How Interactive Events & Scavenger Hunts Boost Customer Engagement
Let’s dive into it! In today’s age, organizations across the board are facing the challenge of engaging their members and local communities in new and exciting ways. Traditional methods of networking events and newsletters have their place, but to truly connect with modern audiences, chambers of commerce and tourism boards need to think outside the box.
One innovative solution that has been gaining momentum is the use of scavenger hunts and interactive maps. In this article, we’ll explore how these creative tools can help different organizations boost engagement and foster a stronger sense of community all while increasing revenue and foot traffic.
Gamification for Engagement
Gamification is a powerful technique that taps into people's natural desire for competition, achievement, and fun. Scavenger hunts are a prime example of gamification in action. By turning chamber events and initiatives into interactive games, you can instantly make them more engaging and memorable.
Not only does it incentivize businesses to add creative elements to the competition, but most importantly it provides a new avenue for visitors and locals to interactive with their community. Think about a customer visiting the same restaurant for the past 10 years, they most likely enjoy the food and relationship they’ve formed with the establishment over the years. Now toss in a new, fun element to supporting their local business and they’re certainly more likely to engage and spend more as a result.
Imagine hosting a city-wide scavenger hunt where participants have to visit various local businesses and landmarks to collect clues and solve puzzles. Not only does this encourage people to further explore their community, but it also creates a sense of excitement and camaraderie. Participants are more likely to share their experiences on social media, which, in turn, promotes the chamber's brand and mission. Through Roamli, the organization hosting the event receives access to the full suite of posts and marketing materials taken through the app which they can use for their own promotional materials.
Strengthening Member Relations
Chambers of commerce rely heavily on their members for support and funding. Maintaining strong relationships with these members is essential for long-term success. Scavenger hunts and interactive maps offer a unique opportunity to connect with your members in a fun and informal setting.
Consider organizing exclusive member-only scavenger hunts where participants can network, collaborate, and strengthen their bonds with fellow business owners. These events not only provide value to your members but also demonstrate your commitment to their success. As they say, a chamber that plays together, stays together.
In the end, one of your goals is to drive as much value out of the chamber membership to your community businesses. With scavenger hunts and interactive events you provide more tools for them to take advantage of as they choose to engage the local community and visitors coming in for any specific occasion.
Promoting Local Businesses
As one of the primary functions of chambers of commerce is to support local businesses, scavenger hunts and interactive maps are fantastic tools for achieving this goal. By featuring local businesses as stops on the hunt or key locations on the map, you can help these businesses gain exposure and drive foot traffic.
This is vastly more effective than simply pinpointing these businesses on a Google map and displaying it on your website. It’s clear most individuals can navigate to a specific business they’re looking for, Roamli helps you drive traffic towards specific businesses during promotional periods or fun events such as a Small Business Saturday, Wine Walk, Halloween Trick-or-Treat event, and more. The map should provide a reason for the visitor to want to connect with a business, outside of simply walking by their storefront.
Incorporate challenges or tasks that require participants to visit these businesses, interact with their products or services, and share their experiences on social media. This not only increases the visibility of these businesses but also encourages participants to become loyal customers.
Connecting with the Community
Chambers of commerce play a vital role in the community, and fostering a strong sense of connection is crucial. Scavenger hunts and interactive maps provide an opportunity to engage with the broader community beyond chamber members. These events can be open to the public, attracting residents and visitors alike. Whether it’s someone who’s lived in the vicinity for the past 30 years or a family who recently moved to town, these are welcoming ways to build a connection between locals and the businesses that drive the community.
Hosting community-wide scavenger hunts or map-based challenges can help chambers of commerce become hubs for local activities. Participants from all walks of life can come together, explore their town or city, and form new connections, all while learning about the chamber's mission and initiatives.
Showcasing Local Attractions
Interactive maps can serve as a digital guide to the hidden gems and attractions within your community. Chambers of commerce can create customized maps that highlight the best restaurants, parks, historical sites, and more. This not only encourages exploration but also promotes local tourism. This also can be expanded for murals, monuments, statues, historic buildings, and anything of note within the district. There’s no reason you can’t tie in these unique sights to the local businesses within the community.
These maps can be easily shared on the chamber's website or through mobile apps, providing a valuable resource for both residents and tourists. By positioning your chamber as the go-to source for discovering local treasures, you enhance your relevance and influence within the community.
Data Collection and Analytics
These interactive events also offer a unique advantage in terms of data collection and analytics. Participants' interactions with these tools can provide valuable insights into their interests, preferences, and behaviors. This data can be used to tailor future chamber initiatives and events to better meet the needs of the community. Not only does it provide the chamber with key information, but also the local businesses.
By tracking participant engagement, you can identify which locations or challenges were the most popular, helping you understand what resonates with your audience. Additionally, you can collect contact information and feedback from participants, enabling you to maintain communication and continually improve your experiences.
To summarize, organizations including chambers of commerce must adapt and embrace innovative approaches to marketing engagement. Scavenger hunts and interactive events offer an exciting and effective way to connect with members, promote local businesses, engage the community, and showcase the unique features of your area.
By leveraging these creative tools, chambers of commerce can foster stronger relationships, increase visibility, and play a more significant role in the growth and prosperity of their communities. So, don't be afraid to embrace the power of gamification and technology—it might just be the key to a more engaged and vibrant organization!
To learn more about how Roamli can support your marketing and community engagement feel free to schedule a conversation or visit our site for more details!
