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8 tips to increase audience engagement with visual notes

Abby Van Muijen creates visual notes for events in the Bay Area.

Visual notes are real-time illustrations of information.

They transform complex ideas into engaging visual metaphors that wow audiences. Even better, visual notes help people remember content long after an event (or speech, or presentation) concludes. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words, eh?

Whether you're a newcomer or a seasoned veteran to the world of visual note taking, here are 10 tips and tricks from the RogueMark Graphic Recording team on how to use visual notes to increase audience engagement at your next event!


8. Before your event, post “sneak peek” images of visual notes at your event.

To get your audience excited for the event, post "teaser" images of visual notes on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Take the opportunity to highlight the keynote speakers, venues, content, and whatever else makes your event unique.

Audience members take selfie in front of RogueMark Studios’ engagement wall in Oakland, California.

7. Place an “engagement wall” in the lobby at your event.

Engagement walls are large-scale interactive boards that pose a question to your attendees, whose answers are then illustrated by graphic artists. Encourage your attendees to visit the board or tweet their answers as the event progresses. By the end of the day, the engagement wall serves as an eye-catching mural that captures the energy and reaction of the audience to your content.

6. Post a time-lapse video of the visual notes.

Time-lapse videos capture the energy of your event and show the creation process of visual notes. Easy to share and fun to watch, time-lapse videos make for popular Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and blog posts!

5. Raffle off a visual notes board.

People looooove prizes. Lucky for you, visual notes are a hot commodity. Put that excitement to good use (and keep folks around until the very end of your event) by raffling off a visual notes boards during the closing remarks or post-event reception (#happyhour).

Audience members interact with RogueMark’s visual notes at Bank of the West Conference.

4. Display the visual notes board in highly-trafficked areas.

During coffee breaks, attendees like to see the visual notes up close. They chat with the graphic artists, take pictures, and post selfies to social media. Most importantly, they lean in closer to get a better look at the visual notes, which means they're reviewing your content! It's a real "win win win," as Michael Scott from "The Office" might say.

3. After the event, share the visual notes with attendees and colleagues.

Visual notes make excellent event summaries that keep your content top-of-mind even after your event. Present the visual notes to your team, share them with folks who weren't able to attend your event, or display them in your office.

2. Include the visual notes in newsletters, year-in-reviews, follow-up meetings, brainstorm sessions, etc.

To boost presentations and impress your clients, add details from the visual notes to slide decks and other visual content. Visual notes are more than just eye-candy: they provide detailed summaries specific to your content and event.

1. Use the visual notes as a "thank you" gift.

Need a thoughtful thank you gift for speakers and attendees? Look no further. Slap your visual notes on a magnet, sticker, card, or follow-up email. Side bonus: visual notes help folks retain information and interest in your content. Huzzah!

Audience members interact with Abby Van Muijen’s visual notes at Egon Zehnder conference.

Got ideas on how else to use visual notes? Let’s hear ‘em. Need visual notes for your next event? Click on the button below.


RogueMark Studios