The OpenWater Blog

What We’re Reading: January 25

What We’re Reading:

This week we’re reading…

BizBash

Can Your Wi-Fi Handle Live Streaming?

Live streaming is becoming an increasingly popular way for attendees to share their experience at your event. If you think that your attendees will be connecting to Facebook Live, Periscope, YouTube, or another platform, chances are you’ll need better wifi than you traditionally have had at your gala, conference, or other event. Find out why and potential solutions in the article below from BizBash!

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BizBash

How to Engage With Attendees Long After an Event Is Over

Your awards program, gala included, isn’t the only time you need to engage with entrants to be successful. Instead, you need to focus on engaging with your audience year-round to solidify your organization as a go-to resource for information in the industry. One way to do so is continuing engagement directly after your event ends. Learn how to do so by focusing on building relationships rather than completing a business transaction below!

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Eventbrite

Create an Event Website That Turns Visitors Into Attendees

Your website is a centralized hub for your staff, judges, and entrants. Websites can serve other purposes too, like improving the likelihood that you sell tickets to your gala or increasing the number of quality submissions you receive. However, most programs don’t think about why they create a website or add certain pages to their site, making performance less than optimal. In this Eventbrite article, you’ll learn how to create a website that converts visitors into attendees.

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Eventbrite

Track These 5 Important Metrics to Improve Event ROI

There are always new tools you can use to analyze your event and performance. By using the best, you can find ways to improve ROI and maximize revenue from your next event. And, while the tools you use matter, the metrics you measure with those tools matter even more. Find out 5 key metrics you should be measuring in the Eventbrite article below!

Click here to read the article.

MarketingProfs

10 Rules for Effective Facebook Marketing [Infographic]

Your Facebook presence – including your organization’s page and event page – should be audience-focused. But, what about hashtags? And, how about photos? Are trending topics something you should pay attention to? Find out the answers to these questions along with other rules for effective Facebook marketing in this infographic from MarketingProfs!

Click here to read the article.

MarketingProfs

Funnel Metrics, Attribution, and Measuring Marketing ROI in Any Industry: Christine Vermes on Marketing Smarts [Podcast]

Marketing is essential in any industry and is of particular importance during your call for entry to get the word out about your program on every platform your potential entrants occupy. However, few event managers or other professionals consider themselves marketing pros. Listen to this 20-minute podcast to learn fundamental, universal marketing principles, how to generate marketing reports, which tools you can use, and how to manage the overwhelming amount of data you could collect!

Click here to listen to the podcast.

Social Tables

Hidden Event Planning Fees – 20 Items Planners Forget to Budget

You finalize your awards program budget well before the call for entry. However, there are always going to be unexpected fees that arise, derailing your meticulously-crafted budget in the process. But, does this have to happen? Learn 20 items event planners often forget about to make next year’s budget more accurate in this article from Social Tables!

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HubSpot

4 Education Marketing Trends to Keep an Eye on in 2017

You already rely on content, SEO, and email marketing to generate interest in your organization and your awards program. And, while these classic favorites aren’t going anywhere, there are other trends you should focus on to generate new traffic and attract potential entrants to your program. Find out 4 of the most important education marketing trends you should be mindful of as you start 2017 in this feature from HubSpot!

Click here to read the article.

Ashley Surinak

Ashley Surinak is the resident OpenWater expert on all things content. From the blog to guides and beyond, you'll find her at every turn in your OpenWater journey.

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