The 12 Days of Conference - Day Nine

As we prepare for 2013 I am hosting a series of blog posts called "The 12 Days of Conference".  Each day a different expert from the meeting, convention planning, speaking and hotel industries will add their single best idea on how to create better events or other tips for how to improve the "Conference Attendee Experience" in the new year.

Create an event that you’d actually like to attend. 

By Elizabeth Luna

I don’t know about you, but I like to attend events that take risks—events that show me what works and what does not, so I can go into planning my next event with a repository of innovative ideas created from what I experienced.

     What we as planners don’t want to have happen, obviously, is to create an uninspiring event that doesn't show attendees anything new. The same-old-same-old event ultimately translates into a drop in next year’s attendance, something no planner wants to see.

     So, what can you do to avoid the repetition—to turn up the volume at your next event and really stimulate the minds of your attendees?

     It’s simple really—focus on the attendee experience and don’t be afraid to take a few risks along the way.

    

Here are some simple steps you can follow to keep focused on attendee engagement and meeting design. 

• No meeting should be planned without first completing two very important steps: 1) Identify and state goals and objectives for your meeting/event, and 2) Identify your target audience.

Once you have those identified:

• Plan the meeting through the eyes of your attendees – apply principles of what is important to you when attending a conference.  How early does the day start, how much time between sessions, networking time allowed, ability to interact with speakers during sessions vs. just simply listening to a lecture, opportunities to connect with experts outside of the session room, transportation to offsite events, white space in the schedule, etc.?

• The attendee experience literally means everything the attendee will see, hear and feel pre-conference, learn onsite and see and hear post-conference. This includes the way you reach out to your attendees pre-conference regarding details (emails vs. printed pieces, website interaction), what your attendees experience onsite (signage at the airport, welcome at the hotel, how they feel coming out of general session, options and taste of meal functions, learning experiences in the room, learning experiences outside of the room, new connections), and the experience after the event (follow-up from onsite experiences, opportunities to stay connected).

• At every possible moment, get input from potential attendees and engage with them in the planning of the event.  Be it education, networking or even schedule planning, the feeling of ownership in the end product creates an urgency not only to attend, but to champion the event for others to attend and be exponentially more participatory while onsite.

     In the planning process for WEC 2012 in St. Louis, the MPI team walked through the convention center as though we were attendees, we talked through the schedule as though we’d be the ones participating and not working.  During the event, we heard comments from attendees and saw increasing satisfaction scores for logistics, which showed that our efforts had made a definite difference. 

     In 2013, we’re calling WEC in Las Vegas, a “Laboratory of Risk.” We aren't going to be afraid to take risks. Some of what we do will work, some won’t, but the experience will be memorable and meaningful. We’ll be taking conference design and participant engagement to a new level, planning a truly innovative event our industry will not want to miss. It’s going to be an event designed, in theory and in practice, partially by them but completely for them.

_ _ _

Elizabeth Luna is the Manager of Live Events for Meeting Professionals International (MPI).  She has 10 years experience in the meetings and events industry including the last three and a half years at MPI. Prior to joining MPI, she was the Associate Director of Training and Events, managing a team that was responsible for planning and executing multiple annual events and monthly training programs. At MPI, she has been involved in managing both content and logistics for live events.

The 12 Days of Conference - Day Eight

As we prepare for 2013 I am hosting a series of blog posts called "The 12 Days of Conference".  Each day a different expert from the meeting, convention planning, speaking and hotel industries will add their single best idea on how to create better events or other tips for how to improve the "Conference Attendee Experience" in the new year.

Creating Meaningful Events

By Cindy Lo

An event’s success depends on a number of factors - great partners; a one-of-a-kind location; excited guests; and a dedicated event planning professional are all essential to making sure the production runs smoothly.

But the events that stick in people’s minds aren’t necessarily the biggest, or the splashiest, or the most outrageous events. They are the events that were the most meaningful. So, in a world where being over-the-top is often confused for being the best, how do you go about planning a meaningful event? It’s simple: you get creative.

The best part about being creative is that it doesn’t necessarily mean being expensive. You can have a very creative and meaningful event on any budget. Here’s how:

·         Be Thoughtful. Take time to think about what will make the event stand out, what the client’s goals are, and how it will all come together for the guests. Don’t ever rely on a cookie-cutter approach; every event is different and needs to be approached thusly. And make sure you focus on both the big picture and the little details.
·         Look For What’s New. Some tried-and-true event touches will never get old, but you don’t want to feature something that your guests saw at pretty much every party – five years ago. Keep in mind what’s new and what’s exciting, and tailor that to fit your client’s needs and wishes.
·         Consider Your Audience. Not every tactic will work for every audience. For example, an event for an older crowd shouldn't rely too heavily on social media. Keep your guests’ needs in mind as well as your client’s desires. You want everyone to be delighted by the time everyone goes home.
·         Hire an Event Planning Professional. When you hire an event planning professional or a DMC, you’re hiring someone with years of experience in the industry – someone who knows how to work within your budget to put together a memorable, creative event that will sparkle in your guests’ memories for a long time!

Again, it doesn't take an unlimited budget to get creative (it definitely helps but it’s not required) to plan a meaningful event. It does take time, knowledge, and experience. For more details on how to make an event a wonderful and meaningful experience for all involved, call Red Velvet Events today!

Cindy Lo, owner of Red Velvet Events, loves to strategize and challenge her team to out do their own production year after year. On any given day, you can find Cindy buried in an Excel spreadsheet; traveling the world to get new design ideas; and reading every article she can get her hands as she's always looking for inspiration.

The 12 Days of Conference - Day Seven

As we prepare for 2013 I am hosting a series of blog posts called "The 12 Days of Conference".  Each day a different expert from the meeting, convention planning, speaking and hotel industries will add their single best idea on how to create better events or other tips for how to improve the "Conference Attendee Experience" in the new year.

Hashtags & Hoteliers:

Network Outside the Ballroom

Increase ROI of Conference Registration Fees and Travel Costs!

By Valerie Sparks

When a hotel sales professional returns from a meetings industry annual conference, the #1 goal is to show Return on Investment (ROI) on the hefty registration fee and travel costs. He or she will look better to a boss with new RFPs and business cards collected.

An opportunity to exceed these goals is available, and has been for a number of years. Why aren't the majority of hoteliers taking advantage of it?

Virtual Conference Networking via Twitter Hashtags

Hoteliers have an opportunity to increase business development productivity during an annual meetings industry conference by engaging qualified meeting planners, virtually, via Twitter. By tweeting an assigned conference hashtag before, during, and after a conference, one’s individual hotel property or brand will be exposed to a larger audience of meeting planners. Let’s say one hotelier is attending a conference with 300+ planes in attendance, how many new relationships can that hotelier realistically expect to make on the trade show floor or at designated networking events? Imagine engaging an additional 50+ planners, virtually, all through Twitter.

What is a Hashtag?

A hashtag is a word or stream of letters after a pound symbol. Two examples of hashtags used on a daily basis are #hotelprofs and #eventprofs. The first allowing hoteliers to exchange industry related trends and the second allowing any business related to the meetings and event industries to gain better exposure to a targeted meeting planning community.

On December 14th (2012) alone, 541 separate tweets included #eventprofs.

Another type of hashtag is one assigned for a specific annual conference. These hashtags are typically only utilized around the dates of the actual conference. Examples: #hpnglobal and #HSC2012

HPN Global 2012 Annual Partners Conference - Omni Dallas - ‪#hpnglobal

Between Dec 9^th – Dec 17^th

•           Total tweets including #hpnglobal: 250
•           Total hotelier accounts used #hpnglobal: 5

Holiday Showcase 2012 Annual Conference - Hyatt Chicago - ‪#HSC2012

Between Dec 10^th – Dec 15^th

•           Total tweets including #hsc2012: 350
•          Total hotelier accounts that used #HSC2012: 3

For a hotelier, this data screams OPPORTUNITY!

I am not referring to a hotel’s already existing Twitter account, but rather, a personal Twitter account.

Caution

Before diving in head first, ensure the following of your new Twitter account:

• Professional headshot; preferably photo from LinkedIn for consistency and better recognition.
• Short professional bio; making it clear the hotel/hotel brand represented.
• Any tweets written or re-tweeted should be professional, positive, and relevant to those in the meetings and events industries.
• Friends don’t let friends Drink and Tweet. Meetings industry conferences are not shy about the alcohol. Ensure you do not allow social media and alcohol to mix. 

 Action Steps 

1.      Go to Twitter and build a free account.
2.      Link your Twitter account to your LinkedIn profile. Instructions Here3.      Don’t freak out. You don’t need to tweet anything right away. No one is following you, so no one will read your tweets anyway.
4.      Think to yourself, “Wow, I’m 95% ahead of the pack in getting more ROI out the next attended meetings related annual conference.”

Opportunities for Continual ‘Social Media for Business Development’ Related Learning

Request to join these private LinkedIn Groups (850+ members each):

•           PinkedOut - Professional Women
•           Linking Hoteliers - Current Hoteliers

   

      

     Valarie Sparks (formerly Wilder) recently left a successful 13-year hotel management career to conduct Social Sales Training Workshops for hotel sales and meetings professionals. Her workshops increase business development productivity utilizing the LinkedIn and Twitter platforms. 

Valarie Sparks

Social Sales Training Consultant | Speaker | Hotel Sales and Meetings Professionals

Follow on Twitter: @Sparking_Social

Connect on LinkedIn

The 12 Days of Conference - Day Six

As we prepare for 2013 I am hosting a series of blog posts called "The 12 Days of Conference".  Each day a different expert from the meeting, convention planning, speaking and hotel industries will add their single best idea on how to create better events or other tips for how to improve the "Conference Attendee Experience" in the new year.

End it with a Shebango!

by Jessica Pettitt

After working for years as an event planner and now as a speaker and facilitator I gotta share a secret.  Conference attendees don’t usually think about the months of hard work that go into planning an event.  An event is more than a theme, a list of programs, and meals at a good venue.  The secret though, is that on the last day of the event, the planning team are often stressed, underfed, and lacking sleep.  The final speaker takes the stage and there is an exhale – it is over – we did it – yeah!  We get to sleep again soon.  However, this is a big mistake – I mean you do get to sleep soon, but don’t miss the opportunity to end your event the best way possible!

A few ways to determine if a conference has ended badly…

• Finding piles of dusty business cards from conferences
• Conference resources that hasn't inspired me from inside the filing cabinet
• Calls to action that have piled up under an unread reading pile
• Reams of paper of notes of great ideas and best practices
• Renewal notices for organizations I don’t remember I belong to

The final program of a conference is an often overlooked opportunity for the planning committee – not on purpose necessarily – but overlooked nonetheless… Here are a few things you can do to wrap up your event with not just a bang, but a SHEBANGO!

A few ways to determine if a conference has ended with a SheBang…

• There is a distinct difference in your posture and attitude
• You have multiple dates set up to continue conversations with folks from the event
• Next year’s event is already in your calendar
• Participants have a list of folks to encourage attending the next event and renewing their membership
• Meeting Planners and Event Committee look like superheroes to attendees!
• Conference mishaps are overlooked and the theme is restated over and over again

The closing speaker’s job is to make attendees feel good or better yet, inspired.  Once motivated, participants head out the door and back to reality where they quickly forget what they just learned, who they just met, and why they are part of the association.  This isn't a blame worthy element of event planning – just happens.  Ideally, events should end in the exact opposite way – and it doesn't even cost more money!

As a closing speaker, it is my job to make the meeting planner and committee look AMAZING, assist all attendees in really internalizing everything they just learned and apply it to their regular lives, support participants’ new network of contacts, and block their schedules with the next event’s dates.  Moreover, an event attendee is the best marketing tool for the next event, and also for the organization itself.  Ending with a SHEBANGO increases member retention and recruitment and makes all of the hard work to plan, present, and share worth it.

It is a HUGE responsibility to smooth over the unexpected happenings at an event, be it fire alarms, broken elevators, rubber chicken, or presenters who don’t deliver, threading together the mission and vision of the hosting organization and event theme, and inspiring attendees to take the messages home.  Lastly, motivating the participants long after the event to support the organization throughout the year and bring in new faces, information, and maybe even serve on the next planning team.  That is ending it right – with a SHEBANGO!

Jessica Pettitt stirs up conversations using humor and history.  Get the Whole Shebango! at www.SheBango.com, email endwith@SheBango.com,  or call 917-543-0966.

The 12 Days of Conference - Day Five

As we prepare for 2013 I am hosting a series of blog posts called "The 12 Days of Conference".  Each day a different expert from the meeting, convention planning, speaking and hotel industries will add their single best idea on how to create better events or other tips for how to improve the "Conference Attendee Experience" in the new year.

Get Productive: 

Use Video to Increase Engagement

By Neen James

Video is the future.

Video is changing the way kids learn at school –look at the way thought leader Salman Kahn and the Kahn Academy has flipped the way kids learn math.

Video is changing the way universities share content – look at the phenomenal enrolment numbers of online learning.

Video is changing the meetings industry.

If you want to increase engagement from attendees, vendors and speakers at your events in 2013 the way to do it is, yes you guessed it … video!

In our productivity consulting and speaking practice we use video in a number of ways to serve our clients. We have found using video has several benefits:

·         Great promotional tool for marketing before, during and after the event.
·         Start conversations between speakers and attendees early.
·         Content is in small digestible chunks for increased effectiveness.
·         Social media engagement skyrockets!

As a meeting planner you can leverage video by inviting all your speakers to create short videos explaining the benefits of their session to attendees. You will see major events in 2013 embrace this concept.

As a vendor you can leverage video by inviting attendees to visit your trade stand for exclusive offers and quality conversation.

As a speaker you can leverage video by sharing your content, building excitement for your session and suggest attendees engage with you before the event.

At Neen James Communications we send videos to our meeting planners to use in their promotional activities, we engage in social media with guests before the event using the hash tag for Twitter, LinkedIn discussion groups, Facebook conversations and Instagram.

We encourage all attendees watching the video to email us in advance their biggest productivity challenges (or whatever the topic we are keynoting about) and we can use these questions to customize the content for our program.

We send videos after the keynote to increase accountability to actions agreed in the keynote and also to embed the learning of key concepts.

Video is hands-down one of the most vital engagement tools for 2013 – how are you embracing video in your next event? Share your ideas with us here on our blog.

 

Neen James CSP is a productivity thought leader (and Aussie) who delivers engaging keynotes that have educated, and entertained audiences with real-world strategies that apply at work and life. She also provides mentoring to women and when she isn’t traveling the world on her Harley; she is collecting fabulous shoes!

The 12 Days of Conference - Day Four

As we prepare for 2013 I am hosting a series of blog posts called "The 12 Days of Conference".  Each day a different expert from the meeting, convention planning, speaking and hotel industries will add their single best idea on how to create better events or other tips for how to improve the "Conference Attendee Experience" in the new year.

 “Letting Go” 

(of the need to over-prepare and over-organize 

our events and presentations)

By Sara Canaday

OK, I admit it.  Being uber-organized feeds my need to feel somewhat in control of my time, resources, and results. I love the feeling of being over-prepared for a presentation with an outline with a solid framework, rocking transitions, and a theme that seems to magically appear with each and every story.  However, beyond the selfish and seemingly productive advantages of being über-prepared, I've seen some disadvantages that could slowly, but surely impact the overall quality and texture of my presentations, my ability to grow as a speaker and, ultimately, the depth of the connections I can make with my audience members. 

We’ve been trained and conditioned to over-prepare for every meeting and every speech. For planning professionals that means ghantt charts, Excel spreadsheets and automated registration and updates. For speakers that means detailed presentation outlines, choreographed stories, and perfectly timed humor.  Sure, our audience expects the clarity, structure and wit that come from carefully planned events and presentations.

At the same time, however, our audiences want a fluid conference experience and a genuine and more spontaneous connection with presenters. What this means for all of us is that we need to be more responsive to attendee feedback and reactions, not just before or after the event, but right smack in the middle of it.   As hard as it will be for some of us (ahem) to let go of the uber-organzied event or presentation plan, we will need to be much more fluid and in-the-moment.  

We need to be ever vigilant in observing what is happening “real-time”.  What is the mood? What are people's reactions? What conversations are going on?  What are people asking for, or anticipating from the conference?  There are times we need to (brace yourself here) veer from our detailed plans or go “off-script” so that we are improving and enhancing our events and presentations as they are happening.  

Yes, there seems to be a paradox here.  Our clients and audience members want us to be organized, professional, timely, consistent, and efficient.  Yet, they also want us to be fluid, reactive, spontaneous, and EFFECTIVE! 

Welcome to the world where you cannot control everything.  Welcome to the new world of conferences.  Let go and enjoy the ride.

Sara Canaday (www.SaraCanaday.com ) is a leadership expert, career strategist, speaker, and the author of  a new book,  You -- According to Them: Uncovering the blind spots that impact your reputation and your career (available on amazon.com).

Cool Things My Friends Do: Ooh La Bra! - Lisa Angelos McKenzie

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives. 

In September 2011 I wrote on this blog about my friend Lisa Angelos McKenzie, the founder of Ooh La Bra!  Lisa has created a niche business creating decorative bra straps and headbands.  She launched the company in the middle of the recession and now her business is busting out (sorry, I could not resist).

Her business began when she spotted a friend wearing a stylish rhinestone bra at a high school reunion.  Lisa has always had an eye for fashion (I have known her since college), and she found boutique where the friend had made her purchase and bought out the store.  She soon found that they were a great accessory, and realized that the straps were the key. Next thing you knew she had a business.

I love seeing an idea become reality, and now Lisa is working hard to expand her company.  Yes, the holidays are a busy time of they year for this "bra-strap entrepreneur".  (HINT, HINT..... if you are looking for a great gift, check out Ooh La Bra! for some great gift ideas).

When I started this blog I never dreamed that I would write about bra accessories (and now twice!), but when it comes to "Cool Things My Friends Do",.... Lisa Angelos McKenzie is a great example of someone I think is cool off the charts.

Have A Great Day

thom singer

The 12 Days of Conference - Day Three

As we prepare for 2013 I am hosting a series of blog posts called "The 12 Days of Conference".  Each day a different expert from the meeting, convention planning, speaking and hotel industries will add their single best idea on how to create better events or other tips for how to improve the "Conference Attendee Experience" in the new year.

Mobile Apps: Choose Wisely and Not Too Early

By Donna Kastner

No doubt about it – 2012 was the year of the mobile app. With more than a billion smartphones in use and tablet adoption accelerating fast, our appetite for mobile apps grows ever stronger. I caught a stat the other day that speaks volumes:

“The average person looks at their phone 150 times a day or once every six-and-a-half minutes of every waking hour.”  (From a speech by former Nokia executive Tomi Ahonen at Mobile App Africa)

The mobile app frenzy is catching on in conference circles. Most planners have either launched a mobile app or they’re getting ready to. As with any new technology, tales from early adopters often yield valuable lessons, as new considerations emerge.

Here are three caveats to help you make your best mobile app vendor choice:

1.   Don’t Choose Too Early

Mobile apps are primarily content aggregators, making this a toolset with low barriers of entry – hence, many players on the field. There’s a lot of jockeying for position going on and the top performers in 2012 may or may not be at the top at the end of 2013. Hold off on decisions for as long as you can. You want to secure a vendor at least six to nine months before your conference, but steer clear of multi-year contracts because the field is still in flux and prices will continue to drop.

2. The Vendor You Know vs.The Vendor You Don’t Know
Your mobile app will likely be aggregating data from three primary sources: (1) registration data; (2) exhibitor data; (3) session data.  It makes sense to look at vendors you’re already working with in these areas to find out what they’re developing for the mobile app space.  Engage too many vendors and you’ll find yourself managing a three ring circus. As you evaluate mobile app vendors and settle in on a short list of finalists, if one is already doing a great job of managing one or more of these data sets, that’s a plus and should tip decisions in favor of the vendor you already know and trust.

3. Adoption First – Then Monetization

Many planners are tempted to maximize first year ROI from the mobile app up through ads, banners, upgraded exhibitor profiles, etc. While it’s understandable, it’s the wrong approach in year one. Strong and sustained revenues come to those who put the attendee and their adoption first. The mobile app must be easy to use and a constant source of helpful information that enhances the attendee’s experience. It must be superior than what is available in print (hint – scale back on the print to improve value of your app). When attendees first open the mobile app, if they’re deluged with promotions, they’ll tune out. When that happens, sponsors and advertisers don’t renew. As you earn eyeballs and clicks, sponsors will be eager to support your app at a premium price, because now you have ROI proof.

What has been your experience with attendee mobile apps for conferences? What features are “must haves” for your event?

Donna Kastner is the Director, Education & Engagement at Velvet Chainsaw Consulting. She helps conference organizers improve their Annual Meeting education, attendee engagement and financials.

The 12 Days of Conference - Day Two

As we prepare for 2013 I am hosting a series of blog posts called "The 12 Days of Conference".  Each day a different expert from the meeting, convention planning, speaking and hotel industries will add their single best idea on how to create better events or other tips for how to improve the "Conference Attendee Experience" in the new year.

Content Is King

By Craig Price

People want to know what they’re going to get and what they got from your event. They want information in hand, on the cloud, and the second they want it. Yet conferences are still keeping information from their attendees.

Look at how conferences are promoted.  Most events will offer up agendas, speaker bios and short program descriptions to lure attendees; but is that enough?

How about getting your presenters to create short content-packed videos that show what they’re going to talk about?

Why not provide in-depth interviews in the form of podcasts or videos that will highlight aspects of your various breakout sessions or keynote options?

Don’t worry about giving away too much content. That is the point! Attendees want content BEFORE they make decisions, and BEFORE they spend their hard earned money on a conference registration fee. In fact, they expect this information.

Give it to them.

Allow potential attendees to get excited about coming to your event. Give them things they can spread and share with others (some of whom might be harder to convince) see the quality of the content you offer. You want people to look forward to coming and not wonder if this event will be as good/bad as last years or another conference. People need to see your event as “can’t miss”, and they won’t unless you show them what they are missing!

After the conference information is still just as important as it was before and during the event. You want to bridge the conference you just had with other events you offer as well as build excitement towards next year’s conference.

Do you offer handouts and slides on your conference website so people can access them whenever they need them? This is so they can share them with colleagues or other potential attendees who will see what they missed.

Do you offer your community a way to tell others how awesome your event was? For example, encourage discussions on LinkedIn forums, Google+ hangouts or post-conference webinars where attendees share what they have learned.

Most importantly, are you making all this great information available to everyone?

Far too often, organizations hide their information behind “member’s only” sections thinking that people will join to get all this great information; you should look at it the other way.  People will join BECAUSE of all this great information.

Stop thinking of information as the reward for attending and start to think of it as proof of attending. Allow your conference to be the hub for your industry where people come to learn, share information, and engage. The more you give, the more people will want to get. As a result, more people will understand the importance of your conference and look forward to returning, year after year.

Craig Price specializes in distilling conferences down into actionable items with his Conference Recaps.  He works with meeting planners and conference organizers to maximize their attendees “Return on Attendance”

He can be reached at his website www.SpeakerCraigPrice.com or www.therealistsguide.com.  

The 12 Days of Conference - Day One

As we prepare for 2013 I am hosting a series of blog posts called "The 12 Days of Conference".  Each day a different expert from the meeting, convention planning, speaking and hotel industries will add their single best idea on how to create better events or other tips for how to improve the "Conference Attendee Experience" in the new year.

I will kick it off (because it is my blog).

A Speaker Should Do More Than Talk At A Conference

By Thom Singer

Speakers set the tone for meetings, but many speakers are not serving as partners to the event planner before, during and after the event.  If you want those who present at your meeting to be more involved with your community of attendees you should begin by talking with them about the role you want them to play in your event.

Some planners would prefer speakers stay longer than just the hour they are on stage.  If you want your presenters to do more that talk and then dash for the airport you should start the conversation with your expectations for their level of involvement from the very first inquiry.

Too often the only question about availability is only focused on the time slot on the agenda, but if you want them involved creating pre-event videos, participating in your social events / networking breaks / meals, and hosting online chats weeks after the event, these expectations need to be made clear before negotiations about fees and times begin.

I believe a speaker should do more than talk at the conference.  When I attend events (and I have been to many conferences, trade shows, conventions, seminars, etc...) I appreciate the opportunity to interact with the speakers during the happy hours, networking breaks, meals and in the hallways.  Even if I do not speak with them, seeing them engaged as part of the "mini-society" of the conference is a positive.

Content presented from the stage is only a small part of the learning experience that takes place at an event.  The whole human-to-human engagement and ongoing conversations are what help most people retain the messages delivered.  Speakers need to embrace their responsibility in the success ecosystem of the meetings business and be available for more than a stage appearance (of course if you are booking big-time celebrities like Bill Clinton, there are reasons why this level of engagement is not possible).

If a planner desires to have a speaker more involved, in most cases they need to let this be known upfront when they are selecting speakers.  Waiting until the week of the event to invite the speaker to stay for the happy hour will not fly, as speakers have busy schedules and some do not like the social side of a conference in the first place.  Knowing expectations on both sides will eliminate any surprises.

I think speakers should always look for ways to provide extra value, and thus asking the organizer up front of their expectations can also help create the sense of partnership.  There are cases when the planners do not care if the speaker stays, or due to confidentiality issues of the meeting, they do not want the speaker to participate beyond their talk.  When this is the case, everyone needs to know this, too!

Speakers are an uncommon vendor when it comes to the meetings industry, as their product is unique and personal.  They also have can have an unparalleled impact on the vibe of the event -- speakers can create a buzz of excitement or suck the energy out of the room.  Plus what makes "good speaker" can be subjective (think art, some do not like Jackson Pollock, while others do!).  This is not a commodity purchase ... thus you must look beyond the data when selecting the correct partner who will positively impact the whole event.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Thom Singer is known as "The Conference Catalyst". He works with meeting planners and conference organizers to set the tone for a meeting. His presentations educate, inspire and motivate attendees to engage deeper in the event and make meaningful connections.  http://www.conferencecatalyst.com 

www.ConferenceCatalyst.com

Is Sponsoring a Trade Show Worth It????

I was excited to be quoted in the January issue of Success Magazine.  The article (by Emma Johnson on page 30) talks about how to build business by exhibiting at trade shows.

(I would post a link, but while the magazine is available on newsstands, the December issue is still showing as the current issue at the time I write this post.  But below I am not going to quote the article, but instead give more insite into my feelings about getting more from trade shows)

As an active member of the Meetings and Convention Industry, I am more than a speaker.  I have become and advocate for the power of meetings and I work hard to help organizers, attendees and exhibitors find ways to maximize their investment of time and money to participate in conferences, trade shows, conventions, etc...  I firmly believe that trade shows (and other events) are a great way to build your business and brand, but it will never happen by accident.

Many times there is a disconnect between the attendees and the sponsors.  Too many people avoid visiting the trade show booths, which can cause those vendors to complain to the organizers.  This disconnect however is often the fault of the sponsors, as they do not engage in being part of the whole event.  Organizers do all they can to create traffic into the show, but if there is a disconnect in everyone feeling hey are part of the same "min-society", then the event can miss its potential.

Sponsors must do more than buy booth space, they need to be strategics in how they approach the event before, during and after.  People want to connect when they attend a business gathering, and if they are not connecting with you or your team, the blame may lie with how you approach the human side of the conference . Before complaining about the organizers.... you should first do an honest diagnostic of how your people actively execute the booth, keynotes, social events, and other places where people come together for live conversations.

CEO's and VP's of Sales always .... that is ALWAYS... tell me their team is great at trade shows.  Yet when asked about others who exhibit, they always point out a laundry list of mistakes.  The disconnect is that every executive says his people are good, and it is the others who suck.  Do you see what the issue is here.... maybe they are giving too much credit to their own employees!!!

I believe every company could benefit from paying more attention to how they maximize their trade show participation.  Yes, being a sponsor is a great way to build business, but too many companies are not taking advantage of the opportunities they get from being part of the show.

What are you observations about sponsoring trade shows?

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Thom Singer is known as "The Conference Catalyst". He works with meeting planners and conference organizers to set the tone for a meeting. His presentations educate, inspire and motivate attendees to engage deeper in the event and make meaningful connections. http://www.conferencecatalyst.com 

Cool Things My Friends Do: Paul Grabowski - Named A Top Ranked CMO

Each Friday on this blog I enjoy highlighting some of the cool things my friends do in their work and personal lives. 

My friend Paul Grabowski is the CMO for Bracewell & Giuliani LLP.  He was just named to the ExecRank 2012 Top Private CMO's list.

He is #187

The article goes on to list 250 Chief Marketing Officers from companies in a variety of industries (including other law firms), but states that there are over 50,000 CMO's and Senior Marketing Executives in the United States.  Wow, that is a big number, and very cool that Paul was recognized in the top 200.

Congratulations to Paul.  He does a great job and is very worthy of being on this list.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Hey Austin - DONATE NOW to JB and Sandy's "Bikes for Kids"

Last night I ran into my friend JB Hager (and his delightful wife Erin) at a holiday party.  JB is one half of Austin's very popular JB and Sandy Morning Show on Austin's Mix 94.7 radio station.

I have known JB for several years, and always enjoy chatting with him.  He is a nice guy who is always willing to help others.

16 years ago he and his co-host launched a charity project with the idea that every child should experience the joy of getting a brand new bike on Christmas morning. What started as a grass roots effort, has continued to grow. To date, more than one million dollars has been raised and more than 10,000 bikes, locks and helmets have been given to children who would otherwise go without. The children who receive these bikes are nominated by Mix 94.7 listeners.

The program is now called Bikes for Kids, and it is fantastic!!!

There are only 8 days left until their annual bike give-away, and they still need to raise more money to ensure they can provide bikes to all those who are nominated and deserving.

This is a wonderful cause, as many of us remember the magic of getting a new bike.  Any amount donated will help another child receive an amazing gift.

Here is a link to the website where you can make your donation!!!

http://www.mix947.com/pages/14647617.php

Have A Great Day!!

thom singer

Austin and the New Philanthropy. Leadership Austin Engage Breakfast - December 2012

The December 4, 2012 Leadership Austin Engage Breakfast was a sold-out event.  Each month Leadership Austin hosts a conversational conclave to discuss issues important to the Central Texas Community.  While always a great gathering, the topic of "Giving" was one that seemed to resonate with an extra "umph" with those in the audience (not really surprising, as Leadership Austin attracts the type of people with servant's hearts!)

"The New Philanthropy: A Fresh Look at Giving in Central Texas" was a discussion about charitable giving and how companies and individuals can make the right choices on where and how to give back.

The Panelists included:

• Nichole Aston - Central Texas Program Officer, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation
• Dennis Cavner - Co-Founder, Innovation +
• Laurie Loew - Broker and Founder, Give Realty
• Robert Maxwell (Moderator) - Morning Anchor and Reporter, KXAN-TV

All involved, and their organizations, are known in the community for how they go beyond the dollar donations to encourage people to be involved with the charities they support.  They each possess a clear passion create a better culture for giving in the greater Austin area.  The old-school philanthropy was simply writing checks is going away.  Today's leaders take a holistic approach to funding and growth.

Arguably, Austin has more charitable organizations per capata than any other city.  Our entrepreneurial culture lends itself to a variety of philanthropic start-ups appearing each year.  But with so many choices, how do people know where to give? (and are many simply repeating the infrastructure and not maximizing the impact they can have on the greater good.  The trick is to get the human capital involved and connect the smart people to the smart ideas.  The issue is not about more charities, but instead it is unleashing a culture that allow the most effective to thrive.

"Venture Philanthropy" is a new concept, and Austin is well positioned to become the center of "Social Innovation".  Each panelist shared exciting ideas and their success leads the way for a better future for giving.

Dennis Cavner's Innovation + organization works to help organizational maximize their growth beyond a small focus.  Working with  Austin's College Forward, they helped the organization create a 5-year plan that will allow them to reach many more college bound students from lower economic neighborhoods.  Traditionally only 8% of kids in these areas will complete a 4-year degree, where as College Forward students graduate at an 80% rate.  This kind of success needs to have a bigger reach and getting the right people on board can allow successful charities to expand their reach. Identifying the groups that have the ability to make long-term and far reaching results is paramount moving forward.

Nicole Ashton shared how the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation goes beyond just issuing checks, but also work to help organizations learn how to grow their focus and diversify their funding sources. Educating those they serve has become a key component to helping the organizations maximize their money and reach.  They use their resources to assist groups with matching fund or challenge grants to help get more people involved in donating to a major fundraising project.

Laurie Loew founded Give Realty with part of her business plan to be the donation of 25% of her commission to the local charity of the client's choosing.  With 10,000 Realtors in the area the idea was originally to help her stand out in a crowded field.  But giving can become contagious  and her model has grown into her life's mission,   While some question if her company can really do this, she has built it into the plan from the beginning and has now contributed over $200,000 in just a few short years.  She pointed out that if every real estate agent in town did the same thing that number of monies given to the local charities would be between $80 - $100 million in the same time frame.  (WOW).

As Austin continues to grow it is important that we work to help get new residents connected to the philanthropic community. Austin has the potential to become a global example of giving, but this must be more than a few key foundations, organizations and social entrepreneurs.  We all need to find our niche and get connected into the groups we support.  Getting involved with a cause than one feels connected to matters, if they want to be engaged for the long haul.  You do not need to be wealthy to be a giver...., we can all make a difference.  

I walked away from this breakfast meeting inspired, but wanting to know more about how the average person gets involved.  Most people I talk to want to do something, but are not sure what that means.  Big foundations or other organizations lead by successful business leaders get a lot of attention, but we need help average people discover that it is not just the uber-successful that can have an impact on our community.  As a small business owner Ms. Loew has done great things with Give Realty, but her 25% donation number might scare some interested business owners away from doing something similar.  

I say that any giving is good, and we need to bring this conversation to the everyday vernacular (not just an annual breakfast panel discussion!).  As we are attending holiday parties in the next few weeks each of us should engage our friends, family and professionals in conversations about giving back and serving the community.  

What do you think?  

Have A Great Day

thom singer

PS - Five years ago when I became a professional speaker my wife and I created the "Kate Singer Endowment for Cranio-Facial Surgery and Research" at the Dell Children's Medical Foundation.  We donate 5% of all money earned from speaking fees.  While any one donation is small, over several years, coupled with some fundraisers and other donations from my clients... we have created a permanently funded endowment.  We have also created a similar giving structure at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego (where our daughter Kate had surgery as a baby).  The goal is split the 5% between the two foundations indefinitely.  Over time these small numbers will add up.  The key is to start early and give consistently! 

"Ripple Storm" - NetworkInAustin Meets The Ripple Effect

The NetworkInAustin.com "NetStorming" event will be blended together with Steve Harper's "8-Minute Ripple" at the December NetworkInAustin meeting.  The combined event is being billed as "Ripple Storm", and if you are in Austin, Texas you may want to mark your calendar for Monday, December 10, 2012.

This unique chance to make connections will be held from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM at the Hampton Inn & Suites @ The University/Capitol (1701 Lavaca StreetAustin, TX 78701).

Registration is required.  $20 for NIA Members ($30 at the door).

Have A Great Day.

thom singer

Can You Give Me "Free Consulting"?. Oh, But Your Office Is Too Far Away, Can You Come To Me? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I received the following email from a friend who has had a successful career as a business consultant and now works for a very cool tech company.  She was seeking my advice on a networking and "helping another person" situation, and I felt the need to share this one here on my blog.  With her permission.. here it is:

Dear Thom,  

There is a man on the periphery of our social circle who is looking for a new job. In my estimation he is a taker. I have given him referrals during his previous job search and my husband has counseled him as well. We have never received anything in return from him or his family.  

He emailed me asking to get together to pick my brain on consulting. I offered to meet him for coffee near my office, which is an hour from where we both live. I see this as the equivalent of your 6am offer strategy and also the best time for me to give him my attention. He responded to my email today suggesting we chat by phone instead as driving an hour each way for coffee is inconvenient for him. Frankly, as a working parent of three, any time I give him is inconvenient.  

However, I feel sorry for him as I have heard from mutual friends that he and his family are in a tough spot financially. I welcome your advise.  

Sincerely,

(name withheld) 

This made me smile as it happens all the time.  Someone reaches out to "pick your brain" (which translates to them wanting "free consulting") and then want you to come to them or meet them half way.  If this person really believed in his soul that her advice would be valuable in helping him launch a consulting practice, he would have happily driven the hour to meet near her office.  I have known of people that have purchased plane tickets and flown across the country for one hour of time with someone who they value.

My guess is this guy wanted to chat over coffee more to show his wife and himself that he is actively working to solve the career situation, not that he felt my friend could really help him take the leap into his own business (Oh, and she could help him.... as she is brilliant and experienced.  She is also a go-getter that would challenge him to do more!).

I offer up a 6 AM or 7 AM time slot at the Starbucks near my home for those who want to "Pick My Brain".  I like meeting people and love to help anyone who seeks advice.  But many tell me I am being unreasonable asking them to drive to my side of town (I live on the far southwest side of Austin, and for those who live north... it can be a hike).  While I will meet half way or set it around another meeting when I am north if there is a clear purpose for my involvement, I get lots of calls that are simply an invitation for the delivery of "free consulting".

If you are going to ask a person for a meeting you should be prepared to drive to any location they will be at any time they are available.  Additionally, look for a way to provide some value in return.  Buying the coffee or lunch is the first step, but seek ways to give something back.  There are lots of creative ways to make your meeting a "give and take".  One very giving person once sent me an iPod (back in the day when those where new) after I did them a very minor favor (made an introduction for them).  This person and I have now become great friends, partially because I discovered her focus on mutually beneficial business relationships!  A bottle of wine, a restaurant gift-card, or some social media love (tweets, FB praise, etc...) can go a long way when someone does you a favor.

Here is my prediction:  My friend will do a phone call with this man (maybe on her commute or on a Saturday morning)... and he will never properly show any appreciation or even acknowledge to their mutual friends how helpful and gracious she was in his time of need.  Its a shame, but that is how it usually goes.

Have A Great Day.

thom singer