Pros and cons of convention apps

I spent last weekend at the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) annual convention. What a great experience. It even ramped up the tech support with its own app as an additional resource.

I found the app's informational content helpful. It included the conference agenda and helped me identify upcoming sessions. It also contained info about speakers and exhibitors. 

The most promoted and talked-about app option was the "gameification" component. Attendees could earn points (and win prizes) by doing various activities associated with the app.

There were numerous references to this during the convention. Many attendees invested effort and energy in posting pictures, inviting others to connect and filling out surveys, all to get points.

When I downloaded the app, I immediately saw a lot of invitations-to-connect (points-earning activity). Now that was exciting. Yet not one reached out to follow up, just like in real life.

In addition, the app included a QR contact code button to facilitate the exchange of info between attendees. What was interesting was that no one I talked to asked for, or suggested using, this option.

This week's tip: Technology is a great enabler, but only to a certain extent. At your next conference, will you use it to play or to produce results? Without the courage and commitment to ask "Can I get your contact info?" at the end of a conversation (or following up after a contact), that interaction is an exercise in futility.

P.S.: Use a business card, a piece of paper, or an app, but do it!