2 Steps To Making Sure You Have Great WiFi At Your Next Event

In my previous post I discussed 5 things to consider when selecting your event venue. One of those items was WiFi. If you haven't read it, check it out here.

I want to go into a bit more detail into why having WiFi at an event is SO IMPORTANT.

Have you ever been sitting in a meeting or conference trying to use the cell service on your phone and getting nothing but error messages and blank pages? It’s annoying, right? But then you realize that the location you’re at has FREE PUBLIC WIFI and you hit one of these internally (or even right there in your seat):

It’s a great feeling right? You’ll be able to check your email, connect with others online, post on social media, and do Google searches as needed throughout the day without issue! 

Now, imagine if you COULDN’T do that.

If you were sitting in a location and you had no cell service AND no wifi.

Oh and to top it all off you’ve paid $300+ for this meeting or conference. You’d be hella annoyed and slightly mad and feeling like:

Yep, that’s how your guests were feeling at your last event where you had no WiFi! 

 So please don’t do that to the people that attend your next event. Or else you’ll risk them deciding not to come back to your next event. 

 It may seem simple but WiFi is honestly one of those amenities that influence a guests decision on whether or not to attend your event. And when it’s not available, they are NOT happy and their lack of satisfaction with this element of the event can ultimately break your event. You can prevent this from happening and ensuring that the WiFi at your next event is up to par. Here’s how:

 Plan in advance

It’s important to first discuss WiFi options with your venue. They’ll be your best resource as you figure out what options are available and if none, which vendors they have worked with in the past to provide WiFi. It’ll then be critical to think about the design of the event and where exactly guests will need to use the WiFi, how they’ll use it, and unplanned activities that may impact its overall efficiency. Need some guidance on what some of the best venues are able to provide when it comes to digital infrastructure? Check out this article. 

Know what speeds are available

Once you’ve decided on a WiFi option (whether in-house or an external vendor), it’s time to get technical. How much bandwidth will be necessary for your event depends on the design of your event. You must anticipate the demand for Wifi! For example - if you will have exhibitors/vendors who need process payments or stream video and tons of guests who will be on social media and checking email, you’ll want more than just basic free public WiFi. Also keep in mind the importance of WiFi if you want your event to get covered by press! You’ll want a package that includes a certain amount of bandwidth per person to make sure everyone has enough they need to stay connected throughout the event. 

Keep in mind, with so many events happening all the time, businesses often have to be selective about which ones they attend. So, if you want to stand out - why not make the fact that you’re event will have free WiFi be a selling point that will draw them in? Don’t let the lack of attention to the WiFi infrastructure at your event venue be the demise of something that you’ve spent so long planning. It doesn’t have to cost you a fortune and it can ultimately make a difference in your long-term success!