How to Use Digital Badges Before, During, and After Your Event

Digital badges have become a powerful tool for event organizers. But there's one factor that often gets overlooked: timing.

When a badge is issued - can be just as important as why it’s issued.

Whether you’re organizing a skills-based workshop, a university open day, or a large-scale conference, the timing of your digital credentialing strategy can significantly influence both participation and long-term impact. While pre-event badges help generate buzz and drive registrations, post-event badges provide lasting value by recognizing participation, learning, or achievement — often becoming part of a person’s professional identity on platforms like LinkedIn.

This article explores both approaches, their unique strengths, and how you can use each (or both) effectively to maximize visibility, engagement, and attendee satisfaction.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes each type of badge valuable — and how to use them strategically.

Pre-Event Digital Badges: Boost Engagement Before the Event

In today’s competitive event landscape, getting people to sign up is only half the battle. The real challenge lies in creating anticipation, encouraging early engagement, and increasing the visibility of your event in the weeks and days leading up to it. That’s where pre-event digital badges shine.

These badges are not designed to recognize participation or learning — they are marketing tools in disguise.

‍

🧲 Attract Attention, Spark Interest

When attendees receive a badge right after signing up — whether as an “Early Bird,” “Speaker,” “VIP,” or even “Registered Participant” — they feel like they’re part of something special. That badge becomes a social asset they’re likely to share on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Each share acts as a mini promotion for your event, increasing organic reach and building social proof. Especially in professional or academic circles, seeing peers already involved can be the nudge others need to register too.

‍

‍🤝 Create a Sense of Belonging Before Day One

Pre-event badges don’t just promote — they connect. By giving participants a way to showcase their upcoming attendance, you lay the groundwork for community-building. Attendees might connect with each other online before the event, follow speakers, or even plan meetups.

This pre-event momentum transforms your event from a passive calendar entry into a shared experience people are already looking forward to.

‍

🎯 Strategic Badge Types to Consider

• “I’m Speaking!” Badge – For confirmed speakers or panelists to share proudly

• “I’m Attending” Badge – For general attendees to create buzz

• “Partner” or “Sponsor” Badge – Great for event partners to amplify visibility

• When used correctly, these badges act as powerful lead generators and extend your event’s visibility beyond your own channels.

H3: In-Event Badge Requests: Seamless and Smart

While most badge strategies focus on before or after the event, there’s a powerful opportunity often overlooked: badge requests during the event itself. Enabling real-time badge interaction not only enhances the attendee experience — it also streamlines the process and adds value in the moment.

‍

QR Codes at Key Touchpoints

Imagine this: right after a panel discussion or workshop, attendees pass by the speaker booth and see a simple sign — “Scan here to request your badge.” With a quick QR scan, they’re directed to a branded form where they can confirm attendance and receive their digital badge instantly.

This approach offers multiple benefits:

• Minimal manual work for organizers post-event

• Immediate engagement while the session is still top of mind

• Clear contextual relevance — badges tied to specific sessions or topics

‍

🧠 Why It Works

The psychological principle at play here is called immediacy. The closer the reward is to the experience, the stronger the association — and the more likely it is to be remembered and valued. It also reinforces the educational or networking impact of the session right when enthusiasm is highest.

‍

🔧 What You’ll Need

To implement this seamlessly:

• A mobile-friendly badge request form (ideally branded)

• Strategically placed QR codes (near exits, speaker tables, or info booths)

• Clear signage and short instructions (“Scan to claim your badge!”)

This simple tactic can elevate your event’s digital infrastructure and leave participants with a stronger, more interactive impression of your brand.

Post-Event Digital Badges: Recognize and Reward

The event may be over — but the opportunity to add value has just begun. Post-event digital badges are among the most powerful tools for extending the impact of your event beyond its final session. When used strategically, they serve not only as a gesture of appreciation, but also as verifiable proof of participation, skills, or learning.

‍

🎓 Acknowledging Attendance and Learning

Especially in educational events, workshops, training sessions, or conferences with formal content, attendees expect more than just a “thank you” — they want recognition. Post-event badges provide a credible, digital way to certify:

• Attendance

• Participation in specific sessions

• Completion of learning goals or assessments

These badges add tangible value to your event, and in many cases, become a career asset.

‍

💼 From Event to LinkedIn: Turning Badges into Career Currency

Today’s professionals are increasingly curating their digital identities on platforms like LinkedIn. A well-designed badge — with your branding, event name, and verification link — can find a permanent place on their profile.

By enabling attendees to showcase their involvement, you:

• Amplify your event’s visibility to their networks

• Position your brand as an authority in your field

• Encourage others to join your next event to earn similar credentials

A verified post-event badg — ready to be added to LinkedIn or a digital portfolio.

‍

Want to see how this works in practice?

In the EUvsVirus Hackathon, Virtualbadge.io issued thousands of post-event badges to participants across Europe — helping organizers reward involvement and amplify impact on LinkedIn and beyond.
Read the full EUvsVirus case study →

🧠 Psychological Impact: Recognition Builds Loyalty

Recognition fuels motivation. When attendees feel their time and effort were acknowledged, they’re more likely to:

• Return for future events

• Engage with your educational offerings

• Recommend your organization to others

In short, post-event badges are more than a souvenir — they’re a bridge between participation and long-term engagement.

Choosing the Right Strategy: When to Use Which Badge?

Now that we’ve explored how digital badges can be used before, during, and after an event — the question becomes: Which type of badge should you use, and when?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The ideal strategy depends on the goals of your event, your audience, and the kind of experience you want to create.

‍

🎯 Start with Your Event Goals

Ask yourself:

• Are you trying to attract more attendees? → Pre-event badges

• Do you want to recognize participation or learning? → Post-event badges

• Are you focused on live engagement during the event? → In-event badge requests

Clear goals will help you decide the right moment to introduce a digital badge into the attendee journey.

But attention: Don't overdo it. The digital badges should be valuable token.

‍

👥 Understand Your Audience

Different audience types respond to different incentives:

• Students or learners may value post-event badges as proof of effort and accomplishment

• Professionals or industry peers may be motivated to share pre-event badges for visibility and networking

• Sponsors or speakers benefit from early exposure via branded participation badges (and get a great visual for their LinkedIn posts!).

Match your badge type to what matters most to them.

‍

❌ Avoid Common Mistakes

• Don’t issue badges with unclear value or purpose — make sure they mean something

• Avoid badge overload — too many badges can dilute their significance

• Never skip the opportunity to verify and link badges to a branded validation page

A well-executed badge strategy doesn’t just reflect a great event — it enhances it.

Conclusion & Best Practices

Digital badges are more than just a trend — they’re a powerful way to create memorable, meaningful, and measurable event experiences. Whether you’re working with students, professionals, or a wider public audience, the right badge at the right time can amplify your impact.

Let’s recap the essentials:

‍

‍✅ Best Practices Checklist

‍

Before the Event:

• Offer pre-event badges to boost visibility and drive registrations

• Design badges that are shareable and visually aligned with your event branding

• Encourage attendees, speakers, and partners to post them on social media

‍

During the Event:

• Use QR codes for session-based badge requests (e.g., near speaker booths)

• Make badge forms mobile-friendly and easy to access

• Communicate the value of the badge clearly (e.g., “Proof of Attendance”)

‍

After the Event:

• Send personalized post-event badges to acknowledge participation and learning

• Include verification links and easy sharing options (especially for LinkedIn)

• Follow up with additional resources to deepen engagement

‍

🎯 Final Thought

The timing of your badge strategy matters. Done well, digital credentials enhance the overall experience, strengthen your brand, and empower your participants to celebrate their involvement far beyond the event itself.

📣 Ready to bring digital badges to your next event?

Virtualbadge.io helps you issue branded, verifiable badges before, during, and after your event — with ease.
👉 Book a free demo and discover how badges can power up your participant experience.

‍