BizBash Magazine recently wrote an article titled "The Evolution of an Industry". Below are highlights as well as some of my own thoughts about how the industry needs to change in order to be more competitive.
Tip #1: Events are Now Part of the Marketing Department
No more. Events are now under Marketing and are expected to carry a strategy with a budget. If you are planning an event without the Marketing department’s involvement, start to involve them immediately. Get their buy-in.
Tip #2: Events have to have a Wow Factor
Clients expect new ideas and a bigger, better event. If you have creativity within your team, great. If you don’t, you better outsource and get it.
Tip #3: Events need to be Competitive
Attendees, guests, and employees are busy. They have many obligations and are constantly looking at the money and time involved to attend an educational seminar, trade show, or training. Event meeting services organizations and their partners need to look at how much value they are giving their guests versus the cost to attend the meeting. What makes your event "head and shoulders" above all others?
"Competition is growing, so trends are shorter-lived and expectations to stretch a budget creatively continue to be raised," says Frank Riley, VP and Marketing Director of Dalzell Productions.
Tip #4: Events need to use the latest Technology
Ten years ago, most events had LCD projector and screen rentals, a laptop, and a podium. Not any more. Technology is readily available and much more affordable to rent. Touch panel kiosks can check guests in, play videos about the speakers, run trivia contests, or provide trailers for product launching events.
"I’m incredibly happy we no longer have to use clipboards and we can use iPads," says Weiskopf. "The tools have evolved tenfold from an execution and from an aesthetic perspective. Everything has been elevated."
AV Event Solutions, your meeting and special event partner, has state-of-the-art interactive technology tool rentals to make your next event really special. Give them a call today!