Posts Tagged ‘meetings’
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
Let’s end this month with one more study, this time from the IMEX survey at their trade show last October. Yes, they had all the usual trends — do more with less, shorter meetings, going green. But this finding about associations and educational content got my attention.
According to attendee responses, associations are more firmly planted in the education business. Using content from the conferences before and after the event is pretty standard now. What’s new: the format is diversifying into interactive experiences and, yes, even — gasp — gaming!
I’ve preached for years that we experts need to “gamify” our content for corporate segments. Now it looks like we have a new group of customers coming up. My predictions: look for these formats to be underwritten by industry sponsors. This is a great way to be a guru to a community — you can go from being the expert in (fill in the blank) to being the creator of blah-blah game that is taking the industry by storm. See the difference?
Let’s put that on our resolution list. As for the IMEX study, click here to see the rest of the findings.
Tags: associations, events, experts, meetings, positioning, Speaking, strategy, Vickie Sullivan
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Thursday, January 26th, 2012
Want to use public speaking to get more clients? Good news: you will have more opportunities this year, according to the latest study out by American Express Meetings and Events Global Meetings forecast.
Interesting news: companies are more focused on “value” (translation: cost cutting). Another bummer: attendance is expected to decline. Meetings will also be shorter.
Prediction: there will be a rush for low-cost speakers, using smaller groups as an excuse not to pay more. My advice: choose your opportunities wisely.
Other cool findings are in the report. Click here for the highlights from Meetings and Conventions magazine.
Tags: experts, meetings, Speaking, strategy, Vickie Sullivan
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Thursday, January 19th, 2012
Like everything else, the structure of meetings and conferences is being overhauled. And that’s a good thing. In the good old days, structure stayed the same, then content was plugged in. What’s happening now and in the future: the structure will be designed around learning and experience. The buzzword you’ll hear more of: meeting architecture.
Yes, the economy is driving these shifts. But so is a belief we all need to be aware of: buyers believe that everything they need to know is online. Yep, our content isn’t ours anymore. It’s out there and anyone can take it. So the emphasis is now on interaction and learning. And we’re not talking about using Twitter and text to ask questions. Think: 30-minute presentations followed by 30-minute breaks.
This provocative article in Meetings and Conventions explores a variety of opinions. For those who speak at conferences and conventions, we need to be ready for any format.
Tags: experts, meetings, positioning, Speaking, strategy, Vickie Sullivan
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Thursday, December 8th, 2011
Less talk and more interaction is in store for many conferences, according to a recent study on meeting trends presented at IMEX America event in October. Bottom line: shorter keynotes (15 to 20 minutes) followed by opportunities for personal interaction. My theory: the emphasis on access to the experts themselves rather than riveting information is a response to content marketing and all that other free stuff on the Internet. My prediction: your personal brand will become even more important. Your story will be just as relevant as your message.
Something else to consider: speaker previews are on the horizon, as more attendees want to choose which session to join. Watch for more requests for video clips to post on conference websites. Why do you care? This means that folks have to fall in love with you before the speech, not during it.
So ask yourself (honestly): why would attendees want personal access to you? Platitudes have become obsolete here. Creators or developers behind big cool projects are getting the inside track now.
See for yourself — here’s the article outlining the findings.
Tags: experts, Marketing, meetings, positioning, Speaking, strategy, Vickie Sullivan
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Thursday, August 18th, 2011
Do you think virtual attendees — those who attend conferences from the comfort of their cubicle — multi-task more than the audience you speak to right in front of you? Nope — everyone (over 80%) is checking their email during your presentation, according to this fascinating study about meeting attendees both virtually and face-to-face.
Conducted in May by PCMA (Professional Conference Management Association), so this data is pretty fresh. Most interesting finding: the different motivations between virtual and physical attendees. The former signs on for the value of the content (97%) and ease of use (90%). The latter gets on a plane to meet with the speakers and colleagues (68%) and to meet more customers and prospects (56%). And everyone (over 80%) seems very comfortable networking with strangers both online and off. (Thank you, social media!)
Pay attention to this finding: content marketing and distribution needs are not being met. Distribution on all devices — yes, that means smart phones — is now expected. Getting information before, during, and after the event is important to both types of attendees. Content is still king; the demands for searchability and availability are a given. And we’re not just talking white papers either. Videos and other interactive formats make a difference.
As experts who speak, we always want to know more about our audiences. This report is a treasure trove of cool information. Click here to get the report (sign in is required).
Tags: events, experts, Marketing, meetings, positioning, seminars, social media, speakers, Speaking, strategy, technology, trends, Vickie Sullivan
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Thursday, August 4th, 2011
Just got back from an industry event. Had a good visit with old friends and made some new ones. The best highlight happened before the opening session.
I gathered seven people at random, spent three hours applying the latest buying trends to their business and then…stepped back and watched them help each other. Everyone left with something specific–something they could implement immediately. One person said on the last day, “Your session was by far the most valuable.” Another remarked, “The most fun I’ve had in a long time.” Seeing an idea start in one place and move into the brilliance zone blew my mind. Observing these folks share with each other melted my heart.
My theory: the gap between a great idea and a brilliant one is closed when you bring a variety of perspectives together. Try it; facilitating generosity in action will make your day.
Tags: associations, branding, consultants, conversations, experts, Marketing, meetings, speakers, Speaking, strategy, Vickie Sullivan
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Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011
Good news: Corporate America spent nearly 22% more on meetings last year than they did in 2009. The bad news: they are not happy about it. According to a recent study by The Aberdeen Group, reducing costs/increasing savings of both face-to-face and virtual meetings (now considered 30% of total meetings) is the top pressure faced by 66% of respondents. Two plans for reducing costs:
- Change the structure to include more virtual meetings (59%), reduce the number of attendees (44%), and reduce the length (36%). Also on the radar: cutting meetings that provide to be unnecessary.
- Narrow the field of suppliers (such as hotels and airlines), resulting in fewer resources with bigger deals. More layers of agreements and policies make sure these suppliers (and not anyone else) are used.
Why do you care about this? Processes for measuring ROI on all expenses — such as speaker fees — are on the upswing. We can no longer dodge this bullet.
My crystal ball prediction: watch for these buyers to go to several speaker bureaus and say something like, “We need XXX speakers and can only spend $xxx. We want XXX for the keynote. We need someone like XXX for the entertainment. Here are our specs on the rest of the sessions. Let the bidding begin.” And then the bureaus go back to speakers and negotiate fees. They will give the biggest fees to the keynote and the entertainment; and then sing the “budget blues” to everyone else.
Bottom line: your brand must compete for the biggest share of that budget.
Tags: budgets, experts, meetings, positioning, speakers, Speaking, strategy, Vickie Sullivan
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Thursday, July 28th, 2011
For those of us who speak, are you getting a lot of last-minute calls? The average booking window is now a short 36 days according to a recent study by hospitality start up Zentila. Here’s another shocker: a “short-term” meeting is now just 13 days from inquiry to hotel contract.
What does that mean for us? Most buyers won’t look at speakers until the hotel is booked, so fasten your seatbelt for a volatile, last-minute calendar. Bottom line: this is the new normal for now. And yes, these folks still want you to customize your content. Sigh…
Tags: experts, meetings, speakers, Speaking, strategy, trends, Vickie Sullivan
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Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
Want more speaking engagements? Go where the meetings are, and that’s the financial and insurance meetings. They hit the skids during the recession, but are back in play according to some on-the-ground investigations by Meetings and Conventions Magazine.
Best news for us is two-fold:
- First, the focus on educational content. Industry experts report increased “hard” meeting times. But that’s not for general motivational topics. Experts outside of the industry — such as those in academia — are being invited. So don’t assume that your business expertise will get you in.
- Second, the execs are getting involved in choosing venues (and my interpretation: speakers as well). The key question these people will ask you is not about your topic or story. It’s “what are the outcomes?”. And your answer better be good.
Here’s the link for more details.
Tags: meetings, Speaking, strategy, Vickie Sullivan
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Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
Experts who speak keep hearing about “business value of meetings”. Those are big words that can mean just about anything. And, unfortunately, the meaning can differ widely by organization. Exhibit A: a new study by Meeting Professionals International (MPI) reveals that few companies formalize measurement. The excuses/reasons why: too complicated and expensive.
Those who do measure value to it the old-fashioned way: with traditional surveys (aka, smile sheets for us industry veterans). This is why one of the first questions we need to ask buyers is not the theme of the meeting or who’s attending. The biggest criteria is how success is defined and measured. The more subjective the measurement, the more emphasis on the basics and the “little things”.
MPI will present the findings next month. Stay tuned…
Tags: experts, Marketing, meetings, positioning, Speaking, strategy, Vickie Sullivan
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