Best Practices
At a time when many publishers have seen live events dwindle (American Business Media just released a report that said events were the second hardest hit category after print in 2009, down 15.8 percent to $11.1 billion), many would eagerly take a show such as PennWell’s 88-year-old Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC), which has proven relatively recession-resistant, drawing 27,000 attendees and selling out 800 exhibit booths at the Indianapolis Convention Center.
Software company Ariba relies on Ariba Live, its annual live industry event, which attracts more than 1,200 users, customers and analysts, to communicate to its audiences and maintain a strong brand presence in the industry. But last year, after hearing from numerous attendees that travel budgets had been slashed, the company canceled the live meeting six months before it was to take place.
In December 2008, Haymarket’s SC Magazine launched its SC World Congress conference and trade show dedicated to IT security, just at the time when physical events began feeling the effects of the economic downturn.While the event attracted 900 people over two days, it still fell below its goal.
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) had long encouraged exhibitors at its Sweets & Snacks Expo (formerly the All Candy Expo) to invite their contacts to the show. Organizers had even implemented an in-house-designed program that provided exhibitors with a unique URL to send to contacts interested in registering. But NCA never saw significant results in attendance numbers from exhibitors’ efforts until last year, when the organization implemented a third-party e-mail invitation system for exhibitors.
Event Technology
Still putting off ramping up your show’s social media efforts? Whether you have a few free seconds or a few hours, here are 50 simple tips to get you started.
Show management software providers have developed a range of technologies that make it easier than ever for organizers to simplify their operations. Here’s a roundup of some of the current offerings.
Want to encourage blogging at your show? As a blogger, I can offer insight in this area. Here are eight things you can provide to make your bloggers’ lives easier.
Considering an audience response system for your show? Check out the IML Connector. The handheld, all-in-one audience participation device and voting solution features instant voting with fully configurable menus and choices, simultaneous interpretation, push-to-talk and queuing functionality that lets attendees ask questions without waiting for a microphone, multiple audio channels and a portable PA system for sound reinforcement.
EXPO Plus...
Looking for some design tips to share with your exhibitors? Try these.
Located on the top floor of the Palms Casino Resort, Alizé features a dramatic, 280-degree view of the famous Las Vegas Strip. Named after the gentle trade winds that sweep the French Caribbean Islands, Alizé features 16-foot floor-to-ceiling windows and a U-shaped dining area. A perfect venue for special events and corporate meetings, intimate dining is available for groups of 10 to 60, or the entire restaurant can be rented to host up to 120 guests.
Want to create a spot on the show floor where bloggers and press can interview attendees and exhibitors? Take a cue from Wired Magazine,which worked with Precision Event Group to offer select show-goers and members of the press at CES 2010 a chance to rejuvenate from the busy trade show floor at its Recharge Lounge, a concept it first launched in San Diego at Comic-Con International last summer.
Feature Articles
Exhibitor expectations are pretty high these days. The reality is that most exhibitor budgets have decreased dramatically over the last few years. Reaching the right buyers and controlling costs are top of mind.
Sure, booth sales objectives are the same today as they were 20 years ago. Identify prospect. Pitch prospect. Sign prospect. Repeat. But that’s pretty much where the similarities end.
Openers
It’s almost impossible to avoid those bottlenecks at registration during the opening hours of your event. In fact, anytime there’s a must-attend event or session at your show, dealing with long lines is one of those things that just comes along with the territory.
Going paperless is a great way to be green and save money at the same time. But not all attendees or exhibitors may be ready to take the plunge. At its Convergence event in 2009, Microsoft ramped up its sustainability efforts while still catering to attendees not quite ready to leave all paper collateral behind. These tips from Microsoft may help you make the transition, too.
Instead of simply just driving home the value of your own event, why not show your constituents that you see the big picture? The BioMass Conference and Expo does just that, leveraging the Registration section on its Web site to highlight not only the benefits of attending the conference, but also of business travel in general.
Publisher's Column
I had the greatest time the other day sitting with a 24-year-old newcomer to our industry just listening to all his favorite mobile and social gadgets and talking about how they could apply to our industry. You should have seen it — there were five of us, industry veterans, not so 24-year-old, huddled around this kid’s phone practically shouting “What’s that one? What’s it do? That’s soooo cool!” Lord only knows what he thought of us.
Sales and Marketing
Q: When is the best time to try and renew a booth? Is it best to do it on-site or wait a while after the show?
With all the time, energy and expense put into marketing your show to attendees before the event, it’s easy to allow the concept of creating a post-show attendee engagement strategy to slip your mind.
The Buzz
1. GOING…UP
Is it a sign that the recession is fading or just the luck of one big show? Either way, hats off to the National Association of Broadcasters, which saw a sizable uptick in attendance at this year’s show. The event drew 88,044 attendees this year, compared with 82,650 last year. The event took place April 10-15 in Las Vegas.
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