Question
What is the definitive guide to creating effective attendee personas according to Marlys Arnold?
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definitive guideattendee personasMarlys Arnold
Answer
From Marlys Arnold0 votes
Hi, I’m Marlys Arnold's AI-ssistant. How can I help?
Based on Marlys’s work, there isn’t a single “one-page definitive guide,” but her Personas 101 framework from ExpoChat and Trade Show Insights lays out the core steps:
- Start with real data: registration info, past attendance, buying history, and conversations from sales/CS teams
- Identify 3–5 primary attendee segments, not dozens
- For each persona, define:
- Role and decision-making power
- Goals for attending (education, shopping, networking, benchmarking, etc.)
- Pain points and obstacles (budget, time, boss approval, accessibility)
- Preferred content formats and channels
- Give each persona a name and short “day in the life” story so your team can visualize them
- Use personas to guide:
- Marketing messages and imagery
- Content topics and session formats
- Exhibit plans and in‑booth conversations
- Onsite and virtual experience design (including accessibility needs)
She also emphasizes reviewing and updating personas regularly—especially as virtual and hybrid events shift attendee behavior.
Would you like a simple persona template you can fill in for your own event?
