--- title: "Lunchtime Links: 3 Ideas for Conference Planners" id: "13367" type: "post" slug: "lunchtime-links-3-ideas-for-conference-planners" published_at: "2012-09-20T17:31:54+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T19:20:30+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/09/20/lunchtime-links-3-ideas-for-conference-planners/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2012/09/20/lunchtime-links-3-ideas-for-conference-planners.md" excerpt: "Three different suggestions for three different parts of the event-planning process." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "conferences" - "event engagement" - "event planning" - "Meetings" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Lunchtime Links: 3 Ideas for Conference Planners Planning a conference? Great! Depending what stage you are at in the event-planning process, that might mean choosing the right speaker or the right way to engage attendees. A few ideas from the association world: > The bottom line is to pick and choose the input that you incorporate, because a system of checks and balances is the only way to prevent mob rule. **Control the chaos when picking speakers:** Still at the drawing board? As Jim Longo, senior vice president of client development and marketing at VoteIt, [explains on Aptify’s blog (opens in a new tab)](http://www.aptify.com/blog/12-09-20/The_Balancing_Act_of_Conference_Planning.aspx?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+aptifyblog+%28Aptify%27s+Association+Blog+%29&utm_content=Google+Reader) , picking speakers can lead to chaos if you’re not careful — but if you are, you can make better choices. “The bottom line is to pick and choose the input that you incorporate, because a system of checks and balances is the only way to prevent mob rule.” **Build excitement:** Still months away from the event? Blogger and consultant Cynthia D’Amour notes the importance of [having a clever pitch to build excitement (opens in a new tab)](http://cynthiadamour.com/2012/09/20/do-your-events-have-energy/) . She cites the Craft & Hobby Association’s goofy, low-budget attempt to get members ready for the CHA 2013 Winter Conference & Trade Show: Why it works: It’s creative, it gets real people involved, and people look like they’re having fun. Cynthia asks, “How do you give your events energy months before they happen?” What do you try? **Ask event-goers what they want:** Pretty close to event time and looking to engage participants? Adrian Segar, author of *Conferences That Work*, suggests throwing up a board [where event-goers can add Post-it notes (opens in a new tab)](http://www.conferencesthatwork.com/index.php/event-design/2012/09/discover-what-attendees-want-to-talk-about-with-post-it/) with ideas for what they want to hear at the conference. What techniques do you use — at the beginning, middle, or end stages — to plan your conferences? Shoot us a comment below! [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#conferences](https://associationsnow.com/tag/conferences/) [#event engagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-engagement/) [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoAshley Cobb Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/ashley-cobb-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoJenny Teeson, CHSE Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/jenny-teeson-chse-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoLakisha Woods, CAE Shares Her Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/lakisha-woods-cae-shares-her-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoKevin Hesser Shares His Experience at the 2025 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 12, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/12/kevin-hesser-shares-his-experience-at-the-2025-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2012%2F09%2F20%2Flunchtime-links-3-ideas-for-conference-planners%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !