Top 5 Ways Text Messaging Enhances Audience Participation

We’ve always been told to turn off our phones for important events and meetings. But what if you were told that allowing your attendees to text message during your next presentation could greatly increase overall audience participation? It’s true: Text-to-screen services are changing the rules when it comes to proper phone etiquette during events and presentations.

Live-broadcasted text messages in the form of questions, comments or poll responses create an engaging dynamic in which audience members feel empowered to participate. We’ve compiled the top 5 reasons why text-to-screen service directly enhances audience participation at your next event:

1. Interact with More Audience Members
Text-to-screen technology has the ability to increase participation through directly increasing the number of audience members a presenter can engage. With many conferences and events being broadcasted online, a text-to-screen service has the ability to make web viewers feel like they are part of the live audience. By giving remote participants equal ability to share and participate in the event, you can substantially increase overall audience participation.

2. Gain Audience Feedback in Real-time
Text-to-screen technology gives power to the audience. Audience members can essentially direct the flow of the event through the use of comments and questions posted on screen. Giving the audience this type of control creates investment that leads to increased participation, simply because they have a hand in shaping the type of presentation they want to view and hear. In turn, the audience cares more about what you, the speaker, has to say.

3. Create a Safe Forum for Discussion
Tough questions that may provoke meaningful discussion often go unasked due to audience member apprehension. A text-to-screen service can provide audience members the anonymity to discuss questions and concerns freely without fear of judgement. Audience members who normally may not be active participants may feel more comfortable making their voices heard.

4. Foster an Interactive Environment
Text messaging involvement improves participation through audience member interaction. It’s easy to zone out or lose focus when a presentation does not contain interactive elements. By utilizing text messaging, audience members are not only hearing the information you provide, they can interact with the information in a personalized way. As an added bonus, audience members who are encouraged to interact during an event are apt to reflect back on the experience as positive and engaging.

5. Create a Novel Experience for Audience Members
By changing the common “turn off your phone” narrative and actively encouraging participants to use their phones to text, you create a novel experience for the audience in any style of event. People want to participate because its a new, fun, and relevant way to keep discussion honest and open.

When it comes to creating impactful events and presentations, audience participation is key. Don’t underestimate the impact that text messaging can have at your next event. Ironically, keeping all phones on and within reach might be just what you need to increase the participation of your audience.