Using CSR to grow Event Engagement

At your last event, who had the most engaging stand? Who attracted the most buzz?

Was it the stand with a computer game, clever app, or freebie give-away?

Maybe – but if that’s the case, don’t just join the herd, when you could be doing so much more…….

Using CSR to add authenticity and purpose to your event will drive up engagement, and holds much more value for both you and your attendees. You’ll be left with a common legacy upon which to build a lasting relationship.

Pause for a moment and think - in a world where consumers are more and more conscious of their footprint on Planet Earth (and rightly so),

do you want to be the company who are handing out free promotional bits of plastic?

Or

– do you want to be the company, using that opportunity to engage your footfall through genuine connection, fun and purposeful activities, and direct impact on local communities and charity?

CSR – the Stats

According to an article in Sustainable Brands;

80% of consumers will tell their friends and family about a company’s CSR efforts, supporting the idea that your CSR activity will drive referrals both at the event and beyond.

The article goes on to say that where CSR practice is clear, 93% of consumers will have a positive image of a company, 90% are more likely to trust a company, 88% will be more loyal (stick with that company), and more than 84% will consider CSR when deciding which companies to spend their time and money with.

The article also confirms how powerful CSR is in driving brand switching – with 90% of consumers switching or opting for a company with strong CSR policies and goals.

From this we can see that CSR is a compelling and powerful tool for engagement. CSR really is (not only an incredibly important thing to do), but also offers clear leverage over a busy competitive playing field.

3 Key Advantages of Using CSR at your Event

1. Engagement

An eye-catching CSR activity is a fantastic way to cut through the visual clutter at a large event.

We recently worked with our client VMWare at several of the AWS Summit events. These are huge IT software events, so the sight of 20+ skateboards hanging up, waiting to be painted for charity, really did have impact.

There was no real need to try and engage people, the CSR activity did all of the hard work, and in a truly engaging, meaningful and authentic way!

"the skateboards caught my eye, but also there was something creative going on, that you wouldn't normally expect at an IT conference. There was a real buzz about the stand. Once I found out it was for kids from less privileged backgrounds who would benefit, I was in!"

James Carnie, Mobilise Cloud, AWS Summit, London

CSR makes stopping at your stand, purposeful – delegates feel that their time is being valued and that they’re giving value with their time.

“Cutting through the event noise with authenticity and purpose, is one of the most powerful tools you could use”

Peter Lindsay, Founder o3e

We’ve attended 3 AWS Summit Expo’s now, with our partner VMWare, bringing along our Skateboarding OnBoard challenge to their stand. Visitors to the stand get to artwork and build skateboards for charity. The event is visually appealing, stopping people in their tracks, leading to questions being asked and conversations starting. The power of CSR to start a conversation is why it is so valuable as an event tool.

We even took our OnBoard challenge to Stockholm earlier this year, as well as Barcelona with Cisco last year, and are busy planning our next expo with them right now. The skateboards built at that Expo, are being well loved and used by charities in the Barcelona area.

Its impact doesn’t stop there. It’s such a perfect message for social media, giving a valuable message to share during the event and encourage more attendees to visit you. Download our free “CSR Event Engagement Guide” here

2. Authenticity

A CSR activity really does provide an authenticity to your event/stand, over and above any promotional gimmicks. Creating a stand-out purpose over and above the competitive.

You create the opportunity to network, engage and bond over a ‘higher purpose’, creating genuine human connections, from which to build mutually beneficial working relationships. It’s stops being all about “me, me,me” and creates a collaborative relationship from the offset.

3. Impact and Legacy

Think about it. At the end of a delegate’s very busy day, which part of the event do you think they will remember most? And not only remember – but remember positively? You can bet it will be the time spent adding true value with you. It certainly aids with recall and connection, right?

Not only does the outcome of your CSR activity create a legacy that is amazing for the charity you’re working with, but it also creates an ongoing relationship and reason to communicate with your delegates.

From sharing pictures, feedback, message of thanks and updates from the charity who received the equipment with your delegates, you create a genuine purpose to maintain and build your communications and relationship with them.

What next?

To find out more about incorporating a CSR challenge in your next event, please contact us at hello@o3e.co.uk or call us on 033 01137170.

#Events #Skateboarding #Employeeengagement #EventServices #CSR