According to research from Freeman, a third of those holding marketing budgets expect to spend up to half on experiential marketing over the next few years. Indeed, “ask any ambitious creative team about 2019, and you won’t hear them talking TV spots and preroll.”

The move to experiential marketing has long been obvious. Now, though, it is accelerating at pace. Events allow brands to directly engage with their consumers, driving emotional bonds with their community by creating "experiences that they actually want to be part of.”

But could experiential marketing go even further? When it comes to “harnessing your creativity to create an experience”, how do user-directed content (UDC) and tools like Cinebody fit into the mix?

Savvy marketers are now using UDC to complement experiential marketing, forging even deeper emotional connections by recruiting attendees to create content that also enables the event to live on digitally.

UDC offers several benefits to experiential marketers:

Swift Content Creation

Using tools like Cinebody, marketing teams can organize and edit content at speed, creating clips that can be shared both during and immediately after an event has finished.

Real-time engagement

With UDC, marketers have a chance to not only direct their content creators, but also engage with them on a personal level. This builds intense brand loyalty and gives attendees an extra richness to their event experience.

Continuous Promotional Opportunities

With a library of organized event footage created through UDC, marketing teams can promote their experience whenever they get the chance, including as a way of building anticipation before the next event takes place.

Compared to tired experiential approaches – including photobooths and social media walls – UDC is both cost-effective and capable of delivering huge returns. What more could you want from your 2019 marketing plan?

In conclusion, user-directed content serves as a powerful tool to enhance experiential marketing efforts. By empowering attendees to actively participate in content creation, brands can forge deeper emotional connections, foster brand loyalty, and extend the lifespan of their events through digital sharing. Embracing UDC alongside traditional marketing approaches allows marketers to capitalize on the ever-growing demand for immersive and engaging experiences, setting themselves apart in the competitive landscape. Stay ahead of the curve and make the most of your 2019 marketing plan by incorporating user-directed content into your experiential marketing strategies.