Takeaways from some epic marketing and management fails. Plus: Roll out the red carpet! Here are a few non-tech event trends to expect in 2014.

There’s a something important to be learned from every oops. And when you’re looking to improve your event planning or marketing—as well as identify what not to do—where better to look than at some of 2013’s biggest marketing mishaps?

A few lesson-laden gaffes in today’s Social Media Roundup:

Flip the flop

The Ten Biggest Event Management And #Marketing Fails Of 2013 #eventprof http://t.co/E4WcWNgTOU

— Lanie (@LanieECollins) January 7, 2014

In the world of marketing and event management, there were some “positively titanic botches” last year that we can all take a lesson or two from, writes Nicholas Greene of Tweetwall. A particularly embarrassing example from LG: The South Korean electronics manufacturer loaded 100 helium-filled balloons with vouchers for new phones, then let them float in the air. Clever, right? Well, not so much when you consider that a crowd showed up, some prepped with BB guns, knives, and other balloon-popping paraphernalia; 20 people ended up hospitalized. And what about Epicurious’ decision to use the Boston Marathon bombings to promote its content, and an Obamacare advertising campaign by two Colorado nonprofits that featured keg stands, Ryan Gosling, and birth control pills? Greene’s point: These marketing mishaps show the need invest in proper market research and encourage employees to consider sensitive issues. Also, have a backup plan in case something goes wrong. Your potential gaffe might not lead to hospitalizations, but that’s no reason not to take things seriously. (ht @LanieC777)

Beyond Tech

10 Non-Tech Event Trends for 2014 http://t.co/WA2LiAw95U via @EventMB #eventprof #eventtips

— Evvnt (@Evvnt) January 13, 2014

We spend a lot of time talking about tech, but a bunch of things are happening in the events space that have nothing whatsoever to do with technology. That’s why Event Manager Blog contributor Jez Paxman was inspired to come up with his own list of event trends for 2014. (They’re “based on gut instinct, not science,” he writes.) Among his predictions: Collaborative working will help breed fresh event formats that drive more active conversation; intriguing visuals and interesting speakers (think TED talks) will take the stage; and we’ll see shorter presentations, but they’ll have stronger structures and drive richer discussions. “The bar is being raised—speakers, you’ve been warned,” he writes. (ht @evvnt)

What trends will you be keeping an eye on in 2014? Tell us in the comments.

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