When attendees invest time and money to be at your event, they’re not just showing up for sessions — they’re there to connect. Networking is the heartbeat of any great event. And the good news? The tools to spark those connections are already in your event app.
At Yapp, we’ve seen organizers transform passive crowds into thriving communities just by unlocking the right app features. Whether you’re running a corporate summit or an educational forum, your mobile app can do more than host schedules — it can host relationships.
Read how Uncubed used Yapp to engage 5,000+ attendees and saved over $100,000 by replacing print materials and outdated systems.
What’s holding your attendees back from connecting?
Even the most engaging event loses energy when people struggle to meet. Common blockers include:
- Too many simultaneous sessions
- No central hub to share interests
- Missed updates about networking sessions
- Limited access to attendee info
We’ve heard it firsthand from customers like Schools That Can, whose team needed one place to coordinate communication between 150 participants. With Yapp, they replaced scattered spreadsheets with one simple app — complete with attendee updates and push notifications — and saw engagement soar.
When you remove friction, connections happen naturally. That’s where your event app becomes your networking MVP.
How can your event app boost attendee networking?
Here’s how you can use built-in app features to turn your crowd into a connected community:
- Create a central social feed. Give attendees a real-time space to post updates, photos, or start conversations — like Verizon does during internal events with Yapp’s news feed and photo sharing features.
- Use push notifications to drive meetups. Instant reminders about mixer sessions or group activities keep everyone informed and encourage spontaneous networking.
- Highlight attendees and speakers. Add short bios and photos so connections feel personal before the first handshake.
- Incorporate hashtags and shared content. Integrate social media or in-app posts to spark dialogue long after sessions end.
- Add gamification or “connection challenges.” Reward those who make the most introductions — simple, fun, and surprisingly effective.
These tactics often take minutes to set up in Yapp — no coding or tech skills required.
What does successful in-app networking look like?
The London Screenwriters’ Festival needed a digital hub for 1,000+ attendees to access schedules and connect despite constant changes. With Yapp, they built an easy-to-update app that became everyone’s go-to networking guide. Attendees stayed informed, engaged, and connected — all from their phones.
As one Yapp customer put it, “We needed something we could put in people’s hands and say, ‘Look at your phone for the answers.’” That’s exactly what a smart event app does — it keeps the information flowing and the conversations alive.
How we’ve seen it work behind the scenes
We’ve helped organizers host everything from nonprofit forums to retail summits — and the most successful networking outcomes share three ingredients: clarity, access, and fun.
1. Clarity through communication.
With unlimited push notifications, Yapp organizers can make quick updates when schedules shift. Jenna from our team shared, “I’ve seen customers save entire sessions by pushing out real-time updates minutes before a networking lunch. That single tap can make the difference between 20 people showing up and 200.”
2. Access through community features.
Not every attendee wants to approach someone cold. By using the People page or photo-sharing tabs in Yapp, they can recognize familiar faces before they meet. “When attendees can browse speaker bios and connect online first, they walk into the room with confidence,” says Miguel, our customer success lead.
3. Fun through engagement tools.
Adding photo contests or polls sparks conversation naturally. One client ran an “Event Selfie Challenge” using Yapp’s photo-sharing feature — by the end of the day, their feed was full of smiles and spontaneous connections.
How Yapp bridges virtual and in-person networking
Today’s events often mix formats. You might have half your audience on-site and the rest tuning in virtually. A mobile event app bridges that divide beautifully. Attendees can join the same conversations, react to live polls, and browse content, no matter where they are.
When Cole Haan used Yapp internally, they turned their mobile app into a digital lounge for store managers nationwide. Team members shared photos, recognition shoutouts, and style ideas — all within the app. Over 2,400 in-app interactions later, engagement hit an all-time high. The same principles apply to professional conferences: when people see and celebrate each other’s wins, they connect faster.
Turning your event app into a networking powerhouse
If you’re ready to level up your event’s networking energy, start with these steps:
- Set up your app early. Add session schedules, attendee lists, and social feeds before launch.
- Encourage interaction. Send push notifications inviting attendees to share thoughts or photos on day one.
- Spotlight super connectors. Feature attendees or sponsors driving the most engagement.
- Keep conversations going post-event. Leave the app open for a few weeks so connections can continue to grow.
As our senior product manager, Lila, often says, “Networking shouldn’t stop when the event ends — your app can turn every event into a year-round community.”
Ready to make your next event better? Start your trial now!
