4 Top Technology Predictions That Will Affect Your Organization October 18, 2011 by Jeff Hurt These Gartner predictions highlight the trends and disruptive events that will reshape the nature of business for the next four years. They focus on changes in the role that technology plays in business performance, our personal and professional lives, and in the global economy. Gartner evaluated more than 100 predictions based on audience appeal, impact … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Technology Tagged With: , association future, association issues and challenges, association trends, disruptive technologies, nonprofit predictions, nonprofit trends, Social Media, social technology, technology
Confusing Social Terms Defined. Cheat Sheet: Web 2.0 Glossary August 10, 2011 by Jeff Hurt Imagine for a moment that in 1998, Google was operating in a garage, Apple introduced the iMac and the founder of Facebook was still in junior high school. Fast forward to today. A lot has changed. We’ve seen the rise of collaborative software and social networks. Web 2.0 has made seismic shifts in our communications, … [Read more…] Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , glossary, social learning, Social Media, social networking, social technology, social terms
Where Are We And Where We Are Going? April 5, 2011 by Jeff Hurt The Pew Internet & American Life Project provides great data on Americans and the Internet. The Project produces reports exploring the impact of the Internet on families, communities, work and home, daily life, education, health care, and civic and political life. They are a great resource of data for any conference organizer or assocation leader … [Read more…] Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , association, event technology, Social Media, social networking, technology
Using Gamification To Influence Event Participants’ Behavior March 17, 2011 by Jeff Hurt Gamification is the current shiny object for the meetings and events industry. Why all the hype about gamification? As the business sector is discovering, gamification has the power to Increase and improve customer engagement Build customer loyalty Incent customers to do specific things Defining Gamification Gamification is the use of game mechanics and game dynamics … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , conferences, engagement, event technology, Gamification, MMOG, MMOs, Social Media
Make Your Conference More Lady Gaga-istic March 11, 2011 by Jeff Hurt 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 … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Planning Tagged With: , influencers, meeting experience, meeting planning best practices, Social Media
Creating The iEvent: Technology Tools For Audience Engagement February 28, 2011 by Jeff Hurt Today’s Audiences Want High Tech With High Touch Today’s conference and event audiences are hungry to be engaged and involved in the experience. They want to participate in a variety of ways. They are willing to try new things. 95% of the attendees at my presentation at Event Solutions Idea Factory said technology changes audiences. … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Technology Tagged With: , attendee engagement, engagement, event technology, iEvents, Social Media, social technology for events, social tools
Take The Wiffiti Plunge: Engage Your Audiences With Animated Texts February 9, 2011 by Jeff Hurt Texting: it’s one of today’s major methods of communication. You do it. Your kids do it. Your friends do it. Your parents do it. Maybe event your grandparents do it. People text at the store. They text while talking. They text during TV shows. They text from major sports and entertainment events. They probably text … [Read more…] Filed Under: Event Technology Tagged With: , engagement, event technology, Social Media, social media for events, technology, Wiffiti
The Four Cs Of Social Engagement: Social Media For Events January 27, 2011 by Jeff Hurt According to a recent study, 80% of American adults use the Internet. 75% belong to a social network. Our social media use is increasing and event organizers need to adopt new thinking, new directions and new strategies for event communications and engagement. Here is the PPT from my presentation for Southwest Showcase jointly produced by International Association for Exhibitions … [Read more…] Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , conferences, content, engagement, event technology, Social Media, social networking, technology
5 Reasons Why CSMs And CVBs Should Use Social Media January 21, 2011 by Jeff Hurt Convention Services Managers (CSMs) and Convention and Visitor Bureaus (CVBs): They are a meeting professional’s right hand. They are event professionals’ co-pilots. We need them. We love them. We can’t succeed without them. They help provide the onsite scaffolding and structure of our events. Without them, our meetings would implode from the time we set … [Read more…] Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , ACOM, conferences, convention operations, convention service managers, CSM, CVB, Facebook Fan page, meeting planner, Social Media, social networking, Twitter for events
Why People Join Social Networking Sites January 5, 2011 by Jeff Hurt What is the number one reason why people join social networks? Go ahead and think about that for a second. Now say your answer out loud. What was your answer? Networking, sharing, for a sense of belonging, to learn? Guess what, those are all good reasons but they are not the number one reason. If … [Read more…] Filed Under: Social Media Tagged With: , community, social identity, Social Media, social networking