Convention Insider (Conventions.net)

Advanced Expo Solutions International or as they are referred to more often, AESI, helps you keep your convention registration and other facets simple.  I had a chance to catch up with and talk with CEO and Founder David Marquart (pictured right) about his company and how they are helping the industry keep things simple, a mantra that seems to work in today’s tough economic times.  As I continued our conversation it became apparent that David understands the convention and trade show industry and why not, he has a little experience under his belt.  The website gives us a peek into David and his background and just how well he knows the convention, meeting, and trade show industry:

David began his trade show career in the fall of 1985 right from college. 3000 shows in over 200 cities in 30 plus states, several business ventures in several fields and dozens of industry associations later, David is focusing his nearly two decades of trade show and special event experience on making this industry all it can be via streamlining and simplifying many daily cumbersome and traditionally expensive tasks via proven every day technology.

He has past, present and current affiliations with IAEM, ESCA, ASAE, IASE, OASE, MPI, HSMA, ISES, ARA, IAAM, and multiple CVB’s around the country. After a 7-year leadership role which culminated into the ‘Chairman of Ohio Va lley Chapter of the International Association of Exposition Managers (IAEM)’, David was recently selected to the IAEM Services Board. Currently, he serves on the IAEM Services Board and is charged with the product/partner development committee. At IAEM’s Expo Expo in 2004, he was awarded the prestigious Merit Award.  In 2005, Dave will serve as Treasurer for the Services Board.
He was also asked by IAEM’s previous Chairman to serve on IAEM’s Future Strategy Committee which plans and prepares for the “latest and greatest” trends in the industry.

That seems to wrap up a huge career rather nicely.  Just don’t try saying all of that in a single breath.

David’s experience helped him with what his company provides to their customers, software that works.  AESI provides low cost badge printing, online registration, bar code scanners and convention consulting solutions needed in the trade show and event industry.  David’s company provide a web based software program that is simple, easy to use and can help you control some of the costs associated with registration lead retrieval and many of the back-end nuts and bolts that show management deals within the industry. I liked David’s quote about the economy as well, something I have been researching and will soon release a series on:

“You have to do more for less.”

It seems like a simple mission and David’s company has been doing just that.  They cater to the smaller shows, nothing very big, but he does offer really large savings to events and their show management.  Their service is user friendly, web based, and perfect for the company looking to cut back on their budgets. In fact you can use their services with your own laptop and an Internet connection.  I suggest if you want to get a good idea of their services and what they offer, take some time to check out their website at AESI.  I think the services they provide are far to many to try to list out here, but what you should atake away from this Friday Feature is that AESI can help you keep your costs down and can provide anything that you need in order to make your event, trade show or convention come off smoothly, simply, and affordable.

I have been doing quite a bit of research recently including interviewing industry experts in the area of the new economic situation and how it is touching us here in the convention and trade show industry.  I put out a call for experts to reach out and tell me about their ideas and opinions.  I have spoken with vendors and suppliers, those in the convention centers, and meeting planners and others all of which have an opinion on how their lives have been effected by the downturn in the economy.  I am finishing up the series of interviews and getting my notes finished up and will be providing a series of posts related to my findings and the results of my investigation.

If you are someone that I have spoken with and are here to see what I have posted, be patient.  As I indicated the response to my call for ideas and opinions was more than I expected.  If you are here as a regular reader, I think the information I have gathered will prove to be informational, inspiring and a little revealing.  If you have not already signed up for our RSS feed or have not signed up to get our posts via email you can do that on the sidebar.  If I have not talked to you yet and you want to add your opinion or ideas to the piece, feel free to email me or just leave a comment here.  I’ll add you to the already overwhelming response for people that have weighed in.

[photo via jenn_jenn]

I just did the Friday Feature on Conventions.net and the idea that people could advertise on our mother site, Conventions.net, and how simple it was, and now you can as easily and as simply advertise on Convention Insider.  Randy Goldberg, Director of Marketing, wanted me to get this information to all of our readers right away as this is a limited time offer and I am told that some of the space has already been taken.

I have some great news! 

Conventions.net is now offering you the opportunity to purchase valuable text link ads!  We are the #1 buyer/seller marketplace online!  All of our main landing pages have a Google Page Rank of 5 or better!  This is your chance to move your site up on Google.com.  There is no better, more relevant text link to be purchased in the Trade Show Industry!  Search Engine Optimization is the #1 way to generate more visitors to your website, and the best way to do this is by acquiring dominant, relevant inbound links from top sites on the net!  This is a limited offer, we can only place a small number of outbound text links on our pages!  For more information, or to lock in your text links please contact me today by phone or email.

Rates:

Text Link Ads (3 month minimum, 15% annual discounts)

1. Site Wide Footer – excluding home page $350/month
2. Main Marketplace Landing Page $200/month
3. Marketplace Category Result Page $125/month
4. Package 1 – 5 Marketplace Category Result Pages $250/month
5. Package 2 – 5 Category Result Pages + Main Marketplace $300/month

Corporate Blog – ConventionInsider.com

1. Blog Roll Text Link Ad (3 month minimum) $100/month
2. 120 x 60 Sponsorship Banner $200/month

I look forward to hearing from you!

Links to your site are the new gold standard when they are relevant to your content and relevant to what it is that you offer.  If you are in the convention and trade show industry, you need to have those back links to make your organic search results soar.  Don;t take my word for it, go and ask your people in your SEO department or ask your website experts.  They will all tell you that links are an invaluable way to increase your page rank, your site searchability and your traffic.  What more could you ask for?  Well maybe you could ask for a discount.  That is why I also want to make you this offer from me.  If you mention that Convention Insider sent you for this offer, you will receive a 5% discount off your first order of advertising!  Sorry Randy, I keep spending your money!

That seems like an oxymoron or a dichotomy or some such phrase I cannot remember, but taking a look at the old but new site at Conventions.net is definitely important today.  This is why today I am featuring none other than the mother ship of Convention Insider, the big cheese, the big Kahuna, the top of the heap, king of the hill, well I could go on forever, and since I am not paid by the word here I will save you the reading and me any further embarrassment.   We have a new look and feel over at Conventions.net.  The site was launched last year with some very cool functionality, but now it also has a new look and feel when you hit the landing page.  Tell us what you think.  I like the classic clean line and navigation.  I didn’t even have a hand in the design!

One of the things I like to brag about with the site, and something that has not changed at all is the the fact that Conventions.net is findable.  Now before you go off and find a dictionary or before you send me that nasty email about “findable” not really being a word, guess again.  I made it up so therefore I can’t be talked out of the fact that the word exists.  Actually, I didn’t make up the word but my friend Dave Taylor of Ask Dave Taylor fame did write a book on the subject.  Don’t tell him I said this, but the book is awesome and anyone in the online world should pick up a copy.

Are you findable? 

Take a moment and Google the word “Conventions”.  Go ahead I’ll wait.  Are you back now?  Did you find the same result that I did?  Of course, I am talking about the fact that after a mere 60 days following the launch of the site, Conventions.net was on page 1 of Google and climbing for that all important key word.  It is now the number 1 search result for that keyword as you can see.  Still not impressed?  Where is your company on that list?  Can I find your company if I am looking for an exhibit booth for my convention in Vegas or that meeting planner that works in Miami or New York?  No?  I can find those things with only a couple of clicks on the Conventions.net marketplace page.  Making sure your company is findable is what we are about at Conventions.net.  Can you afford not to be a part of their exciting marketplace?

If you are wanting to be found, wanting to offer your services to those customers that are specifically looking for what you offer, you cannot afford to wait any longer.  You need to be listed on the conventions.net site.  If you want to be listed, they can help you right now by contacting Randy Goldberg or his staff.  If you want, leave a comment here and I will make sure your company gets listed (leave a comment here and I’ll make sure you get a discount! I am so getting fired for that one!).  One way or another, if you want more business or would like a lead or two sent to you, get over and sign your company up.  If you do, you get to be a feature here just like the many others! 

I have been following along with the status of things as they progress in the International CES show coming up in January in Las Vegas.  This as you may or may not know is one of the largest trade shows in the world, so it goes without saying this is on the screen of many in our industry.  One of the things that I have paid close attention to is the awards shows that are running that week.  This from the press release provided by the Global Media Awards:

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) and the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announced the nominees for the inaugural ceremony of the Global Media Awards to be presented at The Venetian Hotel on January 8, 2009 at the opening night of the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show, the world’s largest event for consumer technology.

The Consumer Electronics Association and the National Academy of Television
Arts & Sciences honor excellence in the creative adaptation of technology that enhances video programming or content.  Now, for the first time, these two industry leaders have partnered together to launch the Global Media Awards (GMA) in order to recognize how the worlds of technology and entertainment  have merged to advance both the creativity and science of media worldwide. 

“The International CES is the global intersection of digital entertainment and technology,” said Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, CEA. “The companies responsible for bringing new digital media and content to consumers around the world deserve special recognition and the International CES is the perfect venue for this new awards program. We’re thrilled to partner with NATAS to bring this new collaboration to the CES show floor.”

“The digital revolution of media has forged a bond between creators and technologists who are pioneering the frontiers of a new age in communications,” said Peter Price, president and CEO, NATAS.  “No other ceremony at so significant a global convocation of professionals has recognized and rewarded the achievements of individuals and companies leading the transformation of the media industry.”
The Global Media Awards promote the advancement of content and technology innovation in thirteen new categories: 

»      Short Form - (Informational / Entertainment)
»      Advertising
»      Web Site / Internet -  (Informational / Entertainment)
»      Repurposed Linear / Traditional Content
»      Long Form - (Informational/Entertainment)
»      Platform - (Hardware / Software / Interactive /Advertising)
»      Experience / Program Guide

For Sponsorship or Ticket purchase information regarding this event, please email the Global Media Awards at events@natasonline.com or call 212-484-9440 for more information.

The Nominees as tabulated by the accounting firm of Lutz & Carr follow.  Nominees are also listed at the GMA website: www.globalmediaawards.org

A few years back, okay it must be more than a decade ago now, my brother was diagnosed with the adult onset of diabetes.  He now checks his blood sugar level many times a day gives himself insulin shots as needed to control his blood sugar levels.  I wanted to take a moment out of out regular posting to recognize that yesterday was the 4th Annual D-Blog Day in honor of alerting everyone that November is Diabetes Awareness Month.  You can show your support and to get the word out about the disease that is touching the lives of so many people.  I missed getting this post up yesterday but that doesn’t mean we can’t still alert everyone to be conscious of the fact that this month is all about learning and being aware of diabetes.   Go and check out the Diabetes OC Site and check out all of the diabetes blogs that are out there and leave a comment or two.

As always I found myself surfing along the Internet and found myself at another site related to the convention and trade show industry but had no idea how I had ended up there.  I love the places the Internet takes me, not because I get to find some cool stuff along the way, but because then I get to tell you about them.  Once such cool place I ended up was at a company that makes it easy for you and your company to take credit card payments while working at your next convention or trade show.

ProPay is a company that is a merchant services company.  I got a chance to sit down with Bryce Thacker, EVP of Sales and Marketing (pictured right) at ProPay, and also was able to have them provide me a press release with one of their newest and greatest things for the industry.  ProPay is a company providing simple, safe and affordable credit card processing and electronic payment services for businesses, “ranging from the small, home-based entrepreneur to multi-billion-dollar enterprises.”  More facts about the company include:

*Edited 11/7/08

My blog post about China having a greater prominence in the trade show and convention area and the idea of The Death of the Trade Show caught the attention of Sue Pelletier and a commenter recently and it made me rethink what I had posted.  I suppose hindsight is always 20/20 and blogging is not much different.

I made the comment in the comments section of Sue’s blog that a person needs to have that face to face action at a trade show when I stated:

“I too think that you cannot replace the trade show experience. It’s cool to go to a place like CES in Vegas and actually see that cool gadget, and hold it in your hand.”

I have been to virtual conferences and webinars and other places where they have allowed me as an audience member to ask questions and be a part of the audience during a presentation while sitting in the comfort of my own home.  This is a great way to raise the attendance of the people that are there to see and be a part of the conference or sessions in your show.  The part that I miss the most however, is the action taking place in the hallway outside the event.

I have made deals and closed sales in the hallways of events, and never once tried to conduct business during a session that was ongoing.  I was able to talk to the potential customer right then when the ideas were fresh and we all had business on our minds.  I think that is invaluable to the customer/business relationship.

I want to make it clear that I am not running for public office, but I am asking for your vote!  I want as many people in the United States as possible to get out and cast your vote in this election.  This is one of the most important elections of our time as it has been come to be known.  We here don’t endorse any of the candidates, but we know of the importance of getting to your local polling place and making sure your vote and your voice is represented.

It was interesting to see the fallout at the Consumer Electronic Show, when an attendee at the event took into the event a remote control that shutoff exhibitor televisions during presentation at the event. The attendee happened to be from the popular blog Gizmodo. What is more interesting now is the fact that the event planners have decided to have a blog partner for the event.

Organizers have chosen Engadget to be their blogging partner for the event that will be taking place January 8-11, 2009, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The event has 2700 exhibitors and a huge attendance. I’m glad to see a blog get the nod for the event.

Does your event have a blogging partner? Does your event need a blogging partner? I’m going to follow along with the CES and the idea of having a blogging partner. I’ll be speaking about this in December on why your company should be using social media to enhance your trade show or convention. Pay attention here and we may give you a sneak peek.