INTRODUCTION Officially launched in August of 2010, the VMware User Group (VMUG) is an independent, global, customer-led organization, created to maximize members’ use of VMware and partner solutions through knowledge sharing, training, collaboration, and events. They are managed by an association management firm, Innovatis Group. Every year they produce a Global event series called VMUG UserCons. At these one-day conferences, attendees can connect with hundreds of VMware users, attend educational sessions led by industry experts, receive an inside look at exciting VMware and partner products, plus much more all at no cost to the members. This event provides an excellent opportunity for VMware Users to learn and network. It also provides an excellent opportunity for other companies to sponsor and exhibit to get access to this community to generate valuable business connections. 2nd slide image.png [https://validar.com/media/2nd slide image.png] VMUG NEEDS VMUG is a non-profit organization focused on maximizing knowledge sharing, enhancing the attendee experience and finding efficiencies, all while keeping expense mitigation top of mind. The Innovatis Group works with several vendors and because VMUG was in the market for a solution that would deliver a best-in-class attendee experience prior to and during their event, could track content consumption, and score content effectiveness they sought out Validar to be their partner. EVENT TECH PLATFORM VALUE Validar was chosen to be VMUG’s onsite registration and attendee tracking event technology provider. This decision was based upon Validar’s ease of deployment, live remote support capabilities, and the depth and breadth of their products. The Innovatis Group team also made the decision to take on the on-site responsibilities to lessen deployment costs for the organization of VMUG. The Validar solutions deployed in a self-support fashion were: Validar® vCheckin Onsite Registration integrated with Fonteva Validar Session Attendance Tracking – self scan stations Validar vCapture Lead Retrieval EventHub® Attendee tool integrated with CrowdCompass EventScore Gamification With these solutions VMUG members were able to receive a best-in-class attendee experience and the team was able to track each journey, score session content on a Likert scale, and recognize / reward attendees that engaged in an exceptional fashion. More specifically, they used EventScore to reward attendees for going to sessions, engaging with Exhibitors, and providing feedback on session content. SELF-SCAN SESSION TRACKING Being a free event, human resources are not as plentiful as they might be for fee-based events. Most companies require a human resource to man a session scanning device to make sure attendance counts are accurate. VMUG was originally concerned that attendees would bypass self-scan stations. To over come this, they provided incentive to their community, and leveraged Validar’s EventScore Gamification platform. EventScore was used to recognize and reward session attendance, and session feedback. This proved to be so effective that some attendees attempted to scan themselves into multiple concurrent tracks to earn more recognition and points. Subsequently, Validar had to add a feature to the solution to only allow points for one session per concurrent track. The incentive did resonate well with attendees in all markets. 5th slide image.jpg [https://validar.com/media/5th slide image.jpg] SESSION EVALUATIONS GAMIFIED! The best way to gauge your performance as an event producer is through candid feedback. The Innovatis Group recognizes this, and they did a brilliant job leveraging EventScore to foster active participation and feedback on session content to better inform real-time decisions for VMUG. Validar believes evaluation response rates (% of session attendees that complete the session evaluation) need to be at least at a 15% or above to have a data sample representative of your audience. We also benchmark best-in-class event performances across common Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s). The VMUG UserCon Series results were extraordinary, especially regarding evaluation completions. With the Validar solution, each attendee was invited to provide session feedback via the Validar EventHub® Attendee tool, integrated with CrowdCompass. If an attendee was tracked going to two (2) sessions, they were presented with a unique survey for only those two sessions, with content scored on a Likert scale. Attendees were recognized a rewarded for this feedback. VMUG performed very well! Attendees completed on average 38% of evaluations presented across 23 events globally! The average across 10 of our best-performing events for this KPI is 11.65%. EXHIBITOR ENGAGEMENT GAMIFIED The VMUG UserCon exhibiting community is a vital component to their event program, and making sure their exhibitors receive the lead volume and quality they expected is a big focus. VMUG also leveraged EventScore to recognize and reward attendees for visiting their exhibitors. This event series has proven that gamification can increase attendee to exhibitor engagement rates. One of the KPI’s that Validar benchmarks is Attendee to Exhibitor visit percentage. 55.64% of Attendees visited at least one exhibiting sponsor across 23 events globally! The average across 10 of our best-performing events for this KPI is 36.59%. 7th slide image.jpg [https://validar.com/media/7th slide image.jpg] CONCLUSION Getting results like this requires not only a great platform, but a great team that knows how to leverage technology. The Innovatis Group sets high expectations for the organizations they support, and they expect their technologies partners to match their level of performance and excellence. We’re very proud to have been of service. Let us know if you are into a deeper dive into these solutions.
RSNA.png [https://validar.com/media/RSNA.png] Exhibiting at tradeshows can be exhilarating, and exhausting at the same time. Generating demand for your company’s products and services in a tradeshow environment requires energy and creativity to warrant the attention of event attendees. “Don’t tell me what you want me to hear. Tell me what I am looking to learn!” "Don't waste my time" Says every event attendee ever. As an event manager, how can you best capture and categorize the leads and interest your activation and exhibit generates? Validar has been servicing event producers since 2003 and we understand this challenge very well. Here are our 4 tips to consider that’ll help you capture leads with ethical attendee treatment in mind. 1. Treat lead capture differently for high traffic activations versus one to one product demos. If your event investment includes multiple activations such as an intimate dinner and presentation, breakout session launching a new product, a theater within your exhibit with 15 minute presentations with the goal of driving attendees to meetings and personalized demos, each might require a unique data capture strategy to insure your solution is not intrusive to the attendee experience. Lead capture should be different for your high-traffic activations than your personalized demonstrations and meetings. No matter the strategy each should allow the attendee to control how he or she wants to be treated. 1. Customize your Lead Retrieval to categorize leads by where they fall in the sales cycle. Not all leads are created equal, and understanding where each prospect stands in the sales cycle is crucial for targeted follow-ups. Capturing this with technology is an art, and should be an extension of the experience and natural conversation with your attendee. More specifically if you are; * Gifting to drive traffic - If you’re giving away a t-shirt or squishy ball as a means to drive traffic and increase lead volume, allow attendees to “opt-out” with a qualifier. Make sure your team is fully trained on the intent behind this qualifier so data is authentic. Branch out with your qualifiers if that attendee has a genuine need that you can address. Opt-out-2.png [https://validar.com/media/Opt-out-2.png] * Tracking theater or session attendance - Allow your audience to opt-in through deployment of dynamic evaluations. This is an excellent way to drive meetings and product demos! 1. Create a means for attendees to opt-in without engaging in a conversation Often attendee may not be interested in engaging in a conversation or sitting through a session, but they see value in your product offering. Allow these attendees to opt-in by scanning a QR Code to access a form. Gamify this activity and make sure to ask if they have a genuine interest in your offering, or just want to play the game. Opt-in form.png [https://validar.com/media/Opt-in form.png] QR Code Opt-in- example - Capture leads anywhere from anyone! 1. Recognize and reward engagement as a means to raise engagement overall! Gamification can be an excellent means of driving traffic to your activities. With the right lead capture strategy this can be an invaluable investment, provided attendees can control treatment. Recognizing and rewarding product demos, session visit, evaluation completions will increase participation across all touchpoints. There is an art to lead capture, and you owe it to your sales team and attendees, to capture leads in this fashion. Treat those that have a need, nurture those that have granted permission, and do so in a personalized fashion based upon their role. More to come on the nurture category in our next post. Click here if you want to learn more. [https://validar.com/quote]
In The Fast-Paced And Demanding World Of Today’s Professional Landscape, Finding A Balance Between Work And Personal Life Can Be Challenging. The Constant Juggle Between Meetings, Deadlines, And Personal Responsibilities Often Leads To Heightened Stress Levels. Fortunately, There Are Practical Strategies To Ease Worklife Stress And Foster A More Harmonious Balance. Here Are Six Tips To Help You Navigate The Complexities Of Your Worklife While Maintaining Your Well-Being. 1. Prioritize And Organize: Start By Identifying Your Most Critical Tasks And Prioritize Them. Break Down Larger Projects Into Smaller, More Manageable Tasks, And Use Tools Like To-Do Lists Or Project Management Apps To Stay Organized. By Having A Clear Understanding Of Your Priorities, You Can Approach Your Workload More Efficiently And Reduce The Stress Associated With Feeling Overwhelmed. 2. Establish Healthy Boundaries: Setting Boundaries Is Crucial For Maintaining A Healthy Work-Life Balance. Clearly Define Your Working Hours And Communicate Them To Your Colleagues. Avoid The Temptation To Constantly Check Emails Or Take Work Calls During Your Personal Time. By Establishing Boundaries, You Create A Clear Separation Between Work And Personal Life, Allowing You To Recharge And Better Handle Workplace Challenges. 3. Take Regular Breaks: It May Seem Counterintuitive, But Taking Breaks Can Significantly Improve Productivity And Reduce Stress. Schedule Short Breaks Throughout Your Workday To Stretch, Take A Walk, Or Engage In A Quick Mindfulness Exercise. Stepping Away From Your Desk Allows You To Refresh Your Mind And Return To Tasks With Increased Focus And Energy. 4. Delegate And Collaborate: Recognize That You Don’t Have To Carry The Entire Workload On Your Shoulders. Delegate Tasks When Possible And Collaborate With Colleagues To Share Responsibilities. Effective Teamwork Not Only Lightens The Load But Also Fosters A Positive Work Environment. Delegating Tasks Allows You To Focus On Your Strengths And Contributes To A More Balanced And Fulfilling Work Experience. 5. Practice Mindfulness And Stress Reduction Techniques: Incorporate Mindfulness And Stress Reduction Techniques Into Your Daily Routine. Whether It’s Through Meditation, Deep Breathing Exercises, Or Yoga, Taking Time For Mindfulness Can Help You Stay Centered And Resilient In The Face Of Workplace Challenges. These Practices Can Be Powerful Tools For Managing Stress And Promoting A More Balanced Perspective. 6. Invest In Professional Development: Enhance Your Skills And Knowledge To Boost Your Confidence And Reduce Work-Related Stress. Investing In Professional Development Not Only Improves Your Job Performance But Also Opens Up New Opportunities For Career Growth. Attend Workshops, Take Online Courses, Or Seek Mentorship To Continually Develop Your Skills And Stay Ahead In Your Field. Achieving A Healthy Work-Life Balance Is An Ongoing Process That Requires Intention And Commitment. By Prioritizing And Organizing Your Workload, Establishing Healthy Boundaries, Taking Regular Breaks, Delegating Tasks, Practicing Mindfulness, And Investing In Professional Development, You Can Ease Worklife Stress And Create A More Sustainable And Fulfilling Career. Remember, Finding The Right Balance Is Not Only Beneficial For Your Well-Being But Also Enhances Your Overall Effectiveness As A Professional.
Join us in this insightful episode where we delve into the intersection of artificial intelligence and event marketing. Host Aby Varma, a B2B marketing leader, drives an in-depth conversation with Victor Kippes, CEO of Validar, a company known for its innovation in B2B lead management for events. Victor, with over two decades of experience in sales and marketing, brings valuable insights to the table, especially following his recognition as one of EventEx’s Most Influential Event Technology Professionals. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the dynamic role of AI in the evolving landscape of event marketing and management.Here are key highlights. * AI in Marketing: Victor discusses the transformative role of AI in marketing. He emphasizes how AI accelerates the understanding of client needs and preferences, enhancing marketing strategies. * AI in Event Management: The focus shifts to the application of AI in event technology and how AI aids in navigating large, complex events, enhancing attendee experience by recommending sessions and networking opportunities based on individual goals and preferences. * Data Analysis and Event ROI: A discussion then revolves around how AI can revolutionize data analysis for event planners, helping to synthesize vast amounts of event data to clearly demonstrate ROI. * Privacy Concerns and Ethical AI Use: Victor emphasizes the importance of compliance, ethical data collection, and AI usage in the event industry, noting the variation in requirements based on industry and audiences. * Future of AI in Events: The conversation takes a forward-looking approach, discussing the potential of AI in transforming the event industry, including the integration of AI in hybrid event models. * Advice for Marketers and Event Planners: Victor concludes with advice for professionals navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape, emphasizing the need to focus on technologies that genuinely add value to the attendee experience and event management efficiency. Podcast Link: https://marketscale.com/industries/business-services/ai-is-revolutionizing-event-technology/ [https://marketscale.com/industries/business-services/ai-is-revolutionizing-event-technology/] Spotify: https://bit.ly/40X9ksE [https://bit.ly/40X9ksE] Apple: https://bit.ly/411r0TL [https://bit.ly/411r0TL]
We are very fortunate to work with intelligent B2B event marketers every day and we’ve learned a ton. This post discusses one topic that we often see as an opportunity for improvement specific to leveraging Marketing Automation when dealing with event data: The power of lead skimming at tradeshows. Marketing Automation has proven to effectively score leads based on implicit and explicit responses to digital content. The value is exponentially different though when dealing with event data. Here are some tips to consider when treating event data with your marketing stack during and post event when exhibiting at a trade show. Validar often serves exhibitors at large tradeshows with custom lead retrieval. On one occasion, a sales leader asked us where their leads would be going post-event. His concern was that all leads would be uploaded into their Eloqua platform for nurturing. When this happens, they often have to wait 5 to 6 weeks before a lead is distributed. He wanted his leads now, which is a value our lead retrieval solution can deliver. At this event, Validar categorized leads by value with Marketing Automation in mind. We were also skimming leads off the top to bypass their marketing stack if that lead is defined as “sales-eady”. What is skimming? Skimming is, identifying where buyers are in their buying cycle by asking relevant questions when in dialog. When identified as “sales ready” they are skimmed off the top, bypassing Marketing Automation and going direct to Sales. Essentially, we front-end every scan with a qualifier that allows each attendee to control how he or she would like to be treated. It is very important that your booth staff capture genuine sentiment. Opt-out.png [https://validar.com/media/Opt-out.png] If an attendee expresses interest in your products and services, we then branch out to further qualify their needs for presentation to sales for follow-up. Sales-Ready.png [https://validar.com/media/Sales-Ready.png] Leads were categories in Hot, Warm, and Cold categories for treatment by Sales and their Marketing Stack. Those leads that expressed interest bypassed Marketing Automation and were passed to Sales. Prior to this, all leads were captured by a simple scan, and then processed within their Marketing Stack. When incubating leads it may take 6 to 8 weeks to find out which leads are “sales-ready” versus “trinket seekers” simply because Marketing Automation bases its score on implicit and explicit activity. When following up directly which many companies do, it may take 4 to 6 touches in order to capture that person’s attention again. This can be especially frustrating to sales when they find out 5 touches later that this lead was generated due to a raffle at an event. The economic benefits of skimming can be tremendous for several reasons. 1. You no longer are paying a salesperson to call non “sales-ready” leads. 2. You can avoid lead decay by treating “sales-ready” leads appropriately and right away. If done well, your pipeline impact will increase tremendously! Reach out if you would like to learn more [https://www.validar.com/quote/].
Onsite registration is the first point of contact between event attendees and organizers, making it a critical aspect of ensuring a positive experience for all participants. First impressions are so important at face to face events! To guarantee a seamless event journey, event planners must cultivate good onsite registration habits. In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 essential habits gathered by Validar employees that can enhance the registration process and set the stage for a successful event. PROVIDE CLEAR SIGNAGE, DOCUMENTATION AND MAPS AT REGISTRATION. This will help eliminate the series of questions from attendees that can extend the throughput time. Where is the show floor? How do I get my mobile app? What time does the keynote start? Clear pre-registration communication will help eliminate these questions and speed things up. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CHOKE POINTS AND ENCOURAGE EARLY REGISTRATION By setting up self service check-in stations at airports, and hotels, you can reduce traffic at your main registration area significantly. Validar often breaks up our customers registration configuration with stations placed at hotels to capture early registrants and reduce foot traffic in the central registration area. QR CODES IN A MOBILE WALLET ARE FASTER THAN QR CODES IN AN EMAIL. The more effectively you market ticketing pre event, the faster your check-in throughput will be. Have clear signage telling attendees to pull up their QR code before getting to the main registration areas. Validar offers two types of QR Codes, an embedded image depicted in an HTML email, and a PK Pass File that can be downloaded into a IOS or Android Wallet. We often see attendee searching for their emailed QR Code on their mobile phone, which in some cases can take longer than a search. Mobile wallets are much faster! Market the heck out of them, and track their usage. PK-PAss-File.jpg [https://validar.com/media/PK-PAss-File.jpg] MAKE SURE YOUR CHECK-IN APPLICATION EXPLICITLY DEPICTS WHERE THE CAMERA IS LOCATED ON IPADS! This is something that Validar focuses on when customizing vCheck-in on iPads. If built well, attendees should know exactly where to show their QR Code when checking in. QR-Code-Checkin-600x436.png [https://validar.com/media/QR-Code-Checkin-600x436.png] LIMIT REQUIRED FIELDS FOR WALK-INS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. If your registration form is long, handle walk-on’s in a separate area. Leverage auto-fill whenever appropriate and have an escalation desk with clear signage. A “LINE BUSTING” MOBILE TABLET CAN BE A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY TO REDUCE A LARGE RUSH OF ATTENDEES. These tablets along with strategically placed printers can be a very effective means to reduce sudden lines. SEPARATE BADGE, LANYARD ASSEMBLY, AND SWAG GIVEAWAY FROM THE CHECK-IN STATIONS. The more you ask your concierge to do at check-in, the longer the throughput will be. If you do ask your concierge to assemble badge, lanyard, and distribute swag at check-in, increase your station count to accommodate the increased throughput. Validar often conducts a throughput analysis on behalf of our clients that takes into account average throughput with an adjustable station count. This helps determine the hours it will take to process an estimated attendee count. It is very important that you understand this metric, especially for one day non-fee based events. IF POSSIBLE, DO ONE BADGE DESIGN, AND PRINT ATTENDEE TYPE AND SPECIAL DISTINCTIONS ON-DEMAND. We always encourage our customers to follow this principle when printing on demand. The attendee flow will be much cleaner, wide open and faster. Attendees should be able to check-in at any station. CONSIDER STRAIGHT FUNNELS VERSUS SNAKE LINES Our employees are very passionate about this one. Trust us when we say, your check-in process will go much faster! Snake lines can slow things down, as they often bottleneck the line on one end. Attendees often get distracted and or wait for the closest check-in station, versus choosing one that is open further down. With Snake Lines, it is very important to have a diligent line monitor directing people or you run the risk of things really slowing down. Shorter straight lines help speed up the check-in process as attendees naturally choose the shortest line. You’ll find find these lines are managed by a speedier concierge. One key thing to note with straight lines, make sure you leave room for attendees to exit the counter space without having to walk in front of check-in station monitors. Snake lines often do not leave that space, which creates a situation where attendees exit in front of others attempting to approach a check-in station. DIRECT CLIP TO BADGES, DON’T USE BADGE HOLDERS Direct clip to badges are very popular, especially if the badge is an eco friendly option. They’re faster as well since you do not have to insert into a badge holder. Validar is very much on top of sustainable, durable badge options! Conclusion: Mastering onsite registration is a pivotal step in creating a positive event experience for attendees. By cultivating these 10 good onsite registration habits, event planners can not only simplify the registration process but also set the stage for a memorable and successful event.
Crafting effective marketing feedback is an intricate skill that we’ve honed through collaboration with astute event marketing teams. In this post, we’ll delve into essential strategies that we consistently recommend. These strategies not only ensure satisfactory response rates but also yield feedback that is invaluable for refining your future event programs. 1. Utilize the Power of a Numerical Likert Scale Implementing a numerical Likert scale to assess your content opens the door to benchmarking across various sessions and event experiences. The insight gained from this approach empowers you to identify sessions that struck a chord with attendees and, equally important, sessions that fell short. Armed with this knowledge, you can make necessary adjustments to enhance the overall quality of your event program. 2. Maintain Consistency in Questioning Consistency is paramount when benchmarking content. Our top-tier clients prioritize uniformity by posing the same questions for each session. Key areas of focus include speaker performance, the caliber of presented material, and session value. This practice not only ensures a standardized evaluation process but also furnishes you with insights that are directly comparable across sessions. 3. Uncover Invaluable Insights Through Comment Capture Could there be more to an attendee’s thoughts on a session than what a Likert scale can convey? Absolutely. By extending an invitation for attendees to elaborate on their Likert scale responses, you’re inviting a wealth of specificity. This approach sheds light on the reasons behind certain scores, granting you a deeper understanding of the attendees’ perspectives. 4. Transform Evaluations into Audience Segmentation Tools Picture this: you’ve attended an enlightening session and are eager to engage with the speaker afterward, only to be met with a lengthy queue post-session. Enter the potential of evaluations. By incorporating an “opt-in” option in your evaluation form, attendees can express interest in further engagement with speakers. This proactive approach facilitates seamless post-session interactions and equips your content team to follow up effectively, fostering meaningful connections. In conclusion, the art of effective event evaluation involves employing strategic techniques that not only bolster response rates but also extract actionable insights. By integrating numerical Likert scales, consistent questioning, comment capture, and audience segmentation, you transform evaluations into invaluable tools for enhancing your event experience. Your journey towards more impactful events starts with these four fundamental steps.
In today’s fast-paced and highly competitive event market, building a strong exhibiting community can be a game-changer. We’re firm believers that events provide an excellent, if not the best, platform for companies to showcase products, engage with potential customers, and foster valuable connections with industry peers. It’s important though, that they get the value they deserve through this investment. Physical event data is different from digital. We have learned much from some very smart event marketers about driving value and monetizing this portion of your ecosystem. In this blog post, we will explore four powerful tips to help you drive more value to your exhibiting community and more revenue to you. #1 DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR EXHIBITS AND BOOTHS: UNLOCK THE POWER OF GAMIFICATION When it comes to encouraging attendee-to-exhibitor engagement, gamification can be a highly effective strategy. By implementing it thoughtfully, you can incentivize, acknowledge, and reward interactions, creating a vibrant atmosphere that resonates with your community. Make sure to choose rewards that truly appeal to your audience and communicate your investment in this experience to both attendees and exhibitors. This proactive approach will be greatly appreciated by your exhibitors, while attendees will delight in the excitement and recognition it brings. To amplify the impact, Validar’s EventScore program serves as an exceptional marketing tool. By leveraging EventScore, you can elevate on-site engagement between attendees and exhibitors, making the event experience even more rewarding for all involved. Invest in driving traffic to your exhibits and booths through the power of gamification and experience the remarkable results it brings! #2 OFFER CUSTOM LEAD RETRIEVAL SOLUTIONS FOR EXHIBITOR SUCCESS In today’s event landscape, your exhibitor community relies on their unique marketing stack, lead management processes, and goals. At Validar, we understand the importance of providing a lead retrieval solution that aligns with this individuality, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Here are some key exhibitor desires that we prioritize: 1. Dedicated Devices: Some exhibitors prefer to capture leads using dedicated devices, ensuring a seamless experience and focused data collection. 2. Custom Qualifiers: Enable exhibitors to score leads based on their value, allowing for seamless integration with their marketing stack and targeted post-event treatments. 3. Third-Party Integration: For exhibitors already utilizing a custom third-party lead retrieval solution integrated with their marketing stack, we support seamless integration at the event. 4. CRM Integration: Automate the direct import of leads captured at the event into exhibitors’ CRM systems, eliminating manual data entry and streamlining post-event follow-ups. The investment companies make to manage event leads is substantial, both in terms of time and resources. By offering the right lead retrieval solution, you can make a tremendous difference. That’s why Validar is revamping our vCapture program this summer, introducing enhanced value and additional options to empower exhibitors and maximize their success. #3 EMPOWER YOUR EXHIBITING COMMUNITY WITH SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES In the world of events, a few minutes can make all the difference for an exhibitor. Consider allocating a dedicated slot on your event schedule, either between sessions or as a session kick-off, for your exhibiting community to provide value to attendees. However, it’s essential to establish guidelines to ensure that these slots offer valuable insights rather than sales pitches. Remember, nobody wants to be on the receiving end of a sales pitch. In addition to providing a speaking slot, consider delivering the session attendee list to exhibitors and enabling opt-ins for meetings if the content aligns with the audience’s interests. This approach goes beyond the ordinary, delivering an enhanced level of value and generating valuable lead datasets for exhibitors. At Validar, we have seen countless success stories of brands leveraging our session attendance tracking and vMeetings application to drive exceptional value for both attendees and exhibitors alike. By adopting this approach, you empower exhibitors to connect with interested attendees, fostering meaningful interactions and forging valuable connections throughout your event. #4 EMBRACE POST-EVENT EXHIBITOR FEEDBACK If you aspire to grow your event, nurturing a satisfied exhibiting community is key. That’s why gathering post-event feedback, specifically focused on identifying areas for improvement, is crucial. Consider implementing an exhibitor-specific evaluation process that encourages participation through recognition and rewards. To drive more value for your exhibiting community, it’s important to adopt a proactive approach and create an environment that fosters growth, collaboration, and innovation. By facilitating meaningful connections, offering valuable educational resources, promoting collaboration, and acknowledging excellence, you can greatly enhance the overall value experienced by your exhibiting community. Remember, a thriving exhibiting community not only benefits individual exhibitors, but also contributes to the collective success of the entire community. So, embrace these strategies and witness your exhibiting community flourish with increased value and engagement. Feel free to reach out to us if you’d like to learn more [https://www.validar.com/quote/].
5 WAYS HYBRID EVENTS INCREASE YOUR EVENT ROI After months of lockdowns, social distancing and increased safety measures, it is evident that Covid-19 will impact the way we plan, produce, and experience events for the near future and possibly, forever. Fortunately, with the recent surge of remote work and virtual collaboration, consumers are growing familiar with virtual event platforms as a practical alternative to physical events. In-person events will certainly come back, but the industry must do so slowly and safely. In this period of transition, hybrid events can provide event marketers an interesting opportunity to benefit from the best of both in-person and virtual events. In fact, we’re learning that hybrid events may just be here to stay. Hybrid events are in-person events that include a virtual experience, allowing attendees to choose the medium that works best for them and to toggle between the two. While this concept is fairly new to the event industry, its popularity has increased exponentially [https://www.businesstravelnews.com/Meetings/Nearly-Three-in-Four-Polled-Planners-Anticipate-Running-Hybrid-Events-in-2020], with no signs of slowing. As event marketers plan hybrid events, measuring ROI is essential just as with any format. Thankfully, hybrid events unlock a myriad of cost-saving benefits for planners and attendees alike. 1. SCALE One of the main benefits to hosting a hybrid event is unlocking a brand new audience. Make the event available to everyone and your event just became global. Increasing your reach has countless benefits, such as more potential customers, brand awareness and sponsorship deals. While it is easy to surmise that a hybrid event splits your audience in half - between virtual attendees and the physically present ones - it actually creates a space for more interaction and connectivity if done right. If you’ve attended an event or convention in the past 3 years, it's likely you’ve interacted with virtual leaderboards, live polling and remote guests. With these technologies, we can seamlessly blend virtual and live audiences, creating a fun and interactive experience with much higher attendance numbers. 2. LOWER COSTS From venue fees to costly travel expenses, there are countless ways to rack up your in-person event bill. With a much smaller audience in physical attendance, hybrid events eliminate thousands of dollars in venue costs in addition to cutting down on planning hours and day-of staff. A recent survey from Wild Apricot states that 84% of organizations who had already run a virtual event in 2020 reported that they spent less money on virtual events than in-person events. (Source [https://trial.wildapricot.com/virtual-event-research-report]) 3. ATTENDEE TRACKING There is a common misconception that hosting most of your attendees virtually means giving up on valuable attendee insights - not so! Stats that would otherwise be difficult to collect are made easy in a virtual environment. With a few extra steps in the planning phase, each session can track: * Who watched a presentation (consumed content)? * What percentage of attendees watched a session face to face versus digital? * What medium generated more conversions (digital or face to face)? The most renewed interest? * Which sponsorship content resonated the most? Collecting a higher volume of attendee data has countless benefits for both sales and marketing teams. One example is instant feedback, which allows event professionals the opportunity to make (potentially instantaneous) improvements to your event offering, thereby increasing engagement and overall attendee happiness. 4. SPONSOR ENGAGEMENT Your sponsors want to know they are making a good investment by working with you. With the majority of your audience engaging with your sponsors in a virtual environment, you can track all attendee interactions with pinpoint accuracy. This increases the value of sponsorship deals for both you and your client. Additionally, by adding virtual attendees, you are now open to sponsorships for both your live and virtual environments. If done right, this can double your sponsorship gains! 5. LEAD RETRIEVAL During live events, one of the top complaints of sales teams is the time it takes to receive and follow-up with important leads as they appear. In a virtual environment, the data retrieval is immediate. In addition to session feedback, gather information on attendees that are interested in learning more about your offerings. By doing this, you instantly capture a lead for your sales team for follow-up. No more week-long turnover. No more missed connections. With virtual events, the platform handles the lead retrieval for you. Suffice it to say, hybrid events are proving to be an interesting opportunity for many Validar clients and we’ve rallied to meet their new challenges. One of the top anxieties for event planners is working with new tools and technology, so we’ve worked with a few leaders to develop Orbit. Orbit is the combination of white-glove service from our team of experts, with the robust backend data capture, scoring, and syncing software we’re known for. We handle all of the set up and event-day execution for you, eliminating hours upon hours of costly planning, not to mention the anxiety of messing up the live feed! If you or your team is hosting a hybrid or virtual event, we’re here to help! If you have any questions or are seeking advice on how to best manage your event, contact us [https://www.validar.com/contact/]!
CONFERENCE OR COFFEE? WHERE ARE YOUR ATTENDEES GOING AFTER CHECK-IN? DO THESE THINGS IN ORDER TO KNOW As an event marketer, you spend months meticulously crafting the perfect mix of activities and content for your next event. But how do you determine if attendees play an active role in keynotes and general sessions, or prefer to hang out by the bar? The way your attendees experience your event will undoubtedly change the way you engage with them post-event. Here are the 4 you things to know about tracking your attendee's whereabouts: 1. INVEST IN TRACKING CONTENT CONSUMPTION WITH THE ATTENDEE EXPERIENCE IN MIND We all wish we could track every metric possible occurring on the event floor, but this may require more staffing than we have available to us, and it can be too intrusive and difficult. We suggest having a healthy mix of both active and passive tracking to maintain a great attendee experience. What is active vs. passive tracking? * Active tracking simply involves scanning an attendee when they enter a session. This can include access control should the session be a paid session, or content specific to a certain type. We recommend active tracking if it’s important for you to know who is consuming this content. * Passive tracking involves tracking an attendee without an intrusive scan, by leveraging BLE, RFID as a means to know what content attendees are consuming. We recommend passive tracking should you desire knowing who might be consuming content within a common area on the expo floor, or perhaps a large keynote of general session. Scanning can be too intrusive and virtually impossible in these areas. Knowing what content your attendees are consuming is very important, but so is your attendee experience. Choose the technology that best suits your needs. Click here [https://www.validar.com/session-tracking-active-and-passive/] to learn more about active vs. passive attendee tracking. 2. ENABLE YOUR ATTENDEES TO OPT-IN WITH EVALUATIONS Marketing feedback at an event is art. From an attendee’s perspective, there is nothing more frustrating than listening to a presentation that resonates very well and then trying to extend the conversation with speaker or a subject matter expert after. Use your evaluation tool to allow attendees to opt-in by asking a simple Boolean logic question: Are you interested in speaking with a subject matter expert on this topic? Capture these hand-raisers and act upon them during the event. Click here to learn more about our EventHub Mobile feedback [https://www.validar.com/eventhub-mobile-feedback/] application. 3. KEEP YOUR SPONSORS IN MIND While your current and future customers demand most of the spotlight at your events, don't forget about your sponsors! Happy sponsors are a key ingredient to the ongoing success of your events strategy. It is important to understand how sponsors engage with your event. Do they frequently attend? Are they involved in sessions and staying engaged? If you go any lengths to track attendee whereabouts, be sure to track unique sponsor visits and capture their feedback wherever possible. Passive tracking can also show unique visitors on the show floor, dwell time and traffic by time of day. If your conference had 2,500 attendees, and there were 2,500 unique attendees scanned on the show floor, you’re batting 1000! 4. BE PREPARED TO BE SURPRISED With a completely new set of individuals at each event, expect a few surprises. Each visitor will have their own intentions going into your event; some falling outside the intentions you set for them. Some folks may attend only for the networking, free food, free hotels, and the beloved conference swag. This attendee persona is common, so it's important to keep an open mind. With the right analytics suite, you may find that the aforementioned attendee hanging out at the bar for the entirety of the conference was already a key buyer of your product. And when in Vegas, right? IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO IMPLEMENT ATTENDEE TRACKING TO YOUR NEXT EVENT, GET IN TOUCH [https://www.validar.com/contact/], WE’D LOVE TO COACH YOU THROUGH SOME SELF-HELP OPTIONS OR TELL YOU ABOUT SOME OF OUR READY-MADE OR CUSTOM SOLUTIONS.