Motivation Strategies Meetings Update Edition - March 2006
- Research/Education Focus: Recognition Events That Appeal to All
- Career Strategist: How to Network Effectively
- Association Update: IAEM Ponders Name Change, Rise in Events Marketing
- Event Marketing: How To Use a Blog To Market Your Event
- SMERF: Inaugural SMERF Show Comes to New Mexico in June
- On-Site: Arkansas Offers Natural Beauty, Top-Notch Facilities
- Personal Planner: Where Planners Go To Unwind
- Great Gift: Let Them Take Their Tunes With Them
- In The Current Issue of Motivation Strategies
Research/Education Focus: Recognition Events That Appeal to All
According to recent research from Maritz Incentives, more employees want to be recognized via events that honor their accomplishments. In fact, only 30 percent – less than a third – of more than 1,000 respondents who prefer to be rewarded via recognition events say their companies acknowledge them this way. That said, workers may have wildly divergent ideas about how they want to be recognized: limelight-lovers might want to be called in front of their peers and presented with a plaque and a round of applause, while others might be happiest just to see their name scroll across a screen listing top performers. It’s no easy task to plan a recognition event that will motivate both the outgoing and the more reserved, but Lynn Stadler, strategic consultant in travel marketing at Maritz Travel, offers a few pointers for a truly motivational gathering.
- Ask them: Stadler says surveying all employees up for recognition is a vital first step to make sure they’re recognized in a way that’s meaningful to them. Just three or four questions sent to their inboxes will give you a sense of what course of action to take.
- Satisfy spotlight-seekers: If this is a company-wide or large departmental event, announce that in the interest of time, you’ve “randomly” selected a few employees to come up and accept handshakes, certificates, etc. Of course, you’ll use the responses from your survey to determine who gets called out in front of the whole group.
- Give no-participation-required recognition: Stadler suggests pairing the idea above with a short projection or video clip that displays the names of everyone being honored. On a shoestring? Just have a top exec read the list of names out loud, and request that attendees refrain from applauding to help expedite the announcement. This way, shy workers don’t feel left out but don’t have to go through the relative ordeal of being singled out.
- Subdivide the group: Stadler says you may find that some people are comfortable in more intimate settings. Consider holding receptions, possibly dividing winners by work group or department, into groups of only a dozen or so. Top managers can mingle and thank workers personally, then the entire group can convene for a meal, entertainment or other rewarding activity so you don’t lose the energy and buzz of a large gathering. Combine any or all of these tips to create an experience that fits the motivational needs of your group.
For more information, go to www.maritztravel.com.
Career Strategist: How to Network Effectively
Meeting planners are often responsible for organizing networking events, yet when it comes to their own industry associations or local chamber of commerce events, many aren’t as effective as they could be when it comes to networking. “I suggest people establish some goals for the effort,” says Barry Zweibel, executive coach and president of GottaGettaCoach. “[Pledge to] meet five or six new people, for example. Another goal might be to reconnect with people you’ve already met,” he suggests.
Many would-be networkers get stuck because they can’t think of what to say. Zweibel points out, “In your job, there’s always a to-do list, [and] anything on that list becomes grist for the networking mill.” Just accomplish something major? Interested in learning about something with which you’re unfamiliar? Bring it up, Zweibel says. Maybe the person you’re talking to could use your insight, or maybe they’re an expert in the topic you’re looking to learn more about. Another mistake many professionals make is not thinking about networking until they need something. Good networkers know that connections go both ways, Zweibel says, so be on the lookout for people you can help out now.
Now, what about staying in touch? This can be tricky; planners’ often-hectic travel schedules can make it tough to stay on top of the deluge of work-related e-mail. Deciding how much of a priority networking contacts should be is a delicate balance. “It’s an unrealistic expectation that you’ll be able to stay in touch with everyone,” Zweibel says. “To work properly, networking needs to be in balance.” Try to arrange an initial follow-up phone chat, coffee or even lunch to find out how much you have in common with each contact, personally and professionally. Have a lot in common? Drop them an e-mail on a monthly basis. For a more tenuous connection, quarterly is fine, Zweibel says. “It’s always helpful if you can find more things you have in common. Once you know a little bit about the person, you can start looking for ways to help them,” he advises, which will make them more likely to lend you a hand if the need arises. For instance, if they’re just setting up a home-based business and you run across an article in a business magazine about how to do just that, send it to them with a quick note. For more information about networking, go to www.gottagettacoach.com.
Association Update: IAEM Ponders Name Change, Rise in Events Marketing
The International Association for Exhibition Management is considering a name change to the International Association for Exhibitions & Events. This proposal reflects a shift in strategy that has significant implications for the meetings and events industry as a whole, even those outside the exhibition sector. Much as the Trade Show Exhibitors Association did last year, IAEM for the first time is reaching out to people that plan private marketing events. “It’s going to have a material impact on our programming,” says Steven Hacker, president of IAEM. “We’re going to be interacting with people who are responsible for managing and planning corporate events that bring buyers and sellers together.” Hacker says the growth of the events marketing sector does not come at the expense of trade shows; rather, more companies are exploring alternatives like private client events in lieu of advertising. “[Trade shows] are growing robustly, but it’s not the only place our members need to be looking,” he says. For more information, go to www.iaem.org.
Event Marketing: How To Use a Blog To Market Your Event
Blogs are one of the hottest buzzwords when it comes to communication today, and this easy-to-use technology can be a valuable way to reach a tech-savvy audience. If you’re looking for a dynamic, inexpensive way to increase your event’s exposure, a blog may be just the ticket. “An event blog works before the event, during the event and after the event as a powerful marketing strategy,” says Debbie Weil, president of WordBiz.com Inc., a consulting company that focuses on corporate blogs and how to use them strategically. There are a few key tactics that will make a blog successful, she says. First of all, remember that blog writing should differ in tone from regular business writing. “You want to write informally and conversationally, and you don’t want to sell,” Weil says. A hard-sell approach runs the risk of alienating would-be attendees, whereas offering them information in a personal, informal tone helps engage them.
It’s important to launch the blog and post information before the event itself for it to succeed as a marketing tool. Consider interviewing speakers and posting Q&As. If you’re aiming for a particularly high-tech audience, Weil suggests recording the interviews and turning them into podcasts. “It’s like a preview of coming attractions,” she explains. You want to feature the highlights of the event in a way that’s going to engage people. Another way to do this is by turning the blog into a dialogue, Weil suggests. Blog software lets the administrator turn on a “comments” feature, which lets anyone reading it click and offer feedback. This would be a great way to select education topics, she points out.
During the event, have a staff member or even a freelance writer stroll the floor and corridors and write entries two or three times a day. “Talk about the buzz in the hallways, what people are chatting about,” Weil says. The idea is not that the blog will replace other event communication, such as press releases or show dailies, but will offer another, less formal dimension. After the event, post speaker handouts and a final post – perhaps from a top executive at the organization – summing up the event and its highlights and announcing when the next event will take place. Weil advises leaving the blog up and adding a link on your main site so it continues to generate buzz in between events. For more information, go to www.wordbiz.com.
SMERF: Inaugural SMERF Show Comes to New Mexico in June
For the first time, social, military, educational, religious and fraternal planners are invited to attend a SMERF-tailored trade show this summer. Attendees will get to meet with suppliers, network with fellow planners and learn from top-notch speakers in small-group education sessions at the Hotel Albuquerque, June 1-3. The show, plus travel, accommodations and meals, is free to qualified SMERF planners.
“SMERF events have special needs and requirements, based on attendee demographics and the causes their organizations represent,” says Walter Barnard, founder and publisher of the SMERF Meetings Journal (published by Selling Communications Inc., which also publishes this newsletter). “These needs are distinct from those of corporate meeting or national association planners. This show is designed to offer SMERF meeting professionals support, information and networking opportunities tailored to their specific niche.” Exhibitors will include destinations popular with SMERF groups such as Galveston Island, Texas; Kissimmee, Fla.; Tulsa, Okla., and Greater Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
For more information on the SMERF Show, contact Jim Kilmetis, Selling Communications Inc., at (914) 591-7600, ext. 229, or at jkilmetis@sellingcommunications.com.
On-Site: Arkansas Offers Natural Beauty, Top-Notch Facilities
Half a dozen national parks and moderate weather make Arkansas a popular location for groups that want to experience nature. On the other hand, the state’s major metropolitan areas have a wealth of modern, affordable meeting facilities. In the capital of Little Rock, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center and Park is a great example of both; this two-year-old, $160 million facility sits on 28 acres and features a 220-seat Great Hall and an 80-seat theater, both of which can be used for private receptions. Another site that mixes natural with man-made is Hot Springs, where groups can watch horse racing at the famous Oaklawn Park or get wet at the Magic Springs/Crystal Falls water park.
Elsewhere in the state, two new venues are slated to come online later this year. The Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center at Chaffee Crossing will offer space for group events plus a full catering kitchen. The John Q. Hammons Center will add 125,000 square feet of flexible meeting space to the northwest area of the state; the soon-to-open venue is attached to the 400-unit Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas. For more information, go to www.arkansas.com/group-travel, www.littlerock.com or www.hotsprings.org.
Personal Planner: Where Planners Go To Unwind
Between site inspections, arriving early for set-up and leaving days after attendees have flown home, planners log serious time on the road. Clearly, meeting professionals love to travel, which is why it’s not such a surprise that many planners report spending their vacation time on trips away from home, too.
The Caribbean is a favorite getaway for many planners looking for a place to unwind. “The warm, sandy beaches of the Caribbean always sway me,” says Leslie Weekes, membership meeting planner for the Association of American Universities.
Diane Watanabe, event manager for WorldatWork, is a true long-haul veteran. “When we lived on the East Coast, we spent a long weekend in London and another long weekend in Paris, where we did the tourist thing and concentrated visits to the city proper. We also had big trips of 10 days each in Italy, Japan and Hawaii,” she says. Now, Watanabe is located in Arizona, so most of her trips are driving excursions to explore that part of the country. Places she’s hit so far? The Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert and “the corner in Winslow, Arizona” from the Eagles’ song “Take It Easy.”
Many planners say far-flung family members dictate their choices of vacation destinations. Others say their profession has changed the way they travel for pleasure. “When I vacation, I prefer to rent a house instead of staying in a hotel,” says Janette Mandile, director of meeting planning at Cambridge Healthtech Institute. “When I do stay in a hotel, I find if something is wrong I get into ‘work mode’ and then I catch myself and have to walk away,” she confesses. Renting a house keeps her in an on-vacation frame of mind, she says. “It’s nice to have a home base and not be reminded of work.”
Great Gift: Let Them Take Their Tunes With Them
Even as technology gets more user-friendly, it seems that hotel alarm clocks become more complex. Many travelers abandon them entirely in favor of setting their cell phones or getting a wake-up call. A high-tech but happily simple new gadget from the Sharper Image makes a great VIP gift or raffle prize – although you might be tempted to pick up a second one for yourself. The Sound Soother radio/alarm clock has been redesigned to include a connection for any MP3 player, including Apple’s popular iPod. This portable device also gives the user the option of tuning to AM or FM radio, or listening to one of 20 “white noise” settings. Easy-to-use buttons on the front of the unit let the user set the time, wake-up time and pre-set radio stations. The Sound Soother runs on either AA batteries or AC power via the included cord, and also comes with headphones so the lucky recipient can listen to “rainforest” or “fireplace” on the plane ride home. For more information, go to www.sharperimage.com.
In The Current Issue of Motivation Strategies
Motivational Speakers Who Deliver For Less
Motivational speakers can deliver just the kind of real-time shot in the arm an organization needs to get its people fired up, but sometimes the cost of their services can be prohibitive. Savvy motivation professionals have discovered that there are alternatives to high-priced pump-‘em-up speakers. Find out the secrets to selecting a great motivational speaker that won’t break the budget, and learn how many can even make a greater impact because, rather than in spite of, their relatively lower profiles.
On Target: Follow Your Leads
Too many marketing initiatives fail when lead generation becomes an end instead of a means. Motivation Strategies publisher Jim Kilmetis offers a checklist of tactics, ranging from how to make that initial follow-up contact to how to keep the dialogue going long-term. The goal is to turn leads into results. Learn how to capitalize on data-gathering, targeting and communication strategies to turn potential leads into actual deals.
15 Minutes With: Anderson Performance Improvement
When a motivation company decides to create a recognition and reward program for its people, the bar is set higher than ever. Learn how Anderson Performance Improvement took its people-management skills from everyday to extraordinary with a bold combination of tactics that challenged employees to embrace a culture of motivation.
Get the Winter issue of Motivation Strategies, out now, in the mail or online at www.motivationstrategies.com.
