Freemium Events

Freemium, a combo of 'free' and 'premium', is a popular business strategy adopted by many sectors, including the event industry. Under this model, basic event features are accessible for free, creating an inclusive environment that attracts a broad spectrum of attendees. Meanwhile, premium services—VIP access, exclusive sessions, networking opportunities—are offered for a certain fee.

Benefits of Freemium Events

Freemium events can greatly boost attendee numbers as there are no barriers for people who want to check out the event. Such abundance in attendees can be attractive to sponsors and exhibitors. Also, with a freemium model, you can collect attendees' data to use for future events or retargeting purposes. Not the least, freemium events can help build brand reputation and solidify audience loyalty.

Common Problems & Solutions

While beneficial, freemium events can face problems like high expectation-standards from paying attendees and ensuring the exclusive benefits are truly value-adding. Such problems can be addressed by clearly defining the benefits of premium packages, setting reasonable price points, and constantly improving the quality of services based on feedback.

• Determine features that will be free and ones that will be premium. This could greatly impact audience decisions to buy or not.
• Set a reasonable price for premium features. Look at the industry average and add-ons.
• Use feedback to improve event services, especially over multiple event iterations.
• Communicate clearly about what attendees are getting in free and paid tickets.

• Freemium events maximize audience reach by keeping basic event content free.
• Freemium events can generate revenue through premium packages.
• They allow you to capture valuable attendee data for future engagements.
• Paying attention to feedback and constant improvements are vital for maintaining and upgrading the quality of freemium events.