Community sounds like cohesion, shared values and loyalty. But what is really behind it? Psychologically speaking, it is about a deeply rooted need for belonging and meaning within a larger whole. Experts speak of relatedness - one of the central motivators of human action. And it is precisely this need that makes brands strong today, employers attractive and leadership credible. But especially in the age of digitalization, relatedness is not created through emails, postings or digital channels alone. It is created through encounters. And that is exactly what events do.

WHAT MAKES A COMMUNITY - AND HOW EVENTS STRENGTHEN IT

Real community begins where interaction is possible. Where people can get involved. Where resonance arises. Strong communities fulfill five crucial functions:

• Belonging arises when people experience that they are not alone.
  Identification grows when values become tangible.
  Commitment increases when participation is desired.
  Trust is built through closeness and authenticity.
  Loyalty arises because people stay where they feel connected.
  

All of these functions can be experienced at events. This is why events are a popular and valuable marketing tool for companies to build emotional relationships with their target groups and to be experienced as a strong brand. Events work in two directions: They can be the starting point for building a community - for example, for a new product, a strategic change or in employer branding. And they can activate and deepen existing communities - for example through reunions, co-creation or exchange formats. Both require recurring, genuine encounters. And both contribute to key corporate goals such as visibility, connection and trust.

FROM EVENT TO RELATIONSHIP - AND TO STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE

Many companies have recognized that events are the starting point for relationships and have an impact both internally and externally. If thought through correctly, an event becomes a systematic dialog. With pre-activation, meaningful exchange formats on site and targeted follow-up. The result is more proximity and more impact. Companies that consistently pursue this approach also benefit measurably:

• 85% of participants are more likely to buy a product or recommend a brand after a live event (Exposure Analytics).
  
  63% of highly engaged employees stay with the company long-term (Gallup Global Workplace Report).
  
  21% higher productivity and 41% less absenteeism are recorded by teams with high emotional attachment (Gallup Meta-Analysis 2020)
  
  Event-led strategies enable over 90% of companies to achieve their pipeline and sales targets (Forrester Event Trends).

CONNECTING EVENTS - PEOPLE, BRANDS, ADDED VALUE

Those who take community seriously strengthen their own effectiveness. Because events that enable real encounters make brands emotionally tangible. They bring leadership culture to life. They show attitude and provide orientation. For customers, partners and employees. Internally in particular, they have an often underestimated effect. They create identification, promote loyalty and create space for dialog, which is often neglected in everyday working life. This leads to greater commitment, better collaboration and ultimately to measurable effects in terms of productivity and loyalty.

From an external perspective, such formats provide valuable insights. Those who cleverly embed events in marketing and CRM structures gain knowledge about the needs, interests and expectations of their target group. This enables more targeted communication, better products and more efficient sales. Events thus become the link between relationship and strategy. And the community is created where there is room for it.

Do you want events with real community building? Then get in touch with our event experts at info@vokdams.de.

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