When Conference And Tradeshow Websites Fail August 24, 2010 by Dave Lutz This post is written by Dave Lutz and was influenced by his recent experience preparing for conferences including ASAE’s 2010 Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, CA. Conference and show Websites need better user experience. “More cowbell” wouldn’t hurt either! In my consulting biz, I look at a lot of major conference and trade show Web … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing, Event Technology Tagged With: , association, conference website, conferences, exhibitor, tradeshow
Six Suspicious Tradeshow Areas That Need Exposing August 13, 2010 by Dave Lutz Note from Jeff: Dave Lutz is on a rant. A good one in my opinion and all meeting and event professionals, nonprofit organizations and associations, and tradeshow organizers should heed his advice. It’s time for the meetings and tradeshow industry to be more transparent about add-on fees, kickbacks, payouts and relationships. Here’s his post that … [Read more…] Filed Under: Sponsorship & Exhibits Tagged With: , disclosure, ethics, exhibitors, tradeshow, venues
Ten Criteria For Choosing The Right Core Event Tech Providers August 9, 2010 by Dave Lutz How do you choose which core event technology providers you’re going to use? Core event technologies include your registration system, online event website and electronic marketing, event eCommunity, exhibitor sales management, tradeshow floor plan, lead retrieval, event management, event mobile app and others. Do you base your decisions on price, customer service, newest features, meeting … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Technology Tagged With: , event technology, technology, tradeshow
Virtual Tradeshows: Horizontal Or Vertical Markets? July 26, 2010 by Dave Lutz This post is by Dave Lutz, Managing Director of Velvet Chainsaw Consulting. If you’re a show organizer, you’re probably wondering how to best leverage virtual event technology to help drive revenue, engagement and attract new blood. You might consider a virtual event to incubate a new show idea, attract an international audience, bridge the gap … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Technology, Hybrid & Virtual Tagged With: , conferences, virtual event, virtual meeting, virtual tradeshow
Go Hybrid: A Live Streaming Cheat Sheet July 19, 2010 by Dave Lutz This article was written (well, ghostwritten by me in collaboration with Dave Lutz) for Dave’s People & Processes column in PCMA’s June edition of Convene. You’ve convinced your team that providing a hybrid event is good for your organization, your customers and your stakeholders. You’ve alleviated any fears about the virtual experience cannibalizing your face-to-face … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Technology, Hybrid & Virtual Tagged With: , backchannel, event technology, hybrid events, hybrid meetings, live streaming, live streaming an event, social media for events, Twitter for events
5 Reasons To Increase Your Online Exhibitor Presence July 9, 2010 by Dave Lutz This post is by Dave Lutz, Managing Director of Velvet Chainsaw Consulting. Recently, I reviewed some very telling analytics from several of the largest tradeshows. Here’s what I learned: Exhibitors that completed an online booth profile received twice as many page views as those that didn’t. Attendees also bookmarked them for an onsite visit. Exhibitors … [Read more…] Filed Under: Sponsorship & Exhibits Tagged With: , exhibitor, meeting planner, tradeshow, tradeshow best practices
Using Targeted Testimonials To Build Conference Attendance And Increase Exhibitors, Sponsors June 25, 2010 by Dave Lutz The most powerful sales and marketing tool that builds attendance or helps new exhibitors and sponsors sign on the dotted line is a targeted testimonial. Author and speaker Jeff Gitomer said it best: “When you say it about yourself, it’s bragging. When somebody else says it about you, it’s proof!” Most organizations use testimonials as … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing Tagged With: , case studies, event marketing, using testimonials
Seven Tips To Make Your Conference Millennial–Friendly June 21, 2010 by Dave Lutz This article was written (well, ghostwritten by me in collaboration with Dave Lutz) for Dave’s People & Processes column in PCMA’s June edition of Convene. Many associations are trying to find a way to reach a generation that’s eager to be entertained and informed, yet resistant to the familiar, in-your-face, 20th-century approach. The target is … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , association, attracting millennials, GenY, Social Media
Want To Attract More Millennials To Your Next Tradeshow? Try These Tips June 18, 2010 by Dave Lutz Exactly who are Millennials? Well, the answer depends on who you ask. Defined as much by mindset as by birth, Millennials are those molded by cultural norms, demographics, the economy, parenting styles and more importantly, the Internet. These 18-29 year olds have begun to forge their generational traits as change-embracers, confident, liberal, self-expressive and upbeat. … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing Tagged With: , attracting millennials, meeting planner, tradeshow, TSNN
Let Your Content Run Wild And Free To Attract New Members And Retain Current Ones June 14, 2010 by Dave Lutz With the explosion of social media comes the expectation that content should be free. How do you embrace that as a way to create greater demand for your face-to-face events — and attract new members? This past summer we’ve experienced a confluence of events with significant implications for the future of the meetings, events and … [Read more…] Filed Under: Attendance Marketing Tagged With: , association, conferences, Free content, live streaming, Social Media
