After studying a whole bunch of professional conferences, it’s very clear to me what separates a thriving event from one on life support. For multi-day conferences, a growing number register and return because of who else will be there. Our attendees have more choices than ever for professional development and acquiring purchasing intelligence. Today, it’s difficult to differentiate and grow without strong networking value and a tribe-like vibe. It’s no longer enough to just attract the … [Read more...]
The Future Conference Is About Increasing Attendees’ ROI
The future conference is not about the environment, the furniture, the venue, the audio visual or the technology. The future conference is about increasing the paying attendee’s ROI. The future conference is about helping the attendee transfer and apply their conference learning to their job. Actually, the fundamental job of future conferences is threefold: To facilitate and guide the social process of attendee’s learning, To help paying attendees remember their new learning and To … [Read more...]
Conference Connexity: Deliver Your Networking Promise Webinar September 9
We spend the majority of our day in front of screens and media (digital, print & TV) says eMarketer. No wonder we are starved for face to face interactions! Your organization can help satisfy our cravings for community and connections by delivering conference experiences that foster connexity. Connexity is more than speed networking. It is more than just an evening reception or party. It is a tech term for the merging of community and connections. And it is one of the main reasons … [Read more...]
Impotent Conferences Are Powerless To Influence Forward Movement
Imagine a radio station that played adult contemporary, classical, country, dance, electronic, golden oldies, heavy metal, news, pop, R&B, rock, southern gospel and talk alternating between each. What if this commercial radio station tried to appeal to everyone’s musical taste as well as news and talk radio? How successful would it be? It wouldn’t work, you say. We chuckle at that thought that this type of radio station would succeed. No one would even listen to this … [Read more...]
Treating Attendees As Human Beings Not Machines
Creating a conference culture of connection is a robust competitive advantage. One of the most powerful and often misunderstood aspects of successful conferences is authentically connecting with others. Too often our conference networking experiences disintegrate into ego driven, self-promotional, self-exploiting opportunities. It is irrational not to intentionally create conference experiences that nurture and promote authentic connections. Especially given the evidence about the … [Read more...]
Want To Help Your Attendees? Stop Calling It Networking!
Attendees value the connections they make at your conference. It’s one of their most treasured intangible benefits of attendance. They come to your event looking for their people. They meet many of your attendees at receptions, meals, sessions and in the hallways. Unfortunately, many of those introductions are nothing more than empty interactions. They don’t really connect with others. Then loneliness creeps in. They feel isolated and alone in a sea of others. That loneliness makes … [Read more...]
NetWORTHing: The New Way to Network At Conferences
Have you ever been a victim of a network drive-by at a conference? Violated by someone who only talks to you if they think you can do something for them? The whole time they’ve got one eye searching for a more influential target to move to. Everyone has been burned by someone who in the name of networking, was only pursuing their own selfish agenda. These people have made networking a dirty word. RIP Speed Networking Speed networking, which unfortunately is still popular with some … [Read more...]
Fostering Planned Serendipity At Conferences
Some people call it luck. Others call it fate. Whatever we call it, serendipity is a wonderful thing. We’ve all experienced it at a conference. That happy accident or surprising discovery when you sit next to someone at a session who deals with the same work challenges as you. This new serendipitous connection introduces you to other like-minded participants and before you know it, you’re meeting up for dinner. You leave the conference with new connections that will continue to grow … [Read more...]
