Category: Event ROI

Jan 03, 2019 by Lillian Taylor
2019 Event Technology Trends This past year saw many advancements in event technology, and 2019 promises to improve on some of the most cutting-edge solutions. Lately, there’s been buzz about facial recognition, block chain, RFID, immersive experiences, live streaming, and using social media in innovative ways. Here’s a sneak peek at what we believe the industry can expect in the coming year. Facial Recognition As we mentioned in our last blog post, facial recognition is one trend that ...

Nov 01, 2017 by Lisa Apolinksi
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/smartsource-936987538/pairing-booth-content-with-attendee-expectations[/embed] Click Link On Image to Hear Podcast RELATED ARTICLE FOLLOWS If you haven’t noticed yet, content is king, and our audiences are always searching for more. A recent infographic from The Word Pro shows that in just 60 seconds, 4 million posts are engaged with and liked, 300 hours of video are uploaded, and nearly 350,000 tweets are sent. Wow, that’s a lot of content engagement. Whe...

Oct 31, 2017 by Danalynne Wheeler Menegus
Event marketing can occupy a substantial portion of a company’s overall marketing budget. So it’s important that the events be effective. A previous article in this series discussed establishing goals and objectives for corporate meetings and trade shows. This article focuses exclusively on the human resources and technology required to achieve the maximum return on investment from events. Get Buy-In From Sales Staff Event marketing and sales staffs need to work together to fully realize t...

Jul 26, 2017 by Lillian Taylor
Attendees at B2C trade shows want to buy products right there on the show floor. With the right technology you can make cashless sales a breeze. According to a new report by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR)*, 57% of attendees can’t resist the opportunity to make on-premises product purchases. The downside? Only 19% of exhibitors have the technology to provide an in-booth shopping experience. So how can you facilitate on-premises selling? There are two avenues association...

Jul 25, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
The term “technology stack” can have several meanings. It is both a descriptor and a tool that event planners can use to understand the role that specific technologies play in their events. Visualizing a technology stack can help planners make better technology decisions, address challenges, and save money. What is a technology stack? A technology stack, sometimes called a solution stack or software stack, can refer to all of the components needed to make a system work.  An event website,...

May 31, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
The technology that powers events produces a lot of data: demographic, behavioral, and historical, to name a few. But one category of data, the information delivered immediately after it’s collected—real-time data—has a value that sets it apart from any of its business-intelligence counterparts.  A real-time data strategy is dependent on technology. While the field is still evolving, there are a number of solutions available to help planners build a real-time information ecosystem toda...

May 17, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
Charging stations are one of the most in-demand amenities for conferences and events. After all, there are only so many wall outlets to go around and not every attendee brings a charging cable with them to the event. But, charging stations do much more than charge electronic devices. They add value in lots of settings. Charging stations – also referred to as charging kiosks, come in a variety of sizes and shapes (including secure lockers). They are equipped with all of the connectors needed...

May 17, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
Many exhibition organizers still thrive on selling traditional event sponsorships like banners and brownie breaks. But event technology is helping them expand the inventory of sponsorship offerings and reward sponsors with positive brand associations or data. Back when event technology really began to emerge, many organizers were apprehensive. They were nervous about the cost and the complexity, not to mention the fear that the technology might not even work. Nevertheless, sponsors helped ...

Apr 19, 2017 by Michelle Bruno
Who doesn’t love a fast-moving onsite registration check-in line? For planners, it’s a badge of honor. For attendees, it’s a crucial time saver. At some large events, getting attendees through the line at the convention center quickly is nearly impossible. One way to speed up registration and check-in is to set up remote registration sites—in hotels, airports, mass transit stations, or anywhere. It requires some planning, but with the right equipment and process, it can transform the att...

Mar 14, 2017 by Donna M. Autuori
Trade shows and conferences have come a long way from the fishbowl and printed pamphlet days. Today, exhibitors can choose from a wide range of leading-edge event technologies that foster lead capture, real-time engagement, data analytics, and branding with a capital “B”. The only problem is some marketers haven’t mastered the art of event technology and therefore are experiencing low returns on their trade show/conference investments. Why Event Technology Matters Most brands who parti...