Wednesday Buzz: Does Event Success Hinge on Industry Strength?

Trade associations, take note: If you recently held an event that had underwhelming attendance, unimpressive engagement, or little post-event momentum, you should evaluate each and every part of your event-hosting process.

But Bear Analytics  (opens in a new tab) CEO Joe Colangelo goes in depth about another key driver of event success or failure: the overall performance of your industry. If business is booming and excitement is spreading, your event will likely be buoyed by these larger trends. But there is a downside to this influence.

“This effect can of course be a double-edged sword: Despite executing a flawless event with top-notch content, you may have a down year if your industry’s macroeconomics aren’t so hot,” he writes in a guest post on Social Fish  (opens in a new tab).

To monitor industry strength, Colangelo recommends keeping an eye on nascent innovation at a university level, the performance of public companies, and the flow of investments through resources such as AngelList  (opens in a new tab) and the National Venture Capital Association  (opens in a new tab).

“Market momentum can work for your event or against it. As your industry churns, remember to use these public and private sector cues to gain insights into the impact they can have on your event. The benefits of aligning your event with your market’s momentum can help drive growth and loyalty for years to come,” Colangelo concludes.

Upcoming Webinar of the Day

Our partner @InReachCE  (opens in a new tab) joins us on the U to talk “Education for the Modern Adult” 2/13 3EST http://t.co/O70lgiEW3n  (opens in a new tab) #assnchat  (opens in a new tab) @ASAEcenter  (opens in a new tab)

— HighRoad Solutions (@HighRoadSol) February 11, 2015  (opens in a new tab)

Interested in the implications of technology for the culture of learning? HighRoad Solution and partner InReach CE will cohost a webinar, Love to Learn: Education for the Modern Adult  (opens in a new tab), later this week. It’s never too late to learn about learning!

Other Good Reads

Stop complaining about complainers and learn how to handle the negativity that may be swirling around your office with these tips from Ask a Manager blogger Alison Green  (opens in a new tab).

“Any day is a great day to show someone you appreciate them,” but Valentine’s Day provides a particularly perfect chance to show your members some love. Find out how in membership pro Christina Green’s latest post  (opens in a new tab).

For an exercise in conference curation, take a peek at the Online News Association’s call  (opens in a new tab) for members and possible attendees to trim overly covered topics from the association’s 2015 annual conference.

(Sergey Nivens/ThinkStock)