Be Prepared for the Unexpected…

When one works in the event management field, you most likely always keep a calendar on hand. It includes a check list of everything you need and what is planned for the event. However, one mistake that is rarely considered are the things that might or even could happen that are not in our control.

Going beyond that checklist, you want to come up with innovative back-up solutions for anything that could go wrong. Before the event starts, write up a list step-by-step including all the tiny details.

Keep in contact with everyone on your team about everything. No one can go straight into playing a game they have never played before without reading the directions first. Set up a date and time to meet up with your team and review everyones assignments. Make sure each person involved is prepared.

Here is a blog that discusses how to prepare for events.

Many different emergency scenarios can happen anywhere, anytime. Events are unpredictable. When planning an event, there are so many aspects to consider that it is very likely one change will pop-up. There is coming up with the objective of the event, designing/the overall vision, the budget, the committee or staff members, the timeline, the attendees, the vendors and very important, your binder. Coordinating this all can become very stressful and you could easily skip over something. So, have many people take a look over it as well. Discuss other options as a team. Review and communicate with each other is key.

No matter what the situation is, it is very essential to…

By AtomicShed

Working at a PR Firm

As the time to graduate college comes closer and closer, I start thinking about all the possibilities of working in the public relations field. You can only learn so much school/academic experience. I am eager to acquire some hands-on practical knowledge. Others often ask me “oh what do you have to do in PR?” After taking public relations classes at the University of Oregon and doing some extra research online, I found some advice on how to answer that question.

First, know where you want to work. Know the organization. Its background, its culture and the people. Once you find a few companies that seem to fit what you’re looking for, send them a message asking them if they provide any type of work experience. PR firms look for people who have good comprehension of how to operate in the public relations field.

Second, understand the media. Be a news junkie. Know what is going on in the world. Take the time in the morning to read the newspaper. Listen to the radio and pay attention to the stories they cover.

Third, be engaged on social media sites. Read and post on blogs. Start up conversations by posting comments on a Facebook wall or tweet about an interesting topic. You want to network as much as you can by staying actively connected with others. Understand how each site operates. You can utilize them to build a community around your topic, in this instance, public relations.

Fourth, research yourself on Google. If a company considers hiring you to work and represent their business, they will do background research on you. Having a professional and proper digital footprint is very important. Go through your Facebook page and clean it up.

Fifth, do volunteer work. Depending on where you volunteer and what they have you do, you can gain experience that will be very valuable in the future. Go get involved.

Lastly, be creative. You want to catch your audience’s eye. Bringing great innovative ideas to an organization can help you stand out from others.

By Aimee Kinsella

If you are look for more PR CEO insight, take at look at this blog!

Social Media is here to Stay

Technology is a fast-changing environment, always updating devices. Social media has taken a top hit in being a huge front-line for companies to engage in, listen to, read and interact with consumers. Communication is turned into interactive dialogue between communities, organizations and individuals. The fab four of social media are Facebook, Google, LinkedIn and Twitter. Social media sites are just taking off and if you don’t know what they are or how to use them, get on it as soon as possible. There is no question that any size or type of business can benefit from using a social media strategy. You could drive a lot of traffic to your business if you utilize social networks effectively. There are millions of users all over the world constantly on the internet. Do not forget to update your sites on a frequent basis. A tremendous amount of companies are using social media to drive awareness and sales. Using the fab four of social media is a great way to build your brand image.

Mobile devices have taken over the popularity of the web. People are spending most of their time on these apps then on a website. Apps are changing the way we use the internet. Nowadays, there is an app for literally EVERYTHING; from apps to keep you entertained (games) to apps that can help you navigate your way around a city (GPS). Check out this graph below measuring out apps as being viewed more than the Web.

By Flurry Analytics

Read this report from Marc Brownstein commenting on his trip where he visited Facebook, Google, LinkedIn and Twitter, meeting high-level resources at each company. He shares a view tips along the way.

The Discovery of Pinstagram

Two friends, Pek Pongpaet and Brandon Leonardo, were throwing around ideas and decided what would happen if you combined the two of the fastest growing and hottest social media web properties? A Pinterest for Instagram…thus creating Pinstagram. It came off as a joke, but actually turned into a great idea. Pinstagram is a “free service that lets you enjoy Instagram on the web.” It works in conjunction with your Instagram account. On Pinstagram, you are able to view your newsfeed, popular photos and you can like and comment on photos as well. It creates an easier way to browse through your photos on a desktop browser. It is more of an updated version of Instagram, adding a search button in the top left corner. Do you believe this mashup concept will thrive in the future?…

Visit this website to read more or visit the site itself to play around with the product.

By the cardinal de la ville

Utilizing Facebook for an Event

First off, Facebook is a free and effective social media site where anyone can simply sign up for an account. It can be used to promote parties, marketing events, product launches and other significant happenings. There are many features on Facebook, such as wall posts where invited members can announce anything they want to, discussion boards, and people can also post videos, photos and links on their Facebook page.

The first way to start off by using Facebook to promote and event is to create a Facebook Event Page. Once that is produced, you can invite friends to be admin officers of the page as well. Here is a list of what to do next:

1. Select the guest list. Know your targeted audience. This will help to reach out to the specific people instead of inviting anyone in the entire public. Make sure to be relevant when selecting the people to invite. It really helps if you know the person you are inviting to an event. You would be hovering very close to spam if you invite your whole database.

2. Don’t go event crazy. Do not abuse this application. No one wants to be receiving a ton of different invites on a daily basis. It can get pretty annoying.

3. Be creative. Use a catchy headline to get the audience’s attention. Take time on creating the page. It all depends on how you sell in the offer. Make sure to feature the highlighted stuff taking place at the event.

4. The main photo. When choosing a picture for the event, make sure its eye-catching and appropriate. It should be inclusive and connected to the event itself.

5. Compelling content. Be active on the page. Write on the wall. Engage in conversations. Ask and answer questions. Start discussion threads. Add video and photos.

6. Invite, invite, invite. Make a personal note and send it in the invite. Something friendly, inviting, warm and informative. Advertise why this would be a great event to attend.

7. Tweet it up. Use other social media sites to attract people to the event page. Twitter can track down responses so make sure to tweet. Tweet the URL, profile info, photos and other interesting stuff.

8. Follow up. When people RSVP, go straight to their wall and send them a thank you note. Sending follow up emails to attendees is one of the most effective ways to drive traffic to your Facebook page. Leave comments on photos or discussion threads because this will show up on everyone’s Newsfeed.

9. Maintain long-term interest. Update your events regularly. There is a challenge to make sure that your friends are aware of your events with enough notice in the short term but do not zone out and forget about the event in the long-term. Maintain interest on your event by keeping the conversations active.

10. Avoid spam. Avoid sending messages with the same content all the time. Limit your sending. If you get marked as spam, it can take up to several weeks before your account is reinstated.

Follow this blog for more information on using social media to market your events.

By AJC1

How PR fits into Event Planning

Non-profit organizations and companies arrange events to promote an idea, a cause or a project that is important to the industry. Types of events can range from formal to casual and once-in-a-lifetime to recurring. Public relations practitioners use events as an occasional tool to achieve broad purposes. From a public relations perspective, when hosting an event, it is very important to keep in mind the goals and objectives for the event and the target audiences you want to reach. When surrounded in the scenery of the events, it is easy to get caught up in the hype and glamour. Don’t get carried away. Public relations practitioners who plan the events cannot lose sight of the objectives. The main purpose is to support their organization in maintaining its key relationships. Here are some tips  how PR plays an key role in planning an event:

“Public relations – through traditional and new channels – can effectively generate ticket sales and attendance, secure sponsors and advertisers, create a buzz of excitement and public awareness, and encourage media to attend and/or cover the event.”

• Develop a PR plan around the event. Have an outline of the strategies and tactics to be able to communicate the key messages to target audiences, schedule deadlines and write up responsibilities. The PR plan should include sever channels, such as social media outreach, e-mail marketing and web site updates.
• Tailor key messages for each channel. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube are perfect method to use to connect with customers, friends and/or followers. Posting photos and video content on these social media sites should build followers and drive people to your company’s page. E-mail blasts is a useful tactic to use when sending out a “Save the Date” reminder or event specifics to get people to attend.
• Plan your work and work your plan. Make and keep on hand an organized schedule with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. It is a good piece of document to track your efforts for future use.
• Know your target audience. Contact the press that will cover and attend the event and pitch it appropriately to local, business and vertical media. Hire a photographer if the event needs/wants one. Communicate with radio outlets early on the day of the event.
• Have a timeline. Start PR outreach early on in the game. First, make sure the date and venue for the event are secured beforehand. Second, contact local photographers in advance, as their schedules will fill up fast. Starting as early as possible will help with attendance and securing sponsorships with a lead time for logistical planning.
• Be creative and provide a hook. Give the audience a reason to attend the event and make that message clear. Plan ahead.

Today, the special events industry has grown to become a big business on its own. They provide an essential component to engage in conversation with others and host what a companies efforts are going towards to at the moment.

You can follow the Society for Marketing Professional Services blog here for education on networking and strategic and marketing information.

By Eveos

Networking at Trade Show Events

Events held for companies in specific industries to showcase their latest services, products or study of activities is a great exhibition to attend. These organized events can play a significant role when wanting to connect with prospective customers, marketing partners, new employees and influentials in the industry. Event social marketing needs to be driven by strategies, which is then followed by by tactics/tools. Know your audience. Here are a few tips to consider to get the most out of attending your next event.

PRE-SHOW:

Make sure to PREPARE before attending the event. You want to be able to reach out to prospective clients in your field of interest. Be engaged with social media to get the conversation started.

Facebook: Look for or set up a Facebook “Event Page.” This can make is easy to communicate with past and upcoming attendees. Use this as a medium to interact with the people on the page by asking or answering question, participating or conducting in surveys and promoting special incentives that will be held at the event.

Twitter: #Hashtag the trade show on Twitter a few weeks before the event to publicize it. This way, other attendees on Twitter can start tweeting about it in advance. Make sure to not only tweet, but follow. Follow vendors, media partners, the competition and accounts of clients. Also, stay connected on Twitter to monitor your page and keep track of new followers.

Blogging: Start a blog to establish your voice of the company. Write relevant facts and content that builds up to the event. Blogging is an excellent marketing tool.

SHOWTIME:

This is now the time to make a good first impression that will stand out from others. Keep the momentum going by following this procedure:

Tweeting: Engage in conversations by creating interesting topics for people to discuss. Get others involved on Twitter by playing games or answering questions with followers.

Text Messaging: Everyone is frequently on their cellular devices, whether it’s texting, calling or playing around with apps. That is why text messaging is a great way to get people involved at this event. You should set up and provide a number that people can text to receive links, such as social media sites, or free promotional material related to whatever the event is about.

LinkedIn: This site helps develop relationships with clients and grow new business. Promote your event to your target audience and get everyone connected.

YouTube: Videotape at the event and post it on YouTube or connect the link to your blog.

Tumblr/Flickr: Take photos during the show and upload them to Tumblr, Flickr and/or your blog.

POST SHOW:

Even though the event has ended, it is critically important to keep the engagement going on. Now, you want to focus on turning the people you have been following and connecting with into clients. You can do this by following some of these helpful tactics:

Facebook: Go back to the Facebook “Event Page” and share some moments that happened during the event, which in turn will allow others to post their thoughts back. Keep the conversations flowing.

Twitter: Measure out how many followers you have acquired and continue to engage in conversation.

Blog: Recap the event by posting pictures, videos and discussing the final outcome.

Be sure to follow the Event Manager Blog for more information on events.

This photo belongs to Event Photo China.

When Choosing a Job, Culture Matters

As I approach my senior year in college, I have been frequently thinking about my future career. How will I know what job or position is right for me? Do people just take what they can get out of college? After reading the article called When Choosing a Job, Culture Matters, by Bill Barnett, I discovered a few tips I am going to share with you.

When you first enter a company’s building, you can get a mix of emotions. With the pressure of walking into your interview, you never know whether it is all to easy to pursue a job opportunity or to accept a job offer with only having a hazy view of the organizations background. It is extremely important to investigate the culture of the institution you’re interested in applying to before you accept the position.

Tip 1: Understand the organization’s purpose. Don’t just listen to what they are doing, but pay attention to how their purpose leads to the decisions they make. Learn about how the organization operates; consider the importance of performance, how the company gets things done, the level of teamwork, communication between workers and all the ethical issues. When you understand all of these aspects of the company and how it operates, you will then need to consider how it plays into your goals. What matches and how well does it match your goals? Finding these pieces of the organizational culture is an important part of your aspirations.

Tip 2: Read everything you can find about the institution with a critical eye. All organizations have formal vision statements, but these documents are written with a purpose in mind. Discuss culture with the people who work in the association. Also talk to people outside of the organization who know it, such as suppliers, customers, partners and ex-employees. Getting different perspectives about the institution will further your knowledge on the culture in the workplace.

Tip 3: Investigate the institution at an early stage. In a job interview, you want to ask about the company’s culture. People sometimes think that bringing the culture topic up will make people uncomfortable and put the offer of the job at risk. However, the hiring managers will expect it and this topic is certainly necessary to know for future growth. Ask questions! It will show that you are learning rapidly about the organization. “Culture questions can cast you in a positive light.”

By Scott Maxwell

Social Media: A New Form of Entertainment

Through social media, global conversation takes place around events and experiences people share online. We can learn more about consumer preferences depending on what people watch or listen to. A key point to know is that activity influences behavior.

According to a study made by Penn Schoen Berland on The Hollywood Reporter, 88% consider visiting and posting on social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, as a new form of entertainment. People spending time using social media for activities, such as networking and listening to music, is greater than the time spent watching full-length movies or television shows on a weekly basis.

The report found that “79% of connected television viewers visit Facebook while watching TV.” People are able to multitask at the same time as they are watching television. On social networking sites, they are able to connect with others and share their opinions about the TV shows they are watching. Of those who do post about the television shows they are watching, 76% do so while watching the programs live. The types of shows people are most likely to post about while watching TV are Comedy, Reality TV, Sports and News.

The digital influence is causing an effect on behavior. “One out of three connected consumers saw a movie in a theater because of something they read on a social network.” This can come from a psychological study of the “fear of missing out.” All forms of entertainment can benefit from social media. The Hollywood Reporter found that musicians also benefit from social media with “70% of respondents listening to music by an artist based on what a friend posted on a social networking site.”

In the end, social media tests positive for influencing the public. Across every genre of entertainment, 56% of social networkers say social media sites are important for making entertainment-related decisions.

By Lucas Sevilla

Innovative Event Trends

Social media has been a leading pathway that companies have been using to interact with their audiences and the public. Apps are frequently adding elements to the daily users of Smartphone’s. iPhones and iPads have logistical advantages when working in large groups. It makes it much easier to connect to people in large groups and make something happen. Technology has become a constant use in our everyday life. It allows for further learning and teambuilding.

Check out BizBash to see how they have used social media to help corporate bonding.

In the event planning field, there has been a new discovery that has impacted event trends. Let me introduce the Instaprint,  manufactured by Breakfast. “Instaprint links wirelessly to Instagram at events and prints out an inkless photograph as Poloroid does.” It is the location based photo booth for Instagram. If you are hosting a large social gathering of people, Instaprint units can be set up at any location to function as a network with a specific hashtag. Any Instagram photo that is tagged with that specific location of where the event is being held will pop out of the Instaprint box, hence a modern day photo booth.

Follow this blog to read about more widespread event services.

By Daily Marauder