--- title: "Thursday Buzz: Don’t Be Afraid to Get a Little Weird" id: "42771" type: "post" slug: "thursday-buzz-dont-be-afraid-to-get-a-little-weird" published_at: "2018-05-31T22:07:03+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T22:01:57+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/05/31/thursday-buzz-dont-be-afraid-to-get-a-little-weird/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/05/31/thursday-buzz-dont-be-afraid-to-get-a-little-weird.md" excerpt: "Don’t let boredom encroach on your next meeting. Here’s how to shake things up at your events. Also: how to get started with a content strategy." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "event planning" - "Meetings" - "Mid-Level Professional" - "reengagement" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Thursday Buzz: Don’t Be Afraid to Get a Little Weird If you want your meetings to break the mold, even small-scale changes and additions can make a big difference. A new *[Meetings Today (opens in a new tab)](https://www.meetingstoday.com/magazines/article-details/articleid/32366/title/12-ways-to-mix-up-your-meeting)*[post provides helpful tips (opens in a new tab)](https://www.meetingstoday.com/magazines/article-details/articleid/32366/title/12-ways-to-mix-up-your-meeting) for making your next event stand out by being a little more quirky and personal. “People are too busy, tired, and maybe even a little bit jaded these days when it comes to meetings,” KiKi L’Italien said at a recent Meetings Today LIVE! event. “But if you create an experience for them, you are speaking directly to those things inside them that make them human.” How can you make things feel more personal at your next meeting? Try crowdsourcing one of your speakers. “Why force attendees to sit through a presentation with a subject they have no choice in? Select a few speakers, have them ‘pitch’ the attendee audience, and then let them decide,” writes Tyler Davidson. Or give your attendees a way to de-stress. “Provide attendees with a welcome break in a stressful and/or mundane day of meetings by surprising them with a pop-up relaxation station offering soothing massages, wellness-inspired food and aromatherapy goodness,” says Davidson. ### Strategize Content > Solid advice here for any type of organization. > Building your first content strategy? 9 pro tips for success. | by [@Forbes (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/Forbes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [https://t.co/R5DZb57gw6 (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/R5DZb57gw6) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [pic.twitter.com/TvVXaAbTZN (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/TvVXaAbTZN) > > — Deirdre Reid, CAE (@DeirdreReid) [May 30, 2018 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/DeirdreReid/status/1001896811106308098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Just because you have a blog** doesn’t mean that you have a content strategy. Whether you’re thinking about formalizing a strategy or need to start from scratch, *Forbes* shares [smart tips from the pros (opens in a new tab)](https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2018/05/04/building-your-first-content-strategy-nine-pro-tips-for-success/#5e311dfad35e) for content marketing. Be sure to create content pegged to the news to reach a wide audience. “The key here is to not just synthesize the news. Rather, offer insight into why something is happening and, better yet, how it impacts your current and prospective customer base,” says Ethan Parker of Treble. “If you follow this formula often enough, you become a go-to source for industry thought leadership.” ### Other Links of Note **Looking for a few new content ideas?** *Kivi’s Nonprofit Communications Blog* shares a [list of prompts for June (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/blog/2018/05/30/gaps-editorial-calendar-june-use-nonprofit-writing-prompts/) . **Consider GoFundMe** as a tool to reach younger donors. *The NonProfit Times* breaks down the [demographic data of the popular crowdfunding site (opens in a new tab)](http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/news-articles/modest-income-donors-gravitate-gofundme/) . **Get your students talking.** Here’s how to [encourage participation (opens in a new tab)](https://www.wbtsystems.com/increase-student-participation-online-discussions/) in online classroom discussions, from WBT Systems. (filadendron/E+/Getty Images Plus) [Raegan Johnson](https://associationsnow.com/author/raegan-johnson/) Raegan Johnson is a contributor to Associations Now. 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