Danny and I just got back from the Event Marketing Summit 2012 in Chicago. What a trip!

Apart from the best steak dinner I’ve ever had (thanks Chicago Cut!), we also got a chance to meet with some of our most valuable clients and learn about (and contribute to) the ever-changing face of the event marketing industry.

While we could go on and on, I thought we’d sum up what we learned with a quick Top 5!

Top 5 takeaways from Event Marketing Summit 2012:

1. Word of mouth is still where it’s at. Social media / Web 2.0 has made it commonplace to listen to your peers and trust in traditional advertising is declining.

2. If you have a fan base, cater to them, and make them feel special. They’ll do as much or more to drive #1 than anything else you do.

3. If an event isn’t taking advantage of the social networks of its attendees, it’s missing out on easy opportunity to generate word-of-mouth buzz.

4. Maintaining momentum after an event is essential. With the same dollars, engage fewer for longer and get better results. Keep the word-of-mouth momentum going.

5. Always agree on brand strategy beforehand. Don’t generate buzz without an idea of where you want to position your brand or you’ll waste your effort.

To find out more about how our event credentials can help generate word-of-mouth, integrate with social media, and become valuable keepsakes for extended marketing campaigns. call or click today!

Additionally, if you attended Event Marketing Summit 2012 or have thoughts you’d like to share, comment below!

~ Cecil
Marketing Coordinator

Access Pass & Design
Our credentials. Your confidence.

The 2012 Event Marketing Summit starts in just over a week.

The Sheraton Towers in Chicago is hosting the summit this year, which takes place from April 30 to May 2, and which will bring together event planners, vendors, and experiential marketers from all over the world.

The Event Marketing Summit, an annual gathering put on by the great folks at Event Marketer Magazine (Red7 Media), focuses on the newest and most effective ways of “using live experiences to convert customers and drive sales.” In short – experiential marketing at its best.

Danny, Cecil, and Stephen will be attending and are looking forward to learning from the sharpest minds in the industry, reconnecting with our current partners, and forging new relationships.Access Pass & Design has been a proud partner of EMS since 2006 by providing the highly recognizable conference badges.

Event credentials have become a hot-ticket item for fans and consumers at experiential events, while sponsors appreciate the higher visibility that credentials offer over a wristband. High-quality passes make effective sponsorship items and become keepsakes. With effective calls to action an event credential can also be a vehicle to prolong brand engagement after the event.

Additionally, our partnerships with RFID and photo retrieval companies allow for amplification with real time engagement, by wirelessly tapping into social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

We’re really excited to get out to the Windy City. Chicago is a great town and has been a gracious host for previous Event Marketing Summits and other conferences we’ve attended.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us to set up a meeting while you’re in Chicago. We’ll even buy you a drink; we’ll be tweeting/posting a codeword next week so stay tuned. We look forward to collaborating and sharing our insights increase your social media currency and maximize your ROI.

Access Pass & Design
Our credentials. Your confidence.

PS – will you be attending Event Marketing Summit 2012? Have you attended before? Leave us a comment and let us know about your experience.

The National Sports Forum is “the largest annual cross gathering of the top team sports marketing, sales, promotions and event entertainment executives” and traditionally occurs the week prior to the Super Bowl.

This year the National Sports Forum was hosted in Oklahoma City, home of the OKC Thunder, Oklahoma City Red Hawks, and the United States training center for Olympic Rowing.

It also marked the 8th year that Danny Heinsohn of Access Pass & Design has attended.

The forum is a showcase of trends in the sports marketing and event industry. Attendees trade insights into best practices in ticket sales, digital marketing, fan engagement, addressing economic hurdles, and marketing strategies.

“I always walk away with great ideas and insights that set the tone and refine my approach for the entire year,” said Danny.

Advancements in technology make it easier to track marketing spend. Sponsors have become more concerned with ROI and much of the 2012 National Sports Forum focused on new ways to measure and optimize return. More than branding logos on scoreboards, handing out branded squeegee balls or foam fingers, sponsorship dollars are compared against the generated return from fan or brand engagement.

In another sign of the times, the top three tiers for sports marketing dollars are now digital, social, and mobile media. Engagement takes place via micro sites, QR codes, Facebook, and Twitter, and in multiple physical locations: game day fan experiences, tailgater, and digital downloads.

While the forum keeps its finger on the pulse of the industry, it’s also a great chance to build and maintain the relationships that keep the industry running.

“What I enjoy most about the National Sports Forum, is the people. Being an 8-year alum has allowed me to enjoy relationships that go beyond selling passes.”

The president of the National Sports Forum, Ron Seaver, summarized by saying, “[The Forum] has become a fraternity, where old friends come to catch up.” And like many conferences, some of the best networking opportunities happen at the bar. Danny assured us that Tap Werks did not disappoint!

The National Sports Forum continues to be a great event for Access Pass & Design and we’ll be sure to see you there next year!

Access Pass & Design
Our Credentials. Your confidence.

For insights on leveraging print collateral for digital and social engagement, or insights into the National Sports Forum experience from the perspective of a seasoned veteran, please feel free to e-mail, danny@accesspasses.com.