Kendra Wright
THE POWER OF ASSOCIATION:
TEN WAYS TO CONNECT
It’s going to be a wild ride,
but we’ll send you slides!
GET READY!
PORTFOLIO
OVER 120 EVENTS, DESTINATIONS & ASSOCIATIONS
SAFFIRE ASSOCIATION PARTNERS
To get people EXCITED
to come to fairs
& To keep fairs SANE
in the process!
OUR GOAL
ASSOCIATION
ASSOCIATE
CONNECT
TEN WAYS TO CONNECT
1
Make Social
EASY
GOOD: CONNECT WITH MEMBERS
1. Follow members on Facebook.
Overachievers: Follow members on Twitter.
2. In your communication, ask them to follow you.
Overachievers: Ask them to Get Notifications.
BETTER: POST ABOUT MEMBERS
1. Inspire connection BETWEEN MEMBERS:
@bigfair starts today! LIKE to wish them good luck!
2. Inspire connection WITH YOUR ASSOCIATION:
Post behind the scenes, when you meet with members, etc.
3. Don’t forget sponsors, exhibitors, etc.
Your members probably follow them!
TAGGING If you want to use
Use FACEBOOK to schedule posts!
WHERE TO POST
1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. Google+
4. LinkedIn
5. Pinterest
6. Instagram – this one is strategic!
BEST: CONNECT PLATFORMS
Time-saving tip: Connect social media platforms.
Strategic choice: Are you going to use Instagram?
For fairs, Instagram is a MUST.
For associations, maybe not.
BEST: CONNECT PLATFORMS
If NO Instagram, use BUFFERAPP.COM.
Posts to Facebook, Twitter, Google+ & LinkedIn
PRO: Can schedule posts
CON: Doesn’t include Instagram
BUFFER-FOR NON-IMAGE POSTS
TWERIOD
BEST: CONNECT PLATFORMS If Instagram, use IFTTT.COM.
When you post to Instagram, posts to Facebook, Twitter, Google+
& LinkedIn.
PRO: Includes Instagram
CON: Can’t schedule posts
2
Adapt to the new FACEBOOK REALITY
NEW FACEBOOK STRATEGIES
There has been a decline in “organic reach”
for Facebook posts from >20% to <3%.
1. Re-evaluate your Facebook investment.
2. Optimize posts for sharing.
3. Engage your fans elsewhere.
4. Pay up. (cheap… for now)
FACEBOOK AD TARGETING
• Your Facebook followers & (potentially) their friends
• Your email list & (potentially) “look-alikes”
• People who went to your website
• People who are interested in related organizations
3
Start using
GOOD: CONNECT WITH MEMBERS
Connect with all your members, potential members, sponsors,
exhibitors.
GOOD: CONNECT WITH MEMBERS
If you hear of a potential member, check LinkedIn to see who you
know in common.
BEST: CREATE A LINKEDIN GROUP
1. Go to LinkedIn.com, then Interests, then Groups.
2. At bottom right, “Don’t see what you’re looking for? Create
a Group.”
3. Invite your LinkedIn connections.
4. Be prepared to “seed” the group at first.
4
Increase your
EMAIL EFFORTS
GOOD: BEEF UP YOUR LIST
1. Export your email contacts:
Outlook Options/Advanced/Export to a file
Gmail Contacts/More/Export…/Outlook CSV
2. Filter out all but business contacts.
3. Import your business contacts into your email sending tool.
BETTER: USE EMAIL TOOL
1. Friends don’t let friends use Outlook for enewsletters.
CON: Can only send 50 at a time
CON: No scheduling
CON: No statistics
2. Lots of tools available:
Constant Contact, MailChimp, SaffireMail (free with ad)
BETTER: USE TEMPLATE
1. Have a template with your logo and the look of your site.
2. Allow website email signups.
3. Have email signups go directly into your email list.
4. When you’re ready, Just Add Content!
FFF: BEFORE & AFTER
BEST: SCHEDULE EMAILS
1. Especially during your busy season, schedule those emails!
2. From year to year, copy old emails to new campaigns and
edit them.
EDITORIAL CALENDAR
www.SaffireEvents.com/calendar
5
Use
IMAGERY
GOOD: CREATE IMAGE LIBRARY
Try to include an image with every social post and email.
How to create your library?
1. Ask your events for images.
2. Put them all in one place to create an image library –
Dropbox is awesome & free!
BEST: IMPROVE IMAGES
99% of the time, you should:
• Crop
• Brighten
• Filter
New, awesome tool: WWW.CANVA.COM
BEST: IMPROVE IMAGES
BEST: IMPROVE IMAGES
6
Do business
DIGITALLY
GOOD: PUT FORMS ONLINE
Have online:
• Convention forms
• Membership forms
• Etc.
Make your registration form available as a web form,
so you don’t have to re-enter them!
BEST: TAKE PAYMENT ONLINE
Allow online:
• Convention payments
• Dues payments
• Sponsor payments
7
Do some
MATCH-MAKING
GOOD: MEET THE MEMBER
BETTER: HELP FIND RESOURCES
Example: X fair is looking for a
50-foot Christmas tree, barge rental, etc.
• Send out via email.
• Post in LinkedIn group.
BEST: SPEED DATING
• Set up 10-minute meetings between fairs and vendors.
• Vendors “pay to play.”
• You can also do this at newcomers reception
• Split into two groups
• Inner circle and outer circle
• 5-minutes, then one circle moves
8
Get a
JOB
GOOD: HELP MEMBERS FIND JOBS
Encourage members to send job announcements:
• Via email
• On your website (keeps people coming back!)
• LinkedIn group post
BEST: PUT JOBS ON WEBSITE
BEST: SEND JOBS VIA EMAIL
9
Be a consistent EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE
GOOD: ONGOING ONLINE EDUCATION
• Link from your website to other online resources
• Guidelines
• Laws
• Government entities
• IAFE web pages
BETTER: KEEP EDUCATION GOING
• Other website resources
• Publish (or guest-publish) blog articles
• Promote industry podcast (shameless plug:
The Amplifier Event Marketing Podcast)
BEST: KEEP EDUCATION GOING
• Host (or co-host) webinars
• Additional in-person seminars
10
Be among
THE BEST
BEST: BE RESPONSIVE
If a member asks a question that you can’t immediately answer,
email and say “I’m on it!”
BEST: BE FUN TO HELP
“People don’t value what they don’t pay for.”
• That’s tricky, because most of us rely on in-kind donations!
• If you get help that you don’t pay for, try to treat it like
you did.
• Go as quickly as you would if you were paying.
BEST: ASSUME GOOD INTENTION
Many service members actually like being of service!
• Remind them that when it’s education, stick to education.
• But then let them help out!
BEST: BE ENTICING ONLINE
Have a “resourceful” website!
• Some make you excited to be a part of them.
• Some make you feel like it would be a lot of work.
Once is a fluke; twice is a trend. When you get a question twice,
put the answer on your website.
BEST: BE MOBILE
We go to lots of conventions, wear a lot of lanyards, try to keep
up with a lot of convention schedules.
• Be mobile, so it’s easy to look things up!
• Include room names/numbers!
If you give me your card,
I’ll send you these slides.
UTILIZE SAFFIRE AS A RESOURCE
• Ask us:
• For newsletter or blog articles
• To co-host webinars
• To speak at your convention
• Use SaffireMail for email newsletter
• Promote The Amplifier Event Marketing Podcast
FOLLOW SAFFIRE Website www.saffireevents.com
Facebook Saffire Events
Twitter @SaffireEvents
Instagram saffireevents
Pinterest saffireevents
YouTube saffirestudio
Amplifier www.saffireevents.com/podcast
Questions?