If you’re gearing up to create some spectacular events in 2015, there are a few elements that have to be included if your event is going to be powerful and memorable for the attendees.

As we’ve written about before, interactive technology is big and only going to get bigger. Interactive technology is becoming one of the must-have elements for any successful event today. We live in a time where using a touch screen is becoming second nature. In fact, you’ve probably experienced touching a computer screen that didn’t respond and feeling a vague sense of disappointment. As customers we now expect interaction, and we want technology to interact back with us. So, how do we create the most effective interactivity for event attendees, and not only in a way that intrigues and captures their attention, but in a way that can also increase the bottom line so it’s worth the investment?

Well, certainly there are a myriad of different ways to create an interactive experience including using event apps and games, social media, or audience response systems. But it’s important to think in depth about your tech choices as an event planner or exhibitor, so that you’re utilizing some form of interaction to help you fulfill your goals and objectives – and deliver high value to attendees.

For instance, one very effective interactive technology which has a broad range of uses and is highly adaptable is a digital document library. So we’ll use the digital document library as a specific example of a powerful method for creating an intriguing interactive experience.

If you are one of the many people who believes that a digital document library is simply a one-way avenue for providing information to people, then it’s time to take a closer look at how you can use one to your advantage at an event.

The beauty of a tool such as the document library is that it is such a win-win for the developer and the user. Yes, it’s true that a digital document library is a managed collection of information – a way for users to access and retrieve important documents. But that’s only the beginning. The key to the importance of a digital document library at an event is the fact that when set up properly, it creates an engaging and memorable method for delivering information while at the same time giving you the ability to captures leads and therefore generate potential sales.

On the user side, the library gives your customer, or potential customer, unlimited information. And providing them with the right information that is useful to them is great for your brand.

Some of the information you might want to include in a digital document library includes:

• easy-to-follow links on how to use the library
• company brochures, marketing collateral and how-to videos (relate to products and services)
• whitepapers (tips and information that help the user with their businesses)
• industry resources (highlighting important and useful links)
• relevant ebooks
• how to connect info (social media information)

Remember, though, your digital library is not just about the information you are providing to the user – you, too, will be receiving useful information to increase sales. When a digital document library is set up properly, you can track what documents or resources are being accessed at each event, which attendee is accessing them, what specific document they are accessing, and how much time they are spending in your ‘library’, and from which location. In other words, you’ll know who is accessing what, when, where, and how much – detailed lead information that can help you fine-tune sales messaging and campaigns. All of this can help you accelerate your event revenue.

In addition, these sales-ready leads can be a huge time saver for your sales team who will know instantaneously which person interacted with which documents, giving you a solid platform from which to approach them. Plus, all that great lead information can be automatically stored for your use so you can respond to the user from anywhere in the world, in real time, which can keep your leads from growing “cold”.

And like any well-chosen technology, there are other benefits as well. For instance, you can also use that same document library to generate income by selling sponsorships and ad space. On top of that, a digital document library will save you money since there are no printing fees (remember 70% of printed event material gets thrown out before it’s even read), shipping, or storage for all that material.

There is also the versatility aspect to consider. Users can access your library from virtually any device:  large screens, tablets, PCs, mobile devices, iPads, or interactive kiosks.

Though we’ve focused on digital document libraries as an example of effective interactive event technology, it’s important to approach any technology decisions by keeping in mind how it will serve your customers and how it will increase your bottom line. When technology is beneficial to both the end user and to your company, the choice becomes a no-brainer.

Happy New Year!