Reward the Things You Want People to Do
Start with your goals, then give points for them. If you want people to fill in their profile, award points for adding a photo and a job title. If you want full rooms after lunch, award points for adding sessions to their schedule.
- Check in on arrival
- Add a profile photo
- Build a schedule
- Answer the post-event survey
Make Meeting People Count
The most valuable thing at most events is the conversation in the hallway. Let attendees scan each other's badges to earn points, and cap how many times it counts so nobody scans the whole room in a minute.
Send People to Sponsor Booths
Give each sponsor a secret code printed as a QR poster at their booth. Attendees scan it for points, and sponsors get visits they can point to. Codes with opening and closing times work well for sessions too, rewarding people who are actually in the room.
Ask Trivia About the Content
A trivia question about the morning keynote, open only after it ends, rewards people who listened. Give everyone one try so it stays fair.
Play in Teams
Team scores change the feel of the game. Group players by company, track or department and rank teams by total or average points, so a small team can still win.
Put the Leaderboard on the Big Screen
A live leaderboard on the screen during breaks does more for participation than any announcement. Add a QR code next to it so people can join from their seat.
Keep Prizes Simple and Fair
Prizes for the top few players reward the most active people. A raffle among everyone past a points level gives everyone else a real chance, which keeps more people playing to the end.
Celebrate Small Wins
A quick celebration when someone earns points, unlocks a badge or climbs into the top ten makes the game feel alive, without anyone needing to check the leaderboard constantly.