--- title: "Daily Buzz: Developing a Conference Content Strategy" id: "49348" type: "post" slug: "daily-buzz-developing-a-conference-content-strategy" published_at: "2020-02-07T22:30:08+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-17T02:59:10+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/02/07/daily-buzz-developing-a-conference-content-strategy/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2020/02/07/daily-buzz-developing-a-conference-content-strategy.md" excerpt: "Learn about your attendees to deliver the right event experience. Also: how to make young professionals feel at home at your meetings." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "attendee engagement" - "conferences" - "event planning" - "Meetings" - "New to Associations" - "NextGen" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" - "Early Career" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Daily Buzz: Developing a Conference Content Strategy Looking to change your conference format? You’ll need a [content strategy that meets your audience’s needs (opens in a new tab)](https://www.myb.net/blog/whats-behind-an-effective-conference-content-strategy) , suggests a recent post on the Minding Your Business (MYB) blog. “Change for the sake of change isn’t meaningful for an attendee,” the MYB team says. “You want to ensure that the information you’re providing speaks to the different types of people who attend.” Offering the right experience requires understanding your attendees. If you know the personalities and behaviors that define your community, you’ll be able to provide content that serves it. Strategies such as persona research have helped MYB identify important audience targets. If you find that your audience comes from many different backgrounds, the MYB team suggests breaking up content into tiers based on level of experience. That way, participants can plan their learning paths at the conference without wondering if the meeting is a good fit for them. A broad mix of formats can also help satisfy a diverse group. Offer a combination of lectures, debates, roundtables, and workshops so that your event speaks to the different personas you identify in your research. ### Engaging Young Members at Events > Think about how awkward you feel when you enter a room of strangers. Young professionals often feel this way at [#association (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/association?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > events. [https://t.co/O4eMjzUwRb (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/O4eMjzUwRb) > [#AssnChat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/AssnChat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [pic.twitter.com/RUPbwyIucA (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/RUPbwyIucA) > > — Amanda Lea Kaiser (@AmandaLeaKaiser) [February 6, 2020 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/AmandaLeaKaiser/status/1225403984661360640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **If the young professionals at your events** are buried in their phones or escaping to their rooms, then your organization needs to do a better job engaging them, [writes Amanda Kaiser of Smooth the Path (opens in a new tab)](http://www.smooththepath.net/2020/02/04/conferences-are-super-awkward-for-young-professionals/) . “Think about how awkward you feel when you enter a room of strangers,” she says. “Young professionals traveling alone often feel this way at events. So they escape.” Help them feel welcome by offering activities that provide a sense of belonging. Before the conference, hold workshops for young professionals to give them a chance to work together and connect. “Many of your young professionals are also new members and first-time attendees,” Kaiser says. Early in the conference, offer orientation to give them an idea of what to expect and how to navigate the event. ### Other Links of Note **Security researchers found a vulnerability** in the popular WordPress plugin Code Snippets. [Lifehacker has the scoop (opens in a new tab)](https://lifehacker.com/update-this-wordpress-plugin-to-prevent-a-site-takeover-1841429640/amp) on how to keep your site secure. **To help exhibitors achieve their goals,** associations are trying new strategies, a recent [MemberSuite blog post (opens in a new tab)](https://www.membersuite.com/blog/5-new-ways-to-offer-more-value-to-exhibitors) suggests. **VR technology lets meeting planners** take part in remote site inspections. [MeetingsNet has the story (opens in a new tab)](https://www.meetingsnet.com/meeting-planning-toolbox/vr-based-site-inspections-take-another-step-forward) . (gradyreese/E+/Getty Images Plus) [Michael Hickey](https://associationsnow.com/author/michael-hickey/) Michael Hickey is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/michael-hickey/) Tags: [#attendee engagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/attendee-engagement/) [#conferences](https://associationsnow.com/tag/conferences/) [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#New to Associations](https://associationsnow.com/tag/new-to-associations/) [#NextGen](https://associationsnow.com/tag/nextgen/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoASAE’s The ExchangeApril 24, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/24/asaes-the-exchange/) - [VideoAllison Isch, PMP Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/allison-isch-pmp-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [ArticleBack to Basics: Why Relationship Building Is the New Innovation for Future-Proofing Association MeetingsSeptember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/09/15/back-to-basics-why-relationship-building-is-the-new-innovation-for-future-proofing-association-meetings/) - [ArticleHow Associations Can Assist Young ProfessionalsJune 12, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/06/12/how-associations-can-assist-young-professionals/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2020%2F02%2F07%2Fdaily-buzz-developing-a-conference-content-strategy%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !