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Here’s why 650+ attendees loved Partnership Leaders’ conference Catalyst 2023

3 key reasons why Partnership Leaders' in-person conference 'Catalyst' was a big success this year.

There are conferences, and then there are conferences.
Partnership Leaders' Catalyst 2023 firmly establishes itself in a league of its own.

This annual conference serves as a catalyst for growth in the partnership and business development sector, with partnership professionals from around the globe coming together to discuss best practices, set industry standards, and elevate partnerships to new heights. This year, Catalyst 2023 was held in Denver. It was attended by 650+ professionals, all of whom left the event thoroughly impressed and inspired by the experience.

Catalyst attendees raved about the conference experience on LinkedIn

Here are 3 ways Partnership Leaders made this in-person conference an absolute hit among its members this year.

1) A frictionless check-in experience

At many in-person conferences, the check-in process can be tiresome, often involving long queues, manual badge searches, and frustrating delays. Attendees frequently spend valuable time waiting in a line or tutting internally at the sluggish pace of checking-in.

via GIFER

It can put a damper on the event itself.

But at Catalyst ‘23, attendees were able to check in and get their badges printed in less than 60 seconds. It was a smooth-as-butter process because:

Attendees were emailed a QR code beforehand
They scanned this code on iPads provided at the registration table in Denver
The scan prompted a badge label to be printed automatically
All that was left was to collect the badge and walk into the conference!

Attendees showed off their Catalyst check-in badges on LinkedIn

2) A conference app co-created by attendees

Conference apps, while intended to enhance the event experience, can often be bloated with unnecessary features and difficult to navigate. Attendees may struggle to find the information they need amidst a sea of overwhelming options, leading to frustration rather than convenience.

The Catalyst ‘23 app however was built with input from Partnership Leaders’ community members themselves, who logged in, tested things out and made suggestions. This sense of co-ownership resulted in 98% of Catalyst attendees downloading the conference app.

“They used it to navigate the venue and add sessions to their schedule. They could receive real-time updates to the agenda, and it allowed them to see who else they could network with based on their goals and interests,” says Asher Mathew, CEO of Partnership Leaders. “It helped to personalize the conference experience for them and strengthened the sense of community, as we had all built it together.”

Catalyst attendees shared enthusiastic LinkedIn updates about the smooth networking experience

3) Easy ways for sponsors to connect with attendees + vice-versa

Navigating the conference landscape can be a double-edged sword for both sponsors and attendees. For sponsors, qualifying attendees amid the hustle and bustle of large events can be a daunting task. On the flip side, attendees often find themselves overwhelmed, struggling to keep track of the multitude of opportunities that come their way.

The Lead Retrieval app at Catalyst '23 served as a bridge, simplifying interactions between sponsors and attendees. Sponsors could quickly scan attendee QR codes for instant data capture and qualification using simple lead scoring, making follow-up with highly interested attendees easy. And for the attendees, the same QR scan meant that they could just focus on interacting with the sponsor without the burden of manual note-taking, knowing that they would be sent pertinent information after the conference.

Sponsors interacting with attendees at the conferenc

To sum up

The collaborative energy championed by Partnership Leaders paved the way for streamlined interactions and seamless data exchange that attendees wholeheartedly embraced at Catalyst '23, and set a new standard for in-person conferences.

Why virtual-first event platforms fall short for in-person conferences

Why virtual-first event platforms fall short for in-person conferences

An exploration into how in-person events have evolved in recent years, and the technological gaps that restrict event marketers.

We’ve all seen how in-person conferences have returned to the forefront (and thank god for that!)

But is it that same-old in-person experience we knew a few years ago?

Not really.

Analyzing the changes in the in-person experience is sort of like watching an old friend return with a new vibe; they look the same, more or less, but something about them has changed for good!

After being shelved during the infamous locked-down years in the recent past, in-person events have re-entered the scene with a fresh, new sheen.

But what stirred this change, and where does today’s tech that promises to support these events stumble a bit?

Let’s find out.

So, what’s the new deal with in-person events?

Safety comes first, but make it smooth

Remember the ease of walking into events, all ready to networking vibes on? Now, it’s all about QR check-ins, ensuring a smooth, touch-free entry while keeping the safety gears in check. Health and engagement now go hand in hand, ensuring everyone can mingle without any worry in their heads.

Tech isn’t just a backstage player anymore

From QR codes ensuring safe entry to attendee apps that enable you to easily manage schedules, technology has stepped into the spotlight, playing a pivotal role in shaping the in-person event narrative and personalizing attendee experiences.

The necessity of hybrid components

In a world where reaching a wider audience has become paramount, integrating virtual elements into in-person events is no longer optional. You need a virtual streaming component at events to ensure no audience is missed and maximize reach and engagement.

Shift in audience perspective and strategy

Strategic audience targeting has taken a front seat, The focus moving from being solely on seeking new logos, to strategically bringing in existing customers. It’s a strategic play to get them to learn from one another, thereby subtly influencing deals and experiences.

Moreover, existing customers are now viewed as extensions of your sales team.This has become a standard approach in modern event planning.

Event intel is a must-have

The era of virtual events handed us the golden ticket of data - insights into attendee behavior, engagement metrics, and lead generation info that marketers now expect from in-person events too.

In essence, in-person conferences have evolved from just crafting memorable moments to strategically beneficial experiences. It’s not just about hosting a stellar event but ensuring it delivers tangible, measurable results.

But here's the challenge with using virtual platforms for in-person conferences

In-person conferences, now a key player in B2B marketing strategies, aim to bring valuable experiences to attendees and sponsors. However, event marketers find themselves in a bit of a pickle due to the predominantly ‘virtual-first’ solutions in the event tech landscape.

Different foundations, different stories

Most event platforms, which gained traction in recent years, were crafted with a clear mission - deliver a top-notch virtual experience. Adapting to in-person needs isn’t just about tacking on features; it’s about embracing the core essence of the format, which isn’t a mere flick of a switch but a transformation.

Strategic focus isn’t a one-size-fits-all

Hybrid events might be the talk of the town, but let’s break it down. Events usually lean towards one format, with the other playing a supporting role.

While platforms might claim to cater to both formats, their primary focus often peeks through their features and dashboards. Event marketers need tools that understand the intricacies of their primary event format and align with their strategic goals.

So, where does this leave event marketers?

Modern marketers deserve an event platform inherently designed to deliver an in-person experience attuned to the evolved expectations of attendees.

As in-person experiences transition from being tactical events to strategic marketing endeavors, event marketers should leverage technology that propels them towards success and enables them to extract maximum value from their in-person events.

In wrapping up, the event landscape has evolved significantly over the past few years, and so the technology supporting it must also evolve, ensuring it is not merely a reactive solution but a proactive tool that understands and enhances the modern in-person event experience.

4 best practices to connect with attendees after the conference

Zuddl Staff

After your association’s event is over, you need the right strategies to keep attendees actively engaged. Explore these top tips to retain their interest.

Picture this: your association just wrapped up a conference that kept all of your attendees engaged and taught them valuable insights that they can carry into their professional careers. However, just because your association’s event is over doesn’t mean your work is!

Events are not just one and done. Post-event follow-up is critical to keeping attendees invested in your organization and eager to stay involved, whether by registering for an upcoming event, signing up for your mentorship program, or upgrading their membership tier.

Luckily, you can use a variety of communication and marketing channels to keep attendees in the loop and connected to your organization at all times — from text messaging to social media.

Use these best practices to foster lasting relationships with attendees and nurture guests along the member journey after your event:

Express Appreciation
Solicit Feedback
Post event highlights
Offer additional ways to get involved

Connecting with your attendees before, during, and after your event is a vital part of boosting your member retention rate. Let’s dive into how you can keep your association on your members’ minds long after your event concludes.

Express Appreciation

Your association is likely made up of busy individuals who take the time out of their schedules to attend your conferences, workshops, and more. As a result, it’s important to show your gratitude to members for showing up. Doing this can build stronger connections with your members and make them feel like they're really part of your association's community.

In your thank-you messages, be sure to:

Greet attendees with their first names: A personalized message is much more eye-catching and impactful than a generic note that begins with “Dear Member.” Plus, it can lead to higher open rates. In fact, one study found that personalizing your subject lines can increase open rates by 29.3%. Add members’ first names to your subject lines so they’re more likely to read your message and feel like they’re a valued part of your organization, rather than just another participant among hundreds or thousands.
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Reference the event they attended: Include the specific name of your event in your message so attendees know what you’re thanking them for.
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Share the top insights from your event: Remind your attendees of the key takeaways from your event that they can use to reach their individual goals. For example, if you recently hosted a skills-building conference, you might say “Dear Monica, Thank you for attending our Annual Skills Development Conference. We hope that you enjoyed our public speaking and technical writing workshops and will carry out the three C’s we went over: “Communicate Clearly, Concisely, and Confidently.”

Manually personalizing each of your attendee communications can eat up all of your time and cause you to delay getting your thank-you messages out quickly. Instead, leverage a text messaging platform with automation and personalization abilities so you can easily power off these messages in just moments and feel confident that attendees will see them. The right platform will also let you schedule these messages in advance to be sent mere minutes or hours after your event concludes.

Solicit Feedback

Show your guests that you value their perspective by inviting them to fill out a post-event survey. Ask attendees to honestly share what they liked and disliked about your event. For instance, you might ask questions like:

On a scale of 1-10, how engaged did you feel during this event?
What was your favorite part of our event?
Do you have any suggestions to improve this event?
Did you find the registration process simple?
How likely are you to attend another event from our organization in the future?

Your members’ responses will point your association to ways you can increase your events’ impact in the future and boost your attendance numbers. After all, members are much more likely to attend events that align with their interests and actively take their feedback into consideration.

Once your survey is created, you’ll need a way to get it to your supporters. Easily send out this survey by text messaging your attendees a mobile-friendly link. This way, attendees can submit their responses at any time on the go. You can also email it to your event attendees so they have the option to complete it from their computers.

Post event highlights

Sharing event highlights on your marketing and communication platforms — like your text messaging campaign, social media, and email — allows attendees to remember the great time they had at your event while enticing members who weren’t in attendance to register for future events.

For example, you might share:

Photos of guests engaging in event activities, like listening to a speaker or networking with peers
Video clips of the top speeches from your event
Testimonials from guests in attendance

To gather testimonials, ask some of your loyal members who were in attendance to write a few sentences about what they took away from your event and how it’s helped them in their respective fields. This can be powerful social proof to inspire people to sign up for your next event or even apply to be a member if they aren’t already.

Offer additional ways to get involved

Events can often serve as a springboard for attendees to dive deeper into what your association can offer them. Point attendees to other ways they can continue to stay engaged in your association. For example, you might invite attendees to:

Register for upcoming events: On your website or through newsletters, highlight upcoming conferences, workshops, or networking events that would be of interest to your attendees. Include a link to your registration page so attendees can sign up with ease.
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Sign up for your email newsletter or subscribe to your blog: Attendees can always stay tapped into your organization by keeping up with your email newsletter or industry insights blog. This is a great way to keep your association top of mind and help members derive as much value from your organization as possible.
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Follow your social media accounts: Encourage attendees to follow your association on social media for real-time updates and the ability to connect with other members. For example, you might create a Facebook group where members can launch into thought-provoking discussions.
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Explore opportunities that relate to their specific interests: Suggest opportunities that align with the purpose of your event since you know that attendees are already interested in this. For instance, let’s say you’re an association of medical professionals that recently hosted a networking event for new doctors to learn more about how to progress in their careers. You might direct them to an opportunity to join your mentorship program and receive invaluable advice from more veteran members of your association.

You can also ask attendees as part of your post-event feedback survey for ways they hope to get more involved in your association. Then, you can suggest opportunities based on these responses.

Wrapping Up

The post-event phase is a golden opportunity to convert attendees into loyal members. With the right post-event marketing and communication strategies, you can build stronger relationships with attendees and create a vibrant and growing member community. Make sure you’re working with the best tech to easily get in touch with attendees and keep them engaged well after your event ends.

What to expect at Insuretech Vegas 2023

A short but succinct guide of what to expect at the conference.

Insuretech Vegas is just around the corner!

This event is the place to be for the latest and brightest in the insurance and technology industries, packed with expert sessions, hands-on workshops, breakout sessions for networking, and more.

Here’s everything you need to know about Insuretech Connect Vegas this year.

First, here are the essentials:

When is Insuretech Connect Vegas?

October 31 - November 2.

Where is Insuretech Connect Vegas 2023 going to be held?

The conference will be held at Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.

Where do I register?

Click here to purchase your tickets at ITC Vegas.

And here’s what you can look forward to checking out at the conference:

(1)🎱 Keynotes on cutting-edge tech and industry trends

Hear directly from top insurance CEOs, regulators, and innovation visionaries on their strategic insights and vision for the insurance sector - these sessions are insightful, downright inspiring and extremely valuable. We’re looking forward to these fantastic keynotes this year:

Practical Optimism: Strategies for Thriving in a Changing World
Presented by Gary Vaynerchuk, Chairman of VaynerX, the CEO of VaynerMedia Creator & CEO of VeeFriends

Thinking and Acting like a Digital Company: Building on 150 Years of Insurance Background
Presented by Kevin Strain, President & CEO Sun Life President
Rodney Zemmel, Global Leader of McKinsey Digital, McKinsey & Company

In the Hot Seat of an Insurtech CEO
Presented by Angus McDonald, CEO & Co-Founder, Cover Genius
Eduardo della Maggiora, CEO & Founder, Betterfly
Gary Hoberman, CEO & Founder, Unqork
Jacqueline LeSage, Managing General Partner, Munich Re Ventures
Jennifer Fitzgerald, CEO & Co-Founder, PolicyGenius

(2)👂Intriguing panel discussions on all things insurance, from personalization to bitcoin

There’s a fantastic variety of panels you can attend at the conference based on your specific interests, goals and pain points. We’d love to attend all of them to be honest, but here’s the ones that we wouldn’t miss:

From Good to Great: The Power of Personalization and Leveraging Data to Improve Customer Experience
Presented by Andrea Iorio, Columnist, MIT Technology Review
Brasil Brent Williams, CEO, President & Founder, Benekiva
Effi Fuks-Leichtag, CPO, NEXT Insurance
Jackie Morales, SVP, COO, Security Benefit

Insurance: Mission Impossible or Time for a Rethink?
Presented by Russell Higginbotham, CEO, Swiss Re Reinsurance Solutions

The Power of Emotions in Insurance Customer Experience: Creating Positive Memories and Loyalty
Presented by Jamie Hale, CEO & Co-Founder, Ladder Life

How Insurance Can Help to Enhance Resilience Against Climate Change's Environmental Risks
Presented by Daniel Price, Co-Founder, WeatherPromise
Dave Mullen, VC, SVB Capital
Raghuveer Vinukollu, Head of Climate Insights and Advisory, Munich Re
Rema Matevosyan, CEO & Co-Founder, Near Space Labs

(3)🤖🧠 Interactive deep-dive workshops on AI and more

From exploring emerging technologies like AI to mastering the intricacies of regulatory compliance, learn how to apply cutting-edge knowledge to real-world challenges in the insurance sector. Here are a few intriguing workshops that caught our eye:

Generative AI: Bridging the Productivity Gap in Insurance
Presented by Quantiphi Bhaskar Kalita, Global Head of FSI, Quantiphi Global Head of FSI Quantiphi
Learn: how you can bring generative AI into your organization to solve transformational challenges and boost productivity, like for instance streamlining tasks like policy comparison, policy document generation.

Revolutionizing Underwriting: Cutting-edge Tools Enhance Risk Analysis and Pricing Strategies
Presented by Moody's RMS
Learn: about the next generation of underwriting tools for P&C (re)insurers and how they work by pulling in untapped data sources, correlating them across their business, and delivering key insights at the point of underwriting.

(4)🗣️🗣️🗣️Lots and lots of networking opportunities

You’ll have plenty of time and opportunity to meet businesses and professionals you’re interested in connecting with. There are booth/kiosks on the show floor, private meeting rooms adjacent to the show floor booths, a dedicated area on the show floor for international attendees as well as dedicated meeting tables on the show floor.

There are a series of networking meet-ups designed for key niche audiences throughout the day including a First time orientation, Black Founders reception, Women’s Leadership Forum and a Reverse Speed Mentoring session held by InsureTalent x RISE in which young professionals seize the reins and offer insights that challenge conventional wisdom.

And there’s an AI matchmaking tool available that will connect you with decision makers that matter the most to you.

(5) And there’s plenty of fun and entertainment too

It's not all business; there's lots of entertainment and socializing at the conference too! Enjoy social events, receptions, and after-hours gatherings where you can relax and unwind while building connections. Do not miss:

Puppy Lounges - Stop by the ITC puppy lounges to spend time with adorable rescue puppies. Need we say more.

Relaxation Stations - Enjoy a mini massage from a trained masseuse to help you recharge

Champagne Wall - Stop by their champagne wall and grab a flute to toast your success at ITC Vegas

Happy Hour - Drinks and conversations almost every day, whether the kick-off reception or closing party

The takeaway:

Insuretech Connect this year promises to be a captivating event where you’ll probably be witnessing the future of insurance unfold in real-time. You’ll also get plenty of opportunity to network with tech and insurance enthusiasts as well as industry leaders. Win-win-win.

How Zylo drove 46% in new pipeline from their user conference using Zuddl

3 lessons from Zylo on driving 46% in pipeline from your user conference

Here’s how Zylo drove 46% growth in new pipeline from SaaSMe 2023

Every year, Zylo, the leader in SaaS management hosts SaaSMe, a multi-day conference dedicated to assisting IT and business leaders drive responsible growth through smarter SaaS management.

Day 1 of the conference is open to all who want to learn more about optimizing their SaaS portfolio, while Day 2 is dedicated to helping current customers dive deeper into deriving even more value from Zylo. Here's how Zylo delivered value to SaaSMe 2023 attendees and built relationships that turned into 46% growth in pipeline within just 2 months after the conference.

Here are 3 things that Zylo did which led to incredible growth in pipeline:‍

1. Smart conference session-scoring let Zylo identify a prospect or customer's specific pain points or interests

Despite having over 1000 registrations at SaaSMe, Zylo effectively understood the pain points and goals of each attendee by employing event engagement scoring.

They achieved this by first intelligently aligning session scoring with Zylo's value pillars.

Then Zylo analyzed each prospect’s attendance at sessions and engagement activity within each session.

This made it simple to see which were the prospect’s primary interests or concerns in SaaS management - for instance security, or licensing.

2. Layering event + account data gave Sales the power to highly personalize post -conference engagement

By leveraging Zuddl’s Salesforce integration, Zylo’s Sales team had easy access to information on the sessions that prospects and customers were most interested in at SaaSMe 2023 and questions or concerns on their mind. This insight, combined with existing account data, enabled them to reach out with personalized messages and content aligned with a prospect's interests—such as security for those engaged in SaaS security sessions.

Furthermore, Zylo also ensured that the right seller connected with the right prospect. For instance, because Day 2 of SaaSMe was customer-centric, only customer success executives were assigned follow-up with customers. Here too, because of the Salesforce integration, CS executives had more insight into a customer’s goals and challenges and could recommend additional Zylo service offerings.

3. Made conference video recordings super-fast so that Sales could use them in outreach

Team Zylo, using Zuddl's built-in video production tool - Studio, were able to create SaaSMe 2023 branded video highlights within days after the conference. This meant that their Sales team could use the videos in their outreach to prospects and customers - a simple but impactful way to continue the momentum of the conference forward, cement Zylo as a partner invested in optimizing your SaaS management, and move the needle a little further towards conversion.

The takeaway:

When the name of the game is building authentic connections and tailored solutions, Zylo's success stands as a testament to the power of meaningful engagement. Through their effective use of Zuddl’s platform features and integrations, Zylo turned their industry conference into an impressive pipeline engine for the company.

98 badges and counting - our latest spoils from G2's Fall Grid® Report

From 65+ badges in summer, we're now 98 badges strong on G2! Here are the highlights from our wins in the G2 Grid® Report for Fall 2023.

Another season becomes another reason to celebrate!

We’re super kicked to share that Zuddl has bagged 98 badges in G2’s Fall report across 8 categories. Back in summer. we secured 65+ badges, and now there's 33 more badges - which means 33 more reasons to smile :)

Here are the key highlights from our wins as per the G2 Grid® Report for Fall 2023:

Leader

(Noteworthy categories: Virtual Event Platforms, Mid-Market Virtual Event Platforms, Small-Business Virtual Event Platforms)

Products in the Leader quadrant in the Grid® Report are rated highly by G2 users and have substantial Satisfaction and Market Presence scores

Best Support

(Noteworthy categories: Event Management Platforms, Event Networking and Matchmaking, Mobile Event Apps, Event Registration & Ticketing)

The Highest Quality of Support product in the Relationship Index earned the highest Quality of Support rating in its category

High Performer

(Noteworthy categories: Event Marketing, Event Management Platforms, Audience Response, Webinars, Event Networking and Matchmaking, Mobile Event Apps, Event Registration & Ticketing,)

Products in the High Performer quadrant in the Grid® Report have high customer Satisfaction scores and low Market Presence scores compared to the rest of the category

Easiest Setup

(Noteworthy categories: Event Management Platforms, Event Registration & Ticketing, Webinars)

The Easiest Setup product in the Implementation Index earned the highest Ease of Setup rating in its category

Best Usability

(Category: Mid-Market Virtual Event Platforms)

The Best Usability product in the Usability Index earned the highest Usability rating in its category

What makes G2 wins so special?

Our G2 report rankings are derived from genuine feedback given by actual users of Zuddl. As Sara Rossio, the Chief Product Officer at G2, points out, these insights are invaluable for potential buyers. They can confidently rely on this information during their software selection process, knowing it stems from thoroughly checked and genuine reviews.

Other exciting wins from the G2 Fall Grid® Report

Easiest Admin Mid-Market

(Key categories: Mid-Market Webinar, Mid-Market Event Management Platforms)

Easiest To Do Business With Mid-Market

(Key categories: Mid-Market Audience Response, Mid-Market Event Management Platforms)‍

Momentum Leader

(Key categories: Event Management Platforms, Virtual Event Platforms, Webinar, Mobile Event Apps, Event Registration & Ticketing)

Leader - India

(Key categories: Asia Pacific Mobile Event Apps, Asia Pacific Virtual Event Platforms, Asia Event Registration & Ticketing)

High Performer Enterprise

(Key categories: Mid-Market Asia Pacific Virtual Event Platforms, Mid-Market Asia Pacific Webinar)

As always, we thank you for cheering us on!

Psst.. we have exciting things lined up in the coming months - stay tuned!

Oracle CloudWorld 2023 - What to expect

Thinking of checking out Oracle CloudWorld 2023 in Vegas? Here's what's in store.

Oracle CloudWorld 2023 is all set to kickoff next week. If you're still on the fence about attending it, and don’t have the time to do your research, we’ve got you covered!

Here’s all you need to know.

What's it about?

It’s the largest gathering of Oracle customers and partners from around the world.

When and where is it happening?

Oracle CloudWorld will be held between September 18–21, 2023 at The Venetian Conference and Expo Center in Las Vegas. It is an in-person first conference.

What to expect:

Extensive learning opportunities from Oracle experts
Networking sessions with peers from various industries
Exploration of the latest Oracle innovations
A focus on Oracle solutions, including infrastructure, databases, and applications
Insights to tackle complex business challenges

Sessions you may like:

Transform customer experience quickly with infrastructure and applications

Discover how to rapidly transform customer experiences by leveraging Oracle's infrastructure and applications. Understand the benefits of Oracle's integrated cloud suite in delivering seamless customer experiences.

Maximize your marketing impact with Oracle Advertising and CX

Dive into the capabilities of Oracle Advertising and CX to enhance your marketing strategies. Learn how to drive better results and ROI from your marketing campaigns using Oracle's suite of tools.

Generative AI use cases, best practices, and strategies

Experts from Atlassian, Intermedia, Cohere, Accenture, and Oracle will discuss generative AI use cases, success stories, deployment strategies, and best practices.

‘Note’worthy keynotes:

Larry Ellison, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer, Oracle will be discussing the latest advancements in Oracle Cloud, providing insights into the future of cloud technology.
Safra Catz, CEO, Oracle will be sharing her vision for the future of business in the cloud era, emphasizing the role of Oracle in shaping that future.

Networking ops:

Oracle's sales and product teams are arranging small, by-invitation gatherings for individuals to interact with peers and specialists. The event includes a meal, beverages, and some entertainment in Las Vegas. Besides this, there are a host of sessions hosted by AMD, PwC, Accenture, etc. Plus, you can always spark up a conversation at CloudWorld Hub during your coffee breaks.

How to register?

The passes and pricing deets are available on their website.

Dreamforce 2023: What to expect

Dreamforce 2023 promises a blend of business acumen, AI innovations, and A-list entertainment. In this article, we unpack the highlights.

Touted to be the AI event of the year, Dreamforce 2023, Salesforce's renowned annual conference is happening between Sep 12 - 14 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA- and it promises to be a hoot!

For those of you who are wondering if it’s worth your time and money, here's a sneak peek into what’s in store.

Quick highlights

1,500+ sessions, 75+ AI thought leaders
Real-time conversations with thought leaders
A-list entertainer performances
Surprises around every corner

A star-studded speaker lineup, alright (alright, alright):

Other important speakers include:

Marc Benioff - Chair, CEO and co-founder, Salesforce

Sam Altman - CEO, OpenAI - AI innovator and expert

Ayanna Howard, Ph.D - Accomplished roboticist, entrepreneur and educator

Viola Davis - Award-winning actress, producer and NY Times bestselling author

Rainn Wilson - Award-winning actor, comedian and NY Times bestselling author

Important AI sessions:

Here are some of the standout AI sessions lined up:

AI for Everyone: This session promises to demystify AI for the general audience, breaking down complex concepts into digestible insights.
Einstein Automate: Dive deep into the world of automation with Salesforce's Einstein Automate, exploring how businesses can streamline operations using AI.
Tableau Business Science: A session dedicated to data visualization and business intelligence, highlighting the importance of data-driven decision-making in modern enterprises.
MuleSoft Composer for Salesforce: This will focus on integrating various data sources, ensuring seamless data flow across platforms, powered by AI.

What's unique about this year’s edition?

Apart from the regular sessions, Dreamforce 2023 is introducing "TrAIlblazer Experiences," a unique blend of learning and entertainment. These experiences are designed to inspire attendees, offering a mix of hands-on workshops, luminary sessions, and networking opportunities.

And last but not the least…

To add a touch of entertainment to the event, the legendary rock band Foo Fighters will be tearing up the stage!

How to register:

Interested in attending? You can register for Dreamforce 2023 on the Salesforce website. Given the event's popularity, it's advisable to book your spot asap!

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Webinars

4 on-ground insights on B2B influencer marketing

How do you start off with influencer marketing in the B2B space? What are the key tactics to succeeding in it? This article has the answers.

Businesses are waking up to the potential of influencer marketing.

A recent poll by InvespCro revealed a staggering 94% of marketers believe influencer marketing is a game-changer for B2B businesses.

With such compelling stats, it pays to know how to tap into influencer marketing. At the same time, for someone starting out, it also pays to know what not to do. Luckily, we got some killer insights from Anton Shulke, Head of Influencer Marketing at Duda, in our recent edition of Event Heroes.

Here are four cool takeaways from that conversation that you can confidently bookmark:

1. The essence of influencer marketing is relationship building

One of the key points Anton underscores is the importance of investing time and effort in building relationships with influencers. No matter what the current trends are and what different strategies you’re following, at the end of the day, relationship building determines the success of your influencer marketing efforts.

"I think you will win in influencer marketing (B2B especially) if you kind of hold your horses and you invest, invest in not, not money, invest your time and, and, and effort in relationship with your influencer.” advises Anton.

2. Authenticity is key

Anton reiterates the power of trust and the human element in influencer marketing. Authentic recommendations can significantly influence purchasing decisions. He stresses the importance of working with an influencer who sees value in your business as well as your product. If they don’t like it - how will they vouch for you?

Highlighting this point, he says, "Only work with people who want to work with you who see value in working with you. It also is very important to work with people who like your products (not necessarily who use your product)."

3. All experts are not influencers, and vice versa

On the topic of how influencers can add value to B2B conferences, Anton acknowledges that they can help you reach a wider audience and promote your event, but also highlights that it is important for an event marketer to know the difference between an influencer and an expert, and this will help you aptly reach out to them for different purposes to better your conferences.

"Expert and influencer - it's not the same. One expert would be absolutely fantastic - but nobody knows him because he doesn't want to be a public figure. Experts will bring some tips or some deep knowledge people want, of course, but this expert would not bring registrations of course because nobody knows him. So you need someone who will bring your registration.”

4. Start small and scale up once you see results

Getting started with B2B influencer marketing can be a bit puzzling. As a marketing leader who is planning to kick things off, how do you make the first move? Anton suggests that starting with low-cost initiatives, like webinars, can be an effective way to dip your toes into influencer marketing without a hefty investment.

You can watch our entire conversation with Anton right here.

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How to design stand-out email marketing campaigns for events

Zuddl Staff

Email marketing is key to promoting upcoming events for your business or association. Learn some actionable tips for creating stand-out email campaigns.

Imagine you receive this email from a professional association you were once a member of:

‍Please join us for our next virtual event

We’re pleased to announce our next virtual mixer! Meet and mingle with peers as we discuss recent trends in the field.
Please RSVP at the following link: [URL]

Would you be likely to re-engage with the association or attend the event? Probably not. This short email doesn’t inspire action and would be unlikely to even catch your attention in a crowded inbox.

But what if you received this version?

‍You’re Invited: Claim your spot in ABC’s virtual mixer this Wednesday
It’s time for another virtual mixer as part of the Association of Badger Crusaders’ autumn event series!
[Screenshot from the previous event overlaid with a cute badger illustration]

We’ve been thrilled to see our community of wildlife researchers, enthusiasts, and warriors join previous events, and we’ve got something special planned for our next event on Wednesday at 6:00 PM Eastern — but you’ll need to tune in to find out!
Please RSVP today to claim your spot, or sign up to receive a recording of the gathering if you’re unable to join us: [URL]
We look forward to seeing you and chatting all things badger conservation!

Assuming you’re a badger researcher or enthusiast, this email would probably be more likely to grab your attention, right?

Email promotions are among the most important ways for organizations to get the word out about events, increase attendance numbers, and drive engagement. But there’s so much more you can be doing than drafting basic emails notifying supporters, members, or customers about the event and asking them to attend. The ways in which you design your email campaigns and craft your messages will have a huge impact on final outcomes.

Let’s explore four of the fundamental best practices to keep in mind.

1. Determine the value proposition of your event

Why would someone want to attend your event? When you’re knee-deep in planning and coordinating, it can be surprisingly easy to lose sight of what should be at the core of your event’s promotions: its value proposition.

Value proposition is defined as “a concise statement of the benefits that a company is delivering to customers who buy its products or services,” but it can be expanded to anything that you’re promoting. If you’re asking people to take action, you need to understand why they’d want to.

Break your event down into these elements to uncover and refine its value proposition:

Purpose: Why are you hosting this event? What will it accomplish for your organization?
Audience:Who do you want to attend this event? What are their motivations for engaging with your organization in general—are they customers, donors, or members? What do they get from being a part of your community?
Benefits: How do the purpose of the event and your audience’s motivations intersect? What are the benefits they’ll get from attending—networking, learning opportunities, sneak peeks at new products or programs, a fun time?
Unique aspects: What does your event offer that takes its appeal and benefits to the next level, setting it apart from other similar events? Do you have special entertainment planned, or a standout speaker?

As you lay out your email strategy, try answering these questions. They’ll give you a clearer sense of why people would want to attend the event and what they’ll get out of it. This is the core message that should anchor all of your promotions in one form or another.

2. Segment your email list

Understanding your target audience will help you refine your email approach and ultimately maximize attendance and engagement. If you’ve already defined your audience with the exercise above, it’s time to dig deeper to uncover the more specific strategies and elements you might employ in your emails to target them.

Start by defining the specific characteristics of your target audience for this event—for an association, these could be markers like:

Active membership
Lapsed membership within the last X years
Previous engagement with this type of event
Location (for in-person events)

When you create a defined segment for your event promotions, you can then take a closer look to see what promotional strategies will work best for your emails. If you keep comprehensive records in a CRM or database integrated with your email tools, you should be able to review previous email campaigns that these segmented donors have received. Order them by clickthrough or conversion rate, and bingo—you’ve found the specific promotions, subject lines, perks, and more that successfully attracted this audience’s attention in the past.

But even aside from this kind of data archaeology, segmenting your audience will still be helpful for simplifying the process of drafting your messaging. It’s always easier to speak to a group when you know exactly who they are in relation to your organization.

Segmentation is also important if your event targets multiple audiences, like potential vendors and attendees for a conference. Segmenting them and developing distinct email streams will keep your promotions organized and effective.

3. Leverage email copy best practices

Once you’ve determined the value of your event and who you’ll be promoting it to, it’s time to write some emails. You don’t have to be a professional copywriter to draft an engaging message, but you do need to follow a few best practices. These are the most important to keep in mind:

Subject lines. Your email’s subject line should make it immediately clear what the email is about. Include some flair, humor, or impactful words to catch your reader’s attention depending on the tone you’re trying to strike. Mailchimp recommends that subject lines be no more than 9 words and 60 characters to ensure visibility for mobile users, like in the example from above: “Claim your spot in ABC’s virtual mixer this Wednesday!”

Preview text. The preview text (or the first couple of lines of your email if preview text is not set) will display for users before they click through to read your email, so make sure it’s clear, concise, and enticing. This is the place to tease the value proposition of your event or tap into an emotional connection that will compel readers to learn more.

Action and urgency. Your subject line and main body of your email need to include active language to best connect with readers and encourage them to take the next step. For example, the subject line above includes “claim your spot.” Don’t mislead readers, but do think about your event’s capacity and registration deadline—these are important pieces of information to share with them regardless.

Social proof. How have others benefited from attending your events in the past? Showing readers that your events are valuable and trustworthy, even in subtle ways, can boost engagement. For example, shout out your impressive attendance numbers from your last virtual conference or include a short testimonial or two from past vendors or attendees.

Personalization. This is one of the foundational event marketing best practices—take steps to personalize your emails to their recipients however possible. An integrated CRM and email tool makes it easy to auto-fill emails with recipients’ names. An effective segmentation strategy also allows you to develop different email variations for your subaudiences, like previous attendees vs. prospects who haven’t yet attended an event.

Above all, keep your email direct and concise. We all receive spam messages and know what they look like, so don’t let your email get mistaken for one. A direct, eye-catching subject line, compelling body copy, and thoughtful language and personalization choices can make a big difference in the ultimate impact of your emails.

4. Include compelling visuals and calls-to-action

Don’t forget the finishing touches that will drive engagement and more signups for your event—compelling visuals and clear calls-to-action.

Your emails can (and should) include visual elements that reflect the theme or content of your event. These could include:

Branded letterhead elements
Your organization’s logo
Small illustrations or graphics
Photos from similar past events

Be mindful not to include any visuals that are too large—this will impact the email’s deliverability and load time, which will backfire and reduce engagement. But compelling visuals that reinforce your brand and trustworthiness, add an appealing look, or provide social proof can go a long way to drive results.

You’ll also need to include calls-to-action that clearly direct readers to the target action you want them to take. For an event, this action would be registering to attend. It’s important to have a single call-to-action so that your message doesn’t get muddled, but this request can be repeated multiple times.

The first couple of lines in your email should clearly state your call-to-action and link readers to your registration page. Then, sign off your email with a prominent button, graphic, or link that also sends readers to register.

With a well-designed registration page, you’ll start seeing registrations trickle (or flood) in.

But you’ll also need a way to actually track these conversions. Ensure that your registration page is set up to capture and report conversions, in this case sign-up form completions, to Google Analytics. You can then use this data to put the finishing touches on your event plan and learn more about your performance, both in real-time and once the event is over and it’s time to promote your next one.

Email can and should be a cornerstone of your event promotion strategies. It’s one of the most direct ways of reaching potential attendees, and it’s easy to create streams or chains of emails that educate your readers about the event and compel them to take action. Email performance is also extremely measurable, making it a helpful source of event metrics when integrated into your data collection processes and future email marketing strategies.

With a clear sense of who you’re targeting, why they should be interested, how to best design your message to catch their attention, and extra touches that drive engagement and sign-ups, you can see some incredible email marketing results for your next event.

New enhancements to elevate the conference experience

Philson John Philip

We've dropped some game-changing enhancements to help you streamline in-person events, target audiences effectively, and communicate with precision. Read the article for more deets!

Hold onto your hats, folks…

We're about to unveil some game-changing updates that are going to revolutionize the way you craft user conferences. In a world where every event needs to leave a lasting impression, you need tools that are not just good, but exceptional.

We've been listening, tweaking, and perfecting Zuddl to ensure you have everything at your fingertips to design those standout experiences.

Ready to explore? Let’s jump in:

1. In-Person Locations

The Highlight: Organizing a hybrid or in-person user conference? You can now help your in-person attendees save time by adding a location and uploading a map link of your venue. You can paste links for dedicated sessions or meeting rooms. Attendees will have access to all the maps via their Zuddl Mobile App.

Get started: Head over to the 'Locations' tab in the 'Venue Setup'. Add your venues and pop in that map link. Guiding your attendees has never been this easy!

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2. Audiences

The Highlight: Say hello to 'Audiences' - our smart tool that lets you create dedicated lists of your prospects. Think of it as your personal grouping assistant. With 'Audiences', targeted communication is super easy, eliminating the need for external email services.
Get started: Dive into the 'Audiences' page under the 'People' section. Zuddl’s got some pre-set audiences ready for you. Want more? Craft your own groups, even for those yet to RSVP. Streamlined, targeted, and efficient.

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3. Custom Communications

The Highlight: With our enhanced 'Audiences' feature, you can now plan different emails for pre-event, live event and post event communication. To make this more useful, you can choose specific audiences so that you send targeted messages to the right audience at the same time.
Get started: Navigate to the 'Custom' tab in the 'Communication' section of the organizer dashboard. Pick your audience, set the time, craft your message, and voila!

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Remember, every event tells a story, and with these updates, you're equipped to make yours legendary.

4 event marketing tales and tips from the trenches

Psst: Read how Zylo used Zuddl’s Saleforce integration to create 46% growth in new pipeline from their user conference SaaSMe 2023

There's no better teacher than experience. That's why we've compiled four invaluable takeaways from an event marketing veteran.

History informs us about the future - and the same holds true for B2B conferences.

By looking back, we can glean insights that help us move forward with clarity and purpose. And this perspective becomes even more invaluable when it comes from an industry veteran who has witnessed the ebb and flow of event technology over the years.

Enter Sharyn Fitzpatrick, a top-55 event technologist who currently helms events at Sysdig, a cybersecurity software company.

Sharyn has been in the events industry for over 25 years, and carries with her some invaluable learnings from her journey. She has seen the industry evolve, adapt, and transform.

So, when she shares a nugget of wisdom or a tale from her journey, it's not just a story – it's a roadmap.

Here's a quick look at some pearls of wisdom she shared with us in a recent edition of Event Heroes.

Staying agile with event tech is not optional

We’re not trying to sound like Captain Obvious when we say event technology is advancing at a rapid pace, because it’s still relevant - every passing day.

Platforms are evolving, new tools are emerging, and the integration possibilities are expanding. For event marketers, this means continuously updating their knowledge and being ready to adapt. Leveraging the latest features and integrations can significantly enhance the attendee experience.

When asked about leveraging event tech to build better events, Sharyn says "You need to be able to use an API or an embed code... platforms that have been more open source, open API, not a closed API will allow you to create a better experience for your attendee."

Always have a backup plan... or three

An event with zero challenges? - that’s Utopia!

Technical issues, unexpected changes, or disruptions can throw a wrench in the most well-laid plans. Sharyn emphasizes the importance of not just having a Plan B but also a Plan C and beyond. Being prepared for multiple scenarios ensures that you can pivot effectively, no matter what challenges arise.

“One of the stories I love telling is when we did this Charlie Miller webinar in February. I got a call at 4 am that one of our assisting speakers was sick and couldn't attend... so you've got to have kind of a backup plan for the different things that you do.” Sharyn remarks.

‍Harness creativity in your strategy

In the bustling area of event marketing, creativity is the only differentiator, and has always been.

It's not just about having a unique theme or engaging content; it's about reimagining the entire attendee experience.

From the way content is delivered to the engagement strategies employed, every aspect can benefit from a touch of creativity.

"Creativity is the soul of having a good events program... I believe in finding creative ways to deliver the right webinar experience." advises Sharyn.

Audience first, always

The logic is simple, really. Unless you truly know who your audience is, how can you expect to create an impactful event experience that captivates and converts?

Knowing who you're catering to, their preferences, expectations, and needs, is paramount. Tailoring your event experience to resonate with the audience ensures that you're providing them with authentic value and not just giving them a lofty philosophy that won’t make a difference to their career.

After all, an event is as successful as the value it provides to its attendees.

Sharyn reiterates this approach by stating: "Make sure you know who you're doing the events program for, who the target audience is, and what experience you want to create."

We hope these pearls of wisdom help you shape your own memorable event marketing journey.

You can also watch our entire conversation with Sharyn at your convenience!

Hybrid Events

Google Cloud Next 2023: What to expect

Discover the buzz around Google Cloud Next 2023: A hotspot for event marketers seeking the latest in cloud tech.

"Ok, Google, tell me why I should attend Google Cloud Next 2023?"

As one of the most awaited tech events of the year, this event promises a deep dive into the latest innovations in cloud technology.

If you're still wondering if you should attend, here's a sneak peek into what's in store:

What’s it all about?

Google Cloud Next is Google Cloud's premier annual conference, a gathering where technologists, innovators, and decision-makers come together to dive deep into the latest advancements in cloud technology. From illuminating keynotes to hands-on learning sessions, the event offers a unique blend of technical content, strategic insights, and opportunities to connect with experts and peers.

Whether you're an IT professional, developer, or a tech enthusiast, Google Cloud Next promises to equip you with the knowledge and tools to shape the future of cloud computing.

What you can expect:

This event is up your alley, if you wish to:

Dive into Google's recent breakthroughs in AI, data protection, efficiency, and beyond.
Delve into main presentations, detailed discussions, and live demonstrations.
Engage in practical workshops, educational sessions, and get certified on the spot.
Stay informed with the latest product trajectory news.
Network with Google's top visionaries at the executive gathering hub.

Top speakers to look out for:

Thomas Kurian - CEO of Google Cloud‍

With his vast experience and vision, Thomas's insights into the future of cloud technology are known to be enlightening. With nearly 30 years under his belt, he's honed his skills in engineering, cultivated strong business relationships, and effectively led large teams. Thomas is on the advisory councils for Stanford's Graduate School of Business and Princeton's School of Engineering.

Brad Calder - VP, Engineering at Google Cloud

Brad's sessions are known for their technical depth, providing a granular look into the workings of cloud technology. Brad Calder holds the VP and GM position for Cloud Platform and Technical Infrastructure at Google Cloud, managing networking, storage, data analytics, and core compute sectors. He has published over 100 papers in the areas of systems, architecture and compilers.

Aimee Catalano - Senior Director, Google

Aimee is a renowned expert in the go-to-market strategy for partner ecosystems and is notable for her contributions to DEI initiatives. Over her two decades in enterprise marketing, Aimee has led numerous leadership roles in both large and small firms, notably as the VP of Corporate Marketing at Pure Storage and the VP of Alliance Marketing for Citrix.

Sessions you may like:

What's new with generative AI at Google Cloud

Experts including David DeSanto from GitLab, and key figures from Google and The World Bank, will delve into Google Cloud's advancements in generative AI. Learn how organizations are leveraging these innovations and stay tuned for exciting announcements in Machine Learning and Generative AI.

What's next: Redefining productivity with Google Workspace

Join Harris Beber, Kristina Behr, Dave Citron, Yulie Kwon Kim, and Aparna Pappu from Google at the Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA from 12:15 - 13:00 GMT-7. Explore how Google is revolutionizing work by integrating AI into daily productivity tools. This session will unveil Google's vision for the future of collaboration and how Google Workspace can elevate creativity and efficiency in the modern hybrid work environment.

Collaboration 2.0: The Evolution of Work through AI and Data‍

Join Brian Goldstein from Google, along with industry leaders from Dialpad and OpenText, as they discuss the transformative impact of AI on collaboration technologies. This session delves into how intelligent tools are reshaping the modern hybrid workplace, empowering employees to achieve peak productivity. Learn from experts at the cutting edge of AI and data integration, and discover strategies to future-proof collaboration while maximizing outcomes.

Innovators Hive | Google Cloud Next ’23

Innovators Hive is the go-to spot for developers and practitioners to discover the latest from Google Cloud. Whether joining in-person or virtually, this is your destination for up-to-date learning materials, Innovators program details, engaging challenges to test your expertise, and exclusive digital badges for Next ’23 participants.

Elevate your Possible with Enterprise-Ready Generative AI powered by Google Cloud

Join Genevieve Chamard, Steve Jones, and Jennifer Marchand from Capgemini as they explore the synergy of human intelligence, cloud, and Generative AI. This session will guide enterprises on leveraging the latest technologies, showcasing real-world applications and strategies in the cloud for scalable and responsible business growth.

The when, where and how:

Date: October 11-13, 2023
Location: Moscone Center, San Francisco, with select content and interactive experiences available online.
Registration: Head over to the official event page to secure your spot. (just a heads up - most sessions are already full, so decide fast!)

Stretching every dollar: Four hacks to mastering event budgets

Want to master event budgeting? Let Kimberly Wong from Paddle guide you with 4 proven strategies

Ever felt the pressure of creating a standout event on a shoestring budget?

You're not alone.

Kimberly Wong, Senior Manager - Field Marketing, Global Events and Experiences at Paddle, knows that struggle all too well. Having worked in the hospitality industry prior to entering the B2B SaaS space, Kim’s experiences with running events are as unique as they come!

That’s why we sat down with her and discussed tried-and-true strategies to make every penny count and elevate your events without emptying your pockets!

And since ‘time is money’, let’s save you some and head right into the takeaways.

Hack 1: Build genuine vendor relationships

As event marketers, we all deal with vendors who help us translate our vision to reality. At this stage, it’s important to not think of your vendors as mere service providers, but rather as partners in your success.

Kimberly's approach underscores the value of these relationships. She notes, "Coming from hotels, I had a network of vendors that I rely on for various needs like swag, rentals, lighting, AV, and more. Building relationships with these vendors is crucial because you develop trust in their work quality."

How does this help with your budget? A better relationship means a better understanding of each other's needs. More open communication channels can lead to smoother operations, fewer misunderstandings, and even better deals or value-added services!

Hack 2: Know your non-negotiables

Every event rests on key pillars, the non-negotiable elements that define its core. Kimberly advises to identify and prioritize these from the get-go.

She suggests, "Start with the non-negotiables. Things that are never going to change." This isn't just about budgeting; it's about understanding the essence of your event. By identifying these pillars, you’ll ensure that the most critical aspects of your event remain uncompromised, allowing for flexibility and cost cuts in other areas without diluting the event's main objectives.

“For example you know how many people you're going to send on the team, you know you're going to need to do XYZ meals, you know you're going to have to pay this speaker right? When you start with that you get you get a base of what you're going to need to spend.” adds Kimberly.

Hack 3: Tap into community insights

In today’s super-saturated space of B2B events, no one person has all the answers. Kimberly champions the idea of leaning on the collective wisdom of the community.

She mentions, "Joining an association... you connect with planners and suppliers that become your back pocket." This isn't just about networking; it's about shared experiences, learning from others' successes and mistakes, and tapping into a reservoir of knowledge that can help you navigate challenges, anticipate trends, and make informed decisions.

Hack 4: Prioritize quality over quantity (at any cost!)

The phrase ‘do more with less’ is great - as long as you don’t end up coming off as a cheapskate.

Kimberly offers a word of caution that while cost cutting, you may want to steer clear of cutting high-impact elements too thin, which in turn dampens the “oomph” factor of your event.

For instance, she emphasizes, "You don't want to skimp on the kind of swag or giveaways... if it's good, they'll keep it; if not, they'll probably leave it back at their hotel room."

This is about the legacy of your event. It's about ensuring that every touchpoint, every interaction, and every takeaway resonates with quality.

Liked these tips? Try ‘em out and let us know what worked for you? Also, you can watch our full conversation with Kimberly Wong on-demand for more insights!

How Zuddl helps improve the impact of demand gen events

Maximize the impact of your demand-gen events: 3 ways Zuddl helps

Learn how Zuddl makes it easier for you to increase turnout, optimize conversions and accelerate pipeline.

Demand gen has just gotten harder over the past 2 years.

“A surge in competition for running ads, leading to a substantial increase in advertising costs, the absence of new channels and the decline of existing ones such as Bing, have significantly limited marketers' options, making it harder to reach and engage target audiences effectively” explains Anshuman Sethi, Digital Lead at Zuddl.

But against this backdrop, 74% of marketers say that events are their most important demand generation tactic, no doubt because they foster direct engagement and deeper connections than a post on a social media platform or an ad on your feed.

So in other words: yes, you definitely should be leaning more into demand gen events, whether roadshows, educational lunch and learns, or webinars. But you can also be smarter about how you’re going about it.

With Zuddl, you can orchestrate and control all your demand gen events from one dashboard. This means you have easy access to tools to run your events, and data to optimize critical processes that influence more and better outcomes! Win-win-win.

Here’s how Zuddl makes it simpler for you to get more out of your demand gen events - before, during, and after an event—as well as between events.

(1)Before:Get more prospects to actually turn up for your events

Getting prospects to turn up for demand gen events is half the battle won. To help cut through all the digital noise, Zuddl enables you to do the following:

Create non-boring landing pages for your events: Reel prospects in with landing/registration pages that make prospects want to attend the event.

‘Book’ their time with automated calendar blocks: Google-Calendar block it or it doesn’t exist. By automating a calendar block when they register for your event, you’re upping the probability of them remembering to turn up.

Keep your event top of mind by automating email reminders: And double-down on the reminders by sending them friendly email nudges to show up.

With these tools, influence higher attendee turnout for your events.

(2)During:Use real-time data intel + integrations to improve pipeline acceleration

Using different tools and platforms to collect and manage prospect event data makes it difficult to get a clear, full understanding of an individual’s use-cases, goals and pain points. Zuddl pulls real-time data from all activities and actions taken by prospects across the lifecycle of a single demand gen event, and across many events too. This enables your teams to do the following:

SDR teams can identify high intent leads easily: Customizable registration forms let you collect information that can help your team quickly spot which are ICP and non-ICP, and prioritize follow-up too.

Better follow-up with context from event engagement: Combining registration data with visibility into actions taken by a prospect during an event - for instance, a question asked, or a response to a Poll - can help Sales make their outreach more personalized, as it makes the prospect feel better seen, heard, and understood. It’s the difference between a “Thanks for attending our event” and “Here’s a helpful ebook that can help you with this challenge you mentioned during the round-panel session at the conference."

More timely follow-up too: Using an integration like Slack means your Sales or Growth team get instant alerts about when their prospects register and attend. They can then strike while it's hot i.e. connect with contextual data in seconds and engage better - rather than send out an email days or even a week after the event is over. Conversely, this also means that your Sales colleagues know when prospects have not registered - an opportunity for a follow-up too.

Visibility into prospect activity in many events instead of just 1: Get a complete picture of the user journey across multiple events and webinars. Use this information to nurture warm leads or build pipeline within an existing account.

Better intelligence = better follow-ups = more conversions. Click here to read how Zylo drove 46% in pipeline from their virtual event using Zuddl.

(3)After:Use analytics to improve the performance of your demand gen events

If you’re not improving your results, you’re flatlining. Zuddl’s analytics dashboard helps you analyze what's helping and hurting the performance of every marketing activity, from registration rates to email opens to collateral downloads, with which you can make changes to improve results. For example you can:

Optimize events and webinars for the right time and day: Look at the turnout rate for your events and identify which time/timezones attracted the most attendees.

Optimize event duration to boost stickiness: Using analytics, Cloudsmith noticed that attendees were only staying 30-40 minutes at their 1 hour webinars. They decided to reduce the duration and saw an immediate uptick in ‘stickiness’ and engagement. Read more about Cloudsmith's success here.

Track day-wise registration and engagement trends for better demand generation: Run smarter marketing campaigns for specific segments based on their area of interests, which you can see via registration and engagement at specific sessions, stages, and booths.

The takeaway: Demand gen doesn’t have to be demanding

Using Zuddl tools can make it easier for you to get more out of your demand gen events.

✅ Attract net new leads by creating fun and exciting registration pages using the landing page builder. Use customizable registration forms to collect pertinent info about attendee profiles.

✅ Keep your events top of mind and boost turnout by using automatic calendar block and email reminders.

✅ Optimize performance of your demand gen events using analytics to identify best day, time, duration and trending topics.

✅ Empower sales to interact with prospects and personalize their outreach with real-time and easily accessible attendee analytics.

✅ Use analytics and insights to create the right strategies to extend and continue engagement between events.

Run user conferences like a pro with Zuddl

Virtual user conferences come with their own challenges, but with the right technology, event marketers can not only overcome them but also put up a truly masterful virtual experience. Here’s how.

Crafting a virtual user conference is more than just organizing an event; it's about creating a memorable digital journey for every attendee.

And as an event marketer, you know all too well that putting together an impactful virtual user conference comes with its own challenges.

The good news is that these challenges can be overcome when you have the right conference technology partner on your side.

So let’s break down the top challenges and see how the right event tech can help you obliterate them!

Challenge 1: Crafting a personalized attendee journey

Every participant at your user conference, be it a customer, partner, or prospect, has unique expectations from your event. But without a tailored registration processes, event communications and experiences, it becomes impossible for you to engage with them in a meaningful way.

How Zuddl helps:

Tailored registration: Use conditional logic to personalize your event registration forms as per your attendee persona.

Data-driven outreach: Empower sales to interact with prospects and personalize their outreach with real-time and easily accessible attendee analytics - such as the information filled in registration forms, questions asked, answers to Polls, the sessions spent at most, etc.

Challenge 2: Delivering a true on-brand experience

Your brand has its own identity and voice, and your design team is probably fantastic! But even they can be stifled by limited platforms can sometimes dilute that uniqueness, making your event feel less authentic and potentially alienating your audience.

How Zuddl helps:

Customizable touchpoints: Infuse every event detail with your brand essence.
Diverse visual options: Access a rich library of visuals or integrate your unique designs.
No code builders: Publish fully customized promotional landing pages and attendee emails with Zuddl’s no-code builders.
Elevated event streams: Our branding themes ensure your event stands out and feels authentic.

Challenge 3: Overcoming integration bottlenecks

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Data drives successful events. However, limited or clunky integration can disrupt the flow, leading to manual workflows, potential errors, and missed opportunities - aka a ‘pull-your-hair-out and scream’ situation for any marketer.

How Zuddl helps:

Seamless integrations: Zuddl's intuitive two-way integrations ensure a continuous data stream in virtually real-time.

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Strategic data utilization: Link CRM with event data for actionable insights, optimizing attendance and engagement.
Real-time sales alerts: Keep sales teams in the loop when key stakeholders from an account engage, maximizing opportunities.

Challenge 4: Ensuring studio-quality events

‍The absence of a robust, integrated studio in your conference platform can be a total dampener on your user conference, rendering your sessions low-impact and your session management glitchy, with a lot of room for panic for you as well as your speakers.

How Zuddl helps:

Professional speaker management: Conduct dry runs and coordinate with speakers effortlessly during live events.
Content versatility: Choose between live, pre-recorded, or a blend of content, ensuring optimal quality.
Quality content creation: Studio is a powerhouse that lets you not only stream quality content but also leave you with branded session recordings, which means your teams can use event videos for follow-up the very next day after the conferene is over.

Of course, we can go on and on, but we highly recommend you watch this on-demand product tour to see how your next virtual conference can be your most epic one yet!

All things Zuddl - fresh updates for July '23