5 Useful Event Marketing Blogs to Follow Do you struggle to stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies in event marketing and planning? Keeping up with the latest news, discussions, and products is essential in the event industry. Following event app blogs will give you the immediate information that printed materials lack. Online articles will appear within hours of … Continue reading “5 Useful Event Marketing Blogs to Follow” Do you struggle to stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies in event marketing and planning? Keeping up with the latest news, discussions, and products is essential in the event industry. Following event app blogs will give you the immediate information that printed materials lack. Online articles will appear within hours of an important discussion or occurrence and keep you ahead of the game but knowing which resources are the best will save you time so you don’t have to search through a sea of information to find the gems. Event Manager Blog This blog is the resource for all things events; from event technology to social media, they have all the bases covered. There are resources for wedding planning, event management and party planning, but their true area of special interest lies in innovation and is widely referenced by other event planners. As one of the leading blog for planners it is a great source of information to get the best event app features. Techsytalk Techsytalk offers a slightly unique perspective on event planning with a focus on social media and the tech savvy side with event planning. It offers tips and new on social media techniques for event planners and corporate event planning, as well as info on the latest conference app and technologies available. Whether you’re tech savvy or not staying on top of these trends is a must and the articles are quick, easy reads that are very shareable. Bizbash BizBash provides quality facts on everything from venue selection and marketing tips to party planning ideas. They offer an abundance of creative ideas you can use at your next conference while keeping you up on what’s trendy in the event world. This site is a go-to resource for the latest event planning industry news. The Meeting Pool Started by two veteran event planners who are curating great content from highly relevant and topical sources as well providing the latest on new event planning app, social media trends, event technology and everything else an event professional may need. Velvet Chainsaw’s Midcourse Corrections The information here is very useful, easy to read and engaging. Their focus is on conference planning and event education techniques. There is a wealth of strong, well researched information here and they have recently ventured beyond their scope to include topics on social media, speaker practices and general industry news. These event blogs are chock full of goodies to help both organizers and attendees get the best out of their event planning app and event going experiences but this is just the tip of the iceberg. What mobile event app marketing and planing blogs would you add to this list?
7 Reasons You Should Invest in Mobile Apps for Events The venue is booked. The invite list is prepped. But wait a second. Are you forgetting about a mobile app for your event? There are more and more reasons why mobile apps for events should be on the must-have side of your to-do list – and as consumers become more and more tech-savvy, those reasons … Continue reading “7 Reasons You Should Invest in Mobile Apps for Events” The venue is booked. The invite list is prepped. But wait a second. Are you forgetting about a mobile app for your event? There are more and more reasons why mobile apps for events should be on the must-have side of your to-do list – and as consumers become more and more tech-savvy, those reasons are more important than ever. Here’s why you should consider investing: Engage Your Attendees When you invest in a mobile event app, you’re investing in technology your invitees already use. After all, a whopping 90 percent of Americans have a cell phone, and smartphone usage is expected to rise heavily from its current 58 percent penetration rate. Simply put, event attendees are primed to use their smartphones at an event, and when you present them with one of the best mobile event applications, you get a chance to engage their attention, their time, and their dollars. Does it get much better than that? Promotion In Your Pocket A great mobile conference app is an opportunity to promote your event multiple times to your attendees – and to include sponsors in the messaging mix. When a potential attendee downloads your event planning app, they open up an entirely new promo channel … one that reaches them in their pocket whether they’re around email/snail mail or not. Tease and Please What’s an event without a bit of mystery? a mobile event app can provide a great chance to tease upcoming event highlights. You can even use them to reward those who download with exclusive perks, peeks, and program information. The result? Attendees who are engaged, excited, and primed for the event. Demystify Your Event Mystery may have its place in dinner theater, but not in other events. The best event app features act as shrewd guide to users. They can be especially useful for large conferences, narrowing down choices and providing an easy-to-use guide for attendees. Attract New Attendees With paperless conferences and mobile event apps on the rise, it’s more important than ever to be on the forefront of event technology. In fact, many attendees are attracted to events by the technology options on hand. Don’t risk losing their business to another more tech-savvy event. Mobilize and Monetize Your Sponsors What better way to supplement your event coffers than with even more opportunities for sponsorship dollars? Simply put – mobile event and conference apps are a golden opportunity for event organizers. That’s because they allow sponsors to pay for even more in-depth promotion and engagement opportunities. It’s a win-win for both parties. Bottom Line: Apps Just Plain Make Sense Still don’t think it makes sense to invest in a custom event app? Truth be told, you can’t afford not to invest in one. That’s because consumers are becoming tech-savvier every year. Are you going to risk falling off the train of progress just because you fear investing in an event app that makes your life (and the lives of your attendees) easier? We didn’t think so. Don’t take it from us – take it from the thousands of event planners and attendees who have experienced more streamline event planning and enjoyment with the help of mobile event app. If your budget doesn’t include expenditure on an app, it’s time to re-prioritize. Your next event will thank you.
Benefits of Using a Mobile Event App Meeting apps are rapidly taking over the event industry – they are ubiquitous productivity tools that help to drive connectivity and engagement with your attendees. If you are a Meeting Planner or Conference Organizer here are some tips and insight for using Meeting Apps. Generate Residual Income Enhance the event for your sponsors and give … Continue reading “Benefits of Using a Mobile Event App” Meeting apps are rapidly taking over the event industry – they are ubiquitous productivity tools that help to drive connectivity and engagement with your attendees. If you are a Meeting Planner or Conference Organizer here are some tips and insight for using Meeting Apps. Generate Residual Income Enhance the event for your sponsors and give yourself more “digital real estate” by offering sponsorships and other discount offers via the meeting app. Get Instant Feedback through Surveys Most mobile event apps have built in survey functionality enabling you to poll attendees easily and quickly both during and after the event. Communicate Information Dynamically to Attendees Meeting Apps let you update your attendees just about in real time during your event – instantly connect and communicate and no worries about email connectivity issues for/with your attendees. Extend Your Brand Meeting Apps provide a great way to brand your event by customizing your meeting app with corporate colors, logo, email contacts, social connections and links to forms. Go Green conference App affords more productivity for your business, it’s all digital, saving time and money on “old school” registration forms requiring data entry and helping to make your organizations event more green by reducing your carbon footprint. Stay Connected with Attendees Mobile event Apps are design to incorporate Twitter streams, especially if you are using hashtags for your event – and you can monitor what’s being said in real time other social networks as well. Guide Attendees in the Right Direction Most meeting apps have built in maps, the ability to customize your information; i.e. places of interest, things to do during the event, local landmarks and places of interest. Build Stronger Relationships with Attendees Your attendees are mobile ready in today’s always on digital economy. Meeting Apps ensure they are in tune with your event and connected on a 24/7 basis. Meeting Apps Drive Competitive Advantage Are your direct competitors using mobile apps? If the answer is no, then mobile app integration with your business model will definitely drive competitive advantage and help to distinguish your brand with your attendees. Using a white label event app can help you monetize all your event and conference needs. With Grupio you can get an affordable event app and maximize your efficiency from planning to promotion.
5 Reasons to Hire a Professional Event Planner We should say at the outset of this blog post we are biased as we make mobile event apps for professionals. If you are thinking about hiring a professional event planner, here are the top reasons we think you should! We should underscore that an event professional will save you time and money, even when … Continue reading “5 Reasons to Hire a Professional Event Planner” We should say at the outset of this blog post we are biased as we make mobile event apps for professionals. If you are thinking about hiring a professional event planner, here are the top reasons we think you should! We should underscore that an event professional will save you time and money, even when you factor in their fee structure. Significant Savings on Hotel and Facility Costs Event Planners are working with facilities, hotels, and venues constantly. They are well connected and have a good sense of fair marketing pricing on rooms and entertainment. They can probably negotiate a better deal than you could and still save you money in total when factoring in their fees. One should use blocks of rooms for events and book them through a professional event planner. The hotel may be willing to negotiate this fee, assuming it’s a purchase of a large block of rooms. Event Professionals Have Stellar Negotiating Skills A professional event planner has an in-depth understanding of what the cost should be for a venue at a specific time of the year, what’s a good and a great deal, and will know how competitive the overall market is for your event. Also, a savvy professional event planner is going to negotiate for and get complimentary services that will add tangible value to your event and may also know about hotel or venue upgrades and/or special promotions the venue is offering. Event Professionals Can Negotiate Multiple Deals at Once This gives them buying power that you would not have for a single event; they may also be able to bundle special promotions offered by your venue or hotel in unique ways that will save you money and improve the overall quality of your event. They can even use their own event app to help you promote your event at a low cost. In-place Relationships with Vendors An event professional has their fingers on the pulse of a local or national economy. If local, they have a read list of entertainers, speakers, specialty acts, and others to call to help make your event one of a kind. They know about some of the pitfalls when hiring other vendors and what’s reasonable: fees, services, and time and how to negotiate all. Save Time and Reduce Stress “The devil is in the details” – an event planner has a thorough understanding of requirement details. They can guide your event and tell you what’s fair and reasonable in terms of fees, delivery dates, reasonable expectations for performance, etc. Of equal importance, most professional event planners will save you time getting. They use an event planning app to put your event together. They will also have a contingency plan in place if you have any weather issues or problems with a venue or vendor. FAQ What Are the Benefits of Hiring an Event Planner? Event planners bring a wide range of benefits, including their expertise, creativity, and industry connections. They can save you time and stress, ensure a smooth and memorable event, and often help you stay within your budget. What Are the Main Reasons a Client Will Hire an Event Planner? Clients hire event planners for various reasons, such as lack of time or experience, the desire for a professionally executed event, and access to a network of suppliers. They also seek help in managing logistics, creating unique themes, and handling any unexpected issues that may arise during the event. What Is the Purpose of an Event Planner? The primary purpose of an event planner is to design, organize, and execute events that meet a client’s specific goals and requirements. This can range from weddings and corporate conferences to private parties and trade shows. Event planners take care of every detail to ensure the event runs smoothly and successfully. What Are the Pros and Cons of Hiring an Event Planner? Pros: Professional expertise and industry knowledge. Time and stress savings. Access to a network of vendors and suppliers. Creativity in event design and theme development. Budget management and cost-saving opportunities. Effective problem-solving during the event. Cons: Added cost for their services. Potential differences in creative vision. Loss of some control over the planning process. The need to communicate your preferences clearly. Why Hire an Event Planner? Hiring an event planner can make your event exceptional by ensuring it’s well-organized, on-budget, and perfectly tailored to your vision. Event planners bring professionalism, creative solutions, and peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy your event without worrying about the details. When Should You Hire an Event Planner? The ideal time to hire an event planner depends on the complexity of your event. For larger, more elaborate events like weddings and conferences, it’s advisable to hire a planner at least 8-12 months in advance. Smaller events may require 4-6 months of lead time. However, if you have a last-minute event, experienced event planners can often step in and help, even with limited time. It’s best to consult with a planner to determine the optimal timeline for your specific event.
The Value of Trade Show Mobile Apps The singular focus for most trade shows is to help company’s highlight their products and services. Trade show app can help drive deeper brand engagement for sponsors and exhibitors . The advent of Smartphones has ushered in a new digital age for trade shows. The attendees are already using 30-50 apps on average. And a … Continue reading “The Value of Trade Show Mobile Apps” The singular focus for most trade shows is to help company’s highlight their products and services. Trade show app can help drive deeper brand engagement for sponsors and exhibitors . The advent of Smartphones has ushered in a new digital age for trade shows. The attendees are already using 30-50 apps on average. And a trade show app is in most cases is a utilitarian tool. Continue reading “The Value of Trade Show Mobile Apps”
Ten Ways to Use Event Mobile Apps 1) Use Mobile event App to connect with your existing customers, which in turn lowers your marketing costs, drives near and long term engagement. 2) Make sure your speakers and presenters are using your mobile app – their contract and/or Terms of Services should be specific on this point – meaning, they can’t speak or … Continue reading “Ten Ways to Use Event Mobile Apps” 1) Use Mobile event App to connect with your existing customers, which in turn lowers your marketing costs, drives near and long term engagement. 2) Make sure your speakers and presenters are using your mobile app – their contract and/or Terms of Services should be specific on this point – meaning, they can’t speak or be a participant in your event unless they are using your mobile app platform of choice. 3) Integrate multi-day schedules (our mobile event app does this flawlessly) with your mobile event app – enabling your attendees to see what’s happening, when, where and who is presenting across all of your sessions and presentations. 4) Cross link all of your social media accounts and marketing activities with your mobile app – ensuring you get the broadest exposure possible for all of your digital touchpoints (social media accounts, blog, web site, sponsored pages, etc.). 5) Just like your speakers, make sure your exhibitors are using your mobile app and that their profiles are completely filled out and accurate within the mobile app for your event. Profiles can and should include statement about their exhibit of course, email contacts, social contacts and web site. 6) Set up your maps for the location of the event that are pre-tested prior to the event. Also include a map of the location if your event is being held in a large hotel or conference facility. Remember many of your attendees will expect these maps to be flawless. Don’t overlook double checking them for accuracy in the event planning app. 7) We underscore this point with our clients frequently! Don’t forget to use the period after your event as a marketing opportunity; surveys, feedback forms and/or requests for mentions via social media accounts can help to create post event buzz. 8) Build long term connections with your attendees by offering something of value that moves them to your web site at some point after the event. You don’t want to dilute focus during the event – this should be timed properly, with an offer that resonates with your attendees. 9) Use a conference app for logistics information that may be helpful or informative for your attendees; this can include local places of interest, transportation hubs, nearby restaurants, etc. And, these listings can also give you a way to sell sponsorships to your exhibitors as well. 10) Remember mobile apps can be a common platform for all of your attendees but make sure you integrate an event-specific hashtag as part of your event or several and some of these can be thematic in nature. #SanDiegoMPI #EventProfsSanDiego And, hashtags are no longer just for Twitter – Facebook is not integrating them with their platform.
Event Apps Make Your Organization More Competitive It’s a dog eat dog competitive world, especially for event planners who want to use event apps to make your organization more competitive. To be blunt! Event apps can help you differentiate your firm or agency from your competitors – here is our take on competitive advantage. Improve your Organizations Overall Productivity: An event app … Continue reading “Event Apps Make Your Organization More Competitive” It’s a dog eat dog competitive world, especially for event planners who want to use event apps to make your organization more competitive. To be blunt! Event apps can help you differentiate your firm or agency from your competitors – here is our take on competitive advantage. Improve your Organizations Overall Productivity: An event app can have all in one inclusive features. Using event apps frees your staff (as an example) from the boring drudgery of entering attendee registration information, trying to keep track of paperwork and event apps also make your organization greener. Build market buzz with mobile apps To drive down marketing costs – once your attendees have registered they can share the event instantly with their social media connections. Which will in turn lower some of your burdened costs for marketing the event, especially if you have some kind of viral marketing associated with your event: “get 10% for referring a friend on Facebook.” Use Event Apps to make your organization better organized and smarter An event planning app can improve your competitive advantage by making your organization more nimble. It can reduce your time to market (set up the app and connect your team and attendees). It will also force your staff to use their smartphones to stay in touch. This would improve engagement with your attendees, either via the mobile app, texting or social media accounts that are one click away from the mobile app. Drive connectivity after the event You’ve invested significant marketing dollars with your mobile app vendor and driven attendees to an online destination. Don’t stop with preloading marketing information for them prior to and during the event – use the mobile event app to connect with your attendees after the event as well. As an example, use a survey form and ask them to fill this out and Tweet a response back to you using your event hashtag to drive greater recognition for your brand. Upload presentations or link to streaming videos of your speakers and presenters after the event and make these accessible (“clickable”) via the event app. Event Apps will drive technology deeper into your organization Event app usage forces your team to (sales, customer support, IT Department) to use cutting edge technology which also makes your organization more competitive and nimble in the long run. And, you should take a hard and in-depth look at your nearest competitors to understand if they are using a conference app to make their organization more competitor – or not! Our team here at Grupio is customer service oriented and has years of experience developing mobile apps for event professionals – please reach out here via our web site or toll free number to speak with one of our knowledgeable team to understand how we can make your organization more competitive!
The Complete Guide to Mobile Apps for Events Event planners, corporations, universities and others are embracing using mobile apps for event engagement. Mobile events apps are ubiquitous for most major corporate events and are used by approximately 37% of Event Planners. Using Mobile Apps for Event Engagement Overview Using Mobile Apps for Events helps to connect your attendees with your event, each other … Continue reading “The Complete Guide to Mobile Apps for Events” Event planners, corporations, universities and others are embracing using mobile apps for event engagement. Mobile events apps are ubiquitous for most major corporate events and are used by approximately 37% of Event Planners. Using Mobile Apps for Event Engagement Overview Using Mobile Apps for Events helps to connect your attendees with your event, each other and their social media apps and accounts – driving and improving overall satisfaction for your event. Your Attendees are Mobile 24/7 you must engage with your attendees when/where they are online. Many are not even carrying laptops anymore, using their smartphones as all purpose connectivity devices. To be successful in their minds and drive engagement, your event must be mobile friendly in every sense of the word. Build an Event Brand for Your Attendees with a Mobile App you want top of mind share with your attendees. One of the best features of any conference app is its ability to make your event standout in the mind of the attendees – you building a brand with these attendees and they will remember how easy it was to connect with and leverage your event via their smartphones. Instantly Update your Attendees using Mobile Apps No more need for antiquated email for today’s on the go smartphone user! Just message them via your mobile event app with more seats open up in a session or there is a change times or rooms in your facility. Think of mobile apps as email on steroids – message them all instantly and you can even embed links to other information via your messaging. Personalize your Event with Mobile Apps e all live in an age and a time when each of us likes a “personal touch” in a way that makes the recipient feel special. Think of event planning app as a personalization tool that lets you connect to each attendee with a customized greeting or link to something that may be special or unique for them Improve How you Monetize Your Event with Mobile Apps your attendees are so busy and distracted, the greater your level of efficiency the more incremental revenue your event will generated. Meaning, sell an eBook or up sell that is embedded in your event app. Don’t make them log out go to another web site, register again and then be forced to enter in their credit card (which was captured during your registration process). Can we help you mobilize your event to drive attendee engagement? We have years of experience (small plug) helping event planners with event app and have worked with major Fortune 1K clients like Johnson and Johnson, the United Way, Novartis, Masie, Tech Data, Cognizant and many others.
What is Event Planning Software? Software automation, especially anything related to the web and/or smartphone usage is accelerating rapidly. Driven by lowered costs, ease of use and competitive forces. Event Planning Software has now gone mainstream to – every event planner or firm is using or testing some level of automation via event app or event planning software to help … Continue reading “What is Event Planning Software?” Software automation, especially anything related to the web and/or smartphone usage is accelerating rapidly. Driven by lowered costs, ease of use and competitive forces. Event Planning Software has now gone mainstream to – every event planner or firm is using or testing some level of automation via event app or event planning software to help drive more engagement with attendees, facilitate communications and/or lower costs. Event Planning Software – Core Features Automate Creating Registration Forms Let’s face it your staff and attendees are always in hurry and looking for productivity tools. Automating your registration forms really helps to save you and your attendees time – they log in and access your event and register in minutes. Trying to handle registration for events via paper is tiresome and cumbersome. Automate and streamline! Cross Promote Your Event Most of the best event app software are cloud based, enabling your company to easily cross promote your event on your own web site, social media profiles and also via the vendor’s web site – driving incremental traffic which can lower our overall event costs. Many vendors have custom widgets that can be optimized for your app. Enables Your Firm to Work More Efficiently Your staff does not have to go through the time-consumer process of collecting information from your attendees and then keying in this information into another software program. Most event organizer app softwares and/or services enable your attendees to login once, with no (other than fact checking for accuracy) other work required from your staff. Fast Track Your Attendees with Multi Track You can make your event registration process even more streamlined by using a vendor such as Cvent which gives your attendees the option to select specific themed tracks as part of their registration process. Easily Integrate Your Sponsors and Exhibitors One can solicit documents and presentations prior to your event from your Speakers, Sponsors or Exhibitors and then upload these documents with your conference app isting. Repurpose Your Current Event Easily Most event planning software vendors will let you “clone” or copy an existing event from a previous event and then modify the core template or event you created earlier. This is great productivity tool for any event planner, saving you tremendous time, especially if you host multiple events during the year with the same attendee focus. Mobilize You Event to Drive Engagement Most event planning apps and platforms are mobile ready. With approximately 30% of your registrants and attendees using smartphones, it’s critical to provide them with instantaneous registration via their smartphones. To summarize, event planning app software makes your organization more efficient, saves you money and time and conveys a much stronger image with your attendees. Be aware, there are five or six major platforms and vendors and the list is changing all of the time.