The Friday 5 – December 7

Well, it is almost the end of the year. That means holiday shopping, parties, and catching up on my business book reading. I am almost finished with Traci Browne’s “The Social Trade Show” and I can safely recommend it before I am even done. Go grab a copy, there is a link from her blog.

Without much ado (I am on my way to a meeting), here is today’s Friday 5. We have some from a couple of newcomers to the list and three old favorites.

I think that Apple does one of the best jobs of marketing products ever in the history of, well, history. Beyond just the marketing, Jeff has some lessons you can learn from them as well.

Seriously, how can I leave out Liz’s post that puts PlannerWire on par with two of the best industry blogs out there. I don’t want to pull a Wayne’ World but “We’re Not Worthy!!!”.

Online stuff is great, the food you serve is important, and of course speakers matter but what will make or break you is lighting and sound. This guest post by Oliver Carding on Jenise’s blog can get your going in the right direction.

OK, If you are not playing to Tablet and Mobile users with conference handouts, apps, and interaction, you are going to be left out to dry pretty soon, looking like a tumbleweed from some old western movie.

Now that you have gone mobile and have the freaking kick ass app that is slaying the conference world and making the ladies swoon and the men faint, you might want to make sure that you have a good privacy policy.

Speaking of Wayne’s World

 

Does Your Registration Process Stop Me from Registering

I love Holiday Showcase. I have been a few times and I have always had a great experience. I go to see the exhibits, connect with old contacts, and find some really great destinations that make it into my client’s rotation.

The past few years have sucked for me because I have a client that holds their annual conference over the same dates. Bummer, sad face.

Smile…… the client moved their event to January this year…. Whoo hooo, I think I am going to Holiday Showcase!

Or not

Something changed my mind. Something stopped me from registering. I will not be going to Holiday Showcase this year. Sad, long face. [Read more...]

The Most Awesome Social Media Image Sizing Chart

This infographic needs no explanation, no kind words, no hype. It is simply perfect and something that every conference and event marketer can use because I do not care how many Facebook cover photos you have created or how many Twitter backgrounds, we all forget the proper size 10 minutes after we have posted the image. Just-a-fact.

An big hat tip to  Heather Taylor of eConsultancy for sharing this (she is right, this is too good not to share) and a huge thanks to LunaMetrics for creating this soon-to-be legendary internet marketing masterpiece.  [Read more...]

Events Should Mix up the Marketing

This a little project that I am finishing up for a client. A really slick little mailer for team members that may win a spot on an incentive travel program. Now, typically, incentives are not  marketing beasts, but this little mailer can remind us that sometimes it is OK to mix up the marketing mediums of your conference or event for a more powerful effect.

If you are a conference or event that relies 100% on mailed brochures, it might be time to try social media or email marketing. If you are a trade show that only markets online, try a postcard. If you only market through Facebook, try Twitter. If you only write blog posts, try recording a video.

The point is, do not put all of your eggs in one single little marketing basket. If you do, someone may come along and steal that basket and then where will you be?

Creating a Mission Statement for Your Event

Create a Conference Mission Statement

There is no shortage of people out there (including me) that want to give you advice on how to run your event, how to use social media, what registration system is the best, where to place your tables, what color of linen rocks the house, or how you should format that little doo-dad that you have hanging around your neck. [Read more...]