Connecting with customers is essential for any business. However, reaching an audience that speaks multiple languages can be a challenge. How can you make meaningful connections at a multilingual event or conference? The solution is in your attendees’ ears.
With professional simultaneous interpreting services, the language barrier disappears. Fluent interpreters can deliver your message live, translating the speaker to the audience in real-time. This opens doors to understanding, building your reach across cultures, and creating valuable relationships with customers.
In this article, we provide tips to engage event attendees when facilitating simultaneous interpretation. You’ll learn how to capture customers’ attention and inspire them to take action by speaking their language. Let’s get right into it!
Understand your audience’s language preferences.
Knowing which languages your attendees speak will help you provide interpreting services that truly meet their needs. Start by researching the language demographics of potential event participants.
Send out a survey during event promotion to find out which languages attendees speak and prefer. Or review past registration data to identify language trends if hosting a recurring event. You can also look at event app analytics to get a clear idea of attendee language preferences leading up to or during an event.
Offer multilingual event materials.
Don’t let language limitations prevent attendees from easily navigating and understanding your event. Be sure to translate any text-based materials into the major languages spoken by participants. Some important items to translate include printed programs outlining the schedule, signage directing people to different rooms/areas, and informational handouts about speakers, sessions, etc.
As an example, you can have versions of the venue map in Spanish, French, Mandarin, and English so people can find their way around. Also, translate schedule placards and individual session descriptions into other languages based on your audience. Simple steps like these make attendees feel welcomed and included.
Hire multilingual staff or interpreters.
It’s important to have bilingual team members or professional interpreters on hand, so attendees can get assistance in their preferred language. Recruit event staff and volunteers who speak the multiple languages represented in your audience. This will allow participants to get help in their native tongue.
Station interpreters at help desks or information booths, so visitors can ask questions and get guidance in their language. Also, arrange for simultaneous interpreters during presentations and speeches, so the content is accessible to all. Having multilingual human resources allows attendees to fully engage, follow along, and interact without language being a frustration.
Use technology for real-time translation.
Make sure you complement your interpreting services with technology for translations in real-time. For instance, you can use translation apps and handheld devices synced to presentations. Attendees can follow along with reading translations on their smartphone or tablet as speakers present.
Plan for multilingual networking opportunities
Don’t neglect the networking aspect – mingling and deal-making are often the main motivators for event participation. Facilitate connections among attendees by language. You can designate times, locations, or tables for language-specific networking.
In conclusion, the key to successfully engaging a multilingual audience is understanding and inclusion. With consideration and planning, you can bring together any international mix and make meaningful connections’ language barriers aside. The reward is loyal customers who trust you “speak their language” in every sense.