Love and Hate of PR Programs

• Do you love PR programs at live events? Or do you hate them?
• Do they create an awful amount of email traffic in relation to the 1% of the attendees they represent?
• Is it normal that many people and companies are involved in PR Programs? From the organizing company, the logistics company, the media agency, another media agency to the journalists themselves
• Do they wake-up just before the event? Or are they well organized and in the loop from the start?
• Do journalists all want this pampering? Or did we just make them used to it?
• Is it worth the investment? Shouldn’t we look to reach out via other channels?
• Is it normal that their dropout rate is higher than any other attendee category?

Positive News and Observations

It has been rather quiet on my blog for the last 2 weeks. There is a very simple reason. I am managing our Convergence 2009 Europe Series events and it has been extremely busy. Tomorrow we kick off the series in London. While I am also working on a new event in Dubai in March.

First the very positive news: despite the challenging event times (scrutinized budgets and lower attendance in general) we have been able to sell all expo spaces at all 4 locations (London, Vienna, Frankfurt ad Rotterdam) even before our event attendance registration site went live. And all 4 locations are close to a complete attendance sell out as well. London and Rotterdam are already (with many people on the waitlist) and Frankfurt and Vienna will be very soon. People are still attending events if they see the value and if companies are able to sell the value. And now we should live up to the expectations.

And for the people that can’t get in anymore, we are recording all sessions and will make them available to the attendees and people on the waitlist post the series on our Virtual Event Platform.

The observation though is “Why do people only wake up and try to get everything sorted last minute?”. And are these the people responsible for long term vision and strategy of companies? I always wonder. Maybe it comes to some proper time and project management. They could get way more if they would put some skin in the game earlier.

But hé, we are going to enjoy it. It is lovely to manage sold out events. This is luxury in the current climate.

Oneliner #7

“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.”

Think about it. Surely in a time where many people don’t see opportunities. It is a mental thing.

The New Efficiency

I just have been exploring the Microsoft New Efficiency Launch on the Virtual Event Platform. Each new event on the platform is adding features and functionality.

• In this release I especially like the 2 screens for watching the presentations; you now see the presenter and the slide deck in the configuartion you want (big, small, side by side etc). Whatever you say, I prefer to see the presenter. It keeps me more focussed and more eager to stay and listen.
• The Notice Board with special announcements and ready to click items. Faster access to critical items.
• The evolvement of the social media integration, especially Twitter and the sharing functionalities.

What you also see here is the way Microsoft is scaling the content of the small live event in SanFrancisco. Not only via the Virtual Event Platform event but also via the New Effciency Launch website. Both digital channels are just a means to an end and the content is consumed in a media player. 

The expo is there, all breakout sessions are here. The positive thing is that it takes less clicks than before to actually see a session and with the 2 screens … A really neat improvement.

Nice!

Duration of a Virtual Presentation

Today we typically see an online presentation as part of a virtual event last for about 45′, 60′ or even 75′. This is basically just a copy of the live event format and duration of a presentation.

Is this the right duration? Who will tell? What I do know is that TED is hugely successful with its maximum length of 18′ sessions. And honestly, even in busy times I will watch entirely an 18′ video when the speaker and the content can inspire me and learn me something.

We need to think twice what the objectives are and how can we best reach our target audience. Content stays king and a virtual event and a virtual event platform is just a means to an end. It is just a content delivery mechanism. And that can also be reached by means of a webcast, a live meeting, a conference call, a media player etc.

Key Learnings for a Virtual Event

If you consider setting up a virtual event, please keep the following 3 items in mind:

• Like any other event, content is king, including audience participation and user-generated content. Any virtual event platform is just a means to an end and a delivery mechanism
• It is still an event, meaning you need to do all the strategy, planning, execution and follow up as for any other event. Don’t think you have a shorter lead time
• Technology needs to stay up!!

Cisco Live Networkers: Analysis of the Virtual Event

In an earlier post I commented on the virtual events key learnings of Cisco Live Networkers. Earlier this month Cisco provided an overall analysis of their virtual event. A must read if your are into the virtual events business.

Two things caught my attention:

• One third of the online attendees where from the executive/senior management and management groups. This is promising and proves the fact that virtual events are not only for technical savy audiences. While you would think that executive level people like events for the networking and face to face contacts, Cisco proves that they see value in a virtual event as well and attend!
• 34% of the virtual attendees indicated they were extremely/very likely to attend the in person event next year. This is prove that an online event is not captilalizing on the in person event attendance, on the contrary, in the long run it is helping in demand generation. Only of course if you have the right strategy in mind and have a clear value proposistion for both the in person as the virtual event.

Blog Recognition

Yesterday I catched the following blog post Six Events Related Blogs to Read. Nice to see recognition and the fact that people appreciate what I write.

I love to continue my contribution to the events business and the blogosphere overall.

Event in Dubai

Last week I was in Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to collaborate with the Microsoft Gulf subsidiary in order to setup a key event in 2010. A few general musings about my first experience in the Middle East.

• As any country there are local flavours and ways of doing business. Hmm
• The city looks brand new to me. Waw, although sometimes I had the impression I was in Las Vegas
• The Dubai World Trade Centre is a very nice venue. The one thing that caught my attention right away is that the simple watches on the walls are “Rolex”. Is that an indication?
• Big (royal) weddings are done in the WTC. They were setting up one (2 weeks needed!!) An eye opener.
• Do they treat email the same way we do?
• Ramadan has an impact in every day life. Respect is the key as a foreigner.
• Dubai seems a city which combines tourism with business. Many nationalities represented.
• The impact of the local government and the sjeiks circle of influence

Really looking forward to make this event a success and learn a lot.

All comments about doing business in Dubai very welcome. As well as tips and tricks.

InXpo

About 10 days ago I had an interesting conversation with Malcolm Lotzof, VP InXpo about their virtual event platform and the future of virtual events.

Many VEP (Virtual Event Platforms) find their origin or in the webcast arena or in the digital design groups, while not many combine both components right from the start. And that is a fundamental strength; content is king – not only for live events but also for virtual events and if you can top that with a nice and easy design. And integrate web 2.0 components, you have your ducks in a row for a nice solution. InXpo has that. It is not the first time that I mention here that I like their platform (disclaimer: while I have nothing to do with them).

I am more interested in the future and there Malcolm is the first person who was able to identify several opportunities and possibilities for any VEP. It is not just about a virtual trade show, it is not just about building an online copy of a physical event. It is more.

VEP could grow into virtual community platforms where people connect and discuss topics with common interest. And a VEP can grow into a content library platform where people easily can find content, search and connect. Wouldn’t it be nice if all video content of a company’s website would be hosted in the same VEP? Wouldn’t it be nice if people could interact about this content (doc library) on the same VEP? Wouldn’t that be an opportunity for any VEP?