Disqus - Latest Comments for BusyEventGuy

Re: Are You Paying Too Much for Your Event App?

BusyEvent - com — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 12:16:03 -0000

Free is still too expensive. Generating revenues through ad sales and sponsor banners are at best a wash and never generate a Return on Action. Unlocking data is the key to how Event Apps become a profit center for your tradeshow or conference.

Re: How is Judy Sindecuse of Capital Innovators Transforming St. Louis Startups? | Featured, St. Louis Business, St. Louis Entrepreneur, St. Louis Startup on STLCurator

BusyEvent - com — Fri, 24 Jan 2014 22:33:30 -0000

As a CI graduate, I'll tell you that Judy and the energy and resources that she can bring to a company, is a major reason for our ongoing growth. Great interview and an even better video of an amazing contributor to the St. Louis technology scene!

Re: How Technology is Changing Events [Infographic]

BusyEvent - com — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:11:20 -0000

Version 2!!! Love the thinking and how you've depicted it. Great stuff, as always.

Re: Big Plans for Liz King Events in 2013

BusyEvent - com — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 19:10:34 -0000

Hooray for you Liz...and so here's what I've learned since co-founding our company; keep moving forward, one step at a time and above all else, HAVE FUN! Remember, you're inventing YOUR future. Way to go...ONWARD!

Re: How Technology is Changing Events [Infographic]

BusyEvent - com — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:37:58 -0000

Hi Julius: As always, insightful and what's best is that your writings are always from the 'front lines'.

One comment regarding the infographic - first, it's waaaaaay thorough and I agree, we all need to share fact-and-data based thinking...enough with the suppositions! I would recommend, however, that rather than "before" you use 'THEN' and rather than "after" you use 'NOW'. Things have radically changed since we first met 5+ years ago and that isn't slowing down - I think we're just in the midst of what will happen next!

Again, thanks for your efforts and contributions!

Re: How Many Events are Held in the US Every Year?

BusyEvent - com — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 09:23:09 -0000

Love your methodological approach Ian...not sure if you've seen this whitepaper published a year ago regarding the size of the events industry. As someone always looking to publish accurate data, especially when talking with M&A folks, I'm heartened that PWC did the research.

Interesting numbers here: http://meetingsmeanbusiness...

Re: Event Marketing and the Next Big Thing

BusyEvent - com — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:54:20 -0000

Ugggggh...the next shiny object to divert attention from what the next big thing should always be; quality content, quality connections and profitability. Great article Keith!

Re: Penn Stater Magazine Handles Scandal the Right Way

BusyEvent - com — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:11:27 -0000

Much like you Joe, I too am a proud Penn Stater. I still am and will always be. The acts of a few have not brought shame to my corner of the world but I'll admit, I too have been cautious about declaring my allegiance or wearing my 'blue and white' as proudly as I have in the past. I think that's pretty normal, considering that the entire world cast all of us in the same shadow.

It would have been so easy for the editors of the Penn Stater, the executives of the alumni association and those people on the front lines of the venom to have tried to paint a rosy picture while trying to turn a blind-eye towards the past months. I'm prouder even more knowing that my Penn State is populated by courageous and gentle people who are willing to cast the light, even if it exposes disgust and stand stiff against this chill wind knowing that the decades we've all built together can not be torn down by the acts of a few.

What we're seeing is all of the things we were taught; honesty, sacrifice and yes, success with honor.

Thank you for this great post because "WE ARE..."!

Re: The Muppets and Content Marketing: 3 Things You May Be Missing

BusyEvent - com — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:04:26 -0000

As always...great stuff and right to the point.

In a similar Content Marketing vein, here's our thoughts on "What the Wiggles Can Teach Us!: http://www.busyevent.com/bl...

Re: Handheld vs. Smartphone

BusyEvent - com — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:51:48 -0000

Hi there Kenneth:

Thanks for a very interesting article. You've tackled a topic that has a lot of people, especially event professionals, very intrigued and brought to light the exact issue that's causing confusion - we call it the "shiny object" syndrome.

As the developer of onsite event management tools, we continue to see mobile app providers and proprietary hardware providers focused on the wrong thing. It’s clear that each of the people you interviewed has their own version of a better mousetrap to sell and unfortunately because their view point is jaded, their replies are misdirected.

The discussion arguing mobile, or not, sounds much like the burgeoning days of the internet when everyone had to have a web site, because . . . they just had to have a web site! No reason, no real use, they just had to have it because the "shiny object" syndrome was so strong. We view the rush to mobile apps in much the same way; all the talk gets a lot of attention, until event professionals start to examine their real event goals.

In our experience, none of the dozens of event producers we speak with on a regular basis is focused on mobile vs. proprietary handsets. Instead, what they want is the ability to:
1) Create meaningful social connections between people, products and information.
2) Drive universal participation and engagement throughout the event, in every session, at every booth and face-to-face.
3) Improve access to real-time, monetizable information and
4) Increase revenues while cutting the cost of managing their event.

So, to answer your first question, BeLinker (http://www.tinyurl.com/BeLi... is being used at the Chicago Event Marketing Summit coming up in a few weeks for a very specific reason: while simple is important and fancy ‘map apps’ might get attention, the type of hardware you have shouldn’t dictate whether you can benefit from the event. For an event producer, or a speaker or an exhibitor, it’s about getting attendees to participate in whatever way they choose without putting up road blocks.

As you accurately state, “Know your audience” is the key. With a software platform based ‘features first’ focus on each event participant’s needs, the right choice will enable whatever hardware attendees choose to use. Because of that, BusyEvent's event producer clients are making their events better, in real-time, and creating revenues from all the information flowing through their events.

Re: Building a Face-to-Face Social Networking Company in St. Louis

BusyEvent - com — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 10:33:18 -0000

Hi Greg:

We wanted to once again thank you for the GREAT interview . . . !

If you're interested in seeing Event Bookmarking in action, view our Award Winning Demo at the Corporate Event Marketing Association Summit: http://www.tinyurl.com/Even...

Re: Blackberries for Sal

BusyEvent - com — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:48:35 -0000

As we've begun our second round of presentations to investors and others, I'm intrigued by the decrease in 'device disorder' we've been seeing.
For the most part, Round 1 was barely more than a side-bar conversation while the person we were meeting with attended to their other duties.
Through luck, good planning or talent (I like to think we've got all 3!), now that we're in Round 2 the attention deficit is much lower and we're being engaged rather than dealt with.
Perhaps it has something to do with the seriousness of the conversation as we get closer to term sheets from a few of these potential investors.
From a Board Member perspective, we banned devices in our meetings about 3 months ago and wait for it . . . the meetings are more productive and typically 15-30 minutes SHORTER! The only exception is for the scribe who gets to take notes on his/her computer. But, everyone else gets to use (SHOCKING) paper!
Can't agree more - ban the devices and you'll get more done - plus, it's polite.

Re: Blackberries for Sal

BusyEvent - com — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:48:35 -0000

Re: VC Behavior in Board Meetings

BusyEvent - com — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:41:56 -0000

As we've begun our second round of presentations to investors and others, I'm intrigued by the decrease in 'device disorder' we've been seeing.

For the most part, Round 1 was barely more than a side-bar conversation while the person we were meeting with attended to their other duties.

Through luck, good planning or talent (I like to think we've got all 3!), now that we're in Round 2 the attention deficit is much lower and we're being engaged rather than dealt with.

Perhaps it has something to do with the seriousness of the conversation as we get closer to term sheets from a few of these potential investors.

From a Board Member perspective, we banned devices in our meetings about 3 months ago and wait for it . . . the meetings are more productive and typically 15-30 minutes SHORTER! The only exception is for the scribe who gets to take notes on his/her computer. But, everyone else gets to use (SHOCKING) paper!

Can't agree more - ban the devices and you'll get more done!

Re: How Should VCs Say No - When It's The Team?

BusyEvent - com — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:52:31 -0000

Agree that if a turn down is simply that, it's been a waste of everyone's efforts.
If, instead, there's something constructive and the entrepreneur is smart, aggregates the information and makes positive change, then the chances for a 'yes' are so much better, next time.
One of the first things I learned from my business partner is that "every conversation is worth having". That's never more true than the 'ugly frog' conversations that no one wants to have, and everyone should.
That being said, as an entrepreneur, we have to keep in mind that feedback is simply someone's opinion; an educated and experienced one no doubt, but an opinion none-the-less Not to be ignored, but to be incorporated as it fits.
So, what is it about the potential investment's team that you look for?
- Domain experience?
- Maturity?
- Responsiveness?
- Ability to think quickly?
- Team cohesion?
- Grey hair (any hair?)
Or, is there a magic bee-bee that speaks more loudly than all of those?

Re: Seeing Both Sides: How Should VCs Say No - When It's The Team?

BusyEvent - com — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:52:31 -0000

Re: Will Ex-Wall Streeters Fuel an Entrepreneurial Boom? Well...

BusyEvent - com — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 17:36:59 -0000

Roger,

Since this blog was titled as a question, I'll provide a single word answer, NO!

I read your blog with great interest but my friend, there is little chance any Wall Streeter would survive in the Start Up world. Conversely, the transition going the other way would be equally as difficult. Birds of a different feather, and for certain they don't flock together.

I'll not address the financial managers, as I have no experience with them. Instead, I'll address the IT folks.

It's my experience that in the 'get it done now' world of the 'aim-fire-ready' startup ecosystem, Wall Streeters with their Java-based, week per line of code mentality would never make it. And they'd upset everyone that was around them in the process.

Since you've been in a startup, your experience is valuable to this discussion. There's likely 101 reasons 101 failed, (excellent series of blog posts on that, by the way), and for certain one of them is programmers not 'getting it' that the program-release-feedback-program-release cycle is critical to the success and growth of a startup's software efforts. On Wall Street . . . that just doesn't exist.

A startup's environment is the real world. A Wall Streeters is the QA, test lab and white board world. They can not co-exist and I believe they would strangle each other.

So, as always a great and thoughtful post but in this case, the mentality needed to thrive in the entrepreneurial candle-at-both-ends start-up world is just not suitable for a Wall Streeter . . . that is unless they have their house and their kids college savings on the line. With that type of motivation, all things are possible!

EDIT: Just read this post, thought it would be a nice add-on to the discussion: http://andrewchenblog.com/2...

Re: Happy New Year and Help Wanted

BusyEvent - com — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:01:41 -0000

Hi there Roger:

We've always found that a little bit of humor can always go a long way. Goofy sayings like
"it's always darkest . . . right before it goes pitch black",
"when someday comes, it's going to be a really busy day",
"beatings will continue, until morale improves"
"if at first you don't succeed, skydiving isn't your thing"
have always been used to lighten the mood, get people out of their own heads and focused on the goals.

So, what we've learned from failures is that it's not what happens but how you react to it that makes the difference.

And, to that end: http://www.busyevent.com/Pl...

Re: Happy New Year and Help Wanted

BusyEvent - com — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:56:54 -0000

edited by author

Re: What's In It for YOU?

BusyEvent - com — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:05:54 -0000

I'm a new reader and haven't gotten to read all of your writings, yet, so in advance, I apologize if this is way off base.

As social media continues to intersect with relationship making, which in my opinion is the critical 'last foot', how is the social media element impacting sales?

I get that it can impact customer marketing and customer service. What I'm curious about is how all of that translates into sales of the product as a direct outflow of social media contact.

Or, am I being to 'bottom line and pedestrian'? As a small business owner and former 'agency-ier' I've been so focused on everything impacting top line and ultimately helping the bottom line that I tend to see all activities in this shade.

More details on how Ford, and others, see this in light of that foundation would be interesting.

Re: Frogmetrics: Handheld Surveys You Might Actually Want To Fill Out

BusyEvent - com — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 02:03:46 -0000

Nice work Frogmetrics. My company talked with Scott just after they launched this summer and no doubt, they've latched into something that is needed (more efficient gathering and tabulation of information, in real-time).

As we wondered then, and still do now:
1 - How will the average retailer afford the device and the service and a wifi connection?

2 - Is the market primarily chains/big box retailers hoping to filter down into the mom-and-pops? if so, this may fly because we see hardware expense as a major barrier.

3 - Congrats on Google...how are they intending to use this . . . mobile events?

4 - How will, or can it, filter into the live events environment to replace traditional lead management?

Again, great work folks, we're interested and intrigued.