Sound n' Sight

Top Ten Sound & Sight Blog Posts of 2011

This year's top 10 blog posts once again proved that Sound & Sight readers are a progressive bunch interested in improving their skills with regard to events and social media.

The list includes two posts offering social media tips; four about event planning & production; and three posts on ways to use social media specifically for events. However, by far the most popular post wasn't really about any of these things. It proved that a good ol' tug at the heartstrings is appropriate on just about any blog.

10 - 11 Sure-Fire Ways to Make Your Event Blog Suck

A tongue-in-cheek review of some ways to make sure your event blog fails, offering such tips as: be cute with your headlines, avoid interaction and include lots of jargon.

9 - A Beginner's Guide to Tweeting: Engage

When I was a Twitter newbie, I didn't know where to begin to engage with strangers online. This post was written with newbies in mind. It outlines 6 simple ways to engage in conversations with others on Twitter.

8 - King Dahl: A great Event Designer Studies Everything

It was through Twitter that I became acquainted with King Dahl, the Executive Director of Event Design for MGM Resorts. However, King's event designs have been winning awards  for many years. King's interview answers provide useful tips from one of the leaders in the field. 

7 - 10 Things That Wouldn't Have Happened if Not for Twitter

Lindsay Fultz was one of the first people I got to know on Twitter. As the Marketing Director for Grosh Backdrops, Lindsay dazzled me with her ability to deftly use social media to build trackable business online in the field of events. Now that she has started her own company, Middle Child New Media, more businesses are able to access her phenomenal skills.

Last year I had the great honor to co-host BizBash's Social Media Lounge with Lindsay. She wrote this post for Sound n' Sight as a way to show others the great benefits of using Twitter. (Lindsay's guest post on QR codes also made the Sound n' Sight Top 10 for 2010.)

6 - ECTC11: If You're Not Breaking Things, You're Not Experimenting

Event Camp Twin Cities, a conference for event professionals interested in hybrid events, event technology and social media, was held in August of this year. Though not officially its motto, "If you're not breaking things, you're not experimenting," came to signify a mindset that embraced its focus on risk taking. 

When some technical failures occurred, a social media savvy remote audience began a debate about using experimentation as an excuse. As an ECTC face to face attendee for the second year in a row, I decided to weigh in.

5 - 4 Ways to Use Social Media to Engage Newbies at Conferences

Attendees who use social media can provide a marketing boon for an event planner.  They can also help planners to gauge how an event is being received. However, if your attendees don't know what these tools are, you have a problem.  Kari Rippetoe outlines four ways to help social media newbies learn to use the tools in ways that will help them connect with others and benefit your event. (Kari's 10 Tips for Using Social Media to Market Your Event, made my top 10 list last year.)

4 - 9 Tips for Creating More Engaging Events

Looking for ways to get your attendees to engage more at your event? Check out these ideas from an Engage365 chat on the subject with such industry heavyweights as Joan Eisenstodt, Adrian Segar and Tahira Endean.

3 - 25 Considerations for Choosing a Venue For Your Event Production

Tahira Endean guest blogs for Sound n' Sight here and in typical fashion her post is bursting with great information for planners considering venue choices.  

2 - Event Planners & Bloggers: Why They Should Come Together

An interview with Michele Price, also known as @ProsperityGal on Twitter.  As a host of two radio shows, the originator of the Twitter chat, #Speakchat, and the founder of Social Media for Smart People, Michele shares her knowledge about enlisting the help of social media influencers for event marketing.

1 -  Are Angels Engaging With Humans on Twitter: Interview With Amit Verma

My interview with Amit Verma, a 16 year old boy from India who is one of the most influential people on Twitter. Amit's blend of enthusiasm, altruism and genuine concern for his online friends has won him a legion of followers, including me.

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