by Marisa VanSkiver

Think about the last event you attended. Usually the speaker will have a slideshow or some kind of media to provide an interactive element. Many will have their website listed throughout the materials they show. If you like what you’re hearing, is it not one of your first instincts to go to their website and learn more about them?

There’s a lot of talk today about second screening –when the user is surfing on their phone or a laptop and watching television. Brands that advertise on television are catching up to this multi-tasking phenomenon and creating interactive experiences, making sure their sites and apps are ready for the influx of TV watchers who will be instantly checking up on the commercial they just watched. But they’re not just ready by having a landing page. No, they’re ready for any device their customer might be using to second screen-phone, tablet, or laptop.

Now, think back to your last event. What did you look that website up on? Phone? iPad? Did you have any issues navigating it, or was it already mobile-friendly? Chances are, if it wasn’t, you weren’t on it for long.

When you are presenting at an event, no matter how big or small, you will have your audience members going to your site throughout your presentation, ready to work with you more. But if your site isn’t optimized for any device they’re using, you lose potential customers over and over again within that hour long presentation.

Just like large brands and retailers have to be prepared to accommodate multiple devices, so do you as a speaker. You can have a mobile site and be ready for those on their phones, but what happens for your listeners that are using phablets or tablets?

Responsive web design is the best protection against losing event second screening customers. Whether they have a large phone or small tablet, iPhone or an iPad, a responsive website will resize to fit any of your customers’ second screening devices. They’ll get an optimal experience on their device, delve deeper into your site, and become high-quality leads.

A responsive website is one site that works from a smartphone to a desktop. This means your second-screen browsers can go back to their larger laptops and desktops and still understand your website because it’s the same-just resized to fit the bigger screens. A consistent experience across their devices means a better user experience and no more frustrated potential leads.

Take full advantage of that hour or two you hold their rapt attention and turn your audience into viable, sell-able leads with a full responsive website.

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