Testimonials Don’t Convert Conference Prospects July 24, 2014 by Wendy Holliday You’ve heard the litany: Testimonials are great third party endorsements. Using testimonials will increase your conference attendance. Yadda Yadda It’s all bull. Two big reasons you should do it anyway. 1. Smart testimonials will make people pause. Testimonials can give marketers what they want…a better chance of being heard and considered. Our lives are cluttered with … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing Tagged With: , 3rd party endorsements, attendance marketing, conference best practices, meeting planning best practices, testimonials, using testimonials, writing testimonials
The Isaac Advantage June 11, 2014 by Dave Lutz Conference organizers who are in it for the long run know that partnerships really matter. In my mind, the best partnerships are the ones where your supplier is doing everything they can to help you win. If you’re strictly looking at them as an expense that needs to be cut, you’re probably working with the … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , conference best practices, meeting planning best practices, technology, tradeshow
Conference Execution As Attendee Learning April 28, 2014 by Jeff Hurt Most conference organizers believe that the delivery of information in an efficient, timely, productive manner is the key to attendee satisfaction, success and financial stability. We focus primarily on the efficient execution of delivery of content. But in today’s knowledge economy, that is not enough. The focus on controlling information flow, creating a one-way and … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education Tagged With: , adult learning, conference best practices, conference education, conferences, learning, meeting planning best practices
Snack Bite-Size Learning Rules The Roost At Conferences April 25, 2014 by Jeff Hurt Blogger Karla Gutierrez gives five reasons why bite-size learning works at Shift’s eLearning blog. Here’s one key point all conference organizers and speakers should know and implement: Chunk Content In 10 Min Sections Bite-size learning as well as bite-size instruction improves an attendee’s psychological engagement. It prevents cognitive overload and mental burnout. It also encourages … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education, Experience Design Tagged With: , adult learning, adult learning principles, adult learning strategies, brain science education, Ignite, meeting planning best practices, Pecha Kucha
Innovation Starts With Observing Your Conference Attendees In Action April 14, 2014 by Jeff Hurt With today’s tools and environment, radical innovation is extraordinarily accessible to those who know how to cultivate it says author Steven Berlin Johnson. Some environments and workplace cultures squelch innovation while others breed it he adds. So what do conference organizers need in order to embrace innovation in their conferences, meetings and events? The Innovators’ … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design Tagged With: , conference best practices, conferences, Innovation, meeting planning best practices
Conference Education Should Drive Business Growth April 10, 2014 by Jeff Hurt The only reason that conference education sessions exist is to drive a business’ outcomes. (paraphrase author Rita Smith.) Ok, sure some conference education sessions exist for personal development, hobbies or pleasure. But most of us attend conferences to learn and grow professionally. Yet, in many cases, the business, meaning an attendees’ employer and business, is … [Read more…] Filed Under: Business Model Tagged With: , business case for events, conference best practices, conference education, conferences, Event ROI, meeting planning best practices, meeting professional
Escape Your Conference Comfort Zone To Become Happier And Smarter April 7, 2014 by Jeff Hurt Conference organizers, whatever scares you when planning your event, plan to do it now! That’s right, run to your fear and escape your conference comfort zone! Why? Busting out of your conference comfort zone leads to a longer, happier, smarter life with increased confidence, gratification and satisfaction, to paraphrase author Ken Budd. Boredom Kills Too … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , brain-friendly conferences, brain-friendly meetings, conference best practices, meeting planning best practices, meeting professionals, neuroscience
Too Many Meeting Professionals Are Bored With Work March 25, 2014 by Jeff Hurt Are you part of the 87% of workers that are bored at work? According to Gallup, the bulk of employees, 63% are not engaged at work. They lack motivation and are less likely to invest initiative in organizational goals or outcomes. 24% are actively disengaged. They are unhappy and unproductive at work. And their negative … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , brain-friendly conferences, brain-friendly meetings, conference best practices, meeting planning best practices, meeting professionals, neuroscience
Stop Sabotaging Your Conference Innovation Planning Process November 25, 2013 by Jeff Hurt Are we failing to cultivate innovation in our conference planning process? Do we focus so much on the details and logistics that we unknowingly sabotage our brains’ potential to cultivate innovation and creativity? Keeping our minds engaged and inspired in the creative process is critical to conference innovation. Yet too often, we default to following … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , conference best practices, conferences, meeting planning, meeting planning best practices
Conference Audiences Expect These Things [Updated] September 26, 2013 by Jeff Hurt Conference audiences of days gone by were satisfied with the gathering of colleagues, a mediocre experience and a few useful tips. Today’s audiences are more demanding and sophisticated. They expect to learn practical and useful information that solves their individual problems. They expect speaker presentations that are compelling and memorable. And they expect to be … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , audience expectations, conference best practices, conferences, meeting planning best practices, presentation strategies
