without sponsorship or with little assistance may also have an App for their event for free or at low cost.

  • A quick way to have your event information in one app on the same day, without waiting for periods of Apple or Google Play for publication.

This does not mean we will stop creating custom apps for events, many of our clients want to have their own app in the app stores for their attendees to give them and experience completely customized.

How does it work? 

Operation is simple. First you have to register on our platform, is free and gives you access to our backend to create your events. Once registered, you can create your event and add the corresponding information. You will see that our backend is very simple and intuitive, but if in doubt, you can contact us.

To test how is working the information you enter you can do so by clicking on “Preview” will give you a code that you need to enter in the app on your device for viewing.

Once ready, clicking on “Publish”, appear in the list of events of Apps and you can send a mailing to your attendees saying that the event app is available. They will be able to look for your event or enter the corresponding code.

If you want premium features, here you will find different plans that has evenTwo Guide and included features for each one. In the Backend you will be able to see further information and also buy directly for your event, paying by credit card or PayPal.

What are you waiting for?, create an App for your event with evenTwo Guide.

evento Days 2015 App results

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After the EIS 2014 and MIS 2015, this is the third time that Grupo Eventoplus confidentevenTwo to develop the App for their events. In this case is evento Days, the main events showroom in Spain. Always a pleasure for us as our best sales tool is that users try our Apps.

This event was the first in which we have put in place Beacons integration, thanks to integration of evenTwo with TapTap. This allowed features such as sending notifications to App users passing through a particular location, or have an online heat map of where moved in the venue. In addition, the App contains all the information of the event, Networking features among participants, polls and surveys.

After more than a month since evento Days 2015 we’ve finally had time to gather information of App usage. Here we go with App statistics and a brief analysis of each metric:

Downloads

The App had 540 downloads, 271 in iOS and 269 in Android. Curious that are so close both platforms downloads.

Normally, even in Spain there are almost 90% of Android devices and 8% of iOS devices, in most professional events more than 60% of users work with iOS and 40% with Android. This difference usually occurs because the iOS user is more likely to download apps that the Android user, and professional users use more Apple products than the average user.

As we see in evento Days and other events in the last year, this trend is matching.

Attendees

Of the 540 downloads, 288 users were logged with LinkedIn or registered, 53% of the total amount. Users who didn’t login could not access private areas of the App, as comments wall, list of participants or messages between participants. We understand that 47% was not registered because the app is downloaded for public functions, such as the agenda, speakers and event information, and had no interest in the private areas.

Normally the percentage of the total number of registered users downloads usually exceed 80%, but it certainly depends on the type of event and the interest that users have to interact with other participants.

Networking

With 288 registered users, Networking features usage was as follows:

  • 192 Wall Posts conversation.

  • 35 photos shared by users in the App.

  • 340 private messages between participants.

Usage statistics

With evenTwo we are able to know which screens within the App users have passed. We have a complete statistics module allowing the organizer to know what points have aroused more interest in users.

Some of these metrics are extremely interesting for conference organizers, and that tell them for example about how many times you’ve seen the sponsors brand. Below are the most relevant:

  • The main screen of the app, in addition to access to the main features, was the sponsors carousel, was viewed 8,425 times.

  • The event’s agenda was consulted 3,353 times.

  • Comment Wall was consulted 1,966 times.

  • The list of attendees was consulted 1,936 times.

  • The list of exhibitors was consulted 1,775 times.

  • The list of sponsors was consulted 730 times.

  • Users added to its agenda sessions 643 times.

With Beacons integration that with we developed with TapTap for evento Days, we are able to know where users moved within the event, generating a heat map that was available online by the App.

The Beacons detected devices with App 1,402 times, the hottest point of the place was the entrance area, as shown in the heat map.