The Power of User-Generated Content: How Attendees Can Market Your Event for You

In This Article

• • Turn attendees into marketers: Harness user-generated content (UGC) to amplify reach, drive engagement, and build authentic buzz.
  • Leverage branded conference badges & lanyards: Transform every candid photo, video, and selfie into free promotion for your event and sponsors.
  • Polish your first impression: Take advantage of professional tools like on-site event badge printing to deliver great first impressions, so attendees check-in fast, happy, and photo-ready.

The Power of User-Generated Content: How Attendees Can Market Your Event for You 

As event planners, we’re always looking for better ways to promote our events. Here’s the thing — your attendees may just be your secret marketing weapon! User-generated content (or UGC), such as photos, videos, social posts, and stories shared by attendees, can extend your reach, amplify your brand, and create authentic excitement that traditional marketing simply can’t match. Best of all? With the right tools and strategy, it practically markets your event for you.

Why User-Generated Content Works

Your attendees are natural storytellers. When they post photos, videos, and updates, they turn your conference into a shareable experience:

✅  Authenticity drives trust: People trust their peers more than brands. Attendee posts act as social proof.

✅  Exponential reach: Every tagged post puts your event in front of new potential audiences.

✅  Built-in FOMO: Nothing inspires next year’s registrations like seeing real attendees having an incredible time.

When you combine UGC with a consistent event hashtag and strong visual branding, you create an ongoing feedback loop of content, reach, and engagement.

 

How to Encourage UGC at Your Event

It’s not enough to just hope attendees will post and share content at your event… You need to make it easy, fun, and visually rewarding!

1. Create Share-Worthy Event Moments

In the social media world, “share-worthy” means giving attendees something eye-catching, fun, or memorable that they’ll want to pull out their phone and post about. Think about how your event looks from an attendee’s camera lens and design spaces and experiences that naturally invite content creation:

• Branded photo backdrops: Step-and-repeats, statement walls, or oversized logos make for perfect Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn moments while keeping your brand in every shot.
• Interactive installations: Giant props, immersive activations, or hands-on demos encourage attendees to engage and share.
• Live moments worth capturing: Keynote speakers, performances, or surprise reveals give attendees natural highlights to post.
• Lighting that flatters photos: Well-lit spaces make selfies and candid shots look great, increasing the chances they’ll be shared.
• Sponsor-friendly integrations: Include sponsor logos and activations so your brands benefit every time content is posted.

The more you design your event around these natural “share triggers,” the more likely your attendees will create the kind of content that amplifies your reach.

2. Pick a Hashtag You Can Promote Everywhere

A strong, memorable hashtag can not only turn your attendees into your biggest promoters, it can help make it easier for you to collect and repurpose user-generated content later. Think of your hashtag as your event’s digital anchor:

• Creates a centralized content hub: When attendees use your hashtag, every photo, video, and post gets pulled into one searchable, clickable stream across Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, and beyond.
• Simplifies content curation: After the event, organizers can easily search the hashtag to find the best attendee-created content for recaps, highlight reels, and future marketing campaigns.
• Drives organic reach: Every shared post extends your event’s visibility to new audiences, inspiring potential attendees for next year.
• Keeps branding consistent: A dedicated hashtag ensures that all social shares tie back to your event and your brand.
• Builds engagement pre-, during, and post-event: Start promoting your hashtag in registration emails, teaser posts, and event apps, and make it impossible to miss once attendees arrive.

💡 Pro Tip: Consider encouraging attendees to use your hashtag by offering simple incentives, like a chance to win swag, discounts, or prizes.

3. Leverage Your Event Badges & Lanyards

Branded event badges and lanyards aren’t just functional, they’re powerful tools for boosting UGC and promoting your event long after attendees leave. When designed thoughtfully, they become part of the story attendees share:

• Put your brand front-and-center: Use bold, eye-catching colors on your event badges and custom branded lanyard designs to make your logo pop in every photo.
• Include your event hashtag: Printing your hashtag directly on badges or lanyards reminds attendees to use it while also making it visible in every picture.
• Showcase sponsors: Feature sponsor logos prominently to give them added exposure in organic attendee posts.
• Differentiate attendee types: Use custom badges or lanyards to distinguish VIPs, speakers, exhibitors, and more, while staying within your branded event look and feel.
• Design for social moments: Attendees often snap selfies or photos of their fellow attendees, so make sure your badges and lanyards are photo-ready.

💡 Pro Tip: A sleek on-site badge printing setup like Expo Pass can deliver a fast, modern check-in experience without the clutter of laptops and cables or long lines and fumbling through stacks of pre-printed badges. 

A smoother check-in means happier attendees ready for their arrival photo-op — with premium badges and branded lanyards, plus a professional and polished photo-ready backdrop at your registration table.

Measuring Engagement from UGC

Encouraging UGC isn’t just about getting likes and promoting your event through socials, it can also help you learn what resonates with your audience:

• Track hashtag usage across different social platforms to see where your audience is most active.
• Monitor engagement as it relates to specific sessions, keynotes, activations, and more.
• Use these insights to plan future events and boost sponsor ROI.

Key Takeaways

By giving attendees the tools, branding, and encouragement to share their experience, you can turn your event into a powerful content engine.

• UGC drives reach and authenticity: Attendees can be your secret-weapon marketing tool.
• Branded badges and lanyards: Turn every photo into a brand moment.
• A polished check-in setup: Create a seamless, photo-ready attendee experience from the moment they arrive.

FAQ: User-Generated Content & Event Marketing

How do I get attendees to share more content?
Make it easy and fun, use branded spaces, interactive activations, and event hashtags on signage, screens, and badges. Consider simple incentives like “a chance to win” swag, discounts, prizes, etc.

Why add hashtags or branding to conference badges and lanyards?
Attendees wear your event badges and conference lanyards everywhere, making these elements part of the visual story of your event. Every selfie, group shot, and candid photo can be free marketing if these elements are branded properly.

Can Expo Pass help with branded badges and on-demand printing?
Absolutely. Expo Pass delivers premium custom badges and branded event lanyards, printed and shipped along with everything you need for seamless on-site badge printing at your event.