Cost savings is only one aspect of taking a physical event virtual. With today's “On Demand” consumer mindset, having content that is queued up and ready to go at any time of day, is fundamental.

Think of how we have changed our TV media consumption. We used to watch just what was on at the time we were ready to engage. Or we had to arrange our schedule to be home at the time of the program we wanted to see.  Now, things are On Demand. The content is saved in the cloud, and we choose the content we want, and when we want to view it. Additionally, if we really enjoy the content, we can SHARE it with others, giving it free promotion socially.

Recorded is essential to repurposing content and meeting the needs of the On Demand consumer culture.  Repurposing also supports continuous revenue streams.

Interactive: Think about Facebook Live.  We see people streaming a live video on Facebook and then we also see the recorded version later. “Your friend John Smith was live at 2:15pm today”. 

Networking: With Speed Networking paired with the video conferencing, users meet who they want and when they want, still with the capacity to see each other for full 3D communication.

Educational: With the option of viewing previously recorded sessions, attendees can now actually consume MORE sessions than they could at an in-person event.  This means more CE credits possible and more availability for people who would not normally attend the full conference.

While a virtual event may not have all that an in person event may have, it can have different things and STILL be interactive, support networking, and educational. 

Check out more from AAG Virtual Events.

I heard a great podcast today from Craig Groeschel - on his Leadership Podcast.  He interviewed Whitespace founder Juliet Funt.

I personally liked the following tidbits from the podcast:

Many times we send emails when we need to get some question answered, but the timing of WHEN we need a response is not always clear. This can lead to missed deadlines if they are too late, or work interruptions that really could have waited for those cases when a response was not urgent.

Try using Response Needed tags in email subject lines

NRQ = Need Response Quickly

NRT = Need Response Today

NRNBD = Need Response Next Business Day

Consider Messaging and Mediums

• The message content determines the kind of medium to use
• 2D -vs- 3D mediums (email/text/chat -svs- calls or face to face meetings)
• 3D medium is needed for emotions or complex problem solving
• 3D allows for tonality, inflection and facial expression to be added to the communication

Not everything requires an email. Sometimes you have the urge to send an email but if you only delayed it to review it later it may be better served in a face to face meeting or connected to another thought about that individual. Juliet suggests using a document to record your thoughts for later review. She calls it the Yellow List - a place to keep a list of thoughts and ideas for each team member for things that may NOT require an email or meeting. Then review them later to access how to communicate them best, if at all.

Get the full podcast here.

Craig has many podcasts on leadership. His moto is "Everyone wins when the leader gets better."  I agree!

Video Marketing Resource Sheet

This is a resource list from our presentation at Holiday Showcase 2017. 

Please note that these are just suggestions to get you started. We recommend you conduct your own research to buy what is best for you.

Youtube Channels

• James Wedmore

Marketing Strategist, Video Tips and Tutorials https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i16Qjm8FuT4

• Justin Odisho

Program Tutorials and Editing Tips https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM0zLnep3Nw

• Think Media

Tech Gear Reviews, Tips and Strategies Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG35xrTrzyY

Freelance Services

• Fiverr - https://www.fiverr.com/

• Upwork - https://www.upwork.com/

Tech Gear and Equipment

• Selfie Stick

• Phone Tripod

• Basic Camera Tripod

• DSLR Camera with Lens

• Rode Mic

• Snoball Mic

• iPhone Lavalier Mic

• Softbox Lights

Online Resources

Rawshorts

Make your own explainer videos https://www.rawshorts.com/

AudioJungle

Royalty Free Music

https://audiojungle.net

VideoHive

Stock Videos and Templates https://videohive.net

Youtube Tutorials

• How to Film + Edit on Your Smartphone

• How to Shoot an Interview

• Best Cheap Microphones, Lighting, and Low Budget Cameras for YouTube

• How to Make Better Marketing Videos on Youtube

Online Articles

• How to Start Using Video in Your Marketing

• 10 Ways and 4 Reasons to Start Video Marketing on a Budget

• How to Get Started With Video Marketing

• 50 Delightfully Simple Video Content Ideas for Your Online Business

Video Topics

• Case Studies

• About Your Org

• Experiences of Members

• Advice … (series)

• Interview the Expert

• Dialogue Video (between experts)

• Live Event Behind the Scenes

• Simple Promotional Videos

• Educational Topics

• Explainer Videos

• New Programs

• Thank You

• Call to Action

For more info contact us at info@apps4meetings.com

Recently Apple updated their review guidelines, saying they wanted to reduce the number of "junk apps" in the app store.

It is worth noting that this new effort to reduce "copy apps" from Apple, will be helped by associations who create year round, 365 apps like many of our clients.  When an app contains year round content, it tends to look different from other apps.  I think this will make a strong case to keep 365 apps in the face of the new guidelines. 

If it gets down to tossing out event apps, there is going to be a big change in the association / event world that will affect everybody.  For now, I think this may affect the truly low cost apps that someone can "build yourself" from a website with no customer support.

We at AAG make strong efforts to work with the client to make each app have a unique branding and content.  We want to provide more than plug n play software, we want to provide a rich content experience for the end users, the members and event attendees.  That can only happen when we partner with the association staff to create something unique and meaningful to their members.

If you have questions or comments, contact me. Dan@apps4meetings.com +1.847.512.4412

We have been preparing a presentation for our webinar on gamification next month, so the topic was on my mind.  This morning I was surprised to see a game on the back of my Honeycomb cereal (yes I'm still eating kids cereal once in a while). Actually I was not too surprised to see a game. In the past they've had activities like a maze or Where's Waldo game. But now they have jumped on board the Social Meda and engagement train. "Its not about what you do, it's how you make it yours", is the heading on the back of the box.  "RU Honeycomb 2 UR Core?", they ask. They specifically call out to skateboarders, music lovers and gaming. They give examples of the kinds of posts you could make.  Highest number of cereal pieces stacked, unusual foods to eat the cereal with.  They suggest posting a video to show "what makes you an original, like Honeycomb."  Brilliant! 

Crowdsourcing allows business to take innovation and creativity to a new level by collecting information from hundreds of minds and varied experiences. It allows anyone to contribute their ideas leaving race, gender, social standing, out.. There are a plethora of ways to utilize crowdsourcing for your next association conference that will engage your crowd and keep them talking after it ends.

Recently at a "event wrap up" meeting, which we do after most client events, we recevied some very helpful feedback. We listened, we planned, and we reviewed. We brainstormed on how to make things better for next year.  We planned a few new features and the client learned a thing or two.

When a volunteer is working really hard on a program or for an organization, it is important to be recognized for work well done.  Awards Programs provide an opportunity to recognize volunteers and organizations that go above and beyond. Thanking organization members not only encourages them to continue working hard, it gives a sense of place within the organization.  Awards programs are something members can look forward to each year. It inspires one to push beyond what they believe they are able to do.  Leaders also see the effort made, allowing members to further their organizational objectives.

Mentoring has become increasingly popular with associations recently.  The basic premise is to “match up” the experienced with the novice to exchange ideas, guide and even challenge each to grow beyond their current limits. Some groups are moving past informal to formalized programs and even going hi-tech in the process of matching.

It is a term often heard recently for those getting new office space, we are moving to a “collaborative work space”.  This was the conversation recently at a business event.  One person was relating to the others in the group about her new office space.  It sounds new, hip and evokes a sense of cutting edge.  Another person made the comment that those “collaborative environments” don’t seem so collaborative when workers put on the earbuds or headsets and “tune out” the people around them.