Here's What You'll Need from the Conference App of 2024. (+ 8 Options) |

Aug 30, 2024

This year, several people from the Mighty Team went to Craft and Commerce ConvertKit's annual convention held in Boise, Idaho. The highlight was the experience we had using the conference app!

The event apps market is growing, with over 72% of organizers saying that apps were crucial to the success at a recently held conference. According to G2's study, 65% of organizers plan to use a conference app to facilitate check-ins, AI or QR codes and even virtual reality experiences.


In this post we'll draw from our experience and research to talk about the elements that make a good conference app. We'll cover:


 

  • What makes a great conference app.        
  • What is the best way to select a mobile conference app.        
  • 10 of the most effective conference apps.        


((toc))


What exactly is an app for conferences?


Conference apps provide the virtual experience of an event that is live, or hybrid. Initial versions of apps for conferences were essentially mobile conference schedules. As the technology has evolved the conference app has evolved to include more features to serve members-things like managing members' tickets, ticketing and more dynamic scheduling.


But a modern conference app is more than just a simple timetable. We can use tech to improve the quality of conferences. Engaging. More profitable.


A conference application could refer to software that


 

  • Helps attendees find and connect with life-changing people.        
  • Allows participants to make contents and contribute to the event.        
  • Takes care of payment, registration, as well as tickets.        
  • The conference is delivered via the app that you have created for your company.    


    What we learned from going to a conference using our application


Boise, Idaho was baking during the summer heat. As the conference going, we were able to feel the energy. The conference featured great keynote speakers such as Ali Abdaal and Cody Sanchez, and a session on starting a million-dollar community with our own CEO, Gina Bianchini.


Conference App - CK


The magic of the event came from an amazing lineup of speakers, a stunning venue, and most importantly-300incredible creators that came together for the purpose of making it happen. You know. This is the stuff every conference needs.


But behind the scenes it was more going on:


 

  • The conference app chat became a rage with "strategic selfies" (speaker John Meese suggested that we use the pictures")        
  • Attendees were organizing the event, adding posts and running their own awesome gatherings to discuss things such as white-water rafting, running, or the sunrise canyon hike (for those who are able to take the wake-up call at 5:00 AM to get up).        
  • Creators were sharing the projects they'd been up to, or soliciting help, and the mobile conference app was filling to the top with comments!        
  • While walking around the Boise, you'll see new friends grabbing lunch in some of Boise's best dining establishments (and yes, this probably had potatoes, in some form or another).        


    and the application has made it possible!


The app for conference wasn't only to schedule and manage tickets. It was a dynamic virtual conference that took place along with the actual conference. Sure the app was populated with conference information, which was super helpful!


But it was the attendees who made the conference app come alive with stories, pictures asking for help and suggestions for anything from business concepts to gluten-free eateries in Boise.


This is what helped it function to such a degree. And here's what to look for in a conference app.


What are the signs to look out for in conference apps


 

  • The schedule of conferences (obviously), but also RSVPs as well as session participation within the app.    
  • Excellent communication tools to use for sending messages, emailing attendees , and handling support or questions.      
  • Instruments to connect participants with each other: eg, high-quality profiles, social networks Chat and messages. The real magic that happens in the conference apps is when attendees can find and meet one another on the internet, and then connect out into reality.    
  • Features for unleashing attendee creativity. Let attendees develop content, post photos, build short- or long-form content, share videos, or have questions. When the engagement happens within the app-without your doing anything-it will 10x the impact of your event. And it keeps the momentum going until the next one.    
  • Tickets, payment and registration. If your app is supporting the backend of your event, be sure that you have the ability to take payments and member lists and connect members after.      
  • It's easy to build hosting, hosting and support --it doesn't require a whole team long to build an application for conferences off the ground and looking great.      


One of our favorite things which worked with the app


Natalie Paramenter


When we consider what made our mobile conference application work, here's what we loved:


 

  • Attendees organically shared their notes from sessions in the feeds for discussion that are specifically set up.        
  • Live icebreakers, which resulted in people using the app to meet people offline (ie. "Find someone who's similar to you in height and then take a picture of them ).    
  • Local Boiseans (is it true?) gatherings to discuss their favorite local eateries and excursions. (The Karaoke session was the highlight. )      
  • A chat in the background prior to, during and following the conference will never stop giving. Like, Natalie Parmenter (the creator of Primary Focus), gave this shoutout in the video above, after fellow members helped make her launch a success!    
  • ConvertKit opened studio and recording places for customers to drop by and create videos. (If you're ever visiting Boise and want to make a reservation, you can set an appointment to visit and make use of them free! )    


CK Studios


The most effective mobile conference application options


1. Mighty Pro


    the best app for conference participation. app


Mighty Pro builds conference apps that are hosted on G2's most rated community management system. Mighty is an application that has more than $1 million of communities than any other, including amazing conferences.


Mighty Pro has been building applications with a brand name since. It has a portfolio of 400+ brand-name apps designed for brands and creators like Tony Robbins, TED, Mel Robbins, Marie Forleo, Jim Kwik, and Matthew Hussey.


MN - Graphics - 2024 - Conference Apps


What can you do accomplish using Mighty Pro.


Interactive scheduling


Mighty allows you to create an interactive schedule that your guests can interact with. The landing page can be created for specific sessions, and participants can RSVP and even chat or message in the meeting. Participants can check out who will be attending the session and even connect.


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Of course, you can create livestreams that stream directly to the audience or post videos from the session to the relevant Spaces after.


CC Gif


Membership Engagement Like No Other


Mighty has been the #1 community management application for community management on G2 for a long time, and it's not just due to "features."


A conference is a place to meet people, right? and Mighty is equipped with the technology to help make that happen! Everyone who attends is asked to write a biography. They can utilize AI to create one if they're not able to.


From here, the software creates interactive lists of members which can be organized by interest, activity, or even geography. Fly out member profiles help you find interesting people as well as the AI engine will even inform you what you have in common, and even start conversations.


MN - Graphics - 2024 - Profiile + similarities


Community at the end of the conference


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Mighty provides you with more information choices than only conference essentials, but. This is why it's the ideal platform for keeping the community alive beyond the conference.


Spaces is customizable using 8 core options: activity feeds, chat, members, table of contents (for courses) and events. You can also create a page, a single event, or a hashtag. Below are a few ways current Mighty Hosts use these tools after conferences:


 

  •         Hosting regional gatherings that are organized by Supermembers.            
  •         Re-cutting the conference materials into a course online or other learning experience.            
  •         Continue to share posts on topics that your members care about.            
  •         The announcement of themes, tickets, locations as well as other details. to be used for the next conference, and generating excitement.          
  • Running a livestream or virtual event in between live conference sessions.    


MN - Graphics - 2024 - Livestream


Mighty does a great job at keeping the engagement and conversation going beyond the convention- if that's what you're looking for.


The conference is running


In terms of running the conference, Mighty can handle payments across 135 currencies. This can include different tiers and bundles, aswell being able to control who is able to use which parts of the application.


And Mighty comes with data that you can't get elsewhere. This is the information you need to know the things that worked and wasn't, as well as to identify what areas of the conference attendees spent the greatest time and effort, and to determine the revenue generated by conferences.


Mighty Insights Web


Apps for conferences with brand names


If you would like to have your conference app to appear in the App Store and Google Play Store under your brand then this is the route to proceed.


Here are some Highlights of Mighty Pro:


 

  • The support for branding, splash screens, notification branding, and best practice for app development        
  • App submissions        
  • Incorporates ConvertKit's professional plan (up to 10,000 customers).        
  • Help from community strategists who will help you make your event a hit in terms of attendance and revenues as well as how to build an event community that operates itself.        


With the latest insights from 400+ companies with 6- and 7-figure revenues and organizations, we'll help you understand not only how you can meet your objectives, but also surpass those goals.


    It is possible to find out more information about Mighty Pro on this page.


or, if you're still not ready to launch an official conference application You can start by downloading it for free.


SEO Image - Conference Name Generator


2. Accelerated events


    Branded conference management app


accelevents


Accelevents conference application provides the tools to register and check-in to the conference, accessing the program, and building an individual agenda. The app is equipped with smart features such as live streaming and a virtual exhibit booth, it can handle live or hybrid conferences.


Accelevents provides member management tools like bios and profiles to assist attendees in connecting and finding one another. On that day, you can do check-ins as well as print badges and even run challenges and polls within the app.


A drawback is the fact that Accelevents users have encountered issues with managing breakout rooms. This is great for running conferences. It's just not as powerful in linking attendees.


Accelevents offers


 

  • Branded apps for managing the registration for your conferences along with badge printing as well as your conference the schedule.        
  • A few in-app networking and connection options such as livestreaming, QR scanners, virtual sponsors tables, and polls        


3. Swapcard


    Fantastic application for managing conferences


Swapcard -


Swapcard is an innovative idea to create a conference application with some great features built-in. As with Accelevents, Swapcard is good in managing the conference's schedule. Attendees can print badges, scan QR codes, and design a agenda using their RSVPs.


It is a great platform for sponsors to promote their content as well, creating areas for content sponsored by sponsors Chats, meetings, and chats administration.


However, the best feature of Swapcard is for networking. With its attendee profile and a network-friendly UX to find and communicate with possible leads or contacts (plus the ability to integrate with social media profiles), Swapcard is great to make introductions.


Swapcard features


 

  • conference app (with branded options) for managing badges, registrations, and access control        
  • A discussion feed, event guide, personalized suggestions, session ratings, and livestreaming        
  • Tools for networking: AI matchmaking, profiles as well as messaging        


4. Stova


Stova


Stova (formerly Aventri & Meetingplay) is an event planning and management platform which is ideal to organize conferences. It is crucial to note that Stove does not offer branded apps (you can host your conference on the Stova application).


Stova was designed for online events and does give it some interesting characteristics for conference. Its strongest features are the conference delivery: breakout rooms, livestreaming, as well as chat. In addition, it has the ability to schedule 1:1 meetings it is a useful tool.


Stova additionally offers tools that will help you in organizing and planning for an event, such as the use of email marketing for conference planning and budgeting.


Stova includes


 

  • A good virtual-first conference application with livestreaming, breakout and networking rooms, as well as the virtual lobby        
  • Planning conferences and event marketing devices: emails and budgeting      


5. Bevy


Bevy screenshot


Bevy began as an event app for event organizers who wanted to host in-person and virtual events however, it's recently changed into community events. This is great for coordinating a conference, with registration, check-in, ticketing as well as list management. It is also a great tool for hosting a virtual conference too using chats, virtual meetups as well as webinars and recordings, and it has the ability to have discussions. 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 pretty basic. Essentially, Bevy hosts forums that give you chat and messaging capabilities. But these are really quite simple. It's not built for the connections that a real community platform gives you.


Bevy features


 

  • brings community and events in concert with event management, and event virtual production        
  • Live interaction features such as messaging and chat forum, webinars, and meetups        
  • Drag-and-drop conference page builder        


6. CVent


Cvent


CVent is a different conference application designed to facilitate virtual events as well as managing events. Similar to other apps on the list, CVent can build conference websites, sell tickets, as well as host content. It has event organization tools integrated for live events (things like hotel and venue selections) along with a webinar feature for virtual events. Actually, it's the best for planning events.


However, CVent comes with none of the community features or chat functions It's not designed to link attendees to one others.


CVent is a feature of


 

  • Application for managing an event, with promotional, planning, as well as "day-of" control options.        


7. ON24


ON 24


ON24 is a simple online conference system which can function as a virtual conference app. The platform has polls and chat as well as a webcast, and recently added features like breakout sessions, video chats and more.


With registration and form-builder and some ability to customize the conference using colours, fonts, as well as images of heros, it's a good basic application for a virtual conference.


On24 has features


 

  • Webinar platform with engagement capabilities built-in        


8. VFairs


VFairs


VFairs is a digital and live event software that concentrates on features to manage conferences. With registration for forms, printing badges venues maps, QR check-in and agenda creation it's an ideal participant-centric software to assist attendees in navigating the conference.


VFairs provides customized mobile apps for conferences as well as onsite help for live conferences. The app can be connected to your CRM too, and VFairs comes with useful event data analytics that help know what's happening in your conference.


VFairs features


 

  • registration and ticket printing, badge printing and other day-of management tools.        
  • Platform to host virtual events that incorporates networking, gamification and other presentation features.        


Conclusion


We know how amazing conferences can be helping attendees learn, grow and build connections which they'll cherish for years to come. A conference is a great opportunity to boost your image too, increasing awareness while increasing your profits.


And a great conference software makes all these possibilities take place!


If you want to learn more about getting your own branded conference and community app, be sure to check for Mighty Pro .