Marriott, Hilton and IHG have announced reductions in group-booking commissions from 10 percent to 7 percent for their North American hotels, to take place over a period of time this year and next. Marriott’s has already begun for most intermediaries. A 30-percent cut in one’s business model is a tough pill to swallow for any company. It's even tougher for those independent meeting companies that survive on commissions. Only time will tell what impact these reductions will have on these … [Read more...]
Small Groups Of Friends Are The Key To Influence Not Swaying Influential People
Finding and using influential people is a myth says social behavior researcher Paul Adams, author of Grouped: How small groups of friends are the key to influence on the social web. According to Adams, the focus on influentials is based on the view of how we want the world to work versus how it actually works. The Law Of The Few Malcolm Gladwell first described The Law of the Few in his 2002 book The Tipping Point. It states that if you reach and persuade the minority of influential people in … [Read more...]
Cultivating Strong Online Relationships To Build An Ever Ready Troop Of Evangelists
It's important to build your network before you need it! Building a network of organization supporters who can do a variety of things at a moment's notice is imperative in today's socially networked world. Transactions Versus Relationships Unfortunately, many organizations struggle with relationship building. Instead, they are masters of the transaction. Their emphasis on transactions is often at the expense of cultivating relationships. Successful organizations are integrating relationship … [Read more...]
Marketing Your Event To Prospects And Past Attendees
Is there a difference in the way your market your event to prospects and past attendees? You betcha! There's a huge difference. Past Attendee Event Marketing Wants Past attendees have already built a relationship with you. Assuming that they had a great conference experience, they are biased in favor of your event. After attending your last event, they returned to the office and justified why they attended. Now they are looking for additional information to defend their decision to attend … [Read more...]
Make Your Conference More Lady Gaga-istic
Image by by VJ Alisa! And now, I am just trying to change the world, one sequin at a time! ~ Lady Gaga Whether she's hatching from an egg at the Grammys, strolling down the red carpet in a meat dress or being photographed in a dress made from stuffed animals, Lady Gaga knows how to stand out from the crowd. She is memorable. Odd. In your face. Unforgettable. Unique. Totally different. And her tunes are catchy. They make you want to get up and dance. Unlike ear worms that echo in the bowels of … [Read more...]
Unleash Your Conference Participants To Become WOM Influencers
Here is the slide deck from my recent presentation for Daxko Webinar Series on association and conference influencers. Enjoy! Unleash Your Conference Participants To Become WOM Influencers View more presentations from Jeff Hurt. Additional statistics and facts mentioned during webinar. United Breaks Guitars video received 25,000 views in the first 24 hours it was uploaded in 2009. Influencers & Association Membership 91% Prospective Association Members learn about organization by … [Read more...]
Identifying Influencers: Harnessing The Power Of Individuals
Armed with creativity, passion, $150, friends and YouTube, Dave Carroll created more than nine million impressions. You've probably heard of Carroll. He wrote and created the music video "United Breaks Guitars" about United's baggage handlers smashing the base of his $3,500 Taylor guitar. United refused to pay $1,200 to repair his guitar because of an archaic policy. Carroll got even. Carroll responded by uploading his music video to YouTube. Within the first 24 hours, 25,000 people viewed it. … [Read more...]
Four Step Plan To Empower Your Event Attendees
"There's a sucker born every minute," is a famous phrase attributed to P.T. Barnum. Yet in today's information driven society, we don't stay suckers for very long. Today, empowered attendees, connected to the information economy, affect your conferences and events. Four Technologies That Empower Your Conference Attendees In the book Empowered, Josh Bernoff and Ted Schadler identify four technologies that are creating a new groundswell of empowered customers. 1. Smart Mobile Devices These … [Read more...]
