tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22600981409215890302024-03-19T12:49:56.652-05:00The BusyEvent Blog About Event Management & The Events IndustryThe Event Industry and our thoughts about what's right, what can be better and the role of BusyEvent in all of that. BusyEvent, Event Management Now Available in EASY!BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-26781564389291370012009-03-27T16:37:00.000-05:002009-03-27T16:39:57.059-05:00How to Waste Money on a Trade Show<p><strong>Tradeshows . . . Where Good Leads (no longer have to) Go To Die.</strong> Almost a year ago we wrote a series of articles on the challenges that tradeshow attendees face: <em>Tradeshows, Where Good Leads go to Die</em> (<a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog/?p=18" target="_blank">Part 1</a> & <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog/?p=19" target="_blank">Part 2</a>), our version of a Jerry Maguire document. Taken as a whole, it outlines the problems in the tradeshow and events industry and describes a set of solutions.</p> <p><strong>So today, we are launching <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog_images/BusyEvent_EventBookmarking.pdf" target="_blank">Event Bookmarking</a></strong>, a proprietary software and integrated hardware system designed to improve audience response, face-to-face social networking and lead management.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.busyevent.com/blog_images/belinker.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p>Everyday, we talk with event managers, vendors, sponsors, speakers and attendees discussing the good, the bad and the ugly about their events. One of the core issues we discuss is the pressure for a return on investment in the expo or booth area.</p> <p>In any economy, participation in an expo is dependent upon the amount of <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">qualified leads</span></em> a vendor received for their time, money and efforts. But simply agreeing to invest in a show is only half the battle because traditional lead management only produces a list of who was “scanned”; a list of a list, if you will. It can’t produce a list of truly ‘qualified leads’.</p> <p>The follow up on these lists can be daunting and is typically done by placing those new leads into the sales pipeline for eBlasting or even worse “dialing for dollars” phone calls made by the newest sales trainees or more expensively, top sales talent.</p> <p>After a busy show, attendees get pounded with junk mail and emails and phone calls thanking them for stopping by and ‘pitching’ the product or service. As a result, little list qualification occurs and they simply become part of the database going forward. Solving that problem is what generated the lead management component of <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog_images/BusyEvent_EventBookmarking.pdf" target="_blank">Event Bookmarking</a> (PDF Download).</p> <p>And now the story that started it all… Years ago, we attended one of the tradeshows about tradeshows. We happened across one of the dozen or so ‘event management’ companies (translation - event registration software), ate the candy, took a brochure out of guilt, and thanked them for their time. We learned a lot from that experience. We were two people in a show full of several thousand attendees. We came, we saw, we talked and then we left . . . For us, that was that.</p> <p>And that’s when the emails and the phone calls and the invitations started coming. “We’re having a webinar!”, “We’re doing a luncheon in your town!”, “We’re offering new modules that we’ve stacked on top of the other ones… it’s all shiny and new and you MUST BE THERE to see it!!!”</p> <p>Since we were relatively unimpressed with what we saw and were already well into the development of the <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/" target="_blank">BusyEvent Event Management Platform</a>, we opted-out and took this one-time experience as a good dose of what not to do. Our event management clients were telling us what they wanted, didn’t like, wished they could have and we had already been building tools like this for over a decade as one-off software. The time was right for us to build an event platform.</p> <p>But the lunch invitations kept coming. Even as we were launching Version 1 of <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/" target="_blank">BusyEvent</a> and made no secret to who we were, nobody at the “we’ll invite you to a luncheon and show you our stuff” company had any tools or information to know if we were a qualified lead or not - so we’re still on the list today.</p> <p>Last week, we received another email (the 4th in a period of 6 months) about another lunch and demo of their tools and that’s when we sat down and started doing some math. What did this one unqualified lead cost them and how many unqualified thousands more are rattling around in their system?</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.busyevent.com/blog_images/PURLvendors.jpg" alt="" width="554" height="214" /></p> <p>If they had just been able to sift through the thousands of contacts they gathered at the event we attended to find the 50-100 good and qualifiable leads it would have been more useful to them. What they do with the other 900 is up to them . . . so, here’s what we do:</p> <ol><li>First, everyone doesn’t get a color glossy brochure that will <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog/?p=94" target="_blank">sooner-than-later</a> find its way into a landfill. Instead, had that original event had the <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog_images/BusyEvent_EventBookmarking.pdf" target="_blank">Event Bookmarking</a> system in use, every contact could be filtered and the qualified leads would get more attention.</li><li>Then, we track who downloaded our PDF brochure, clicked on the link to our site, blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc… and expressed ANY follow-on interest.</li><li>By self-identifying as ‘interested’ each of those more-qualified leads would get a call from us about the real actions that occurred (we met, we talked, you clicked a link, etc…) and as appropriate, those qualified-leads would continue through the sales funnel until a more expensive contact, such as a meeting, a lunch, or demo, etc…made sense.</li><li>The others would all get an invite to a webinar, links to downloads and perhaps a quick 3 question survey about what they’re interested in. And they’d remain in the ‘more qualifications needed’ list.</li></ol> <p>Before Event Bookmarking, Sales and Marketing would have no way to measure a successful show other than the number of contacts they gathered - qualified or not, “just get me names”. Those really aren’t leads, but rather, names on a list. Then inside sales is incentivized to get people to come to the luncheon no matter what their level of interest. This occurs over and over until nobody knows where the leads came from or what money is best spent on Marketing. It’s the “brute force approach” and we believe that budgets will never be there for that, ever again.</p> <p>What you’ll see by downloading the <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog_images/BusyEvent_EventBookmarking.pdf" target="_blank">Event Bookmarking</a> brochure is what we’ll address for every attendee; the actual measurement of ROI and the identification of which contacts are worth spending time and money on and converting into leads.</p> <p><strong>That’s why . . . rather than continuing to be part of the problem, we’re offering part of the solution.</strong></p> <h2><span style="text-decoration: underline;">What is <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog_images/BusyEvent_EventBookmarking.pdf" target="_blank">Event Bookmarking</a></span>?</h2> <p>It’s a software and purpose-built hardware platform that combines Lead Management with Audience Response, Face-to-Face Social Networking and an online information source to extend a 3-5 day event into a 365 day year-round connection between attendees, vendors, speakers, sponsors and event managers.</p> <p>So, feel free to download our ‘<a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog_images/BusyEvent_EventBookmarking.pdf" target="_blank">Green Friendly’ brochure</a> and call us to discuss how to cut the cost of event management in half while getting quality event information as it happens.</p>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-30599912372895400292009-03-21T01:39:00.002-05:002009-03-21T01:59:19.523-05:00Fixing the Problem - A Series On What's Going On & What Can Be Done<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Fixing the Problem - Part 3: Where do we go next?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Over the past decade we have seen vendors and sponsors demand more and better results from the dollars they invest in events.<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://mentalfloss.cachefly.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/wait_ill_fix_it_410.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 235px;" src="http://mentalfloss.cachefly.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/wait_ill_fix_it_410.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is a trend that will continue to challenge event producers to become more creative in the development of sponsor and vendor packages. And even when the economic trends reverse, the new "new" will be with us from here forward.<br /><br />At the root of these improvements is better information and connectivity; communicating and 'listening' rather than waiting to talk.<br /><br />Sponsors who traditionally placed their brand on signage in support of the event are looking for ways to get the voice of the customer, educate customers on better use of their products, roll out new product offerings and open up a year-round channel of communication.<br /><br />Vendors are looking for ways to hasten and improve the qualification-process. Who, out of the thousands of people they interact with, have been sparked with an interest in what was seen and should be followed up with, first?<br /><br />And everyone would prefer to skip the production, shipping and drayage of paper brochures.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As sponsors and vendors become more selective of which shows they will support/attend, the thing that will raise one event over another, is the ability to deliver their target audience, prepped and ready to go. If event managers can know their attendees and can help them make decisions pro-actively, then the successful events will know how to offer attendees more of what they need and sponsors/vendors more of what they want.<br /><br />This is not an imposition on anyone’s privacy but rather a world view of what are the most popular items being reviewed on the attendee’s personal URLs.<br /><br /><a href="http://busyevent.blogspot.com/2009/03/fixing-problem-series-on-whats-going-on_17.html">In Part Two</a> we discussed how the PURL gathers what each person saw and did at an event and then makes that information available immediately and long after the event is over. Measuring the traffic to those PURLs is just one way we can know what was hot and what was not leading up to, during and following an event.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The goal of this activity is continuous improvement which raises attendance, draws better sponsorships and attracts higher-quality vendors and speakers. Measurement offers insight and tangible numbers that drive better revenues. This is an important step to increasing the health of the event industry in any economy.<br /><br />As a case study, the client mentioned in <a href="http://busyevent.blogspot.com/2009/03/fixing-problem-series-on-whats-going-on.html">Part One</a> has offered just some of what we have outlined above and they are seeing upwards of a 40% increase in sponsorship revenue over their 2007 numbers, a 10% increase in attendance and an excitement that was unexpected but a pleasant surprise, none-the-less.<br /><br />So, what's it all mean? The new lessons are the same ones we've known:<br /></span><ul><li>Seek first to understand and then be understood.</li><li>Content matters.</li><li>"Love" IS the killer app and above all else, your mother was right . . .<br /></li><li>Look both ways before you cross the street.</li></ul>Those 4 pearls of wisdom have always been true, and they will be as we go forward.BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-58980095470628926712009-03-17T13:08:00.005-05:002009-03-17T13:37:22.795-05:00Fixing the Problem - A Series On What's Going On & What Can Be Done<span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Part Two – Assisting those who are left behind<br /></span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog_images/virtual.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 588px; height: 239px;" src="http://www.busyevent.com/blog_images/virtual.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In any economy, events with a good balance of speakers, educational content, social networking and interaction with new products and ideas do well.<br /><br />People want to participate in an event because, for many industries, it is the best way to do business.<br /><br />The good news is events are still happening.<br /><br />The bad news… companies are sending fewer people, spending less money and putting incredible pressure on event planners to help them turn every penny into an ROI of more (not necessarily a bad thing).<br /><br /><a href="http://busyevent.blogspot.com/2009/03/fixing-problem-series-on-whats-going-on.html">In Part 1 of this series addressing how we can start “Fixing the Problem”</a>, we discussed how to combat attrition. In Part 2, we're going to share how event attendees are including their co-workers back at the office and expanding the on-site ROI into the virtual and NO, we're not talking about Virtual Tradeshows.<br /><br />While the event is in progress many have taken to Twittering, blogging, and camera phones to share the best finds. BusyEvent is about to launch an easier process that benefits everyone involved (for more information visit the <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog">BusyEvent blog</a> to learn how we <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog/?p=91">Integrate Twitter into Every BusyEvent</a>). </span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Keeping track of the people you meet, breakout sessions, new products, learning and the general excitement of an event can be easily shared in real time through the personal URL you receive when you sign up for a BusyEvent. Getting your co-workers involved by letting you know what speakers, people and product information they want you to collect at the event, can be done in advance.<br /><br />On site you are assigned a key-fob sized, wearable device that attaches to your badge/lanyard to capture your bookmarks; permanent people, product and information links that can be stored and retrieved later.<br /><br />Meanwhile, back at the office, your colleagues can see what you are seeing and even text message additional requests along the way.<br /><br />From a vendor and sponsor perspective, the benefits of exposure to the larger audience are still there and in fact, are there in a more permanent and penetrating way.<br /><br />The benefits?<br /></span><ol><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The attending company reduces their travel cost.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Electronic brochures, presentations, blogs, and links to social networking via LinkedIn and Facebook all come together to reduce printed material costs and add a Green benefit to the event.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Real-time communications improve the overall experience and assure that the on-site attendee meets who they're supposed to meet and gets to follow up with them in a meaningful way.<br /></span></li></ol><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Nothing can replace a face to face experience, but with Event Bookmarking we are making it easy for larger groups to glean useful knowledge from an event before, during and long after it is over.<br /><br />Event Bookmarking also extends the reach for vendors and sponsors to connect with potential customers well beyond the days of the event.<br /><br />Combine that with how we're <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog/?p=91">integrating Twitter into the On-Site and Virtual event experience</a> and you quickly see that content, communications and control make event attendance "on-site" just one component of the value that a company's overall event experience can have.<br /><br />Tomorrow, in Part 3, we will discuss how to use this process to grow sponsorship and virtual presence revenues, as well.</span>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-40777098286459180782009-03-15T07:41:00.005-05:002009-03-17T13:36:08.055-05:00Fixing the Problem - A Series On What's Going On & What Can Be Done<span style="font-weight: bold;">Fixing the Problem - Part 1 in a series on "What's Going On & What Can Be Done</span>"<br /><br />We're fortunate to have clients that are so forward thinking, that are true leaders in their field, that working with them stretches and pushes us.<br /><br />So, during the past year, we've had a chance to observe and contribute to seminal ideas that we believe will have a positive impact on the industry as a whole.<br /><br />In this 3 part series, we'll share some ideas, along with specific examples, of things our clients have done to improve their events from an operational, financial and engagement perspective, along with those things that are in process or development right now.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Part One: Taking a Proactive Approach</span><br />In Spring 2007, using the BusyEvent Event Management System, we helped one of our first clients run their event for 4,500 people… a global event with attendees from more than 70 countries.<br /><br />As you can imagine, 2009’s global event brought serious concerns about participation, costs and engagement; specifically how to utilize and harness the power of social media. But, as is their typical process, he client locked in a date and began the planning process with us last year and are reaping the benefits of starting early, communicating actively and surrounding themselves with the best events talent they could find.<br /><br />Rather than negotiate larger attrition percentages, we took a proactive approach to work with the hotel by reducing the rate a bit. We went further to work together on an incentive package for early birds that included hundreds of free room nights, free future stays, show tickets, suite upgrades and other fantastic reasons to book early.<br /><br />By getting those who were pretty sure they were coming to book early and encourage others to join them, the results have been fantastic. Numbers are up 10% over the same time in 2007, limited seating education sessions are filling up and there’s a positive buzz about how the event has stepped up in quality this year. Because this event happens every two years it is vital to building relationships, sharing new ideas and supporting the employees in the field.<br /><br />Events like this are happening every week and while the show must go on, there are new rules for how to run more cost effective events.<br /><br />Utilizing the BusyEvent system, we are utilizing new ways to deliver events for 30-40% less while providing better information that drives valuable relationships. Taking advantage of the tools that we provide, BusyEvent technology is quickly becoming the silver bullet to running a serious event in need of a serious return on investment.<br /><br />We encourage you to get proactive and even creative about your events. How ? We’re seeing the trends shift to those who are tired of complaining and anxious to make good things happen.<br /><br />While face to face events are still the best way to meet people and do business, <a href="http://busyevent.blogspot.com/2009/03/fixing-problem-series-on-whats-going-on_17.html">in Part 2 of "Fixing the Problem"</a> we will explore how to help those company employees who couldn’t make it to this year's event.<br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-38308049728603110672009-03-14T19:46:00.007-05:002009-03-15T19:41:28.372-05:00If The Old Model is Broken, What Will Work in its Place?”<span style="font-weight: bold;">If The Old Model is Broken, What Will Work in its Place?”</span><br /><br />As an Events Management company, we're big fans of industries and companies that have faced what the events industry is facing, figured out a way to 're-engineer' themselves and grow to even great heights.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.auburnmedia.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/istock_000007651429xsmall.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 197px;" src="http://www.auburnmedia.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/istock_000007651429xsmall.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Examples such as Domino's Pizza, Amazon.com, Twitter and others certainly have great lessons to learn from.<br /><br />On the other hand, it's also intriguing to watch an industry re-invent itself right in front of our eyes, much like what's going on with the traditional media and newspaper industry, the venture capital markets, the auto and financial industry and so many others, today.<br /><br />In a post on the <a href="http://www.smays.com/">Steve Mays</a> blog, he writes about an article authored by Clay Shirky: "<a href="http://www.shirky.com/weblog/2009/03/newspapers-and-thinking-the-unthinkable/">Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable</a>". Shirky provides some intriguing insights that significantly parallel the events industry of today.<br /><br />Below, excerpts from his article edited with an events focus (our edits are in parenthesis).<br /><br />"<em>If the old model is broken, what will work in its place?” To which the answer is: Nothing. Nothing will work. There is no general model for (events) to replace the one the (economy and need for efficiencies) just broke."<br /><br />"With the old economics destroyed, (practices) perfected for (an era of big budgets) have to be replaced with (those) optimized for a new era both economically and digitally. It makes increasingly less sense even to talk about an (events) industry, because the core problem (events) solve — the incredible difficulty, complexity, and expense of (meeting people and engaging with them) — has stopped being a problem."<br /><br />"When someone demands to be told how we are going to (revitalize the events industry), they are really demanding to be told:<br /></em><ul><li><em>that we are not living through a revolution,<br /></em></li><li><em>that old systems won’t break before new systems are in place,<br /></em></li><li><em>that ancient social bargains aren’t in peril,<br /></em></li><li><em>that core institutions will be spared,<br /></em></li><li><em>that new methods of (meeting and engaging) will improve the previous practices rather than upend them.</em></li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">In essence, they're</span><em><span style="font-style: italic;"> demanding to be lied to.</span><br /></em><em><br /></em>For the events industry to weather this current storm, learn the necessary lessons from it and to once again thrive, initiatives like "Keep America Meeting" are good first steps. But, they're stop gap and certainly won't be enough; making the same argument over and over again is insanity.<br /><br />Why? Because the events industry won't ever look like it once did. Improved ROIs will have to be there, true engagement will have to be there, events will have to transform from 3 day events to year-long sources of opportunity and the costs, that's all going to have to change.<br /><br />For those of us ready for this change, the future looks bright. For those stuck in the 'old way', the march of the dinosaur's has already begun.<br /><br />Rather than a clarion call or siren's song, what we're hearing in the wind is our clients telling us that we're going to have to be better for them and for the future of us.<br /><br />Those that are ready to answer that call are what the future of the events industry will be.<br /><br />In our next series of posts, we'll overview what we've seen work in both the near term as well as for the long term future. The series, titled "Fixing the Problem" will begin on Monday.<br /><em></em><em style="font-style: italic;"></em><em></em>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-36053639247406455162009-03-07T07:01:00.005-06:002009-03-07T07:13:42.688-06:00Debunking 6 Social Media MythsBusyEvent uses social media for both promotional purposes as well as a tool for clients to get insights to their events and to encourage participation. But, as exciting as some of the tools are, it's not about the tools - it's about their uses and above all else, "it's the content"!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.businessweek.com/gen/logos/bw/bw_255x54.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 54px;" src="http://images.businessweek.com/gen/logos/bw/bw_255x54.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>So when we hear about all the "social media buzz" and watch as people go frothing at the gills about Twitter, Flickr, Blogr, Shopr, et alr, it reminds us of Web 1. Remember when the web was going to kill bricks-and-mortar? Remember when the web was going to kill movie going? Remember when the web was going to kill TV and commuting to work and talking with people?<br /><br />Yeah, not so much.<br /><br />So, it was with great interest that we read, "<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2009/tc20090218_335887.htm">Debunking Six Social Media Myths</a>", from Business Week Magazine written by B.L. Ochman, the president of <a href="http://www.whatsnextonline.com/">Whatsnexonline.com</a>.<br /><br />BL's basic premise, learn from the past and remember, "free aint' what it used to be".BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-53570341043071921002009-03-05T19:43:00.005-06:002009-03-05T19:47:47.627-06:00We’re Hiring a Zen Garden Design Guru!We’re Hiring a web designer to Zen Garden our event management application.<br /><br />Our goal is to show off the flexibility of the visual design flexibility of the BusyEvent event management platform.<br /><br />For more information, visit our blog at: <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog/?p=90">http://www.busyevent.com/blog</a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9mTzcGX9sz11q19EIgUPMDKvwFleTO6OjG5OqLgV65rmwlIiK8lkXpQq8TavO7S6H9bcCC2BEvIrq3yOF-hv74qDAmWalidSJeao-NJmce-865f6uj3P5MuCdb98jD-im0honjkeQIY/s1600-h/EditSurvey.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9mTzcGX9sz11q19EIgUPMDKvwFleTO6OjG5OqLgV65rmwlIiK8lkXpQq8TavO7S6H9bcCC2BEvIrq3yOF-hv74qDAmWalidSJeao-NJmce-865f6uj3P5MuCdb98jD-im0honjkeQIY/s320/EditSurvey.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309885136330454706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLynyRJT_vfGNnzSR1fsG7LKCFR5RHEuTcdlHa3UzghMMuYQv21FxSA_LL96-Nnvf4gCz0itIjQUlayt_nqipIj71CeS8eO0jZ7OhbWDaD0RLor_q5YJSANc-1aueVtzXt6A5SG-bi-w/s1600-h/EditGateway.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLynyRJT_vfGNnzSR1fsG7LKCFR5RHEuTcdlHa3UzghMMuYQv21FxSA_LL96-Nnvf4gCz0itIjQUlayt_nqipIj71CeS8eO0jZ7OhbWDaD0RLor_q5YJSANc-1aueVtzXt6A5SG-bi-w/s320/EditGateway.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309884896630146018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsVE0sA1Pwn-Px3Bnbccc4dt-bUMgINCtMHNyiyBPCz-1wb7lpnii8xT5nONGOA2HVn1NcalTZMd0mJlkKNuJjC5bZ4tR9YXVSbmtvKRt3mO0OwA4mAR-zuks3naOvUtx1FoZB583Lfo/s1600-h/EditPublication.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsVE0sA1Pwn-Px3Bnbccc4dt-bUMgINCtMHNyiyBPCz-1wb7lpnii8xT5nONGOA2HVn1NcalTZMd0mJlkKNuJjC5bZ4tR9YXVSbmtvKRt3mO0OwA4mAR-zuks3naOvUtx1FoZB583Lfo/s320/EditPublication.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309884985891803138" border="0" /></a>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-55912031939025683972009-03-05T10:53:00.002-06:002009-03-05T11:09:38.075-06:00Keep America MeetingMeetings and Events enhance employee and partner performance, fuel company growth and profitability, support local communities and aid the American economy.<br /><br />As an events company, BusyEvent is 100% in support of the Keep America Meeting initiative and encourage anyone reading this blog to <a href="http://www.keepamericameeting.org/">sign the petition</a>.<br /><br />The Goal? 1,000,000 signatures - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yl2zUjS5kWk&NR=1">kind of like this</a>!BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-40998033184177281942009-02-26T14:09:00.003-06:002009-02-26T15:00:56.428-06:00You're Going to Use WHAT?<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/answers?browseExperts=&sort=n&category=CEP">LinkedIn Questions</a> is always a great source of information and discussions.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=191655&authToken=fW3h&authType=name">Nicolaas Pereboom</a> recently asked about the <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&discussionID=1644566&gid=118671&trk=EML_anet_qa_ttle-cnhOon0JumNFomgJt7dBpSBA">use of mobile devices to conduct Audience Response</a>. As you would expect, we've gone through all of the available research re: mobile device use in the events industry. From the technical to device market penetration, to audience receptivity/resisdence to the idea and so forth.<br /><br />ALL of our research indicates that real penetration and real ARS uses on ubiquitous devices, such as mobile phones, just isn't there yet.<br /><br />In response to Nicolaas' question, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/davidjschenberg">David</a> shared a bit of our expertise.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.etiaudienceresponse.com/images/audience_responses.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 196px;" src="http://www.etiaudienceresponse.com/images/audience_responses.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Nicolaas: If you do business in convention centers you'll appreciate many of them are underground and often have spotty coverage for cellphones even when the hotel has installed cellular repeaters.<br /></div><br />If you can get past the possible coverage issues, next up are people that scoff at the fees if they don't own an all you can eat text plan. We think this will become less and less of an issue but it might be another few years before we see the convergence of fees not being an issue and coverage being acceptable.<br /><br />So covering costs and coverage are easy enough to monitor... next consider the demographics of your audience. If you are supporting a wired group of techno-wizards - then you are good to go. But if your audience is a mixed bag of the savvy and not, then your changes of success start to slide.<br /><br />This is why we like a hybrid model that can accept data from both cellphones and ARS devices at the same time. You choose your flavor and everyone can be satisfied.BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-48338356185920114772009-02-25T18:54:00.003-06:002009-02-25T19:05:38.593-06:00Events Play Increasingly Crucial Role in the Marketing Mix<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CBRIANS%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CBRIANS%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CBRIANS%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> 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mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;} span.EmailStyle15 {mso-style-type:personal; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-unhide:no; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-size:10.0pt; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";" >We've known this for years, and as we've seen the growth of our events business caused in large part by cost structure and efficiencies, it's become clear that the events industry is being turned to more and more.
<br />
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.promotions1.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 214px;" src="http://www.promotion1.com/images/projects/cnn_03.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";" >And now, we've got some evidence . . . turns out that in this report offered by the George P. Johnson company, <span style="font-style: italic;">Data shows decision-makers are turning to event marketing (also known as experiential marketing) to drive purchase behavior and deepen engagement.
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">
<br /><span style=";font-family:";" ></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";" >In St. Louis, we're fortunate to have some of the top events company in the country, right in our own backyard. Companies like <a href="http://www.promotions1.com/">Promotion</a> managing national campaigns for Fortune 100 clients (and we're talking about clients other than the brewery) have leveraged experiential marketing since their inception.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">
<br /><span style=";font-family:";" ></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=";font-family:";" >As <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/">BusyEvent</a> continues to mature as a product and a company, it's cool to see that the industry is taking advantage of the types of tools that will help it to grow - creating opportunities, revenues and turning data into information.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">
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<br /><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-70424312447073469282009-02-22T01:39:00.002-06:002009-02-22T01:48:29.769-06:00We're Hiring a PR and Social Media Pro!<span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content">RETWEET: HIRING (Proj>Perm) Savvy PR Pro. Writer for blogs, PR, SocMedia. DM or <a href="mailto:hireme@pmgstl.com?subject=I%20am%20a%20PR%20and%20Social%20Media%20Pro">hireme@pmgstl.com</a>. Prefer STL, will consider virtual.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Panamedia Group, the parent company of the BusyEvent Event Management Platform, is hiring a freelance PR and Social Media Pro.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.globalprblogweek.com/images/2005/tmurphy_pr_hype_cycle.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.globalprblogweek.com/images/2005/tmurphy_pr_hype_cycle.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We’re looking for someone that has serious experience with social media. That means <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viral_marketing">viral campaigns</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog">blogs</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter">twitter</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebook_Connect#Facebook_Connect">facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/companies/busyevent">LinkedIn</a> and all that other 2.0 stuff that was hot 2 years ago and is mainstream now. You don’t have to be the genius behind the 25 Things meme, or the creator of lonelygirl15, but you should probably know what those things are, and why they were successful.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Your initial projects are going to be things like writing some copy for our web site, press releases, and some help with articles on our blog. We’d also like you to help us use social media to get our name out there.<br /><br />We’ve got a bunch of people in our target demographic that read our blog and follow us on twitter, your job will be to help us expand that and turn some of them into happy customers. You’ll also help us brainstorm new ways to reach more people, and do even cooler things with the web.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This is a freelance, project-based job, you can work on your own but we will need you to come into our office when we start each project, and periodically after that. We do have a spare desk, so you’re welcome to work in our office if you prefer. The usual carrots of “if this goes well, we’ll do more together” apply.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />You can find out more about us at <a href="http://www.busyevent.com">www.busyevent.com</a>. We’re a startup, with offices in Maryland Heights, MO right below the best place for Gyros in St. Louis. We have solid funding, real income, and despite the economy a growing client base and a lot of interest in our products. We just need the right person to help up boost our marketing efforts while we’re busy making awesome software instead of twittering and posting to blogs.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Interested? Send us a DM <a href="http://www.twitter.com/busyevent">@BusyEvent</a> or email <a href="mailto:hireme@pmgstl.com?subject=I%20am%20a%20PR%20&%20Social%20Media%20Pro%21">hireme@pmgstl.com</a>.</span>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-19692260935548331992009-02-15T09:45:00.004-06:002009-02-15T09:54:40.743-06:00Event CRM - Making a Real Difference at Events<span style="font-family:arial;">Legacy event management tools are complex, niche-focused, expensive and disconnected.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.billfulton.com/images/confusion.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 344px; height: 308px;" src="http://www.billfulton.com/images/confusion.bmp" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /> <span style="font-family:arial;">To run a modern event, meeting professionals have to oversee 3-5 companies supplying individual pieces or, manage the details using spreadsheets, post-it notes and an overwhelming number of phone calls and emails.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And it's time for that to stop.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Regardless of the approach, they lose valuable data and can never access actionable information until it’s too late to impact their event. Plus, the social networking tools being used aren't integrated into the overall event so that the one person you really want meet or learn from never crosses your path.</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">With BusyEvent, we're changing not only the face of the events industry, but the core of how events are run, managed, utilized and leveraged to create opportunity, connectedness and profit.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Learn more about the BusyEvent approach to events from our CEO, David Schenberg: <a href="http://www.smallbizamerica.com/sbb/detail/trade-show-leverage-with-david-schenberg/">http://www.smallbizamerica.com/sbb/detail/trade-show-leverage-with-david-schenberg/ </a></span>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-16103228271745889172009-02-14T20:52:00.003-06:002009-02-14T20:58:45.518-06:00The Mind of a Meeting Professional - Eliminating the Aaaaaargh Factor!One month done.<br /><br />Successful events and challenges met.<br /><br />So, what do our clients 'think' and how was the decision made to hire BusyEvent?<br /><br />Using some of the visualization tools we're deploying for our clients, we thought it would be an interesting experiment to apply our client survey data to those tools.<br /><br />Here's what we found, we hope this is useful for you as well.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog_images/xyz.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 201px;" src="http://www.busyevent.com/blog_images/xyz.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></div>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-34391305060818033332009-02-11T12:29:00.004-06:002009-02-11T12:42:16.367-06:00Turning Data Into Information (Part 2)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.neoformix.com/Projects/TwitterStreamGraphs/view.php?q=busyevent"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 505px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EznXRxOkf60u01U0phHXqcxqz3kEkBasri5YT0YSZ2cz9ijs1yB_eE5yeQsoLJimG4yxzsIB2qcNLP4CnK06O7JjN9pTIPwNqTrXUCy6ToeZZX9vsHMrRLY0tPUdY_WBL77b8-LPBNA/s320/twitterstreamgraph.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301609303477243026" border="0" /></a><br />Putting meaning to data is as important at getting it in the first place. <br /><br />As we continue to work on and develop the data > information pathway for our clients, "information visualization" tools are becoming an increasingly fascinating passion around our offices.<br /><br />For instance, in addition to the "how many people BE-Linked with each other", we're also now able to slice data so that our clients can mine for the most ROI-laden nuggets of information.<br /><br />Plus, being the voracious researchers that we are, we've recently run across a fascinating tool developed by <a href="http://twitter.com/JeffClark">Jeff Clark</a> from the company <a href="http://www.neoformix.com/">Neoformix</a>. While the work they're making public is primarily focused on the <a href="http://www.neoformix.com/Projects/TwitterStreamGraphs/view.php">Twitter Stream</a>, their idea of data visualization and making information out of the stream is intriguing.<br /><br />How is this pertinent to the events industry? Can you imagine the amount of information that goes wasted after any 3 day event? Who met whom? Who mattered to whom? Who engaged with whom? Which vendors are most popular? Which topics are most popular? Which parts of the event fell flat on its face? For all the BE-Linking going on, which generated opportunities and revenues? And on and on and on!BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-64100479219668009792009-02-08T11:43:00.002-06:002009-02-08T11:54:23.417-06:00"Just Add Water . . . and Run Your Event"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://startuppodcast.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/ssplogo3.jpg?w=261&h=147"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 147px;" src="http://startuppodcast.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/ssplogo3.jpg?w=261&h=147" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">CEO David Schenberg was recently interviewed by Microsoft’s Bob Walsh and Patrick Foley for the Startup Success Podcast.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">During the interview, they focused on how BusyEvent is providing “effortless event management tools so (event managers) can stress about the things that matter”.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />David’s interview begins at 8 minutes in and a discussion about the BE-LINK system (at 23:30 in) outlines how BusyEvent combines Lead Management with Audience Response while helping people bring their personal and professional networks to an event – all with a single consolidated tool.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Listen to the podcast at: <a href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog/?p=77">http://www.busyevent.com/blog/?p=77</a></span>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-84505931074453323372009-01-06T13:02:00.003-06:002009-01-06T13:11:10.629-06:00The Best of . . . Q&A with BusyEvent<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" >People ask us a lot of questions and we always publish them in our blog: <a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.busyevent.com/blog">www.busyevent.com/blog</a>. The following are the top three from the last few months. Want to ask a question of your own, email it to<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="mailto://info@busyevent.com">info@busyevent.com</a>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">John asks</span>: How do you think text messaging could help the industry?<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">BusyEvent Answers</span>: There are many services for both business and entertainment that have popped up over the past few years that are beginning to take the place of traditional websites. There are a large percentage of people who still don't use a phone with email capabilities. The moment those people leave their computer, they lose their tether to the latest info typically sent to their inbox. Some of the most important applications that will continue to evolve center on things that affect consumer's time, money, convenience and connectedness with business and family contacts. In the events industry notifications about schedule changes, special opportunities, sponsor offers and the fact that someone you plan to meet has just arrived at the lobby are just a few of the text features we're already implementing. Text to Speech is another area worth investigation as well.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Annie asks</span>: Why do people go to conferences?<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">BusyEvent answers</span>: This is a timeless question. The ebb and flow of our travel economy causes people to wonder how the conference business will survive and even thrive. One thing has not changed over the years... content is king. If an event has a combination of things that cannot be found anywhere else any other time of the year, it should continue to do well. Short change the supporters of an event in any area and it will suffer. People look for new products, great speakers with industry insight, subject matter experts, plenty of social networking and generally a location that gives them time to enjoy while sharpening the saw. Emerging technologies that keep people more connected before and after the show are the area where effort could pay off to improve this well-proven experience. When the goal is gain or strengthen client relationships, these technologies will go further to help qualify a set of timely needs. Anything that can help potential attendees, exhibitors and sponsors decide that this is the show for them will be worth the investment as the economy tightens. You will need a distinct advantage over other show properties to help people decide where to spend their limited budgets.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">(Another) John asks</span>: What's the difference between a sponsorship and a true brand partnership?<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">BusyEvent answers</span>: As the economy waffles for the near future, new sponsorships will become more difficult to obtain and existing ones will fade. Brand partnership requires a good understanding of the profiles of the various users of the brand. If an event can know enough about their attendees and then deliver the right demographic audience to the brand, then there's a real reason for sponsorship (money, services, in-kind products like food/beverage/prizes). Real creativity is required to build up a brand partnership that gets a group of people really engaged in the brand. Simply placing logos on stuff isn't going to fit into shrinking marketing budgets. The emerging trend is to gather better data before, during and after the event so you have something tangible to show a brand to obtain their involvement in your event(s). We use SMS, web, variable data postcards, voice response, RFID and barcoding in concert to know as much about a group of people as we can without anyone feeling manipulated. It's a rewards-focused program where people let us know a little about their preferences and get something valuable for their time. I hope this either confirms what you were thinking or expands on a fruitful conversation to come.<br /><br />Best of luck in the new year!<br /></span>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-58846837988795100622008-12-28T20:48:00.004-06:002008-12-30T14:55:56.775-06:00Recession Proofing your Green Event<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Two of the most popular topics right now are recession proofing your meeting and running a green event. Companies are tightening their budgets and activating cost-cutting measures controlling which meetings they can attend. Simply charging less may not be enough. Running a green or sustainable event means eliminating waste, making tough choices in venues, and selecting food and beverage options that are better for the environment and the surrounding community. Traditionally the two goals sit in opposition to one another. This two-part article will discuss the new creativity and technology being used to establish green events that are profitable. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We’ve only recently come to understand these ideas overlap to provide a dual benefit. For example, we like a process that allows an attendee to “bookmark” a booth, speaker or person they meet. As the event comes to close, this information becomes available on line. The speaker, vendor or event manager can see which attendees reviewed the brochures, website and speaker materials. Identifying those more interested and qualified attendees is the true value of their efforts.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">When the physical event is over, the online version helps people connect, review and share information. By using the Internet, more people are exposed to the event which helps it evolve and grow. Eliminating brochures, handouts, presentation materials and surveys is the best way to green your event and in doing so you actually improve the event. Imagine the number of steps a brochure travels from tree to paper to printer to event to hotel room trash can to landfill...never once letting someone know a qualified person is reading it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In the current state of technology, we’re halfway between traditional and electronic. While it’s still easier to grab a colorful pamphlet off of a table, a growing percentage of us carry a phone with an Internet connection and color camera. Technology can show us what we want when we want it. The shift from sorting through a stack of papers in a filing cabinet versus Google-ing any document at any time on a number of devices will continue to become more of a reality.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">While these ideas sound very green, the primary goal is to provide more qualified leads and data analysis to establish a proper value for the investment in booth space and sponsorship programs. Knowing what was popular or not, and feeding this information back into the event creates a more profitable and better experience for attendees and stakeholders.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Recession proofing isn’t just about how to lower costs or trim the features out of an event to make it affordable. If we measure why people participate in an event and use this to make a better event, then we have an opportunity for future success. In any economy people decide to attend an event based on a combination of the following:</span><br /></span><ul style="font-family: verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Social Networking for new business, a new job and new ideas</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Subject matter experts who are speaking on interesting topics</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Continuing education that cannot be found in their local city</span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">Researching new products and services in a one-day walk of the show floor </span></li><li><span style="font-size:130%;">A general feeling of being inspired and invigorated for another year of success</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">An event that offers this combination can create something not found anywhere else. Content is still king and measuring the popularity of what people found to be the best goes well beyond a paper survey. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">From audience response devices to kiosks to text messaging, there are many ways to survey that are faster, greener, and more successful. Instead of a post-mortem after the event, gather information in real-time and tweak the event in progress. Give attendees a voice during the event for an engaged and attentive audience. Electronically poll a group at the beginning of a breakout session on topics they would prefer and then use the same method to survey what they thought at the conclusion of each session. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Not to ignore the discussion of trimming costs as part of the recession proofing process, next time we’ll look into the hard costs that go into running an event. In the meantime, review your event expenses and ask, “How many truly add value?” So much of the traditional process can be reduced and even eliminated. In part two we will discuss how to modernize the event process while trimming costs.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">May you all have a happy and prosperous 2009!</span><br /><br /></span>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-23471377393750735102008-12-19T19:18:00.003-06:002008-12-20T07:57:42.880-06:00Where's the Value of Conferences These Days?It's all about, no, it's ONLY about the information and the connections. Gone are the days (and good riddance) when an event was about cocktails and entertainment. They're about getting down to and doing business. <br /><br />Event managers that 'get that', will thrive and the tools they use to put on a better, more information rich, more ROI-focused events are critical to this evolution and their success.<br /><br />Based on our experience, here's what our clients are asking for:<br /><br /> - Create an event where the attendees, vendors, sponsors get out of it more than they have to put into it, and you'll be successful.<br /><br /> - Traditional lead management is dead. It's a list of a list, and an unqualified one at that. Foster the development of relationships and the distribution of meaningful information.<br /><br />- Foster networking and by that we DO NOT mean 'business card exchanges'. Help your attendees bring their virtual network to the event, communicate with them while they're on site and grow their network while attending the event. Make it easy and non-intrusive and useful once your attendees/vendors/sponsors leave the venue. <br /><br />- Data or information? A thousand business cards, which one's to call? Thousands of dollars in brochures, which one's were looked at? Dozens of conversations, which one's were of any value? Oversubscribed, underutilized, wasted or efficient? <br /><br />- Green . . . aren't we all tired of 'talking' about that? How about doing something about it (<a href="http://busyevent.blogspot.com/2008/12/our-1-favorite-tip-for-greening-event.html">http://busyevent.blogspot.com/2008/12/our-1-favorite-tip-for-greening-event.html</a>).<br /><br />NOW is the time that the events industry, and those that are tired of the traditional and inefficient ways of doing things, have been waiting for. Tools like the BusyEvent Event Bookmarking system provide the opportunity; let's see who has the guts to make it happen.<br /><br />--------------<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Here's a very well written article published by Paul Wehking that takes a new approach to what we've written above. </span><br /><br />Are sponsors, exhibitors and attendees starting to question the value of conferences these days? Is the meeting bubble starting to break? <p>Well consider these two recent occurrences:</p> <p>First, Association Forum is still looking for major event sponsors for its flagship one day event <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.holidayshowcase.org/" target="_new">Holiday Showcase</a>. For example, still up for grabs are the $55K luncheon and the $35K reception sponsorships among others. Both huge items when you consider the event is only seven weeks away.</p> <p>Second, there is <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.springtimeexpo.com/" target="_new">ASAE’s Springtime</a> event that had its booth sales go live in a lottery format two weeks ago is now only partially sold with plenty of booths still available. Maybe it’s because this one-day event rivals the ASAE Annual Meeting in overall cost for an exhibitor – and that’s for just 4 hours of exhibit time!</p> <p>OK, I’ll tell you what’s eating at me. Sure, we produce <a href="http://www.omnipress.com/services/produce/produce.aspx" target="_new">conference materials</a> so you may think I am biased but <strong>I also ATTEND over 12 conferences each year </strong>(both industry events and some outside). I am appalled at the dwindling value that some of these events offer.</p> <p>Attendees airfare costs more, the hotel room costs more, the meals cost more, etc., etc. Then attendees hear “paperless this” and “green that”… C’mon! I am for greening initiatives but not at the expense what is (used to be?) one of the core mission of most association events – <strong>EDUCATION!</strong></p> <p>Here’s what I suggest (from a sponsor and attendee point of view):</p> <ul><li><strong>Cut back on all the fluff - </strong>The coffee breaks, the luncheons, banquets, the gobos, etc and take those sponsor dollars to the education side of event. Take a cue from HSMAI’s <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.affordablemeetings.com/" target="_new">Affordable Meetings</a> and make the education the focus, not the shrimp cocktail. Most waistlines (mine included) could use the break.</li><li><strong>Align Sponsorship with Education - </strong>Make the sessions themselves sponsor opportunities where possible. This way, sponsors could be associated with the lasting value of education versus the coffee and pastry that cost $20 a head and will be gone from the mind (and body) within an hour or two.</li><li><strong>Build Better Programs - </strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Put money into developing killer programs using the latest social networking tools that will engage attendees before the event. (NOTE: BusyEvent is partnered with the premier Pre-Event Social Networking system that addresses this exact issue. Embedded in the Professional tools that are part of every BusyEvent - Event Bookmarking is the onsite carry-through experiencce of this pre-event social networking element). </span>That way, sessions presented at the event are of interest to the attendees because they helped develop it.</li><li><strong>Engage More Members - </strong>Make it easier for the common member to participate as a volunteer staffing registration, session rooms, email stations, stuffing bags, writing session summaries for web postings, helping speakers in the session rooms, etc.</li><li><strong>Deliver Education! - </strong>Lastly, provide tools that facilitate learning. Printed books, workbooks, handouts, etc in the best format possible for the learning styles present – print or digital media. Then offer links or options to get additional content if work products were produced at the event. If your event is large enough, offer attendees a choice or a “buy” option. I’d gladly pay another $15 to have the materials in my hand during the event… Since I’ve already paid $1000 to $2000 just to eat, fly and sleep.</li></ul> <p>The core missions of most events are education and networking right!?!</p> <p>Let’s get back to the mission and improve meetings today — Then sponsors and attendees will see the value.</p> <p>P.S. Regarding sponsorship, Association Forum recently posted some keen insights from frequent industry sponsors. Find their comments at the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.associationforum.org/thisWeekDetail.asp?objectID=5420" target="_new">Association Forum newsletter archive</a>. It’s worth a quick read as sponsors eye their opportunities carefully for 2009. They also point to some other useful sponsorship resources.</p>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-67867128219283564812008-12-17T18:43:00.002-06:002008-12-17T18:47:53.927-06:00Our #1 Favorite Tip for GREENING an Event<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Ditch the brochures, bags, paper surveys and anything else that needs to be transported by planes, trains and automobiles and you will have eliminated the number one waste producer.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Pallets and pallets of brochures make their way to every trade show. Just think of the number of steps from tree to paper to printer to event to hotel room trashcan to landfill a brochure must travel. And never once in that process letting the business know a qualified person might be reading it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We like a process that allows someone to express interest and then review the brochure or content electronically which, in turn, notifies the business that out of the 1,000 people they met at show, which 100 are most interested by their reviewing the electronic materials during and after the show. </span></span>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-51708563867430682802008-11-23T13:17:00.001-06:002008-11-23T13:17:14.823-06:00Economic Impact on EventsIt was inevitable that the events industry would be impacted by the current economic climate. As we continue to work with our clients, our ROI focus becomes even more valuable.<br /><br />Given the way our tools work and the continuous quality improvement, it's intriguing to read an article by TSNN on their most recent survey results and what Events Industry clients are looking for.<br /><br />Here are some thoughts on the increasing value of live-events, including the need for efficient ROI creation elements such as Event Bookmarking:<br /><br /><strong>Tradeshow Activity Indicator Reveals "Flight to Quality":<br />Face-to-Face Interaction Is Even More Valued</strong><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0in; line-height: 14.4pt;">Healthy figures suggest that participation in events is still a vital part of the marketing strategy for businesses, although they are proceeding cautiously seeking out the highest ROI possible.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0in; line-height: 14.4pt;">TSNN's 3rd quarter report shows a significant increase in the amount of research by professionals across a wide range of industries who seek the most cost-effective solutions with tightening budgets. While that may be true, an even larger number are seeking the most return on their 'spend' through effective ways to meet and then nurture valuable relationships.</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0in; line-height: 14.4pt;">"Marketing and sales professionals are under greater pressure to deliver with tighter budgets in a market that is getting smaller across all verticals,"</p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0in; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;">"Marketing and sales professionals are under greater pressure to deliver with tighter budgets in a market that is getting smaller across all verticals," said RD Whitney, CEO of Caroo Media USA, the parent company of TSNN, "Therefore, interest in our industry continues to grow because smart decision makers recognize that you can combine branding, outreach and business development by investing in industry events that get you in front of targeted and captive audiences."</span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0in; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;">TSNN affiliate CVBHotRates.com, the other half of the TSAI™ formula, showed a 168% increase in visits and a 31% increase in Potential Meeting Room Nights in Q3 2008. The number of Meeting Planner Leads (or Requests for Proposals) showed a slight decrease of less than .01%, which shows that event planners are reacting carefully to market conditions.</span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0in; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;">"The sharp increase in online research on trade shows could be telling us that there is deeper scrutiny being applied for each dollar of trade show spending," says Whitney. "This could signal a future flight to quality in the industry. Trade shows that deliver value and the right buyer/seller mix will be rewarded with growth. Events that fall asleep at the switch and don't appeal will feel the pinch of this scrutiny." </span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 6pt 6pt 0in; line-height: 14.4pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; color: black;">Either way, the message from the TSAI trends is clear: professionals recognize that tradeshows are an extremely efficient way to get visibility with customers and drum up business in every market condition. Face-to-face events continue to be an essential investment and an important component of the marketing mix -- just expect more selectivity from the stakeholders according to TSNN.</span></p>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-6385371459535738392008-11-23T13:15:00.003-06:002008-12-28T20:57:07.948-06:00Tradeshows . . . Where Good Leads Go To Die (Part 2)<p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" align="right"><span style="font-size:130%;">Written by <a href="mailto:dschenberg@busyevent.com">David Schenberg</a></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A Very Brief History from 3500 BC to today</span></u><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></strong><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >There’s an amazing amount of money invested each year in events and tradeshows. Everyone wants to interact with new products, educational seminars, social networking and the buzz of simply being in the place where business is happening. But how much business is really happening?<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >“What are we getting out of that show?” asks the counter of the beans.<span> </span>That question created a culture of sponsorships and lead tracking dating back to the first Wheel Technology Expo in 3502 BC. Back then leads were written in stone. When you said you were interested in a follow-up you really meant it! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Ever since then, technology has done its part to speed the process; the automatic ink pen, printed business cards and thermal tape lead printers. More recently we’ve seen RFID tracking, handheld computers, e-mail blasting, text messaging, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to communicate with people faster and more often.<span> </span>But are we getting messages we either don’t want or don’t have time to respond to? How can we be sure these leads are “rock solid” and worthy of a follow up?<o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:'Calibri','sans-serif';font-size:130%;" ><o:p></o:p></span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:'Calibri','sans-serif';font-size:130%;" >The Exhibitor’s Perspective<o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:'Calibri','sans-serif';font-size:130%;" ><br />As an exhibitor, we attend shows because it’s the fastest way to meet new people.<span> </span>Our competition is there so we have to come.<span> </span>Occasionally we launch a new product and this is the best way to show off our latest stuff.<span> </span>It’s hard work and taking the time to follow up is difficult. We take notes on some of the better leads but there are dozens or even hundreds more we never seem to get to because we’re preparing for another event.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >The current lead management process simply doesn’t work for us.<span> </span>Expensive equipment rentals are followed by days or weeks to get a list of mostly unqualified leads. We spend thousands to participate in a show and then another $500 to $1,000 to capture the results of that investment. Especially since the CFO says we need to justify why we went.<span> </span>Technology has sped the process, but nothing is in place to qualify the leads; leads that are mostly followed up by phone. <o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:'Calibri','sans-serif';font-size:130%;" >And the calls are grueling.<span> </span>“Hi, this is Steve with Innocuous Technology. We met at the Expo... do you remember stopping by our booth?<span> </span>We were giving away the combination flashlight/mint dispenser.<span> </span>SO, I was wondering if we can schedule a time to visit with your group.<span> </span>Yeah, I know those were awesome… no we don’t have any more… so can we talk about helping your company?”<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:'Calibri','sans-serif';font-size:130%;" >The Attendee Perspective<o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:'Calibri','sans-serif';font-size:130%;" ><br />As an attendee, I decide which show to attend by reviewing the mix of speakers, educational sessions, an expo of new products and the opportunity to network with others in my industry. Getting approval to go and taking the time away from work to sharpen the saw is important.<span> </span>Therefore, returning with useful information to share with the group is important. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:'Calibri','sans-serif';font-size:130%;" >So here I am at the Expo.<span> </span>There are hundreds of booths to visit and new stuff to see. I grab a mint after lunch and the exhibitor asks if she can scan me.<span> </span>Sure I say, without thinking as I pick up a brochure. And just like that, I’m on another list of calls after the event.<span> </span>Will I ever have the time to look at this literature and will I remember who everybody was?<span> </span>Hey, this is a cool flashlight/mint dispenser!<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >After stopping at 147 booths, which ones had the best technology and ideas for my business?<span> </span>Which salesperson did I talk to and will I remember the booth? Or will it be the combination flashlight/mint dispenser?<span> </span></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:'Calibri','sans-serif';font-size:130%;" >Changing the Responsibility<o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:'Calibri','sans-serif';font-size:130%;" ><br />What if the responsibility of lead management shifted to the attendee?<span> </span>Think about the simple act of browsing the Internet and capturing a bookmark for a favorite site.<span> </span>Now bring this idea to a live event. Wouldn’t this reduce the amount of brochures and help enable “Green Meetings?” Bookmarks might be speaker presentations, people you met, specific products, electronic brochures, event photos and just about any information you can capture at an event.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:'Calibri','sans-serif';font-size:130%;" >But where do vendors and sponsors see the benefit? In the current model, they are fisherman casting their lines into the great big pond. By reversing the process, they still meet the same people and discuss opportunities during the show, but instead they get a high-tech fish finder to see which areas are best for success.<span> </span>Attendee interest is electronically tracked once when they add a bookmark and a second time when they review that bookmark.<span> </span>An exhibitor will meet 100’s of people during a show.<span> </span>With event bookmarking, they can know which 100 to contact immediately.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >And if an attendee decides they are not interested in some of their bookmarks and even opt out of certain connections that can send a message as well.<span> </span>What a company does with a non-lead is often as useful as a good lead. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Reaching the right people with the right message at the right time<o:p></o:p></span><br /></u></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >After awhile we can know quite a bit about event attendees.<span> </span>That knowledge<br />is key to creating a high-quality experience.<span> </span>For example, during the event check-in process we see that Joe, a financial analyst has selected three breakout sessions; e-waste disposal, technology leasing strategies and reducing the cost of corporate software acquisition.<span> </span>We had an opportunity to survey Joe during registration to see that he enjoys golf, wears a large shirt and is responsible for “Green Initiatives” at his organization. We know that if we offer Joe a premium golf shirt (with sponsor logos) and an opportunity to learn about new EPA compliance laws for 2010, we have a good match for a number of technology sponsors and vendors who will gladly participate in a special event where Joe can have some fun and learn.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >And during the show we see that Joe bookmarked almost every sponsor that participated. He went back to his office and reviewed his links resulting in activity from a number of vendors at the show.<span> </span>Bean counters rejoice… we have ROI!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Year over year improvement – Capturing the Voice of the Customer<o:p></o:p></span><br /></u></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Information over multiple shows can reveal potential improvements to the event experience. Reviewing what was most bookmarked and most visited can only increase the value of an event.<span> </span>Attendees vote with their actions, but surveying and polling an event in progress captures the voice of the customer.<span> </span>Event improvement based on real data creates more valuable sponsorships, higher booth rates and higher attendance year over year. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><u style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Can Everybody Win?<o:p></o:p></span><br /></u></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Everyone deserves to win.<span> </span>They put in their time, money and hard work to make the best experience.<span> </span>When done properly the following should happen:<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></p><ul style="margin-top: 0in; font-family: trebuchet ms;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Attendees meet new people, products and get introduced to the latest ideas<o:p></o:p></span></li><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Exhibitors get to show off their latest stuff and find out exactly who is interested<o:p></o:p></span></li><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Sponsors and exhibitors entice the right people to learn more about their company. Getting your logo on signage is good but there should be more of a direct payoff.<o:p></o:p></span></li><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Event Managers should easily tweak and improve an event in real time based on high-quality information. Why should they wait for the next event to make improvements?<o:p></o:p></span></li><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">Directors of sales and finance see full reporting of the level of success of every dollar spent on event activities.<o:p></o:p></span></li><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></ul>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-81208889275937654192008-11-23T13:14:00.004-06:002008-11-23T13:15:25.973-06:00"Tradeshows . . . Where Good Leads Go To Die"I almost fell out of my chair when a partner of ours said this yesterday.<br /><br />We were discussing how event lead tracking works, or more accurately doesn't work, when he came up with this gem; and it's tragically accurate.<br /><ol><br /> <li>Leads that are appropriate, but never get followed up on.</li><br /> <li>Leads that are the wrong person, the wrong time or just wrong.</li><br /> <li>A list of scanned attendees that only came to your booth for <<insert reason here, but not the one you wanted>>.</li><br /> <li>The expense.</li><br /> <li>The delays.</li><br /> <li>The inefficiencies.</li><br /> <li>The meaningless data.</li><br /> <li>The different tools (swipe, scan, insert, write your name here).</li><br /> <li>The inconsistencies . . . it goes on and on and on.</li><br /></ol><br />For all of the effort and poor results, it would almost be better to just collect business cards - if anyone carries them anymore.<br /><br />Over the next several weeks, we will be publishing a series of white papers and articles in the business and event press that will outline the problem, the opportunity and our proposed solutions.<br /><br />Viva leads . . . we're about to do something about that.BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-20262142941492367102008-11-23T13:14:00.001-06:002008-11-23T13:14:17.769-06:00Recession Proofing Your Events<strong>Apryl Asks:</strong> I am currently working on a meeting/convention planners publication and am in search of ways to recession-proof meetings and conventions.<br /><br /><strong>BusyEvent Answers:</strong> Over the years we've experienced under economic pressure and a demand for greener meetings that planners, attendees and sponsors want to be able to extend a 2-4 day expo into lasting communications to get the most out of their investment.<br /><br />Recession-proofing an event is a combination of offering attendees an experience they cannot find anywhere else, vendors high-quality opportunity tracking, sponsors a chance to get qualified exposure to their brands and a lower overall cost to operate an event for producers.<br /><br />A recession will force people to be more selective of where they will invest their time and money. All parties involved will always need the expo experience to advance their success.BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2260098140921589030.post-36818802829530937502008-11-23T12:24:00.000-06:002008-11-23T12:25:27.317-06:00Love Your Events . . . Hate the Logistics?CEO David Schenberg, interviewed by the Small Business Brain.<br /><br />Read and Listen to our take on the event industry and how BusyEvent is turning data into information and generating revenues for event managers by doing less work to prepare for and manage an event, and enjoying it more.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.smallbizamerica.com/sbb/detail/the-smallbiz-brain-david-schenberg/" target="_blank">The SmallBizBrain Interviews David Schenberg about BusyEvent, Event Management Tools to Manage Information, People and Events.</a>BusyEventhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04698067361632475831noreply@blogger.com0