Is it true that an attendee "persona" should be imaginary and based on the experiences of the planner?

The concept of an attendee "persona" is designed to represent a segment of the audience that is shaped by actual data and insights, rather than being purely imaginary or solely the product of the planner's experiences. While planners may draw upon their own experiences to inform their understanding of attendees, an effective persona should be grounded in concrete research, data analysis, market trends, and feedback from real participants. This typically involves demographic information, motivations, preferences, and behaviors that can be gathered through surveys, interviews, and other engagement metrics.

Creating personas based strictly on the planner’s perspective can lead to skewed expectations and ultimately result in ineffective strategies for engagement and communication, as it may overlook the diverse needs and desires of the actual attendees. Therefore, the understanding of attendee personas must be a blend of real data and thoughtful interpretation, ensuring that events are tailored to meet the audience's true expectations and enhance their overall experience.