--- title: "Monday Buzz: Save Money on Event Tech" id: "37371" type: "post" slug: "monday-buzz-save-money-on-event-tech" published_at: "2017-03-20T20:46:41+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T18:54:17+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/03/20/monday-buzz-save-money-on-event-tech/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/03/20/monday-buzz-save-money-on-event-tech.md" excerpt: "A few suggestions for keeping costs down when adding technology to your event. Also: Get basic with your member-recruitment strategies." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "budgeting" - "event planning" - "Meetings" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Monday Buzz: Save Money on Event Tech You may have big aspirations for a tech-savvy event—but perhaps not the budget to match. How do you work around a problem like that? *Event Manager Blog* [has a few ideas (opens in a new tab)](http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/more-tech-low-budget-events) . In a fresh post, the site argues in favor of thinking creatively about how you implement technology—whether by working out partnerships with vendors, using affiliate marketing programs, relying on cheap-but-flashy technology, or considering where it makes sense to cut corners—as well as where it doesn’t. In the latter case, the post uses the example of wireless. “There are a number of options for low-cost WiFi for your event, but know that if your event has a couple thousand attendees, WiFi isn’t something to skimp on,” the post states. “You want your tech to be budget-friendly but not at the cost of the user experience. Know what you can skimp on and what you can’t.” [Check out the site (opens in a new tab)](http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/more-tech-low-budget-events) for more thoughts and suggestions. ### Back to Basics > 7 Tips to Increase Association Membership – INTEGRAM [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [https://t.co/8sA6CpAl0u (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/8sA6CpAl0u) > > — Greg Melia, CAE (@gmeliaCAE) [March 20, 2017 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/gmeliaCAE/status/843798776393490432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Growing membership within your organization** is important, but sometimes you might get ahead of yourself with advanced strategies when a more bare-bones starting point might be the way to go. On Integram’s blog, the company makes a case for considering some basic steps to juice up membership, including membership cards, thank-you gifts, members-only resources, and regular reach-outs. But, most importantly, be sure to ask why you have the member base you do. “Evaluate why members joined initially, and use this as a narrative in your communications,” [the company writes in its post (opens in a new tab)](https://integram.com/6-tips-increase-association-membership/) . “It’s important that you don’t just assume you know the answer to this one.” ### Other Links of Note **Data and decision making:** At *CMS Wire*, contributor Lori Alcala [discusses the importance of process consistency (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cmswire.com/analytics/4-ways-to-improve-your-data-driven-decision-making/) when using data. **Skype getting long in the tooth?** Capterra Content Manager Rachel Burger [highlights a few useful alternatives (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.capterra.com/6-outstanding-skype-alternatives-for-aspiring-communication-rock-stars/) to the long-popular video chat platform. **Even the makers of popular chat apps** acknowledge there are times when email wins. Over at *Fast Company*, HipChat’s Oji Udezue [makes the case for email (opens in a new tab)](https://www.fastcompany.com/3068813/work-smart/i-work-at-hipchat-but-these-are-four-times-i-stick-with-email-for-now) in a few limited cases. (Wavebreak Media/Thinkstock) [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: [#budgeting](https://associationsnow.com/tag/budgeting/) [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) **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 - [TemplateMembers onlyBudget Worksheet for AV CalculationsSeptember 4, 2007](https://associationsnow.com/2007/09/04/budget-worksheet-for-av-calculations/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) ## 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%2F2017%2F03%2F20%2Fmonday-buzz-save-money-on-event-tech%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !