Webinar for One

QRCombo Supports Acquisition for Women of Color Leadership Conference

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 by Mark Rice

One of our #qrchat colleagues took advantage of our QRCombo offer and created a QR code for her client, Spelman College. Webinar Resources reached out to SocialMMMDiva and worked with their social media team to further enhance the user experience for the QRCombo code produced for the Eighth Annual Spelman's College Women of Color Leadership Conference. You can scan the QR code to see the results.

The QRCombo code was published in the May issue of Black Enterprise Magazine. We are pleased to have supported this prestigious event. We have pinned the QRCombo code to our Pinterest site - http://pinterest.com/mobilemrice/qrcombo/

QRCombo is a unique QR code application that integrates mobile video content with mobile lead generation. The Spelman College QRCombo code launches a Brainshark presentation with embedded video and a Facebook page on the second scan. Tracking of the QRCombo scans is delivered through a personalized ExactTarget landing page. QRCombo is built on the MobExMe platform to support delivery of relevant content through reliable channels.

Scan the Green - QRSlot - QR Codes Lead to a Pot of Golden Opportunity

Friday, March 16, 2012 by Mark Rice

Just in time for St. Patty's Day, Webinar Resources releases a new use case that proves QR codes applications are only limited to your imagination. QRSlot engages the viewer to scan a green shamrock QR code that invokes a clever slot machine simulation that displays combinations of popular social media icons. Get three in a row and you win a free QRCombo code.

QRCombo was recently announced and is a unique application that combines to destinations into one QR code. Use QRCombo for mobile lead generation, charitable giving, event promotion and many more applications. You can see a sample of QRCombo codes on our Pinterest site - http://pinterest.com/mobilemrice/qrcombo/

Are ye feelin' lucky laddie? Play QRSlot and win a QRCombo code that will start you on your search for a pot of golden opportunity.

Anyone Can Create a QR Code

Friday, February 24, 2012 by Mark Rice

I received a comment today that anyone can create a QR Code. Yes, but not everyone can create and deliver a successful user experience behind the QR Code that will bring back visitors. Planning, preparation, testing and delivery combined with a relevant "call-to-action are key elements for successful execution. Even major corporations make mistakes when they dip their feet into QR Codes for the first time.

This is part of our discussion that has continued on the LinkedIn Group "QR Codes - Great Ideas". It began with the article published by @Mashable a week ago - "Why QR Codes Won't Last". Many of us in the QR Code community have spoken up this week to educate readers that QR Codes are in an early adoption stage in the U.S. It is not time to declare death to QR Codes as clever entrepreneurs and inventors continue to come up with new and exciting innovations. We just launched QRCombo, an application that combines two destinations into one QR Code - http://mobexme.com/QRCombo

If you search tweets using the words "QR Code", you will see many creative use cases for QR Codes nearly every week. The #qrchat group that meets every Sunday evening (7:00 pm Central) is always reviewing the week's clever and creative QR Code campaigns. You can see some other great sample use cases for QR codes in this on-demand presentation our our partner, Brainshark, recently produced - "Brainshark and QR Codes".

From my perspective, the best user experiences are the ones designed for multi-smartphone users from two (Scandinavian Airlines "Buckle Up for 2") to a community (Dayton, Ohio Scavenger Hunt). QR Codes were designed to connect the offline to the online world but they can also connect a community that will follow your brand. Participation of communities is where the greatest penetration and impact can be made for QR Code adoption and that is where we focus our services to help our customers to share and build their brand.

Want to learn more, do more and provide more experiences with QR Codes? Host a Mobile Media Made Easy workshop for your group, company or association. Visit http://mobex.me/mmmelearn to contact us at Webinar Resources and schedule a session.

Four Essential Elements to Keep QR Codes Alive

Saturday, February 18, 2012 by Mark Rice

Constant comments and articles that "QR Codes are dead" seem to keep sprouting up. I came home from work last night and the first thing my son said to me was, "Dad, QR Codes are dead". He heard it on Facebook as did thousands of others after retweeting and reposting a recent OP-ED article http://mashable.com/2012/02/15/qr-codes-rip/ posted on the Mashable Tech blog. I was very surprised by the author's reasoning but not surprised by the comments received from a community of supportive QR Code enthusiasts and experts. QR Codes dead? Nothing could be further from the truth.

QR Codes were developed by Denso Wave, a Japanese company that originally produced them for Toyota in 1994. I first encountered a QR Code printed on a banner advertising Ralph Lauren's Polo brand at the US Open in 2008.

QR Code scanning has dramatically increased in the U.S. in the last two years and recent research by ScanLife indicates a 300% growth in 2011 over 2010 - http://blog.scanlife.com/tag/qr-codes/. Recent research from Chadwick Martin Bailey indicates that 1 out of 5 people who have scanned a QR code, have also made a purchase - http://blog.cmbinfo.com/bid/73238/The-Facts-Marketers-Need-to-Know-Before-Using-QR-Codes With 20+ million people scanning QR Codes, I would say that is a market opportunity.

So, here are four essential elements that I believe marketers, enthusiasts and consumers should consider to keep the QR Code crops growing and flourishing.

Education

Like any new process or idea, it is important to educate people on what a QR Code is, how it can be used and what value it delivers when scanned. Always include some instruction and direction when you are using QR Codes. The consumer needs to be guided through the "pitch to the package" (tell them where to get a QR Code reader, how to scan the QR code and what they will receive when they do). Marketers, follow groups that meet online to discuss mobile technologies and learn what works and doesn't work. I join a group of experts on a Twitter chat, #qrchat, every Sunday evening.

Utilization

You can find many great use cases and applications related to QR Codes. However, "plan before the scan". Determine your goal, Identify your target audience, plan how you wish to reach them and include a "call-to-action" (CTA). Some of the most popular CTAs are coupons, discounts, free tickets and video content. The reason many people claim QR Codes are dead, is related to the poor user experience that many marketers have created while experimenting with QR Codes. Many QR Codes still direct the viewer to a company homepage (that is not optimized for mobile viewing). Plan a memorable and actionable user experience and your visitors will spread the word and return.

Innovation

I have seen some great QR Code applications lately and they go beyond the traditional scan to a mobile web page/video scenario. Some smart marketers are learning that QR Codes can be more interactive and are developing some very clever and successful campaigns. Scandinavian Airlines recent "Couple Up to Buckle Up" QR Campaign required two people to sit down and plan a trip together. As each partner scanned their own QR code, a split video of a young man on one phone moved towards the women on the next.

Our company, Webinar Resources, recently launched QRCombo, a QR Code application that combines two destinations into one QR Code. There are other innovations on the horizon and you will see QR Codes included in a multi-channel mix -- web, email, SMS, social and print. Innovation will keep QR Codes alive, fun and profitable.

Communitization

Marketers are learning more about the power and influence of a community that can essentially like or unlike your brand in seconds. QR Codes are an ideal way to reach out to communities and connect people. The city of Dayton, Ohio, recently launched a Scavenger Hunt that included the use of QR Codes. When communities start engaging in activities that involve QR Codes, adoption of their use will happen much faster.

Summary

Four essential elements, education, utilization, innovation and communitization will be required to keep QR Codes alive. Each of these elements are building blocks for the others. Look at the structure of a QR Code. It is basically made up of a series of different building blocks, like Legos (they have an application too). We need to work together to strategize, plan and execute successful QR Code campaigns that people will remember, revisit and recycle into new innovations that will be building blocks for future marketing, selling and learning opportunities.

Free 10-day Trial and Launch of QRCombo

Tuesday, February 14, 2012 by Mark Rice

Today Webinar Resources announced QRCombo^TM, a QR code capture process that accelerates and combines delivery of mobile marketing communications with quick lead response.

Existing QR code generators provide one destination for delivering a variety of mobile content but lack the ability to provide a two-step action that is necessary to capture leads. QRCombo adds another layer of “quick response” by combining both processes into one QR Code. Self-produced or professional mobile video content can now be linked to popular lead capture forms generated from cloud applications such as Salesforce, ExactTarget, Marketo, Eloqua and PayPal Mobile.

The Florida Wildlife Foundation has linked a short animated video with their PayPal mobile page using QRCombo. They plan to print the QRCombo code on business cards, brochures and outdoor panels to communicate their appeal for supporting the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network (FYCCN). During the video, the viewer is prompted to "rescan" the QRCombo code if they wish to support the FYCCN programs through a donation.

Webinar Resources offers a FREE 10 Day trial of the QRCombo application. To learn more about QRCombo, visit http://mobexme.com/QRCombo to see live applications or to start the Free 10 day trial.

Connect with Your Partner and Share the QRLove

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 by Mark Rice

Everyone knows it takes two to complete a couple, two to tango, two to make a connection and two to make a pair. This Valentine's Day Webinar Resources invites all smartphone users to make that special connection, have a little fun and make QRLove.

It's mobile media made easy and all you need is a partner, a smartphone and a visit to our http://mobexme.com/QRLove site to get the fireworks started. We know that everyone does not carry the same smartphone or have the same mobile service, but we know you will enjoy this concept to connect in a special way. It is also a demonstration of our abilities to connect two mobile videos through one QR Code.

Make sure you visit http://mobex.me/madeQRLove and share your experience afterwards. We want to know how many ways people can make QRLove. It is not as delicious as chocolate covered strawberries but it will bring your close to someone special in your life.

Enjoy!

QR Codes, Kids Like Them Too!

Friday, January 13, 2012 by Mark Rice

Yes, even kids are scanning QR Codes, which means that kids are carrying smartphones. We found evidence of this in our local produce store this week.

Previously, we noticed that Chiquita was labeling their bananas with a QR code that led to their "Ultimate Banana Recipe Contest" http://qrs.ly/r712oo2. Last week, my son walked into the produce store and noticed that the Dole brand of bananas had a QR Code on them. The QR code was also part of a label with one of the Alvin and the Chipmunks characters on it. (We purposely made the QR Codes blurry in this picture out of respect for Dole's campaign and the goodness of the banana.)

When my son went up to the counter with a bunch of Dole bananas, the merchant mentioned that kids were lifting the labels off the bananas and taking them with him.   As my son is "QR-aware", he relayed to the merchant that the QR Code pointed to a Chipwreck ringtone site when scanned.   There is apparently a different ringtone offered every day.   So this was the reason kids were taking the labels off the bananas.

Then my son demonstrated how to scan the QR Code and brought up the Chipwreck site where kids can download a ringtone.   This was a very clever QR application and was clearly targeted toward a younger generation or the parents of young children.

Could the use of QR Codes for Kids be a trend for marketers? We, at Webinar Resources, predict that you will see a lot more applications like this one to attract kids.   We implemented a QR Code magic ticket for our MyChristmasBook application in 2010. Children in Japan are already scanning QR Codes as a game, but QR Codes were started in Japan in the mid 90's. There is more to come and more to learn in managing the multi-channel mix. http://mobex.me/munk

A Tale of Two Webinars -- Growing Daily Views of your Replays

Thursday, January 5, 2012 by Mark Rice

On December 7th, Webinar Resources produced a webinar with guest speakers, Jay Wilder from Brainshark and Tom Scontras from Glance Networks.   The "Mobile Media Made Easy for Marketing, Selling and Learning" webinar was a great success in many ways.

As the content was focused on mobile, we decided to use Glance Network's new mobile screen sharing application as our webinar platform.   We set up a hashtag #WebWedDay so the attendees could interact with the presenters.   Attendees were able to join the webinar via smartphones and tablets in less than 5 seconds. There was no download required and even Mac users experienced no issues in joining the webinar.

The QR code above was configured to launch our Glance webinar session.   Once the QR Code was scanned, the attendee entered their contact information and immediately joined the webinar.   Glance provides a Salesforce integration as well so we were able to capture attendees at the webinar "on the fly" who did not register previously.

The same QR Code now points to a replay of Tom Scontras' (Glance Networks) presentation at our Webinar Wednesday event. You can also visit http://mobex.me/1207 to view the replay.

Which brings us to the next best practice.   We divided the webinar into two replays as the content provided by each speaker covered great content that could be a separate learning module.

This QR Code launches a replay of Jay Wilder's (Brainshark) presentation - http://mobex.me/1207b

We repurposed the great intro by our moderator, Peter Muir, President of Bizucate and added it to the beginning of both replays. We also posted both replays to the Brainshark Learning Content Network to share with others.

Since we have posted the two replays, I have received viewing notifications daily. One webinar became two great learning modules which will continue to help educate, motivate and grow opportunities for the viewers.

Visit our event landing page to learn more. You can also view the entire webinar on your mobile device by texting replay to 88769.

People like to share - make it easy for them! Part I

Friday, September 16, 2011 by Carolyn Hasenfratz

While browsing through some recent news articles about how people use the Internet, I learned some interesting things. One study by the Pew Research Center has found that half of all adults in the U.S. now use social network applications. Another study by Wistia indicates that 64% of workers in the U.S. find video content compelling enough that they can't resist watching it at work - 42% even report watching it on their mobile devices in the bathroom! I shudder to think of what the implications are for productivity in the workplace at a time when we badly need to be stronger economically - but that's not the most interesting aspect of the findings to me.

Obviously many people find video content to be very compelling. Why is that so? The Wistia study shows that the #1 reason people are so drawn to video content is that it's easy to share - not what I would have guessed, but when you put that statistic together with the fact that half of all adults in the U.S. are involved with social media, it makes sense. The applications delivering the videos, such as Brainshark or YouTube, have built-in sharing capabilities that are very easy to use and the heavy involvement in social network applications means that there are lots of people available to share favorite content with.

If you own a web site, what does this information mean to you? I think you should add some video content to your multi channel marketing mix if it's appropriate - Webinar Resources can help you create, propagate and promote multimedia through many channels including mobile devices if you need guidance. I also think it's a good idea to make the other content on your web site easy to share. Stay tuned for Part II where I'll show you some examples of how to add social sharing capabilities to your web pages.

Webinar Resources Announces New Web Site Designed for Businesses Marketing on Route 66

Monday, June 20, 2011 by Carolyn Hasenfratz

Sell66Stuff.com sticker at Cadillac Ranch in Texas

Normandy, Missouri - June 20, 2011 - Webinar Resources is proud to announce the launch of a new web site, Sell66Stuff.com. The web site is designed to help businesses market their products along historic Route 66. Listings in the directory for retailers, wholesalers and event promoters who want to sell products on Route 66 are free of charge, and can include a photo and a link back to the business web site. Paid ad space is also available on Sell66Stuff.com.

Carolyn Hasenfratz, Creative Director of Webinar Resources and a fan of Route 66 for a dozen years now, thought of the idea for Sell66Stuff.com while exhibiting Route 66 themed rubber stamps at the 2010 International Route 66 Festival that took place in June of that year in Quawpaw, Oklahoma. "Another vendor asked me if I could recommend other upcoming events with opportunities for selling Route 66-related merchandise," says Carolyn. "I knew there were many calendars available online for events on Route 66, but none that were designed specifically to make it easy for vendors to find suitable exhibition opportunities that attract Route 66 enthusiasts and those who enjoy historic highways, Americana and car culture. On the drive home, I thought about creating such an events directory and adding to it a section for retailers and a section for wholesalers so that anyone trying to sell products on Route 66 can find the right outlets for their merchandise. Many retailers on Route 66 report that one-third to one-half of their customers are from outside the United States. That creates a great opportunity for business people in our country to expose their products to a wider audience."

Sell66Stuff.com is also designed to help stores find interesting merchandise to help diversify and differentiate their offerings. "I've been told that travelers on Route 66 have complained about seeing the same merchandise in the same several stores they initially encounter, and that causes them to stop less frequently as they proceed down the road. That is very unfortunate, because Route 66 is a magnet for creative people. There are entrepreneurs, artists and craftspeople busy creating unique merchandise that could find more buyers if it was available in the right places."

Because they often contain gift shops, lodging and dining establishments are encouraged to join the directory. The inclusion of restaurants opens up opportunities to those who sell food and drink, not just special Route 66 themed products, but any food and drink that restaurants need for the tourists who stop in. Also, "Even though they don't always sell "Stuff", I'm allowing performing artists to participate, because so many of the dining and drinking establishments that are good candidates for the directory also hire live entertainment," says Carolyn.

"Route 66 means a lot of different things to different people - one of the roles Route 66 has played from its birth is to be a road of commerce. In that tradition one of the goals of Sell66Stuff.com is to make a contribution to the overall economic health of the Route 66 corridor." An ardent preservationist, Carolyn hopes that leveraging the economic potential of Route 66 will ensure that more historic sites will remain for future tourists to enjoy. "One of the things that makes me saddest is waste," Carolyn says. "If preservation projects languish because of lack of money or are never started in the first place because people aren't aware of the potential a historic site has, that is a waste and a loss for all of us."

QR Codes - a New Way to View Mobile Webinar Trailers

Tuesday, June 14, 2011 by Mark Rice

QR codes bridge the print and mobile worlds and have opened another channel to communicate content and reach a wider audience.   QR Codes, like the one to the left, can be used to launch mobile webinar trailer content that we produce in the Brainshark rich media platform.

A webinar trailer is a short, multi-media, promotional invitation that is distributed to potential registrants over the web.   With QR codes, we add print media to our multi-channel mix.   Email, web, mobile, social and print are now avenues for reaching and acquiring potential webinar registrants.

We used to think that webinar trailers communicated content at the speed of light.   QR codes are accessed through the speed of the camera shutter and the light sensors built into your smartphone.   Now we are acquiring webinar registrants at the speed of light with QR Codes.

You can access the webinar trailer at http://mobex.me/webwed.

Produced by Webinar Resources through Compendium's email to post feature.
Blending the Best to Build Your Business

QR Codes Big Hit at Route 66 Festival

Monday, June 13, 2011 by Mark Rice

Visitors to our booth at the 2011 International Route 66 Festival in Amarillo, TX., got a "kick" when they scanned QR Codes for giveaway prizes. One of the favorite prizes was our Sell66Stuff QR Code decal (proudly displayed in the picture).

We hear there is a motorcyclist barrelling down the Mother Road with our decal proudly displayed on his hog. If you see this road warrior, let us know.

Learn more about Print and mobile. Register for our June 22nd webinar at - http://mobex.me/wwreg. Produced by Webinar Resources.

Make it Stick on Route 66

Friday, June 10, 2011 by Mark Rice

Webinar Resources is excited to announce our support for the launch of the Sell66Stuff.com website.   Sell66Stuff is being launched at the 2011 International Route 66 Festival in Amarillo, TX this week.

Sell66Stuff is designed to provide a web presence for any business that wishes to post their product or service on the website.   Simple listings of businesses are free. Businesses can also purchase more space to post their ads, embed mobile, multi-media content and even have ad content designed for them. Sell66Stuff is a great portal to reach out to other Route 66 businesses, enthusiasts and anyone driving the historical highway.

The QR code above launches a mobile media ad sample. QR codes (Quick Response) are named appropriately as they are "quickly" being adopted by many B2C and B2B businesses.   You will find QR codes in magazine ads, billboards, buses, business cards, direct mail, in-store displays, posters, and on decals (as the one shown above).

If you do not have a smartphone or QR Code reader, you can visit http://mobex.me/66stuffdecal.

How do print media and QR Code mix? Learn more at our upcoming webinar - "Blending Print and Mobile to Deliver Engaging Experiences"- Webinar Wednesdays June 22nd, 1:00 -2:00 pm Central. Scan the QR code below our see our announcement below this blog.

Learn how to make your message stick with QR codes. At Webinar Resources, we "make mobile media easy" ^SM

Scan the Green - QR Codes to Promote St. Patty's Day

Monday, March 21, 2011 by Mark Rice

It may be a wee bit late, but we wanted to share our "Scan the Green" QR Code campaign that we planned and executed to promote one of our favorite local St. Louis restaurants, Oscar's Cafe. We created a mobile-friendly version of the St. Patty's Day menu on an ExactTarget landing page and included a short Brainshark presentation with a greeting from the owner of the restaurant.

Scan the Green #QRCode at Oscars Cafe and Webinar Resources

Scan the Green #QRCode at Oscars Cafe and Webinar Resources

Carolyn Hasenfratz, Creative Director of Webinar Resources and the Scan the Green button.

The waitresses showcased big green "Scan Me" buttons and posters were put up in the doorway and inside of the restaurant. It was a fun way for patrons and staff to have fun with QR Codes and promote the restaurant. Everyone who scanned the QR Code went home with contact information about Oscars Cafe on the smartphones. With Google Analytics and Brainshark reporting, we were able to track when the QR Code was scanned, which smartphone and carrier was used and how many times the Brainshark presentation was viewed. The event was a great way to introduce QR Codes and demonstrate our "best of blend" solutions and services at Webinar Resources.

Why Small Businesses Should Engage in Content Marketing

Wednesday, January 19, 2011 by Carolyn Hasenfratz

I've been a passionate advocate of and participant in content marketing for many years, but I know why it can seem like a daunting strategy to a small businesses. You the small business owner already have a lot of hats to wear - now you have to be a publisher too? Here are some reasons why you might consider doing just that.

Large companies have an advantage in many areas of advertising, such as television, print, and big trade shows because those channels require significant investments of money. However in many ways, small businesses can compete with big ones when it comes to content marketing. How is this possible?

I watched the Compendium webinar replay "Content & Social Search Strategies" and learned some very interesting things. For one thing, to get the most out of content marketing, you have to get your SEO, Social, Content, Email Marketing and PR people to communicate with each other. In many large companies this does not happen. But in a small business, these people may be on the same team or may even be the same person, so it's much easier to come up with a strategy that makes sense and can be implemented quickly.

Many companies spend more on distributing their content than they do on creating content. This is not necessary because of all the free or low-cost online options available. Distribute your content via blog and social media in your multi channel mix and cut distribution costs drastically. Put your resources into creating good content instead - if you publish it in the right places, people will find it.

That is where search comes in. A lot of money is spent on pay-per-click advertising. Well, if you don't have a lot of money to spend on PPC, take heart - according to the webinar replay, 88% of clicks are on organic search results, and organic search results are very dependent on content. And when potential customers search, it's usually for a product, not for a retailer. Why not let the big companies create demand for a product with expensive ads and then win the sale yourself by winning the search? Yes it's very difficult to rank high on short search terms but guess what? Long search terms that are very much in your reach have the best results anyway - the more specific the search, the better the conversion rate. It's nice to be the one with the advantage in the customer acquisition process now and then, isn't it?

Mobile Content Creates New Avenues for Social Media

Wednesday, October 27, 2010 by Mark Rice

Webinar Resources has been producing the monthly webinar replays for Compendium. This repurposed marketing content has created new value to Compendium as we now produce mobile replays of Compendium's webinar.

Megan Glover, Marketing Manager at Compendium, recently made a blog post about our services at: http://blogging.compendiumblog.com/blog/blogging-with-purpose/0/0/repurposing-marketing-content. As Megan points out, "Understanding how your audience wants to receive and digest information is critical to your customer acquisition strategy. Mobile is just one avenue to communicate to these prospects."

As our mobile replay content can be viewed on many popular mobile devices, links to our mobile replay can be inserted into many social media sites. Mobile content adds another exciting and engaging element to your Multi-Channel Mix. You can learn more about our Mobile Replay solution at: http://mobex.me/now.

Put a Webinar in your pocket!

Thursday, October 7, 2010 by Mark Rice

Last night I pulled out my iPhone and listened to the mobile replay of the June 10th webinar with Compendium and ExactTarget that was recorded by Webinar Resources. I wanted to review the content that Joel Book, at ExactTarget, covered related to Scotts Lawn Care.   As I listened, Joel reconfirmed our strategy to adopt Compendium's "Web to Post" feature to invite our webinar participants to "tell their story" on how they use multi-channel marketing to build their business.

I put my iPhone into my holster and listened to Joel speak about the compelling reasons to engage your Facebook fans in additional conversations by allowing them to "tell their story" through a simple form that updates your company blog content.

The audio of the mobile replay became valuable new content as it reconfirmed Webinar Resources' decision to adopt Compendium's "Web to Post" feature to reach out to our Webinar Wednesday participants and allow them to "tell their story".   You will hear and see more of this capability in the coming weeks.

With Mobile Replay, you can play streaming on-demand presentation content on many mobile devices. Mobile Replay is a valuable sales and marketing tool that can stream relevant and recent product/service information to your sales team, partners and prospects..

A good friend used to share some favorite sayings from her country upbringing.   One of them was "That's as handy as a pocket on a shirt."   She couldn't have said it any better.  Mobile Replay is "Content On-Hand and On-Demand".    Put a mobile replay in your pocket the next time you get ready for a sales call. Listen, learn and lead the conversation about your products and services that your company can provide for you with Mobile Replay.

Phase 4: Post-Event Efforts and Outcomes

Wednesday, September 15, 2010 by Peter Muir

A quick review of the 4 Planning Phases of Successful Events includes:

Phase 1: Planning
Phase 2: Pre-Event Efforts
Phase 3: Event Delivery
Phase 4: Post-Event Efforts and Outcomes

From the beginning of our webinar series on hosting more successful events I've been driving home that a successful event isn't just about "butts in seats." There can be larger, more targeted objectives you and your organization can reach with the right planning and execution.

I'm a firm believer that Planning and Pre-Event Efforts at the start of your event can make your event more successful and run more smoothly...but it's the Post-Event Efforts that not only can bring closure to the event but also can be your way of connecting in an ongoing way and measuring your ongoing success.

Your Post-Event Efforts can help you keep the ball rolling between you and your targeted audience. It gives you the chance to thank the attendees (event those who didn't' attend), share important points from the event you wanted to make sure they got out of it and provide an ongoing relationship builder that keeps you and them in contact in the future.

Whether it's audio only, video web conferencing or face to face meetings, your Post-Event Efforts are very similar. Depending on the goal of your events your post event efforts should be part of your customer acquisition process or a customer service effort to keep key customers. It could be about seeking more donations or educating donors on how to take better care of themselves. The event itself was a chance for you to connect and share valuable content.

After the event is over you can use multi channel marketing techniques to stay in touch with those who attended. Email, phone calls, direct mail, social networking applications, face to face follow ups and more are all tools you can use in your multi channel mix. Find out which channel(s) your attendees prefer and use that channel to follow up.

Thank those who attended, share resources used in the event, give them a chance to evaluate the event and provide future event ideas and stay connected with them going forward. Continue the connection you started before your event, furthered by your event and fuel the conversations with relevant follow up tools that will maintain and strengthen the conversations as you go forward.

Remember to keep in mind three audiences: those who came, those who wanted to come (registered) but couldn't make it and those who weren't interested. Each is an opportunity to follow up and each has their own set of priorities you can assign to them.

We've been using on demand presentation recordings of our webinars as a great follow up technique to our events. These condensed replays gives us something to share and talk about with our prospects and customers. We've even created more effective landing pages that display relevant and personalized content for each of the attendees! We also have enabled "mobile replays" of the webinars that can be viewed on many smartphones. What will be some of the more memorable post-event efforts you'll use? We will soon give you the opportunity to contribute to this blog to "share your story". In the meantime, feel free to post your comments to this blog.

Do you have another process you use to plan and execute more effective events? I'd really like to hear about them.

Events are just one of the many ways we can do business. Be sure to explore the multi-channel mix for more ways for you and your customers to be successful.

Peter Muir
President, Bizucate Inc.
www.bizucate.com
pmuir@bizucate.com

Design Influences Perception

Tuesday, August 24, 2010 by Carolyn Hasenfratz

The 2003 book "The Substance of Style" by Virginia Postrel presents a lot of interesting points about aesthetics in our time and makes the case that our current culture places even more importance on the outward design of things as opposed to just the function than ever before. Design can steer you toward a certain product and can add to ones enjoyment of the item once the decision to purchase has been made. I know one reason why I'm holding on to my cell phone from 2004 when phones are available now that do many more things - I like the way it looks and I like the weight and the way it feels in my hand better than newer phones.

If Postrel is correct, the increased importance of aesthetics to us means that the bar has been raised about what we expect as consumers. Good design is no longer only for the affluent. Have you noticed how even discount brands are giving themselves makeovers? Last September I was in a McDonald's restaurant in Amarillo, Texas where I actually took pictures of the interior because I liked the design so much - there was light wood, metal, abstract art and Eames-designed wallpaper and upholstery patterns! Target has been noticed and praised for the sophisticated design of it's products and advertising for many years now - I noticed my local Wal-Mart is not only starting to carry products with a similar look, the store is also in the middle of remodel with a redesign of the facade to give it a more sophisticated, asymmetrical appearance. It's no longer enough to offer low-priced goods and put them in a plain big box.

Well-designed business identity pieces and multi channel marketing pieces such as web sites, letterhead, logos, emails, webinar replays, on demand presentations and the like used to be something that lifted a business above the competition. Now good, sophisticated design is a basic necessity if you want to even swim in the same pool as your competitors. Here is a great quote from "The Substance of Style" - "The notion now that a corporation of any size would have the CFO's wife design the annual report is ludicrous... But they did in the sixties." Your products might be just as good or better than your competitors, but consumers won't know it unless their first impression of you is as good or better than your competitors. It may not be right, but it's part of human nature, and ignoring it is risky!

Who is in control of your online reputation?

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 by Carolyn Hasenfratz

Several years ago I started a web site called John's Modern Cabins News as a personal project. The purpose of this site is to help along historic preservation efforts on Route 66, on of my personal passions. To that end, the site contains preservation news, suggested actions, a directory of promotional resources, and a free directory for historic businesses on Route 66 to help them get more exposure and thus stay vital and open.

I've recently relaunched the site because I have added an online form provided by Webinar Resources to make it easier for business owners to send me their information if they want to be in the directory. To promote the relaunch one of the things I'm doing is sending postcards to businesses that I think would be appropriate for inclusion. For some of the businesses I've have to search online for their street address - while doing that I noticed something interesting.

Quite a few of the businesses I searched for have web sites, but their web sites did not always come up first in the search results. In many cases review web sites such as Trip Advisor were the first result shown. Why would review web sites be first in the search results over the businesses' own web site?

One possible reason is that the nature of review sites is that they have a lot of content that is frequently updated. Search engines are known to favor such sites. Also, the more incoming links a site has, the more search engines will like it. A high profile site such as Trip Advisor is likely to have a lot of incoming links, so in order for a site to rank above it, a number of incoming links are needed to stay competitive. You don't necessarily need more links than Trip Advisor, but you need enough for your incoming links plus other factors such as your title tags and site content to lift your site above the review sites.

Why is this important? Well, some of the reviews I read of the businesses I was searching for were not favorable. If someone reads a negative review before they even get to see your web site, that is bad news. There is no guarantee that the reviews are fair either. I read some reviews of businesses that I've patronized myself that in no way reflect my own experience.

Because you can't control what other people say about you, you have to take charge of your own online reputation. Search for your own business name if you haven't for awhile to see what people are saying about you. Be visible in as many channels as possible by strategically planning your multi channel mix. Make use of social network applications in addition to your own web site. Take advantage of every free link you can get. Push those review sites farther down the page so that people can at least get a good first impression of you before they read something negative!