Great Ways to Connect with Industry Outsiders
Many people these days are jumping into the Meeting Planners/Event Industry and it can be very intimidating. Especially with the new social media outlets, technology, tweets, hashtags…the list goes on and on. If these do not come as a second nature to you, it can definitely be hard getting into the groove of things. I read this article this morning from Meetings Change called “Extending Your Meetings Impact: Connecting Outside your Industry”, and it brought me back to my job in the hospitality industry. I was so overwhelming understanding the lingo, the operations, etc. just like in any industry you are unfamiliar with. Below are some great points in how to make an outsider of the industry feel more welcomed and intrigued.
Recommendations for connecting outside your industry:
- Keep your messages jargon and acronym free. This can be tough if you’re using tools like twitter with character limits, but it can make a big difference in keeping the attention of outsiders.
- Use examples that non-experts can relate to and visualize.
- Invite active bloggers from outside your industry to participate in your program.
- Use tools like Storify to capture tweets from your meeting that are relevant to “outsiders”. Add links for additional information and reports that support the tweets.
- Develop relationships with potential “ambassadors” for your industry. These will be preferably outsiders who are knowledgeable about your industry’s value, and who can provide first-hand accounts of the value that your industry provides.
The team at Grass Shack Events & Media have been in this industry for over 10 years. We understand this industry and know it can be hard for Meeting and Event Planners. Let us help you understand this industry and help you run your meeting or event as smooth as possible. Contact us today!
