Not too long ago, event organizers and conference managers could only dream of putting a conference agenda together in days left alone minutes. However, with the time and the contrivance of semi-automated and automated software tools for event planning, the industry has zoomed past the curve. Today’s smart event planners know and acknowledge the fact that is a better way: one that takes minutes instead of months and produces professional results that would make even the most seasoned organizer proud.
The magic truly happens when event managers stop thinking about agendas as static documents and start treating them as tools that adapt, inform and engage. This is now possible and all thanks to event platforms like Dryfta. Here’s how you can build a conference agenda using the Event Schedule Builder within minutes, step-by-step:
Step 1: Get the basics right
Before going all in into the planning, make sure to be clear about your basics. Know what your event is, its nature and the audience it is set to cater to. Have clarity on key event dates, venue details and contact information. These seemingly basic yet often overlooked details form the very core of your agenda and determine its effectiveness. This kind of groundwork prevents the domino effect of confusion that happens when attendees can’t find where they’re supposed to be.
Step 2: Decipher the major and steer clear of the minor in details
Sketch out major major elements like the opening ceremony and information about keynote speakers first then worry about other allied details. Taking on a bird’s-eye view like this prevents you from getting lost in the weeds later.
Step 3: Pick your loyal aide
In event management, the software you use to run the show will either be your most loyal aide or a Hobson’s choice. The right software, well equipped and ready to handle everything from start to finish will turn your drudgery into something surprisingly satisfying. While Google Sheets and Excel work perfectly for straightforward events, for larger, more academically-driven events, you will benefit from state-of-the-art tools such as think drag-and-drop scheduling, automatic conflict detection and updates that sync in real-time.
Step 4: Agenda is built, now it’s time to run the show
But before you begin, here’s what you must remember. Speakers run long, technology hiccups happen and people need time to actually walk between rooms. It is important for organizers to account for these extra 10-15 minutes between sessions. Your elaborate agenda means virtually nothing if people cannot access it when they need it.
In this regard, mobile-friendly formats win every time. Digital agendas update instantly when sessions change, send push notifications for upcoming talks and let attendees build personalized schedules that actually work for them. Additionally, your agenda should look like it belongs to your event. Custom colors, logos and graphics make all the difference. The best software tools play nicely with your registration platform, website and communication systems.
Choose us and see the difference
Dryfta Event Schedule Builder truly stands out in this regard. It makes the process of building an interactive and organized conference agendas. We’ve built an integrated program builder that is designed to help organizers set up conference schedules with efficiency, customization and high attendee engagement. Dryfta’s drag-and-drop event schedule builder also makes structuring a conference agenda both intuitive and flexible. Organizers can quickly add sessions, assign speakers, set moderators and arrange sessions by tracks and time slots. Auto-populating features lets accepted abstracts be directly inputted into the final session slots.