A selection of general topics for those working in the business events industry in Australia and abroad
17/12/2009 1:30:05 PM
Toruk Makto Special edition
Posts: 136
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OK I'm Back but just this time
It's not just a matter of wasting time it is security as well
If all workers computers are connected on an intranet for example and one person downloads a viras which is excecuted from a flash file or a bit of Javascript, then the whole intranet could become effected. Sure there are firewalls to go through, but companies don't want to risk it and why should they.
Youtube uses flash, however other viras based programs are executed from flash.
I have found it a little strange that if a company puts someone in charge of organising an event, that they do not allow that person to have lighter security on their computer.
I have also wondered about event connect when you go through the search form- you go to the Map of Australia and tick the area's your interested in- this is in Flash, perhaps brad could share some light on how event connect works, But I might put my security on my browser up to MAX just to see what happens- however some websites detect how secure your browser it and redirect you to a useable section of the site automatically which is what I assume event connect does.
But it is not just for time wasters, it is also for security reasons,
UPDATE
OK Putting my security up to MAX- event connect seems to detect my security and allows me to use a drop down menu form instead of the flash map thing
OKOK Last post
edited by sydney_magician on 17/12/2009
edited by sydney_magician on 18/12/2009
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17/12/2009 12:34:07 PM
AB99
Posts: 9
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Interesting points from melanietk about government and larger orgs which ban FaceBook & Twitter potentially falling behiond the smaller companies which do allow FB, Twitter etc. I'd say, "well, wake up & smell the coffee, Govt & Larger Orgs"!
And Re: "you'd have to make sure that those who have access are using it for the intended purpose", I disagree with this common concept, that such things have to be controlled. Individuals' work performance is what has to be, and what can be, controlled - trying to control possible ways of wasting time is a waste of time and a missing of the point. If someone's work is up to scratch, that's the only thing that should matter. If it's not, they need to be counselled about it. If their manager suspects it's because they're spending all their time on their personal FaceBook page, the manager should be talking to them about that as a possible reason for the poor performance. Banning access is so, like, 1968 - and not really effective management.
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17/12/2009 11:36:35 AM
Toruk Makto Special edition
Posts: 136
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OK I am back for a special edition post _ I wont be coming back after this
I think this could potentially be extremly usable and postentially powerful tool for the events industry-
Now the link below is a very very long video but wow (and developed in Sydney)
http://wave.google.com/help/wave/about.html#video
it is still being developed, but for online webinars/conferences etc
It is free, so this will probably open up the doors as many of the exhisting companies that provide large online conferences charge a small fortune (granted it is probably cheaper than putting on a live event. (It may also stuff up their own business, or they will have to make some changes)
Interesting tho
OK Thats it- good bye
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8/12/2009 9:40:59 AM
melanietk
Posts: 55
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So not only do you need social media savvy staff, you need management, or be able to work within an infrustructure (eg: govt, large corporation) that understands the need for, and delivery of, social media platforms. On top of that, you'd have to make sure that those who have access are using it for the intended purpose. If you allow Facebook access for your social media coordinator, you allow access for everyone.
The events industry is a very proactive sector so I would imagine a lot of smaller businesses (in personnel number - not influence!) would have the means and right intention to effectively use these tools, but you bring up a good point, sydney_magician, in that Government and large corporate workplaces (especially those where the 'events department' is but a small part) could potentially be losing out on the opportunity to access valuable, influential or potentially profitable information and networks. Considering the weight such organisations hold in all sectors, that could in turn be detrimental to everyone else and their effectiveness in establishing and maintaining control (especially of information) would be undermined. Pure speculation of course, it has been a little while since I worked for government, and perhaps they too have embraced the 'new wave' of Web2.0, but I think for those departments, the Good Old Fashioned Way of networking will remain their priority for a little while to come - or as was noted - it will have to be done in their own time or on their own machines.
For the immediate future (and in the world of technology, that means about 6 months) I still believe SM will be only another tool in the box for the business events industry. It is obviously getting results in a promotional and lead generation sense, but until the 'novelty' of live twitter feeds, Facebook Fan Pages and streaming video wears off, its usefulness at, or in support of, the events themselves remains to be seen, or at least integrated in a way that will revolutionise the way we work within the industry.
That's not to say I do not have hope! I am looking forward to seeing how it all fits together, how people or businesses use the technology for The Greater Good and completely wow us in to new way of thinking about the delivery of events.
ETA:
The following blog (and its interesting comments) came about because of a discussion on a LinkedIn Tradeshow group, and I thought it rather timely. It explores the impact and possible threat social media plays in live events (specifically Trade Shows): http://www.tradeshowweek.com/blog/1620000362/post/1330050733.html
Yes, I am aware the breadcrumbs of this are tinged with irony. 
edited by melanietk on 8/12/2009
edited by melanietk on 8/12/2009
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7/12/2009 10:27:01 PM
Toruk Makto Special edition
Posts: 136
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Oh No, It's me again with yet another different angle.
I think the media and Associations will benefit from effective use of social media especially Twitter as it is a fast way of getting the news out
FaceBook/micespace you could have an account with the focus of driving potential members/users to your actual site. If your customers are using facebook- then create an account,
you really don't have to do alot of editing- just wack a few widgets up online to allow your twitters and blog rss feeds to update your account without you having to do anything- if you are time poor. and you wouldn't need to hire a web developer to do this (you could create a RSS widget at widgetbox then copy and paste the code- easy and free)
Moving on....
I recently sent out an email to 2000 events industry people asking if they could view my web site, sure their was a hint of self promotion there but more so I wanted to know if people could:
1: View the video and 2: View my drop down menu system
The results scared me a little
Many people could not view the video, being flash, many company computers do not allow flash or active X Controls to work (or Javascript) for that matter, with the reason being that many virases are are ignited via flash or Active X Controls., so their for Youtube will not work- many of the Government run computers have Javascript turned off. these same people will not be able to view youtube video (or google video etc)
Worse still the menu is (or was- I did change it all) was javascript and DHTML lovely looking drop down menu- that no one could see. (It is the same for the Meetings & Events association web site- their drop down section will not work on many computers) so if a social media site has javascript as part of it's process, then there is going to be problems
So if we are to embrace social media our customers computers need to be able to view the technology, I find most home computers can view and connect to the social media, but the company computers cannot. so if the only time our customers can view social media is when they are home then this will require a different design approach than creating a full on business web site on facebook, as our customers are looking at the social media in their non work time.
hmmmm, somthing to think about
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7/12/2009 9:20:25 AM
AB99
Posts: 9
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PS, to answer Sydney Magician, I do have TweetDeck and Twhirl to get tweets as they come in, and they're pretty good - but more often than not I just log on to the twitter website and check the tweets.
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7/12/2009 9:17:45 AM
AB99
Posts: 9
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I have to disagree with the majority of the previous posts!
I can skim the tweets of those I follow with a glance that doesn't take more than a minute or two - much less time than scrolling through and opening and reading email.
We've already picked up some business deals through our twitter account, as well as interaction from interested (and relevant) business parties.
I am also planning to start a Facebook account for the association - my manager recently attended a business networking event wherein the attendance had multiplied ten times from the year prior (150 to 1500) - primarily, she was informed, through FB & Twitter.
If the person using Twitter and FB for business is already familiar with then through personal use, it's a snap. I believe use of these media for business will grow and it's just a steepish learning curve for those who don't use them personally.
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5/12/2009 10:49:14 AM
Toruk Makto Special edition
Posts: 136
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"excentric"
I'd agree with that.
My question is:
How do you people read the twitters that you are following:
Do you log in and read your twitters from other people which would take a bit of time and most of the time not worth signing in for
- or do you have a twitter reader? a simple little addon (like reading RSS Feeds) that you click and you get all the latest tweets without having to sign in and it really is as simple as clicking a button on your browser.
I have spoken to a few people as I was setting up my news site and people were not aware of the little addon, and they had to log in and find each person one by one, which to be honest took them forever and therefore didn't use it.
I have a twitter account on the topic of Trade shows- but the only people to join are people from America, which is nice and all, but pointless so I havn't used it for some time and my myspace profile got too much spam and I eventually got rid of it.
anyway sorry to chip in, I know people here think I just do a bunch of card tricks and there is nothing deeper to me. another name for excentric is creative, My mind works a little differently which can be advantageous when creating magic and thought provoking forum posts. 
edited by sydney_magician on 5/12/2009
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4/12/2009 5:16:45 PM
Batman
Administrator
Posts: 4
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HUM BUG it is that time of the year. I wonder how many employers have blocked social media websites to their employees so that they can complete the work that they are paid to do.
Twitter and tweets, facebook and face looks, and now Bizzly the Grizzly. I personaly work my full 9 hours a day (take lunch at my desk) and who be classified as "time poor". I ask who has the time to read all the volumes of information never mind reply to it.
On the other hand I like Blogs because they are topic specific and I enjoy reading the specific comments on the subject (except perhaps the excentric blogger if you know who I mean) but the information (95% trash) I get into my Face Book and the people I have never heard of that follow me on Twitter, I have no time for.
What is Bizzly going to bring to the table? It is supposed to be a combination of facebook and twitter? What will come next? How can companies that make the decision to go down the social media path ever keep up. We only have a small number of staff and could never afford to engage the services of a full time Socialmediaoligist.
I think you can keep social media to just that, SOCIAL and let business find otherways to market its produce.
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4/12/2009 2:28:36 PM
NZEVENTS
Posts: 4
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No doubt about the power of SM and I agree - it can be overwhelming and time consuming following the feeds and maintaining your presence up there in the cloud. I look at the Hollywood example where everyone who is anyone twitters and tweets daily and the tabloids and media wait drooling for every tid bit to splash over the gossip pages and airwaves for the uninitiated to digest.
Now I doubt that the humble C&I industry will ever reach the frenzied heights of the Hollywood need to know set BUT there is a C&I audience out there and where there is an audience there must be a performance and like all performances, content, timing and delivery are the key to acclaim. Therefore perform we must.
Whilst this new medium doesn't infuse the buzz and excitement of the telex machine of the 70'a or the wonderment of the fax machine in the 80's or the email sensation of the 90's, I feel it is, in no small way, akin to the daunting replacement of telephone bookings with multi access computer reservation systems. You had to go with it or become a relic. Yes, there were those who poo hooed then and there will be those who pooh hoo now but are they using email?
I am coming to terms with the fact that along with monitoring my website statistics and continually tweaking it to creep up the google rankings I have had to educate myself on html and source code so that I can run my web based marketing campaigns linked to my website with rss feeds alerting me to who has opened them and who unsubscribes whilst at the same time ensuring everything is fed to facebook and twitter which I will have to log in to later to read my followers comments and respond to their requests. This is after uploading subscriptions and enquiries from the website and before I've done any work on next weeks client event. Heavens above, and all the while run my business efficiently and profitably.
I am about to advertise a new role in my company. Twitterer Extraordinaire. Must be able to tweet, facebook, bebo, jaiku, LinkedIn, myspace, plurk, ryze, wasabi, google, bing, SMS and wiki. Entry level 300wpm or 200wpm with two thumbs. Simultaneous database and small meetings management an advantage. 100 hours per week. Salary .....
Not a silly idea methinks.
Now, back to next weeks event, where were we, ah yes guest speaker wants to change his .......
simple - get someone else to do it and stick to what you do best.
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4/12/2009 2:15:43 PM
melanietk
Posts: 55
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I am going to make a clarification. No, I don't think these mediums are going 'revolutionise' the events industry. Both corporate and public events, conferences, etc are complex beasts, with long lead times, small organisational teams, targeted or niche demographics and executed in a way that makes the impact of these type of products/applications minimal (although yes, they can be very supportive of your concept execution, as I stated below).
Unless the events are frequently reoccurring (business breakfasts, networking functions, etc), or you are marketing a fixed product (such as a venue or service provider with weekly specials, or other purchase incentives), at which point I do believe SM models can have an positive influence on marketing and sales, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter are too 'information heavy' and real-time, that prolonged or targeted campaigns get lost in the noise.
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4/12/2009 1:14:02 PM
melanietk
Posts: 55
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I've been meaning to ask very similar questions... the last issue of MICE.net had two articles on Twitter specifically, about how to use them effectively at events. Since then, I've been trying to 'study up' on how to implement Twitter, and other SM (social marketing)/Web2.0 methodologies, in event promotion and execution. Suffice to say, it takes a while to get your head around it, and I'm relatively 'tech savvy'.. or I thought I used to be!
I think it has gotten to the point of being overwhelming. There are just too many options, too many opinions, and a million experts telling us that our events are going to fail if we don't get on the SM bandwagon. It takes as much time to research the best ways to roll out these programs (and apparently, to maintain them) as it does to execute a full marketing plan... At least that seems to be the case! I think that unless you have someone on the team who is already using these techniques, or has exposure to them, it can be quite a daunting task. Best to hand it over to a business that does know how to do it.
Having said that, some events with which I am involved are slowly undertaking the SM marketing technique. Not quite as effectively as the blogs and articles claim it should be, but I can certainly see the advantage. I also see other events use it to great advantage. Conferences in particular are streaming twitter feeds and presenting material live online, creating a 'back and forth' between onsite attendees, and those present 'remotely'. I 'sat in' on #media140 a while ago, and it was interesting to see the real time interaction between the presenter on stage, and the Tweets scrolling down the web page.
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4/12/2009 12:23:24 PM
bfoster
Administrator
Posts: 56
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Is the so-called social media revolution going to revolutionise the business events community? Does Linkedin, Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and sites like our very own blog, have a place in the business events sector? How are you utilising what's available? What are your plans for the future with these applications? Is your employer open to you twittering your clients for work? Tell us what you think.
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