You Need To Communicate Conference Changes To All Your Stakeholders July 22, 2013 by Jeff Hurt You’re convinced that you need to make changes to your conference experience and have got approval from your boss and leadership to proceed. You’re excited about those changes and ready to launch that new experience. Then you discover that many of your conference stakeholders do not respond with the same enthusiasm. Your stakeholders’ response is … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing Tagged With: , change management, conference best practices, dealing with resistance
Who Is Your Conference Really Attracting? February 11, 2013 by Dave Lutz Attracting first-class, first-rate, quality attendees is one of the most complex and important keys to your conference’s business model. Too many conferences attempt to be all things to all people and end up with a watered-down offering. You need a process to help you identify your various attendee segments and who your target market is. … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing, Business Model Tagged With: , attracting attendees, conference best practices, conferences, decision makers, economic buyers, market segmentation, target market
Content Marketing Strategies Light The Way For Weary Travelers February 4, 2013 by Jeff Hurt Traditional marketing methods such as broadcast emails, magazine, radio and TV ads, and web banners are fast losing their appeal. They are expensive as compared to other methods. And we ignore those ads, fast forward past TV ads on our DVRs, buy advertising free radio, use sophisticated spam filters and caller ID, and delete most … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing Tagged With: , content, content marketing, marketing
Are You Attracting Your Best Attendees Or Are You Repelling Them? November 26, 2012 by Dave Lutz Why are conference organizers doing so many things that repel their best customers? Instead of bombarding paying attendees with marketing messages, how about just making good on your promise to deliver education and networking opportunities? Missed Opportunities To Grow Attendee Loyalty This summer, I attended three large conferences – one in our industry and two … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing, Business Model Tagged With: , association, association best practices, attendee loyalty, conference marketing, sponsorship
Three More Reasons Why Your Conference Should Leverage Social Media November 14, 2012 by Jeff Hurt Silos belong on farms, not your conference strategic plans. Unfortunately, most of us are familiar with the traditional company departmental silo model. As is your conference planning process! We work, live and breathe in silos on a daily basis. Social Media Streamlines Silos So it is with social media. It is often compartmentalized into one … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing Tagged With: , conference best practices, conferences, social media for events, social technology for events
Identifying And Segmenting The Conference Target Audience November 9, 2012 by Jeff Hurt Is the goal of your annual meeting to make revenue for your organization? If it is, then are you attracting the right customer to your event? Show Me The Money Some associations with significant tradeshows make 60%-70% of their revenue from exhibit booth sales. Another 10%-20% of their revenue comes from sponsorships and advertising. The … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing Tagged With: , conference best practices, conferences, market segmentation, target market
Understanding The Power Of Your Target Attendee November 8, 2012 by Jeff Hurt When you are involved in planning all of the conference’s logistics and programming, it is very easy to feel as if you are in a position of power. You’re the one who decides who will present. You’re the one who decides when a meal function will occur. You’re the one who decides what content is … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing Tagged With: , conference best practices, conferences, market segmentation, target market
Is Your Conference Marketing So Last Year? October 11, 2012 by Dave Lutz Every year you have to figure out how to fill the chairs at your annual event. It’s Déjà vu all over again. The minute the conference is finished, you have to start again, figuring out new ways to get your audience to return the following year. It’s a never-ending cycle where you’re in constant search … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing Tagged With: , conference best practices, conference marketing, conferences, event marketing, marketing
Onsite Scheduled Appointments Are Changing The Event Landscape [Infographic] September 21, 2012 by Jeff Hurt One-to-one onsite appointments are changing the event landscape. Here’s how. More on Event Management Software Filed Under: Attendance Marketing Tagged With: , conference best practices, conferences, meeting planning best practices, meeting professionals
CEUs Are The Fool’s Gold Of Conference Marketing September 17, 2012 by Dave Lutz Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are nothing more than fool’s gold. Yes, that’s right. It’s just like Pyrite with a metallic yellow hue luster that attracts us. We think it’s gold…but it’s not! CEUs or continuing education credits are often mistaken for the primary reason why attendees go to conferences. While important, they are no longer … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing, Business Model, Conference Education Tagged With: , conference marketing, conferences, event marketing, marketing