Technology for Events: presentation to Wellington Conference Expo 2011

Technology for Events Wellington Conference Expo 2011

2 golden rules

Efficient

• Faster, easier, cheaper, higher quality (…whatever works for you)

Edgy

• A point of difference, nudge ahead of the pack

(Oh, one extra one: Everlasting

…well, evolving at least – futureproof)

What’s out there

Efficient

• Web-based, integrated

Edgy

• Mobile Apps, Social Media, Streaming Video

(Efficient) Planning and Promoting

• Your site itself!

• Lose the Flash and the music please

• Get a professional template designed you can reuse, linked to social media

• Registration systems

• Keep it simple, user-directed

• Fax is really almost dead, honestly

• Online exhibitor manuals

• Not just a PDF…

(Efficient) Planning and Promoting

• Email campaigns

• Template-based systems linked to your database (or export) - Get a professional design done once

• Click throughs (monitor the uptake, tweak the next one)

• Online call for papers/abstract reviews

• Secure, customisable, seamless process

• Online surveys

• Can re-use your email campaign template

• Think mobile? Or even voice operated?!

(Edgy) Mobilising your Events

• Mobile is not a trend!• There are more people with mobile phones than have access to

running water

• By 2012, mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common Web access device worldwide (and remain)

• They are ‘smart’ and getting smarter

• Deloitte 2010 Survey: 48% business travellers own web-enabled smartphone, 80%+ for medics, lawyers, techs, sales

• People spend more time using apps than browsing

• Step One: Mobile Website

• Step Two: Get an app for your event

(Edgy) Why a mobile app for your event?

• Extend the life of your event

• Reduce printing costs

• Free lead generation for exhibitors

• Better analytics – better evidence – attract/retain

• Go green

• Make money

• Be cool

(Edgy) Social Media - Twitter

Twitter

•140 characters of the latest news – by the people for the people

•#tag for your event is a given; Monitor the others and display them

•Conversations are key

•Constantly updated, engaging

•Twitter wall? Free! (well the software is, flatscreen display isn’t!)

(Edgy) Social Media - LinkedIn

LinkedIn

•Groups are the most successful feature – 1mil• So what? Well your attendees can Get Group Discussions, Join a Group,

Post new group discussions, Comment, like and follow group discussions..

• Make it vibrant, keep it exclusive

•You can now integrate via API own site - huh?• Seamlessly feature a community. Don’t host yourself – leverage depth of

LinkedIn platform. Stop convincing attendees to register to ANOTHER community.

• Pull the users LinkedIn refers to your group, to your event website (groups as marketing opportunities)

(Edgy) Social Media - Facebook

Facebook

• 600 million users. Quite a lot.

• Switch over from Groups to Pages• Create simple splash landing page

• Grab attention• Video, music, competitions, early bird prices, specials

• Sell tickets

• Get a photographer and start tagging

(Edgy) Streaming Video

• Promotion? Yes AND future business – more attendees next year• Reach audiences that just couldn’t make it

• YouTube: just launched• Ahem: YouTube = 2nd largest search engine in

the world

• Video massively affects your search rankings too

• Other providers locally, internationally• Create your own channel OR embed a widget in your site

• Live, Video-On-Demand, mobile, chat integrated….free…

Two biggest mistakes with social media...

1. Too Much: Hey, calm down!• You do not need to be everywhere.

• Events with a small, cared for presence are best.

2. Too Little: Nice brochure. Is that it? Is that what you can do?

• ‘But I don’t have the resources to support social media!’

• Well you had the resources to put together a crummy website!

• Why not think strategically, re-inventing yourself and earning the respect of your attendees. Can you do that with a Twitter account? Yes, you can!

Choosing your tech suppliers: checklist

1. Stability of the Company

2. A Proven Track Record

3. Fits Pretty Well With Minimal Alterations

4. Not Their First Rodeo

5. Plays Well in the Sandbox

6. Plan for Continuous Improvement

7. Stays True to Their Core

8. Safe and Secure

9. Anal About Analytics

10.Accessibility.

THANK YOU!www.showgizmo.com