How to Attract and Engage Residents at Community Events

Events are the heartbeat of any residential community. They foster connections, build a sense of belonging, and make residents feel at home. As challenging as it can be, it's not enough to just get residents to show up—you want them to stay, mingle, take photos, and tell their friends about their amazing time. Here’s how to make that happen.

Why Engagement Matters

When residents actively participate in events, it creates a ripple effect. Engaged residents:

• Feel a stronger sense of belonging and loyalty to the community

• Develop friendships that reduce turnover and increase referrals

• Promote your events organically through word-of-mouth and social media

• Help foster an inclusive, vibrant atmosphere that attracts new residents

Tips to Attract Residents to Your Events

1. Make It Relevant

   Cater to the diverse interests of your community. Whether it’s fitness bootcamps, wine tastings, movie nights, or DIY craft sessions, tailor events to match what your residents love. Use surveys or polls to find out what they’re excited about.

2. Create a Buzz

   Promote events through social media, flyers, and newsletters. Share behind-the-scenes content to build anticipation and encourage RSVPs. Use FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) tactics like “limited spots available” or “exclusive experiences.”

3. Offer Perks

   Free food, drinks, or giveaways are proven crowd-pullers. Partner with local businesses for sponsorships or discounts. For example, a “first drink free” collaboration with a local brewery can go a long way.

How to Keep Residents at Your Events

1. Warm Welcomes

   Have greeters who make introductions, especially for newcomers. This ensures attendees don’t feel awkward or out of place.

2. Interactive Activities

   Icebreakers, games, or competitions encourage mingling. Think team trivia, scavenger hunts, or photo contests.

3. Photogenic Settings

   Create Instagram-worthy backdrops or photo booths with hashtags. Residents are more likely to take and share photos if there’s an appealing setup.

4. Offer Lasting Value

   Include takeaways like goodie bags, DIY creations, or exclusive discount codes for future events.

5. Recognize Ambassadors

   Identify and reward residents who naturally engage with others. Encourage them to bring friends and share their experiences online.

Encourage Residents to Share Their Experience

1. Social Media Encouragement

   • Display the event hashtag prominently

   • Offer prizes for the most creative post or the photo with the most likes

   • Set up a photo booth or fun props to inspire content creation

2. Highlight Their Stories

   Share attendees’ posts, photos, and testimonials in newsletters or social media recaps. When people see their peers enjoying themselves, they’re more likely to attend the next event.

How Invited Can Help Simplify and Automate Your Event Success

Imagine an app that doesn’t just enhance community engagement but automates the process, so you can reach more residents, especially the shyer, newer ones. That’s what Invited does.

Here’s how Invited integrates seamlessly with each of the strategies above:

• Event Relevance: Residents input their preferences, and Invited curates events tailored to their interests. No need for manual surveys—the app analyzes data and suggests themes that will resonate most.

• Buzz Creation: Invited automates event promotion by sending personalized event invites, reminders, and updates through in-app notifications, emails, and/or SMS. The app also helps generate pre-made social media content for easy sharing.

• Perks & Partnerships: You can use Invited to collaborate with local businesses to offer exclusive deals or perks to attendees, streamlining collaboration and increasing event appeal.

• Warm Introductions: Using Invited, residents are matched into small, like-minded groups before the event and introduced digitally, so they arrive already knowing who to connect with.

• Social Sharing: The app encourages attendees to share photos to earn community-sponsored rewards within the app.

• Post-Event Highlights: After the event, Invited helps you compile a recap featuring shared photos, reviews, and engagement reports.

• Resident-Initiated Events: Invited allows you to sponsor resident-initiated activities for the community.

How Invited Makes Friendships Easier

Invited's core feature is connecting relevant people on a deeper level. By matching and introducing residents into small groups based on shared interests, Invited makes it easy for residents to form new friendships. Groups can coordinate their arrival, designate meet-up spots, and feel more comfortable mingling with their neighbors, all through the app.

Transform your events into unforgettable experiences, and elevate your community with intentional introductions. With Invited, you can create community magic while automating the heavy lifting, making it easy for residents to stay engaged and excited.

Ready to amplify engagement within your community? Discover how Invited can make your events and community-building efforts seamless, social, and unforgettable.