Category: technology
5 Tips to Successfully Use Instagram for Your Event Business
Instagram has easily become one of the most popular social media apps. In 2016, it’s estimated that 500+ million people use Instagram monthly, 300 million daily, and 58% of Instagram users are 18-29 years old. Why is this important to Event Profs? Because this means Instagram can allow you to reach a larger audience, including millenials!
There are tons of research on the Instagram usage and the ways businesses can utilize it. Also, it’s important to stay up to date with what’s going on with your instagram account. So ABCey Events has created 5 tips to successfully use Instagram for your event business!
1. What to post
First, you need an Instagram account! If you don’t have one, just scroll down to #5 for tips to create the perfect account. Okay, you have an account or just created one, but now what? What do I post? hint: See below to see what types of content to post!
Types of Posts
1. Have a story: Let your followers feel like they are a part of your business and on the inside of the event action with story-like posts! However, don’t post straight advertisements. Instead, have a variety of images from selfies to video interviews. There is no limit to the content you post!
Similarly, studies suggest users want to experience the story rather than see plain objects. Salesforce found most users liked, “amusing, creative, beautiful, and inspiring” content. So maximize your Instagram reach by captivating images, posting entire event processes, features of event speakers and famous attendees, inspirational quotes, and especially human faces!
2. Relatable posts: Keep followers by posting stuff they can relate to! By fusing scenes and possible scenarios that can happen in everyday life with your products and services, followers can see how useful your products and services are!
https://www.instagram.com/p/0tpeJfAUUf/?taken-by=nike
3. Business posts: Advertise your business by posting your sponsors, events, and brand. Do this by sharing images about your sponsors in colorful and fun photos. Additionally, try to get other users, special guests, and famous people to post/tag/hashtag about your event and company. More and more people are basing their decisions on what they see on social media. Therefore, you can grow your business by having ambassadors give you some exposure!
But be careful! No one wants their entire feed filled with obvious advertisements. Learn about event marketing on Instagram below (#4 Instagram for Events).
2. Strategic Posting
Previously, we mentioned that Instagram accounts are more successful when the types of posts are different. But here are other things you can do to boost likes, follows, and comments!
1. Editing your posts: Studies have found what specific aspects of a post make them more popular. They found more people like photos with the Mayfair filter! Also, the 2nd and 3rd most liked filtered photos are #nofilter and Inkwell, respectively. In addition, you’re more likely to get likes on images that are brighter with a single dominant color, especially blue, and background space than others! Don’t forget to use Geographical locations and connect with users by a shared location. Check out Curalate’s full study for more tips.
2. Posting times: Don’t pester and annoy followers! If you are posting multiple times a day, spread them out. However, most studies suggest posting only 5-7 times throughout the week. Specifically, your best bet is to get the most likes by posting on Wednesday from 5-6pm! Additionally, don’t stress about posting right on time and schedule posts with apps like Hootsuite and Schedugram.
3. Gain followers, grow your business
1. Instagram interaction: By interacting with users, you’re sure to gain and keep followers! First off, you can simply ask questions and inviting captions that lead people to comment. From re-gramming someone’s post related to your business/event, tagging companies, responding to comments, commenting on and liking posts, and giving shout outs to your loyal followers, show your followers you care and value their support!
2. Spoil your followers: Reward your followers well by posting announcements, contests, and special offers! You can have them follow, like photos, comment, hashtag, and tag your account to be entered to win prizes and special offers! This encourages people to follow you, as they will be the first to see when you are holding contests. Now you have followers promoting your event and business to others!
4. Instagram for Events
Now, for all you event profs, we have Instagram tricks to make your next event a success!
1. #Hashtag: Make sure you use hashtags to help people discover your Instagram. Use both specific hashtags and popular hashtags so people can find your event/company easily! One study found that interactions increased with 11 hashtags, but most studies suggested using 5-10 hashtags. If your choose to include many, hide them by commenting your hashtags or hiding them many lines below your main caption. This way followers don’t get annoyed seeing them!
2. The Event: You can use Instagram to entertain your attendees and market your next event! Encourage users to post images and include your event specific hashtag in the caption. Then, companies like instafeedlive, will display them on screens around the event, making your guests feel special!
In addition, by simply using your event hashtag, your guests can leave your event with memorabilia! Printers, like Photoboxx and Luster, scan Instagram for your event hashtag and print the images out instantly. Also, you can allow guests to print a postcard and polaroid picture when they hashtag their photos! Learn more about them here. So give your event and company immediate publicity and get these tools at your next event!
3. Event hype: When showing the story of your event, there are tons of things to capture! Post about the event before, during, and after to keep the event fresh in your follower’s minds. First get them excited with behind the scene images of the venue set up with your event team hard at work! Moreover, use Instagram to not only remind followers when tickets go on sale, but also hype up attendees with event fliers and countdown day photos. This makes them feel like they are right in the middle of the everything happening at the event!
5. Creating Perfect Profile
Your profile is extremely important as it’s how they judge your account! Therefore, you need to be sure that your Instagram looks like something they should follow.
1. Your Bio: First, create a bio description that is short, fun, and interesting. But it still needs to say your business name or who you are, what your business does, and make it unique!
2. Get them to your website: If you didn’t know, links on your photo captions don’t work. Thus, the only link to get people to your website is in your bio. So make sure you include your website link, and any other informative names you want people to search and find you by (ex: Event Planner).
3. First impression/Profile pic: Along with photos and your bio, users see your profile picture first. Get a good quality photo of your logo or a picture that represents your company to bring in more followers!
How are you going to use Instagram at your next event? Tell use in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter. Also, follow us on Instagram!
5 Ways To Connect Event Attendees With Tech
ABCey is always on the lookout for new tech trends that can change up the way attendees experience their events. We’re highlighting some of the best and brightest apps and trends so that you can be up to date on the ever changing event planning experience.
Here are 5 of some of the best new tech trends to help your guests network and connect to create a more immersive experience!
1. iBeacon
Apple has introduced another cutting edge technology that will change the distribution of information from phone, places, and people. Using Bluetooth (LE) signals iBeacon can identify location instantaneously, sense other phones, and gains information on people around them. Using the iBeacon for events can link attendees by being alerted to exactly who is where during an event which allows for easier navigation through the event, finding recognizable colleges, and recommend networking.
See what the Eventbase app did with iBeacon here.
2. Wearable Tech
Wearable technology is vastly growing in variety and complexity. Whether it be a pair of glasses, a shirt, or accessory this kind of tech is a great way to track engagement and allow attendees to see information in a more convenient way. Guests can get into the competitive spirit and participate in more activities with freedom from their smartphone.
Find out just how effective wearable tech can be in this article by BizBash.
3. 3D printing
3D printing was once an exclusive privilege because of the high price cost of equipment but has recently become more affordable. Attendees can have a keepsake to take home with them that they created with the printers to remind them of the event. It allows guests to be interactive with the event tech which makes for a more immersive experience.
Check out the low cost 3D printing that Carbon 3D offers here.
4. Engagement and Interaction with Speakers
Head speakers are largely the main focus of any corporate event but can lose guest attention if unable to connect with them in a personal way. Hand raising questionnaires are a thing of the past with new mobile apps that allow the guests inquires and participation to be apart of the speakers presentation experience. The Livecube app allows guests to gain “points” for checking into conferences on their mobile phone and getting prizes at the events for the tweets they post through out the event.
5. Projection Art
We like how guests can add input and post during an event via a social media app but when we can take that interaction and make it into tangible art that is something we love! Projecting attendee tweets on the wall in a creatively is a unique way for guests to see their comments being a part of the over all experience.
See more amazing projection mapping here.
All the new tech trends facilitate guest networking and connection in the event atmosphere. Which tech will you incorporate to add a little more to your events? Let us know with a comment or find us on Twitter and Facebook!
Wearables You’ll Want To Wear
With the iWatch on the scene let’s face it, wearables are becoming quite the hot commodity. But instead of the clunky futuristic looking gadgets lurking out there, why not try on something you can actually…well wear! ABCey Events would like to introduce you to our favorite wearables of the moment, both on the market and coming soon!
MICA Bracelet
The MICA bracelet, or My Intelligent Communication Accessory, is a beautiful gadget, combining elements such as semi-precious gems and water snakeskin with cutting-edge technology. The style comes in both black and whites and features a curved sapphire glass touchscreen display. On the bracelet, users will be able to receive alerts, SMS messages, and other general notifications, right on your wrist! The MICA is not yet released so many other functionalities of the bracelet are TBD. But no need to worry, MICA bracelets will arrive on shelves this holiday season at select Barney’s and Open Ceremony stores!
The Everpurse
Shooting to the top of our wishlists this Christmas has got to be the 2015 Everpurse, posing as a sleeker more versatile version of it’s predecessor. As a clutch, rather than a wristlet the Everpurse will be able to store daily essentials such as sunglasses, beauty basics and of course, our phones! In addition to the size the new model provides new designs as like the Saffiano leather bags with delicate gold hinges, replacing the clunky silver hardware, and a simpler color palette of black, deep blue and nude. Similar to it’s predecessor the 2015 Everpurse will be able to give your phone a 48 hour charge while zipped in, with the new model will be able to now double your battery’s life giving it up to 96 hours of juice!
Linou
Want a wearable that’s a little simpler, as well as sustainable? Why not try the Linou? The Linou comes in two forms, the Notification Necklace and the Wood Tech Watch, mixing technology with a sleek and natural design. This simple little gadget made from wood (black ebony timber, bamboo, or walnut), stainless steal, and sapphire and serves as notification tool linking to your phone via bluetooth. The Linou vibrates as well as has different custom color alerts based on the notification. Fashion-tech guru, and designer Christopher Magick set out to create a wearable more focuses on the design.
Memory Ring
Though the Memory Ring is adorable, this little guy really packs a punch with memory starting at 16GB with the capacity to store you digital valuables, like photos, personal, and work files. It’s fashionable as well as handy in work situations, planners can have all their files at the tips of their fingers if a crisis every arises all while looking fabulous at the same time! Though the ring still isn’t on the market, be sure to get an Early Bird Pledge on Kickstarter available for $40! This ring is not something to miss, especially with the holidays coming up!
Which of these wearables are you inclined to wear? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
Apple’s September iPhone 6 and iWatch Event Launches Exciting New Tech
Big news! Yesterday, Apple hosted its September 2014 iPhone 6 and iWatch Event! We can’t wait to try out all of the new tech products below! Especially the new app Apple Pay which could come in handy on small purchases at big events!
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
When we look at the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, the first thing that we notice is the significantly larger screen size with iPhone 6’s 4.7 inch screen and the iPhone 6 Plus’s 5.5 inch screen with rounded edges and a camera lens which protrudes the phones body. We can also note the phone’s thinner and lightweight body!
New Camera Specs: include an 8MP iSight camera with 1.5 micron pixels and a f/2.2 aperture. The new camera has the capacity to shoot 1080p videos at 30-60fp using continuing auto focus, perfect for covering live events on social media! The front-facing camera feature offers users a burst mode and single shot HDR and HDR videos.
Both phones will come with iOS 8, with the iPhone 6 starting at $199 for 16GB and the 6 Plus starting at $299. Both phones will be available to ship on September 19th, pre-orders starting on September 12th.
Apple Pay
Apple has introduced a new payment process called Apple Pay! Apple Pay uses NFC and Touch ID to confirm purchases, with users using their Passbook App to browse through their credit cards after verifying the card with their bank. Apple Pay creates a one-time device-only number which protects the user’s credit card number in the event of theft and allows the user to suspend payments without the hassle of canceling their credit cards. This tap-and-go style payment is similar to the R.F.I.D. style of payments used for a number of large events!
Introducing the iWatch!
The most exciting announcement at the Apple Event was the unveiling of the long awaited iWatch! The iWatch will act, not only as a watch (accurate within plus or minus of 50 milliseconds), but also serve as a competitor of popular fitness devices like Jawbone or Fitbit, with its equipped heart monitor, gyroscope and accelerometer. The iWatch will also include Siri and a navigation system known as digital crown. Apple will also open the WatchKit SDK allowing third-party developers to create additional functionalities on the Apple Watch.
Style: The iWatch will come with various customizable options including six types of strap and two metal frame colors, in three different collections: the original Watch, Watch Sports, and a 18k gold Apple Watch Edition.
The iWatch will be available early 2015 with prices starting at $349.
and since we love events!
Tim Cook wrapped up the unveiling declaring his profound love and involvement in music, before welcoming U2 to perform on stage as well as giving out the bands latest album “Songs of Innocence” free on iTunes (offer lasts until mid-October 14th).
Which products are you most excited about?! Our personal fave is the Apple Pay! Let us know on the links below or on Facebook and Twitter!
Tech Tuesday: SOSCharger
Tech Tuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming companies for their innovative ideas and ability to think outside the box!
They say time is money and with your phone, you’re definitely able to maximize your time. But there are those unfortunate days you forget to charge your phone and the battery dies when you need your phone the most. At ABCey, we know how important your phone is (we’ve been reviewing the most helpful apps, after all!) and on today’s Tech Tuesday, we’re featuring SOSCharger, the self-powered smartphone or iPhone charger!
Especially for all you super organized, schedule-conscious people out there (we’re talking to you, event planners), losing your phone in the middle of the day can create some serious roadblocks. We love recommending apps for you to use, whether it’s for an upcoming wedding or a holiday occasion, but with a dead phone, the apps are dead too! The SOSCharger lets you charge your phone on-the-spot, so you don’t have to search for an outlet if you’re on the road, in the house, on the plane, or in the middle of nowhere. All you need to pack is the SOSCharger and your usual USB cable.
We recommend the SOSCharger because it’s best to be prepared for the worst, and sometimes, the worst is when your phone dies right before an important meeting, or event! Is the SOSCharger something you’d fine worthwhile? Let us know in the comments below and Facebook & Twitter!
Startup Monday: Sticky
Are you getting noticed? And by that we don’t mean your latest outfit. Your ad is competing for attention against publicity efforts by hundreds of different companies. Today at ABCey, we’re featuring Sticky, a startup that measures the effectiveness of ads by using special eye technology.
Sticky not only notifies advertisers about whether an ad was fully rendered and served but also whether or not the consumer actually saw the ad. Its selling point is being able to distinguish between viewable ads, which simply means has the opportunity to be seen, and verified impressions — ads that were most literally seen. Furthermore, Sticky can determine how much money needs to be spent in order to reach views by 1000 pairs of eyes and offers ad campaign recommendations to help you achieve your needed goal. Its objective, writes Sticky, is to improve the “digital planning and buying decisions on true branding performance.”
This could revolutionize how marketers and advertisers develop future content and strategies. What do you think? Could you “see” yourself utilizing Sticky’s services? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!
Tech Tuesday: The Vamp
Tangled wires, bulky cables, heavy soundboards? No thank you! We understand there’s a lot going on during an event and music is always a must. But, providing music at an event can quickly become complicated if you don’t have the funds to hire a professional DJ. Luckily, the new Bluetooth speaker The Vamp, makes this easier.
The Vamp gets its name in its mission to “Revamp” old speakers. In its most basic form, The Vamp is a sound receiver that is portable, stylish, and affordable for any event that is in need of a quick background music fix. The concept is simple: it connects to any speaker (old, new, small, or large) through an audio cable and plays music from the nearest Bluetooth device such as your smartphone or laptop.
The high quality of sound is not compromised by its low price and it supplies its own energy source with a built-in battery that eliminates an annoying external power chord. The tiny size also allows it to host special events or simply tag along to a friend’s house for a jam session. What we love most about The Vamp is the fact that its inner magnetic bottom allows it stick onto any metal surface – quirky and useful!
The Vamp is revamping not just old speakers, but also music production at events! What do you think about The Vamp? Will you be testing it out? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
Top 5 Futuristic Bar Trends
As the world around us transforms and adapts to the never-ending development of technology, we’re constantly seeing trends pop up all around us. Considering the fact that indulging in spirits with friends is one of the oldest traditions held by humanity, the bar scene has remained relatively unchanged in comparison to our other surroundings. But nothing can stay the same forever, so what does the future hold for bars, beer, and cocktails? ABCey has compiled some of the newest trends that you may be seeing in the not-so-distant future…
1. Bartendro – A fast, portable, precise cocktail robot that can mix your drink in just 10 seconds. Using your smart phone or tablet, you can personalize your drink menu by adding your favorite cocktails made just the way you like them, and Bartendro will do the work. Just put your cup under the dispenser and let it be filled with a delicious cocktail, no measuring or mess to deal with!
2. The Vaporized Cocktail – McCall‘s Catering in SF puts a twist on the regular ol’ cocktail with their vaporized cocktails. The trick behind a vaporized cocktail is the alcohol infused with different ingredients, giving it a delicious and unique taste. After igniting the ingredients, a vaporizer is used to turn them into pure aromatic vapor. The vapor is then captured under a glass bell jar and infused into the alcohol, leaving you with a cocktail flavored unlike any other.
3. Molecular Mixology – A special practice of mixing drinks using the analysis and techniques found in science to understand and experiment with cocktail ingredients on the molecular level. Molecular Mixology includes the use of foams, liquid nitrogen, gels, mists, heat, solidifying liquids, and countless other options to create a truly harmonious taste.
4. Edible Barware – In the effort to rid the use of disposable cups, Loliware is a line of edible cups that come in five flavors (sweet vanilla, spicy pepper, salty lime, sour lemon, and bitters) designed to complement classic cocktails. The two-ounce cups are completely biodegradable and made from all-natural, vegan ingredients.
5. Wall Of Drink Tanks – An interesting new way to let you get creative, getting bored of your drink is not an option with this wall! And say goodbye to ingredient errors, as well. Saunter up to the dispensers and mix up some of your favorite flavors before heading to the bartender to top it off with the alcohol of your choice.
Which of these do you hope to see popping up at your favorite bar? What other trends did we miss? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!