Eventzilla – Get more attendees for your events
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How to get more attendees for your events in a downturn economy?
April 29th, 2010
With the recession stinging the party that was going on prior to its occurrence, there have been a lot of things that have been impacted by the same. The most important outcome of this has been that although the events would continue to occur as they did previously, they would have to present more substantial and clearly focused outcomes. This may seem to be an easy thing to say but any event planner would tell you how hard it is to get the right people to your events.
Managing events and getting attendees to your events is quite a job in itself but if you cannot find the right people to attend your events, that is a big let down. And with the attendance remaining slim during the recessionary period, let us look at some methods that can help you get that elusive lot.
Promote It
Recession or not, the most important tool for attracting attention to your event is still promotion. And with the Internet revolution that has everyone hooked on, what better place to reach out to millions of your potential attendees. With the advent of websites like Eventzilla, you can promote your event almost everywhere on the net with just a click. Whether it’s Facebook or twitter, blogs or customized webpages, use them all to get your event out there.
Webinars are another great concept that can help you reach out to people globally without worrying about boundaries and timings. Here’s something on webinars that would get you thinking.
Remain in touch
Try and remain in touch with the people you expect to see during your events. This takes care of two things. Firstly, it reminds the person of the event and tells him that you are interested in the people who are going to attend. This may not be a big step for you but it would go a long way in making sure that people attend your events.
Making an event successful depends on a lot of things and one of the critical factors is how engaged you keep your audience. This also ensures that next time you do something similar, you would already have a loyal audience to bank upon.
An analysis is another aspect that can help you understand the kind of people who are interested in the event. Using Eventzilla, you can also check out who is buying tickets for your events and how many people are visiting your events webpage.
The Invitation
As they say, make them an offer they can’t refuse. Simply put, make a professional event invitation, one that would be quite hard to turn down. How do you do that? By giving them what they seek.
The essence and secret to successfully inviting the right set of people is honesty. Reach out to people who can really benefit from what you have to offer and the rest will take care of itself.
How to host a successful webinar?
April 26th, 2010The newest way to hold a seminar, a webinar is fast catching on the attention of event planners the world over. The webinar has earned accolades for removing those difficulties from the event manager’s catalog which had been troubling them for long. Time and distance have ceased to be of any importance or hindrance now. Since you don’t need to be physically present at a given place for a webinar, it has allowed the audience for the hosts and the speakers to increase manifold.
As we come to understand the increasingly pivotal role that webinars are going to play in the event management of coming years, here’s a look at some of the factors and methods that can help you host an engaging and successful webinar that leaves the audience asking for more.
Plan it out
Planning becomes crucial with a webinar as you handle an audience that transcends geographical boundaries. You may need to host the event more than once to accommodate people of differing time zones. You may also want to avoid the peak or working hours to avoid low attendance.
Quality Content
Even with all the technology and know-how, any webinar and its success would ultimately still depend on the kind of content that you have. And since the factor of personal interaction is no more available to enthrall your audience, the content quality assumes even more importance.
Captivate them
From animation to photos and flash to web demos, trying using any visual aid that you feel would make your webinar more interesting. Try to engage them in the presentation by asking questions or having a poll. Whether it is the chat feature or the Q&A, plan and assign things in a way that allow your audience to take as much part in the presentation as possible.
Webinar tools and softwares
If you are going to be hosting webinars on a regular basis, you should definitely have a look at the webinar tools that are available in the market. But before you do that, here are some of the questions that would help you in choosing the right set:
- Webinar Objective
- Expected events to be held per month
- Estimated Budget for the webinars
- Technological requirements
The set of tools ( webex, gotomeeting, dimdim, fuzemeeting ) that you would be using would depend on the requirements and not anything else. Hence the increased assertion on understanding the parameters involved.
Publicity
And like anywhere else, in the end, it comes down to publicity. And when it comes to publicity on the web world, what better place than Eventzilla to kick-start the promotional brigade? With Eventzilla, not only can you promote your event on your own websites and blogs, you can do the same on any web address you can think of. Add to that the latest social media paparazzi like Facebook and Twitter and you have the perfect recipe for a successful webinar.
Oh, did we mention that you can also make your own customized web page for promoting your events (who needs a website anymore!).
How to host a successful webinar
The newest way to hold a seminar, a webinar is fast catching on the attention of event planners the world over. The webinar has earned accolades for removing those difficulties from the event manager’s catalog which had been troubling them for long. Time and distance have ceased to be of any importance or hindrance now. Since you don’t need to be physically present at a given place for a webinar, it has allowed the audience for the hosts and the speakers to increase manifold.
As we come to understand the increasingly pivotal role that webinars are going to play in the event management of coming years, here’s a look at some of the factors and methods that can help you host an engaging and successful webinar that leaves the audience asking for more.
Ø Quality Content
Even with all the technology and know-how, any webinar and its success would ultimately still depend on the kind of content that you have. And since the factor of personal interaction is no more available to enthrall your audience, the content quality assumes even more importance.
Ø Captivate them
From animation to photos and flash to web demos, trying using any visual aid that you feel would make your webinar more interesting. Try to engage them in the presentation by asking questions or having a poll. Whether it is the chat feature or the Q&A, plan and assign things in a way that allow your audience to take as much part in the presentation as possible.
Ø Plan it out
Planning becomes crucial with a webinar as you handle an audience that transcends geographical boundaries. You may need to host the event more than once to accommodate people of differing time zones. You may also want to avoid the peak or working hours to avoid low attendance.
Ø Webinar tools and softwares
If you are going to be hosting webinars on a regular basis, you should definitely have a look at the webinar tools that are available in the market. But before you do that, here are some of the questions that would help you in choosing the right set:
ü Webinar Objective
ü Expected events to be held per month
ü Estimated Budget for the webinars
ü Technological requirements
The set of tools that you would be using would depend on the requirements and not anything else. Hence the increased assertion on understanding the parameters involved.
Ø Publicity
And like anywhere else, in the end, it comes down to publicity. And when it comes to publicity on the web world, what better place than Eventzilla to kick-start the promotional brigade? With Eventzilla, not only can you promote your event on your own websites and blogs, you can do the same on any web address you can think of. Add to that the latest social media paparazzi like Facebook and Twitter and you have the perfect recipe for a successful webinar.
Oh, did we mention that you can also make your own customized web page for promoting your events (who needs a website anymore!).
Social Media / Small Business Events Roundup
April 4th, 2010Welcome to your one stop calendar for events from around the world. If there’s an event, you will find it here. From social marketing to blogging and from connecting to going tech, you’ll find it all here. And if there is something that we missed, let us know and we will bring it up pronto!
The Social Media Specialist
When: 05.04.2010
Where: New York:
If you want a piece of the world, you need to know your social media. Infact, you need to be a specialist. With the ever expanding content market that is being updated, commented and edited every second of every day, the social part o your life needs to be exploited to the max to make it big. And to do all this, all you need to do is register for the IAB Social Media Marktplace. With this, you get an insight from:
• John Battelle (Federated Media)
• Wenda Harris (MediaLink)
• Ian Schafer (Deep Focus)
• Andrew Markowitz (GE)
Registration: http://www.iab.net/events_training/socialmedia2010/overview
Twitter: @iab
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbMVMgB-hy8
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Blog Well
When: 07.04.2010
Where: Cincinnati
Who: Gas Pedal and Social Media Business Council
Learn how the latest in the world of social media is being used by the largest corporations from around the world to change the way people work and think. Take a cue from the best. With firms like Dell, Duke Energy, Hilton, Tyson Foods and P&G sharing their case studies into corporate social media, it can’t get better than this. Attend this and there would not be a roadblock that can stop you on the internet super-way.
Learn more: http://gaspedal.com/blogwell/cincinnati/
Registration:
Price: $250
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Think Mobile
When: 7.04.2010 – 8.04.2010
Where: New York
Who: AdMob, Nielsen
Enter the world of Mobile Apps and discover how you can expand your market through the digital revolution. Think Mobile is a conference that stresses on the strategies and concepts related to mobile and mobile apps. Here are some of the things that are in store for you at the meet:
• Designing and Marketing your mobile apps and user interfaces
• How to use the Mobile Apps to make money
• Increasing your markets through mobile apps
Registration: http://www.mediabistro.com/thinkmobile/?c=tmmash
Twitter: @mobilecontent
Price: $125
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Connect Now
When: 7.04.2010 – 9.04.2010
Where: Sydney, Australia
An event spread across three days, Connect Now focuses on the upcoming technologies and enterprises. Here’s a preview of the itinerary:
Day 1&2:
For the first two days of the conference, the stress would be on learning from the new and emerging trends in the ‘social market’. Way to augment your business through the growing cluster of digital applications and leveraging the same for your future adventures.
Day 3: This day has been totally dedicated to the NGOs, charity groups and those that work without the aim of profit.
This is definitely one event that would leave you with more strategies than you would have ever found in a single place.
Registration: http://www.connectnow.net.au/register
Twitter: @Marketing_Now
Price: Starts at $400
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Natural SEO
When: 9.04.2010
Where: London
Who: Natural SEO
An event brought to you by Natural SEO, this one aims at breaking the myths that have come to be commonplace with Search Engine Optimization. The prime attractions are the tools that have been designed to help those actively involved with blogging and SEO. You can also try a hand at the mentioned features at the event and see for yourself whether it really can make a difference for you
The event while being free, is limited to just a hundred places.
Registration: http://www.meetup.com/thupr2010/calendar/12578944/
Twitter: @meetup
Price: Free
Total Seats: 53
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New York Entrepreneur Week
When: 12.04.2010 – 16.04.2010
Where: New York
A non-profit alignment that works with the single aim of promoting the entrepreneurs around the world, this is the perfect place if you are someone with a dream and an idea. Interact with entrepreneurs and dealmakers from around the globe and learn what drives them to excel in their fields.
If you have the will and the idea, there is nothing that should come in the way. And if something does, this is the best place where you can get rid of all your obstacles.
Learn more: http://www.nyew.org/
Registration: http://www.nyew.org/index.php/event/agenda-schedule/
Twitter: @NYEWeek
Price: Starts at $150
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Hosting an event? Start selling tickets for your events using Eventzilla
Eventzilla is an inexpensive online ticketing and registration solution that makes it simple for individuals and businesses to sell, market and manage their events in one place.
The Social Media Specialist
When: 05.04.2010
Where: New York:
If you want a piece of the world, you need to know your social media. Infact, you need to be a specialist. With the ever expanding content market that is being updated, commented and edited every second of every day, the social part o your life needs to be exploited to the max to make it big. And to do all this, all you need to do is register for the IAB Social Media Marktplace. With this, you get an insight from:
- John Battelle (Federated Media)
- Wenda Harris (MediaLink)
- Ian Schafer (Deep Focus)
- Andrew Markowitz (GE)
Registration: http://www.iab.net/events_training/socialmedia2010/overview
Twitter: @iab
How to be a Certified Meeting Planner?
January 12th, 2010Meetings and events serve one purpose and that is bringing people together. As the name itself suggests, the Certified Meeting Professionals or Meeting planners as they are more commonly called, make sure that this happens seamlessly. From the high and mighty to the smallest detail, the event planners take care of it all. Although essentially, the nature of work for any Meeting Planner is to ensure the smooth sailing of the event, the finer aspects of what that entails usually varies based on the type of organizations that they work for and the kind of an event is being planned. Some of the key skills that are expected of a good meeting planner include:
- Great communication and interpersonal skills
- Organizational skills
- Multi tasking
- Work in strict deadline scenarios
Nature of work
Multi tasking and orchestrating several activities simultaneously best sum up the work that a CMP does. The work is energizing and demanding at the same time.
The working hours and schedule of a planner vary quite a bit. From sitting in the office working out the details to visiting different meeting sites and locations to oversee that everything goes on according to the book, the hours can be normal and long both. At the same time, it is an exciting job that leads you to meet new people, travel to great locations and meet speakers that enthrall audiences. If there is one word that you would never find in a planner’s dictionary, then that would have to be ‘boring’.
Qualifications and Education
Although people from all kinds of fields and backgrounds become event planners but the Certified Meeting Professional certification from the Convention Industry Council is one that holds a lot of ground.
The CMP Program is the essence for the Event planners. Although planning meetings has a lot of stuff that you would gain from experience only, there are a number of reasons why CMP should be high on your list if you plan to become a meeting planner:
- Industry wide recognition
- Exposure to industry involvement
- Increases your value to prospective employers
Essentially, the Certified Meeting Professional course is a certificate that highlights your sincerity and dedication towards the profession. It established the fact that you are serious and have the professional skill set that is critical to the job profile.
The CMP program though requires you to possess three years of experience as a meeting professional and hence you would need that before you can apply for the certification.
Most of the requirements for a meeting planner job simply require a bachelor’s degree and some of the areas that are preferably more attractive to the employers include marketing, hotel management, public relations and communications. This is because the study of these areas helps you deal with things that are the part and parcel of a planner’s profile.
What are the prospects?
The employment opportunities are a sunny sight with the expectations for growth of options expected to be faster than average. As businesses continue to grow throughout the world, meetings would assume increasing importance and hence hold a lot of promise. Statistically speaking, the employment market is expected to grow annually at a rate of 20% from 2006 to 2016.
With new platforms like Eventzilla (a platform that helps you sell tickets of your meetings online and to a wider audience) coming up that plan to tap the ever increasing market of meetings and meeting planners, the scope for growth seems to be increasing even faster than the expectations.
What do they earn?
The salary aspect too puts the meeting planners in a state of comfort. The Average annual salaries of the meeting planners that have less than a year of experience fall between $29,000 and $42,000. On the other hand, those who have an experience of around 1 – 4 years earn in the range of $35,000 and $47,750.
With the world going global and getting smaller, the meetings would hold an important place in bringing the people together. Also, with the wide array of roles that professionals need to play these days, training programs would only increase with time. Add to this the statistical fact that the growth prospects are expected to grow at a rate faster than the average for all occupations and a Meeting Planner certainly seems a promising career.
Some more food for thought:
http://www.conventionindustry.org/cmp/
http://www.citytowninfo.com/employment/meeting-planners
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos298.htm#projections_data
Promoting your event – The Social Way
December 21st, 2009Be it your neighborhood get-together or a big gala party, you cannot deny that the success or failure of any event depends on the way it is promoted. You don’t really need to go to an event to know what its outcome would be for the organizers. And what better way to promote your event than the latest fad in the world of socialization. Welcome to event promotion, the social way. The social bookmarking websites are an immense potential that can be tapped into, to create the buzz for your event long before it starts.
So, where do we begin? Well, the first thing is to make a presence on the social bookmarking sites that matter. Needless to say, Facebook and Twitter top the list as the prime targets.
These sites have been designed to keep people in touch and that’s how we should use them.
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Facebook: A lot of people would prefer creating a group on Facebook for the events but we believe that a page solely dedicated to your event would rather be much more helpful. Why? Well, simply because, everytime its updated, the feed would reach all the interested parties and keep them engaged about the event. |
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Twitter: Twitter is one of the best sources for an event promotion. This is because, you can use twitter to create a buzz, anticipation and excitement about your event even before it gets going. Keep the people posted on the latest developments and let them know more about it. Remember, keep giving them interesting facts and they would be waiting for the show, eagerly! |
Keep in touch
- Stay in touch with your audience. Create an event mail list so that you can pass on the happenings to one and all immediately.
- Create a blog for the event and share your preparations for the event with your people. Be passionate about it, talk on forums, chat with them and understand what they are expecting from you and the event.
- Use the bookmarking widgets like ‘Tweet this’ and ‘Send to a friend’ to spread the event-mania as much as you can.
Share it all
- Share pictures and videos of the event and everything that matters on Flickr, Facebook, Youtube channels.
- Live Streaming! Everyone may not be able to reach the event. Give them a chance to watch from home.
Associations for Event Management Professionals
November 24th, 2009
Professional Convention Management Association
PCMA is recognized as the leader in the meetings industry, for providing high quality education, innovative resources, and networking opportunities designed to help build relationships that are critical to your success.
Meeting Professionals International
MPI is a global community for meeting and event management professionals that connects you to the worldwide support, industry knowledge and business opportunities you need to be successful.
International Special Events Society
ISES membership provides access to an elite pool of special events resources. Members enjoy exclusive discounts, business opportunities and promotion, and tailored educational information.
