Configurable and Personalized Conference Experiences June 14, 2017 by Dave Lutz The mass-personalization wave that is dramatically changing what and how we buy as consumers has application to conferences. I’ve been doing a lot of research and have learned that personalization can be achieved in a number of ways: Individualized — The customer gets exactly what meets their preferences or needs. In other words, they can … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design Tagged With: , behaviorial data, configuation, mass personalization, technology
How to Ask for a Raise and Other Top Learnings from IAEE Women’s Leadership Forum May 16, 2017 by Betsy Bair Having recently consulted with a major professional association on the sustainability and long-term growth strategy of its women’s leadership conference, I was motivated to attend a leadership forum for women in our own industry: IAEE’s Women’s Leadership Forum, which took place at the new MGM National Harbor in early May. Here are some of the … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design Tagged With: , conference networking, inspirational speakers, transformative conferences, women's leadership
Conversations, Collaboration and Chemistry April 5, 2017 by Dave Lutz Judith E. Glaser, an author, business executive, and self-described “organizational anthropologist,” says science has now proven that the chemical nature of relationships, conversations and collaboration is more than an attraction metaphor: it’s a reality. So the quality of our conversations — especially those participants have with others at conferences and meetings — has a direct … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Networking, Experience Design Tagged With: , active participation, brain health, brain-friendly conferences, collaborative intelligence, human network
Attract With Content; Keep Them With The Experience March 23, 2017 by Jeff Hurt The internet has made world-class content front, center, mobile and affordable—often free. Anyone can hear the best experts for free (or nearly free) on almost any device they own. Anyone can get thought leadership at their fingertips. And your conference audience does. They have access to the same information you do. They can hear, watch … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design Tagged With: , attracting attendees, conference experience, conference experience design, content, content marketing
Hybrid Meetings Doomed to Failure? Not So Fast March 17, 2017 by Betsy Bair I’ll admit that in 2011, when the Virtual Edge Institute (now called the Digital Experience Institute) first co-located its conference with the Professional Convention Management Association’s Convening Leaders, the experience fell flat for me. At the time, a mere six years ago, the fledgling for-profit entity that wagered its future on the potential of virtual … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Technology, Experience Design, Hybrid & Virtual Tagged With: , engagement, hyrbrid meetings, virtual meetings
20 Ways to Remake Your Annual Meeting – Part 2 February 21, 2017 by Dave Lutz We outlined the first 10 things you need to kill — from making your annual business meeting part of your general session to promoting invitation-only events — in order to bring your meeting up to speed. Here are the next 10 elements to knock off. 11. Your distinguished-lecture series does not engage. Many associations have … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning, Experience Design Tagged With: , kill conference elements, remake annual meeting
20 Ways to Modernize an Annual Meeting – Part 1 February 20, 2017 by Dave Lutz Most annual meetings have used the same template agenda for decades. They just replace the filling each year. If you want to breathe new life into your conference, and increase relevance for next-generation attendees, start with this kill/change list. Part two of this series will include the remainder of the list. 1. Annual Business Meeting … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning, Experience Design Tagged With: , annual meeting changes, conference improvement, conference sacred cows
Six Issues Associations Are Having Difficulty Responding To January 31, 2017 by Jeff Hurt Many associations are slow to change. Often association leadership views change as something that disrupts the peace. They want to maintain the status quo. When beliefs that we lean on and build programming around change, we flinch. We deny. We fight and scream to maintain the past. Yet, sometimes, these changes proceed forward like waves … [Read more…] Filed Under: Experience Design Tagged With: , association future, association trends, certification, connectivity, disruptive forces, disruptors, learning, mobile
What Participants Expect From 21st Century Conference Experiences January 30, 2017 by Jeff Hurt Everything we take for granted about conferences, and planning them, faces disruption. Participants from all generations and cultures increasingly expect conferences to mirror their work and personal lives. They expect conferences that are authentic, connected, contextual, mobile, participatory, work-related and transparent. Savvy conference organizers meet these disruptions head-on. They know how to segment their target … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning, Experience Design Tagged With: , 21st century conferences, cognitively stimulating, collaboration, conference experience, conference experience design, engagement, learning spaces, mental engagement, participants, purpose-driven
Patient-Centered Care Conferences January 26, 2017 by Dave Lutz Most healthcare professionals are career motivated by saving/improving lives. They make a commitment to lifelong learning to be the best that they can be. Keeping up with the latest in evidence-based diagnosis and treatments is, in itself, a herculean task. In the new world of value-based care and compensation, private practices will have the most … [Read more…] Filed Under: Conference Education, Experience Design Tagged With: , conferences, healthcare reform, medical meetings
