On a recent visit to a nice resort in Santa Barbara, I was struck by how friendly and helpful the staff was. It was evident from the moment I stepped out of the car and encountered the first employee in the parking lot. He welcomed me and asked how he could help. Being An Ambassador Of Goodwill After several hours of experiencing this amazing feeling of being welcomed by long lost friends, I asked a young chipper 24-year-old bellman what motivated him and his coworkers to provide such … [Read more...]
Delivering Community And Connections at Conferences
Does your conference have connexity? Not sure what that means? Or even if your conference has it? Well, the success of your face-to-face meetings depends on it! Connexity Happens When… Connexity happens when community and connecting collide! In a good way of course. Your attendees crave these two things: They want to connect with others (and learn from and with each other). And they want to belong to a community. When you blend connecting with community you create … [Read more...]
Three Amen-Astonishing Ways To Improve Your Conference Networking
Networking! It’s one of the top reasons participants say they attend your conference. Yet few know how to do it effectively. Give them a helping hand. Networking’s Value Proposition Networking can be the most subjective and variable portion of your conference value proposition. For some, one or two meaningful interactions can more than justify the price of admission. High-value networking experiences initiate or accelerate deals. They expedite problem solving and innovation. They grow … [Read more...]
From Strangers To Friends: Bridging Attendee Loneliness With Conference Community
Everybody needs to know Somebody who cares. Just a friendly face You can trust to be there. Are you afraid to be known And not be a stranger? Everyone’s connected but no one is connecting The human element has long been missing Tell me, have you seen it? Have you seen it? Alone by Armin Van Burren (feat. Lauren Evans) Watch the Alone video. Are Your Attendees Alone? How often do the above lyrics apply to your attendees’ conference experience? What will it take for … [Read more...]
The Neuroscience of Networking: Why Networking Matters To Your Conference
Your brain is passionate about one thing. So much so that when it is not thinking about a problem or focused on something specific, it defaults to doing this one thing. Neuroscientist Dr. Matthew Lieberman says that our brains have a passion of their own. "We know this because our brains seem to devote all of its spare time to this one thing," says Lieberman. Thinking About Thinking So what is it that our brains really like to do? What does the brain do when it is not focused on a … [Read more...]
Helping Conference First Timers And Solo Attendees Get Plugged In
Imagine that you're a first-time attendee at a conference that draws thousands. To make matters even more challenging, you're flying solo. No safety net of colleagues to meet-up with every now and then. The Solo Attendee By day, you move from session to session, trying to make eye contact with strangers. You even manage to strike up a few good conversations, but more often, it's nothing more than a "nice to meet you" handshake. Despite your reluctance, you push yourself to attend the … [Read more...]
Defrosting New Conference Connections
“It was awkward and painful,” my friend said. That’s how she described attending a professional meeting where she didn’t know anyone. She was at a loss for how to melt the ice and warm up to others. Especially professionals she perceived to have more experience and knowledge than her. Sound familiar? Here was someone who has so much to offer anyone lucky enough to engage in conversation with her. Yet her reluctance to initiate interaction caused her to avoid eye contact and miss out … [Read more...]
Engaging Conference Attendees At Hello Results In Big Rewards
Are you looking for ways to improve your conference attendee loyalty? If yes, and I’m sure you are, here’s an effective strategy: Integrate a deliberate on-boarding effort for new attendees into your attendance-marketing plan. Master this and you’ll receive big rewards! First Time Attendee Trend Our industry is experiencing an interesting trend with the increase of first-timers at annual conferences. According to Exhibit Surveys Inc., the all-show average for first-time attendees has … [Read more...]
