Blogs

Apr 21, 2020
Just a few weeks ago, we were feeling optimistic about holding our yearly APAC and EMEA Unite conferences in March. What happened then, was out of our hands, with the COVID-19 pandemic spreading and turning the entire events industry upside down. We did not want to give up on Unite, so we sat together and worked on a virtual conference concept that would still cover the great content we were eager to share with our customer community. We only had one week to revamp the agenda and to elaborate on the technical setup, so time was a key factor in this project. Our decision to make this a free… more
Apr 16, 2020
How are enterprise marketing professionals adjusting their 2020 plans in response to the spread of coronavirus? Just-released research shows that while live events are off the table for now, marketing teams (including event marketers) will remain active. That's one key high-level takeaway from the new report How COVID-19 is Impacting B2B Marketing from B2B Marketing Zone. Overall, per the report, 61% of respondents anticipate their overall marketing budgets are likely to be cut. 39% plan to reallocate event marketing budgets to other tactics, with additional content creation topping the list… more
Apr 14, 2020
In case you missed it, start here with an introduction to B2B digital event amplification strategies. This is part 2 of three in a series. 5. Leverage Your Social Ambassadors Every event needs an arsenal of knowledgeable speakers — and the bigger the name, the better. If you’ve invited notable figures to speak at your event, this is your chance to tap into a new audience. Not only do well-known industry leaders attract more attendees simply by having their name on the poster, but you can also borrow their reach to promote your event. When you book your speakers, make sure you ask them to… more
Apr 07, 2020
Working from home is quickly becoming “the new normal.” The COVID-19 pandemic kicked the WFH movement into high gear, and many experts believe it will continue long after the crisis has passed (this article makes a solid case). But before we can optimize this new way of working, we’re going to have to get proficient at one of the biggest work-from-home fundamentals: the virtual meeting. Remote meetings are inherently different from in-person meetings. If you’re not used to running them, you’re going to make tons of mistakes, and those mistakes can have major ramifications in terms of how… more
Mar 30, 2020
With the recent influx of events moving to an online format, especially conferences, I wanted to share some tips on how to best manage your online event. Just like an in-person event, there should be great consideration given to the flow of the event and how the experience will be for your attendees. Here are some of my tips for producing a great online event. Have your own tips to share? Please drop them in the comments! Roles for the event - moving an event online may seem easy, but you still need lots of hands to ensure the event goes smoothly...probably more than you may think. Consider… more
Mar 24, 2020
Sometimes the unexpected happens and event planners have to decide to downsize or cancel their events. But before you cancel, consider an alternative. We believe in the power of meetings. They’re where people bring together ideas and insights to inspire others. Here’s a quick list of how you can turn a live event into an online meeting of minds using tools you might already have on hand. 1. Take Your Sessions Online Use a webinar tool to set up virtual sessions in place of your meeting rooms. Have attendees log into the same session they would’ve attended on-site and watch the session in… more
Mar 19, 2020
Hosting and exhibiting at events is a vital part of the marketing stack. It is also a big investment both in direct costs and staff time. If you don’t have visibility into the business impact your events deliver, it’s easy to err on either side of doing too many and getting questionable value or cutting back at the expense of potential client and revenue growth. The ability to show the value of events allows your team and the company to spend marketing dollars where it makes the most sense. Today event marketers have the data, tools and expertise to demonstrate how events contribute to… more
Mar 11, 2020
We at Haute Dokimazo tout ourselves as a human-to-human company. RSA's most recent conference theme was "The Human Element." Our entire industry is based on face-to-face, person-to-person, and human-to-human. But what happens if you Google any of those terms right now? Yep. This. The human-to-human transmission of a coronavirus that is sweeping the globe has obliterated months — sometimes years — of event work in an instant. Huge conferences cancelled. Small hospitality events postponed. Business travel restricted. Sponsors backing out of agreements. We can argue (and are arguing) all day… more
Mar 03, 2020
In an increasingly digital world, the in-person experience of an event can be a significant ROI-boosting differentiator. In fact, 80 percent of marketers believe live events are critical to their company’s success. For that reason alone, events should be a meaningful part of your overall B2B marketing strategy. But how do you make sure your events are a success? Read on to discover some essential tips for marketing your events to maximize attendance. 1. Find and Attract Your Audience with Inbound and Marketing Automation You can harness the power of inbound marketing to attract the right… more
Feb 24, 2020
What’s your game? Whether it’s business or sports - everyone is trying to attract and engage fans; those die-hard, paint your face, play the fight song at your wedding kind of fans. Your business probably doesn’t have a fight song, but don’t you want die-hard stakeholders who would sing it at the top of their lungs if you did? Just like in sports, successful businesses are continuously cultivating their fan base: clients, employees, strategic partners and other high value stakeholders often through events. I’ve spent decades shepherding people through the fan sales cycle from creating… more
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.  Remodeled Guest Rooms MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las more