Meetings need a lot of things to make them successful, and one that should never be underestimated is technology. The fact is, your plugged-in attendees and exhibitors rely on tech. Understanding their exact needs isn’t something you can always forecast, but here are a few ways to get started:

First, make sure you have reliable, secure Wi-Fi independent of your venue. Take into account the number of attendees and your meeting needs to ensure that your Wi-Fi will be stable and working throughout the event.

Then, think about other tech that can enhance the attendee experience, says David Langford in a post for the Trade Show News Network. “Most attendees bring one or two mobile devices to events and will be glued to their screens, regardless of your choice to enhance their experience with event technology,” he says. “Ask yourself how a mobile app can integrate with the event and leverage features like interactive exhibitor maps, live polling, and speaker bios.”

For exhibitors, find ways to incorporate tech that will give them added value. “Consider pitching new technology already in the mix to potential exhibitors and find out if specific needs are shared by a vast majority,” Langford says. “A lot of technology takes time and resources to implement, so getting ahead of the game here is vital to make sure everything goes off without a hitch.”

Are Your Emails Going to the Spam Folder?

Emails not making it to your members' inboxes? Ugh. Here are some great tips from @MatrixGroup on how to improve your email deliverability: https://t.co/nBwa8sVDvE #email #emailmarketing #assnchat

— Matrix Group Int (@MatrixGroup) August 28, 2018

You can rifle through every email marketing best practice in the book, but if your emails aren’t getting to your members’ inboxes, they won’t make a difference.

Emails can get blocked for a number of reasons, including filters, inconsistencies in bulk email platforms, or high frequency, which can stamp your email as spam, says Leah Monica, director of marketing for Matrix Group International, on the group’s blog.

Although you might not have control over the inboxes at the receiving end of your email, there are steps you can take to increase your open and click rates. For one, consider how often you are sending emails or the size of attachments. Plus, talk to members to gain insight on how you can make your emails better.

Other Links of Note

If you’ve coveted that little blue checkmark on Instagram, it could be yours soon. Instagram is now allowing anyone to apply to have a verified account—but if you think that makes it easier to get one, think again, from Hootsuite.

Associations either innovate or stagnate, says Scott Steinberg on MeetingsNet. He explores two associations that made small changes to stay alive in their industries and how this led to big results.

You can’t always please every member. The Membership Guys talk how to deal with negative member feedback in their latest podcast.

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