Mar 11
Ashley SpitzerTips meeting attendance, meeting education, social media, technology, webinar
I’ve participated in a number of webinars lately, and wanted to share some tips that I’ve accumulated from both my positive and negative experiences. Hope you find them helpful – and feel free to share your own thoughts!
-Establish a Twitter hash tag prior to webinar and include hash tag with dial/login instructions. While attendees may converse via the virtual meeting chat platform, if your audience is accustomed to Twitter, this is most likely where they will opt to connect. Be sure to have an organizer monitor comments for feedback, questions and technical assistance.
-Strong preparation should not be overlooked. By the time attendees sign into the platform, technical glitches are worked out and introductions are made, the time for information sharing is short but vital. Practice your speech to ensure you have enough time to present the information. Thorough presentation slides can assist with this.
-Traditional face-to-face presentation best practices still apply. You’re not off the hook just because attendees cannot see your face. Content must be engaging and informative just as much, if not more so than if in person.
-Since presentation slides are the sole visual for the webinar, these must present the information in a clear, concise manner. Remember, presentation slides can be posted as a resource after the event. Attendees will appreciate thorough and entertaining slides that are consistent with the flow of the presentation.
-Familiarize yourself with the webinar software. Utilize the attendee mute button while the presenter is speaking. There’s nothing worse than an attendee placing a call on hold and disrupting the presentation with hold music, or hearing typing or phones ringing in the background!
-Leave adequate time for questions. Whether you choose to answer questions along the way or at the end of a presentation, it’s vital for a successful webinar to include the audience’s comments and questions.
What do you think should be added to this list? Share your own experiences and ideas!
Jun 02
Ashley SpitzerContests, Member News, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows Event Industry Networking, technology, Trade Shows
TS² 2009 – being held in Chicago at McCormick Place from July 20-23 – has teamed up with Mingle360 to provide convention planners with an easy way to share and store important contact information…
…while valuing in-person business connections.
The Mingle360 solution combines a single-purpose device with a powerful software application.
The MingleStick is an innovative USB device using wireless technology to create connections between people, essentially eliminating the need for a business card.
The MingleManager application offers total identity management with its privacy features, granular security controls, and address book tools.
TS² 2009 is sponsored by the Trade Show Exhibitors Association (TSEA). The event is owned and operated by National Trade Productions (NTP), in partnership with the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE).
Are you planning to attend TS² 2009? Have you used a MingleStick before?
Mar 03
Ashley SpitzerMember News, Misc Tidbits, News, RFP, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows air travel, meeting planner feedback, technology, travel tips
As Smart Phones increase in popularity and function, it’s no surprise that many travelers are opting to leave heavy laptops at home.
USA Today has come out with a list of the best travel tool applications for the iPhone…
…so you can leave the laptop, French dictionary, map, and even the restaurant guide book at home.
Check out the top apps here…
Our favorites are FlightTrack (check up to date flight delays and cancellations) and Babelingo (translates text into 11 languages!!)
Which apps help you the most when traveling or planning??
Sep 26
Ashley SpitzerNews, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows hsmai affordable meeting, meeting education, meeting ideas, meeting industry, technology
Let’s face it – you can’t escape or avoid technology, even if you tried…and as soon as you finally understand how to work your dvd player, blu-ray has become the new trend.
How are you supposed to keep up with technology trends for your meetings?
HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings National introduced a technology component to the show this year – with both exhibitors and information sessions on the understanding and using the latest trends in meetings. (ConventionPlanit.com hosted a technology information session…on search engines!)
If you attended the show, what did you think of the technology component? If not, is a technology component something you would find useful? How are you incorporating technology?
Sep 19
Ashley SpitzerNews, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners hotels, internet safety, technology
Free and often wireless internet connections are becoming more common at hotels, much to the relief of our email, facebook, bussiness-addicted society…
…but have you ever wondered how safe those internet connections are?
Some faculty at Cornell University did ask that question, and their research found many hotel networks run on outdated or old security techlology – leaving you at risk for your personal or business information to be attacked by a hacker.
The research is a helpful analysis of hotel trends, and includes some great tips on how to keep your information safe if you are connected to an unsecure network…so check it out!
The study is available for free through Cornell’s Center for Hospitality Research website.
Aug 22
Ashley SpitzerMember News, News, Places to Stay, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners Hotel Rennovations, hotels, Microsoft Surface, sheraton, Starwood Hotels, technology, unique activities
Sheraton installed Microsoft Surface units in the lobbies of 5 of their hotels this week…
…Microsoft Surface is a 30-inch display built into a table top. There’s no mouse or keyboard – it uses touch.
It’s like a giantic iPhone, only better!
Hotel guests can browse pictures of the hotel, create playlists with the jukebox, and even find restaurants, bars, and entertainment in the city with 365-degree satellite maps.
Check out the Surface at these hotels:
• Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers – 811 7th Avenue 53rd Street, New York
• Sheraton Boston Hotel – 39 Dalton St, Boston
• Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers – 301 East North Water Street, Chicago
• Sheraton Seattle Hotel – 1400 6th Ave, Seattle
• Sheraton Gateway San Francisco Airport Hotel – 600 Airport Boulevard, Burlingame
Jul 29
Ashley SpitzerNews, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows attendee interaction, meeting education, meeting planner help, technology, Tips for Meeting Planners
If yesterday’s tech info post tickled your fancy…
…here’s some extra help to get you started:
Watch this short video from MeetingsPodCast.com on how to use Flickr Video for your next meeting or event.
Jul 28
Ashley SpitzerTips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows Helpful Meeting Planner Websites, meeting attendance, meeting industry, meeting planner help, technology, Tips for Meeting Planners
Check out these meeting technology must-haves to make your meetings relevant and appealing to 21st century meeting attendees:
Web 2.0 Tools
• Social networking sites: facilitate networking and disseminate peer-to-peer knowledge.
• Establish a wiki: feature links to conference information & to replay conference speakers, tips on getting more out of the event, conference pictures, and links to conference blogs Wikis allow attendees to post information – so content discussions and networking start before the conference.
PDAs
• Create, send and manage announcements for events and exhibit and speaker information can be downloaded to attendees’ PDAs
• Replace your conference binder with PDA based-information from providers like Near Space and VisionTree
• Use Vindigo City Guide to download information on restaurants, movies, shopping, ATM locations and more
These tips are courtesy of Sue Tinnish of SEAL Inc., a popular facilitator, speaker, teambuilder, and trainer. Sue Tinnish publishes a monthly newsletter, “Tips for Innovative Meetings and Events.” Check out more great tips at www.suetinnish.com.
Jun 30
Ashley SpitzerNews, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners air travel, technology, travel, travel tips
Business travelers have found a way to lighten their load when flying – by leaving laptops at home.
A few years ago, leaving a laptop at home would have left many travelers isolated and cut off from the rest of the world…but as a USA Today article reports, the technology surrounding Smart Phones has made this possible.
Smart Phones with fast email and internet access like the Apple iPhone and Blackberrys have made it easy to stay connected to the office on the road…and occupy much less space than a laptop would.
With increased fees from airlines for baggage weight and checking, phones are becoming even more convenient to stay connected.
Do you bring a laptop when you travel? Have you ditched your laptop for your Smart Phone?
Apr 23
Ashley SpitzerTips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows imex, technology, Trade Shows
Over 270 international planners attended IMEX’s annual Associaton Day yesterday in Frankfurt, Germany for professional education and debate.
Planners could exchange opinions and best practices from around global markets. Seminars included information about new meeting techniques, green meetings and integrating technology into meetings.
Association Day created an open forum for world-wide discussions.
IMEX is held annually – qualified planners can travel as hosted buyers through sponsors like ConventionPlanit.com and attend for free.
Current Discussions