New research
suggests that a third of young professionals dislike event apps. Given the way
apps have been promoted to organisers, this may come as a surprise.
But should it? In most cases it’s quicker to use a mobile device to go to the event website and find information than to download and install an app. And if users don’t get round to removing apps for past events, their devices are going to get cluttered up with apps they no longer need.
But should it? In most cases it’s quicker to use a mobile device to go to the event website and find information than to download and install an app. And if users don’t get round to removing apps for past events, their devices are going to get cluttered up with apps they no longer need.
It’s also
clear that the design of some apps works against them because they’re so muddled
it’s difficult to find relevant information.
All of this
means that organisers must not neglect their websites in favour of their apps.
They need to
take a close look at their websites and ask whether they provide the
information users want and whether it’s easy to find. For example, are the
dates, location and opening times shown at the top of the home page? How many
clicks does it take to find the seminar programme? These days it's very easy to
deliver different content to mobile devices and desktop browsers.
Get all of
this right and it might even be possible to save money on app development.
Originally published in Conference News
