We are excited to enter 2015 after our strongest year ever! In 2014, we evolved our platform, made customizations easier and continued to push mobile event technology forward. For 2015, we have some new plans we are excited about. A few of them include the following: 

1) A New Website - we are redeveloping our website and making it easier to get information on event apps and event technology. We are planning on launching soon, so stay tuned.

2)Improvements Galore - we have been working hard to make our existing features better and give more control to event organizers. We are also working on under the hood improvements and interface changes that will help continue to improve the user experience. We will be rolling them out continously as the year progresses. 

3) New Features Galore - we are planning roll outs of many new features and additions to our existing features. Stay tuned to the blog to see them as we push them out. In addition, we are working on new integrations with event information providers. 

Stay tuned to the blog throughout the new year! 

Here is a short introduction:

We are offering the stamps now for all conferences, exhibitions, and corporate events. There is a literary an endless set of possibilities. Contact us today to learn more. 

It amazing to think that it takes 8+ years of preparation for a month long event, but that is the case with World Cups and Olympics. While event organizers work on a shorter timeline and with much less resources, we can learn from Brazil. Here are a few lessons we noticed that you can apply to your meeting or conference. 

Stay Within Your Means

It seems to happen for every worldwide event: the budget is obliterated well before the event even starts. When an entire country is behind you, that is possible. For event organizers working on a slightly smaller scale, this can't happen. Brazil's World Cup has taught us that its important to manage expectations and meet your goals within budget. For event organizers, this means finding and spending precious capital on things that matter and that will add value to the overall event experience. 

Keep Your Attendees Together

Soccer/Futbol fans from all over world flock to a host country to see the World Cup, but the on-field product is only part of the experience. Half the fun and benefit is meeting people from all over the world. For conferences and events, that means making sure you focus on experience beyond your sessions. Make sure your attendees spend as much time socializing and building real, lasting relationships.

The City Matters As Much As the Venue 

Brazil has built some amazing stadiums, but where they are located matter just as much. Choosing a host city means finding the right mix of convenience, culture, entertainment, and resources beyond just finding a venue that fits. Your attendees will spend just as much time outside the doors of your venue as in it - make sure you consider that when building your event experience.

No Matter What, the Content Makes the Most Impact

At the end of the day, Brazil's World Cup will be remembered for what happened on the field. Similarly, your event will ultimately be judged by the content you spread. For companies, its important to know they are getting a good return on their investment and building creative, engaging sessions is usually the best way to make sure that happens.

If you are like us, you will miss the World Cup, but there are plenty of chances to use the lessons from it in your upcoming events. Have any additional lessons learned? Send them to info@eventedge.co and we may include you on our next blog post. 

By Sara at Eventbrite

There is no way to way to get more registrations using the set it and forget it method. Driving more registrations means more time and effort. However, Sara at Eventbrite gives you some tips on how to effectively get more registrations without killing yourself or your reputation.

By Julius Solaris at Event Manager Blog

Social media can be an incredibly effective tool to drive registrations, interact with attendees at your event or get feedback after an event is over. However, event professionals tend to make mistakes that could cost them time and effectiveness. Julius over at Event Manager Blog gives a step by step method on how to fix them.  

By Marie Griffin at Expo

On our theme of going green this week, Marie interviews Tom Bowman, a sustainability expert, on how to make your events greener.  

For sponsors at events, promotion and awareness is the name of the game. Mobile event apps provide a new avenue that can be one of the most effective means to offer value to your sponsors.

More Eyeballs, More Time

Mobile devices are what your attendees are looking at. Throughout the day, your attendees will check their phones on 23 times and spend a significant amount of time in your event app. With so much time spent on a medium you control, your sponsors will get tons of exposure.

Interactive Promotion

Just printing a sponsor logo on paper takes interactivity out of the equation. By promoting then in an event app, your sponsors can link their phone numbers, websites, or email address and let attendees directly get information. In addition, you can tie sponsors to gamification events, upload their documents, or attach them to specific sessions.

Real Content Value

What is more important to the attendee experience: delivery of information or discovery of content? This article by Jeff Hurt, heads education and engagement at Velvet Chainsaw Consulting takes a look. 

You have heard about gamification, but why has it become popular? Does it really engage your audience? Cathy Key takes a look at how gamification can create better events. 

Social media is a mainstay at events and increases attendee interaction and engagement. Active takes a look at some tips, news and best practices in event technology industry. 

3 Inventive Ways to Track Down Potential Speakers for Your Next Event

By Kelvin Newman, www.eventmanagerblog.com 

Kelvin Newman, the organizer of Bright on SEO, breaks down some great ways to find great speakers for your next event. With the multitude of speakers, sometimes you have to reach out to them and find interesting ways to find the right ones for your event. 

Engaging your event audience through real-time response technology

By Darren Edwards, blog.invisage.net 

From Darren Edwards, an event technology expert based in Australia, this article looks at how mobile is changing audience response. This article mentions our own 'Live' features, so its a must read for us.

The 5 Step Process for Managing Difficult Speakers 

By Liz Alton, eventjuice.co.uk 

Getting speakers is one thing; managing them is a completely different animal. We have all had to deal with speakers that are more trouble then they are worth and this article by Liz Alton on Event Juice is a helpful guide to make sure it doesn't sink your event. 

Staying ahead of the technology curve can be both confusing and time consuming. After browsing the multitude of stuff at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, we think these are the trends and items that will affect event apps and event organizers in 2014. 

Wearables

We have mentioned it before, and it seems like 2014 might finally be the year of the wearable. Every where you go in CES, you see new fitness trackers, tracking clothing, and smartwatches. From the Pebble Steel  to Bluetooth Smart Jewelry  (yes, jewelry), wearables are coming into their own. Event organizers should know that their attendes are more connected and trackable then ever before. With new data streaming in, events can leverage this for gamification, attendee interaction, and better events. 

High Quality 4K Rules 

The age of the simple projection is over. No longer is HD good enough for events - the age of 4K televisions is upon us. 4K is 4X the quality of 1080HD and every company is tripping over itself to deliver the first consumer models. Every corner of CES if full of 4K televisions and projectors and pretty soon that will be the new standard. For event organizers, it will soon be time to start considering they new displays when setting up projectors, displays or exhibitions. 

Next Gen Experience

One of the biggest winners of CES was the amazing new 'Crystal Cove' prototypes that were shown off by Oculus. With full immersion gaming, its hard not to look ahead to the possibilities for events, particularly when it comes to demos and exhibitions. Event organizers should keep their eyes open to these radical next generation experiences and look at ways to spice up events with them. 

Internet of Things

One trend that expert has predicted for years, has been the rise of the internet controlled home. Well, CES definitely showed off an industry that is waiting for that explosion. Many companies are hoping the rise of mobility will be the missing piece the world finally embracing the internet of things. For event professionals, we say sit back and relax; it will likely be a while before you need to deal with it.

Its always nice to kick off the year with a look ahead. We hope events down the road have as much excitement as CES. 

Getting graphic and creative work for an event is an essential part of making sure your event looks amazing. An effective event brand can be the best marketing an organizer can have. Plus, your creative brand can set the tone for your event and convey an attitude to your attendees. The difference between a good event and great event is often the care and effort that went into the creative graphics. Event organizers have mastered a system of creating effective graphics quickly. However, with the onslaught of mobile devices, its time to throw a wrench in the system.  

When its time to plan and execute graphics for smartphones, we have learned that its important to follow a different set of rules then when you design for printed media, desktop emails, and websites. Here are a few tips:

1) Keep It Simple

It's not enough to simply reduce the size of your images; it's just as important to simplify as much as you can. However simplification doesn't mean you have water down your brand. Rather, we suggest your strip away the unimportant elements. Remove the patterns in favor or solid colors, concentrate on the major elements, make sure your text is crisp and easily readable, and don't put in too many points of focus. 

2) Color Can Be Your Best Friend - or Worst Enemy

Event organizers always want their event to stand out and often use colorful graphics to help. On mobile devices however, color can sometimes draw attention from the information they are trying to emphasize. We recommend using color to draw focus to your app, but simplify pages where information is key. Sometimes white space can be your friend. 

3) Use First, Beauty Second

Sometimes lost in the race in the build beautiful event branding is purpose. For event organizers, creating graphics for mobile devices should be more about letting your information shine rather then trying to overdesign. On a small canvas, this can have more impact then a fancy design. 

4) Look Before You Publish 

One issue with the variety of mobile devices is the different screen sizes you must adapt graphics for. While systems like EventEdge do much of the heavy lifting for organizers, its always good to pull out your device and check before you submit. What may look good in Photoshop may look very different depending on quality and size of a mobile device. Check your graphics on a few different devices and and make sure you are happy with your look before finalizing.  

What is the PUSH Message?

PUSH messages are the primary method of notifications on modern mobile devices. Each device platform (Apple, Android, Microsoft, etc) manages their own PUSH service and using it requires the user to have an app installed and permission given to that app to send PUSH Messages. 

The convenience of PUSH messages lies in their ability to show notifications whether the user is in a particular app or not. They even work when the app is not open (whether in the background or not). This allows apps to transmit information 24/7/365 as long as the user's device is on and connected to the internet.  

How do they work?

PUSH messages go through a few steps before showing up on a device. The organizer first enters them into their EventEdge backend system and chooses which platforms they want to send the message to. From there, it is routed through the Apple Push Notification Server (APNS) or the Android Notification Server. From there, the server sends the messages to the individual devices that have registered by installing a particular application. The device then pops the message up for the user to see. A lot goes into the process to make sure that messages are delivered both quickly and accurately.

How to use them effectively

DO: Use PUSH messages to update users on important/emergency content. PUSH messaging is an incredibly effective way to send out an important notification since it will be the first thing users see when they look at their devices.

DO NOT: Send too many messages. A common issue is known as 'message fatigue' when users stop reading your messages because an organizer is sending them every 5 minutes. Users tend to fully ready and process messages from sources that come in when there is actually important information. We find that anything more 10-12 messages a day starts to bring on message fatigue.

DO: Plan and schedule messages. For the most part, you can usually figure out ahead of time when you want to send messages. Whether it is reminders for sessions, tips for the event, or an important venue change, organizers find it easy to schedule your messages so that users are getting the message right when they need it. For example, we suggest sending out an important venue change 30 minutes before the session (rather then 5 hours) so you are reaching your audience right before they leave. 

DO NOT: Send long and wordy messages. With our ever shortening attention spans, long messages tend to get read much less. Keep your messages short and to the point. Have to present a lot of information? You can refer users to a details section or spread it out across a couple of messages.

A few ways our events have used PUSH messages:

> Send activity updates and announcements

> Inform last minute schedule changes

> Create buzz around the featured session or pro shows

> Promote sponsors throughout your event

> Spread super saver deals, discounts and generate leads for exhibitors

> Announce contests, prizes and winners

> Update them about your recent photo and video upload on the app

> Share contact details during emergency situations

> Greet, welcome and say goodbye

> Follow up after the event and remind users of upcoming events

Anyone who has been to an event recently knows that technology has drastically changed the way we interact and experience events. Mobile apps and online services are great, but most people don't see the infrastructure that goes behind them. However, its something that event organizers now need to understand and keep in mind when planning their events. We take a look at a few of the tech underpinnings that are becoming essential at events. 

Wi-Fi Connectivity

The most obvious new must-have at events is Wi-Fi connectivity. In addition to being needed for event organizers to run the event, attendees now expect it to stay connected. However, providing Wi-Fi is not as easy as it might seem. Most venues run antiquated systems that can't handle the connections or load needed to provide a stable and effective service. Event organizers should plan and try the folliowing: 

1) Plan Properly - Wi-Fi is like planning for any event resource, you first have to know what you need. You can calculate how much bandwidth you need by adding together the number of attendees, organizer use, and expected usage. From there, its easy to find a service that will work for you. 

2) Separate Yourself - The worst thing for event organizers is to lose connection during check in or important sessions. That is why we always recommend build a private network just for them. That will ensure that you have a connection when you need it.

3) Make Sure It Works Where You Want It To - Just because a hotel or venue has Wi-Fi, it doesn't mean it will work where needed. While booking your venue, walk the halls and classrooms and make sure it works where your attendees will be.  

Power, Power, Everywhere 

It used to be that attendees only carried a notepad and an event guide. Now, its common to carry a laptop, tablet, smartphone, and other energy hogging devices around your event. Due to the proliferation of devices, its now common to see masses huddled around energy ports, trying to keep their iPhones alive for the rest of the day. For organizers to truly leverage technology, its time to give attendees a way to charge up. At educational events, its becoming more common to have power outlets at every table and many events are now offering sponsorships for standalone charging stations throughout their event. Its something event organizers should definitely plan for. 

Cell Strength Matters

Wi-Fi is becoming essential, but cell signal is still the standard for connectivity. With more and more functions on their devices, attendees expect a strong cell signal all the time. Our suggestion is the walk to the venue before signing a contract and make sure no matter where you are in the world, the top couple of carriers get strong signal. 

With the release of Android 4.4, Google has shown what they are hoping to do with the future of mobile system and hopefully take a big step forward in reducing fragmentation. We got our Nexus 5s with KitKat and here are our first thoughts and impressions: 

1) Built for Everything

One of the big sources of issues with Android is the fragmentation. Most devices are still running an operating system that is 2+ years old. It terrible for furthering technology because its hard to embrace new technologies in the newest versions when the majority of users are still on old versions. Google is hoping to change that with KitKat. They have tweaked the operating system to run on systems that are slower and with less memory with the hope that manufacturers of low end devices will be able to upgrade to 4.4 regardless of the specs of your device.  

2) Pure Google

Android, at its core, is a platform to connect wtih Google services and KitKat puts that front and center. Google Now is not only better, but easier to access. Every Google App has been made smoother and more integrated with the Android core. Plus, search is front and center. You can say 'OK, Google' from any home screen and immediately voice search. And the new dialer automatically searches for businesses every time your make or recieve a call. 

3) Smoother / Faster

Android has always felt a half step slower then iOS in previous versions. Google has taken a big step towards fixing this by making animations more fluid, menus less cluttered, and Android more stable all around. Its immediately noticable and really adds to the experience. 

4) Mature

Its been 2 years since Google released Android 4.0, their vision for the future of the platform and has been refining since. In 4.4, it finally feels like the platform is maturing. Everything just feels more complete and the platform is integrated in a way that makes sense. 

What does it mean for events?  

For event organizers, Android 4.4 KitKat could be a boon. As events continue to embrace mobile technology, its hard to plan for the future when attendees are on so many different versions of Android. Planners can't use new technologies like Bluetooth Low Energy until they reach a critical mass of attendees. We hope that 4.4 pushes users to standardize and allow events to embrace newer technologies. 

It's already starting. We have already seen the introduction of products like Google Glass, Samsung Galaxy Gear, and many others. While the first generation of these devices may be underwhelming, its clearly the direction that we are heading. For events, this technology represents a big shift in how users can interact and attend events. We looked at the pros and cons as this new technology comes about. 

PRO: Move Technology to the Background

The goal of most, if not all, wearables is to remove the screen between you and others while still offering the benefits of connected technology. This could be a big help at events. Interaction, networking, and presentations seem to be an almost existential experience with much of the audience trying to capture and find information on their smartphones. Imagine being able to actually grab event information or get a quick blurb about the speaker without turning on and focusing on a phone. Wearables can actually help balance the line between using technology to augment your experience without hurting it. 

CON: Always Connected

What may seem like a positive, can actually be a negative when overdone. Being connected all the time is great, but it can also lead to a more distracted audience. Pulling out a smartphone during a session may be conspicuous, but checking a smartwatch or looking up data on your wearable would be nearly invisible. It could hurt your experience, but at the same time, its an opportunity for organizers to leverage wearables for a better event. 

PRO: Better Experience

Like any technology, wearables open the door to an entirely new series of improvements and interactions at events. Imagine being able to track attendance with a smartwatch, push reminders to Google Glass, or use activity trackers for gamification; the possibilities are endless. If event organizers look at wearables as an opportunity to engage, rather the distract, the new technology could be a boon for events. 

CON: Security 

The biggest concern corporate clients have with wearables is the still undefined security parameters. We view that as a very real issue. With a technology that is still nascent, companies are trying so hard to push out new products that security becomes a back burner issue. For events where security matters, this is not something you want.

Wearables are still in their infancy, but growing up fast. What should event organizers do? Its simple: stay informed and keep your eyes open. We guarantee wearables will start showing up at your events soon. Find ways to leverage the new technology for your benefit.

Have questions or want to continue the discussion? Contact us today.  

What Happened? 

Simply put, the iPhone. Before Steve Job's 'magical' device, the smartphone market was Blackberry. Palm was already declining and Blackberry was the hot product. For event professionals, Blackberry represented the best of both worlds. You got a connected device that gave you the information you needed and got ridiculous battery life. Plus, the godsend of BBM. You could stay on top of your event and make sure it went smoothly. 

However, as soon as the iPhone came along, Blackberry made a cardinal mistake: they dismissed it. As the iPhone shook up the status quo, Blackberry stayed the course and failed to adapt to the changing market. Smartphones were no longer a business only device; they were for everyone. As soon as Android hit the market as an innovate (and free) platform, Blackberry was already too far behind to catch up.  

Whats Next?

Its seems like Blackberry with survive, but in an unrecognizable form. As we have seen, the platform matters as much as the phones or service. Blackberry simply doesn't have the capital or ability to compete with the big boys (Apple, Google, and Microsoft) to compete for consumers. However, that doesn't mean Blackberry won't survive as a niche service. Blackberry is trusted by businesses and their security is still second to none. Expect them to be a smaller product that works exclusively in enterprise. 

What are Addicts to do?

The simplicity and usability of Blackberry has led many event professionals to hold on to them in the era of iPhone and Android for good reason. Sometimes, you just need a device that works and does the little things well. With Blackberry on its deathbed, what are these planners that want to swith to do? We came up with some suggestions:

1) Try Before You Buy - iPhone and Android are similar, but VERY different. Each has its own advantages (and disadvantages) that will not become clear until you actually use them. We suggest you borrow a friends, use a tablet with the same OS, or spend as much time as you can trying it out. Both iPhone and Android draw from Blackberry in different ways, so its important to find which one works for you.

2) Backup, Backup, Backup - There is a reason why you have to program apps differently for each platform. They are built on very different technologies. To avoid falling into issues with your data, backup your data in as many places as possible. Event organizers have enough trouble building contacts; rebuilding them would be a major pain. 

3)  Pain is Temporary - Whenever trying something new, there is always going to be some intial hardship. However, because we use our phones so much, that should dissipate quickly. Event organizers are great at adjusting, so switching platforms should be easy. 

Doing a Q&A is an essential part of any event session, whether its a presentation, educational session, or a product introduction. However, the number of sessions doing effective Q&A has gone down recently. Lets explore why: 

1) Time consuming - it takes too much time out of a session for speakers to answer every question. For a 50 minute presentation, spending a half hour on Q&A, especially when most of the questions are not universally applicable, is not reasonable for speakers or organizers.

2) Answering every question, including the bad ones - The speaker has no control over which questions to answer when doing a traditional Q&A. For the most part, that means a lot of time is wasted with questions that are either not applicable for most in the session or could better be discussed after the session. Plus, there is no way to stop an inappropriate question until after its been brought up.

3) Organizing is complicated - For large sessions with hundreds of attendees, figuring out a method to let everyone get a question in is difficult. You see people line up behind microphones, try to get attention in a crowded room, or worst of all, get completely forgotten. 

How do you solve these issues and still have an effective Q&A? 

At EventEdge, we think the solution is using devices attendees already have to make Q&A shine. Along with live polling, question and answer on mobile helps smooth things along. Here is how: 

1) Instant & anytime - The speaker/moderator has full control of when to start accepting questions. For the attendees, this means that they can start to submit questions during the session as they think of them without waiting until the end.

2) Only respond to the best + avoid repeats - With our management structure, you can get the questions as they come and choose the hide those you don't like. Plus, attendees can 'up-vote' the ones they like and simply comment on a question they like or want to expand on without reposting. 

3) Easy management -  The speakers/moderators can easily manage the questions, mark them as answered, and track them as they come in. Plus, with a project view, speakers can show the questions to the audience and keep them informed. All from the convenience of a laptop or tablet. 

Is Q&A weighing your event down, find out how we can help today.  

Step 1: Finding and signing with an event app provider

When: 4 months before your event 

For most events, the first things to get out of the way are the absolute essentails: booking a venue, setting dates, and getting your program started. This can happen anywhere from 6-12 months in advance. After that, its important to start filling in the other 'must-haves' and event apps fit in that category. Your best bet is to start looking for a provider at least 4 months before your event dates. That will give you enough time to get demos, discuss coverage, figure out your feature sets, and build a budget. Once that is completed, sign up with your event provider and get a timeline in place. 

Step 2:  Working out customizations, graphics, and details

When: 3 months before your event

The first thing to do is work with the app partner to figure out what your event needs. Find the features that fit and get the customizations planned out. You can also work to customize your logos and graphics for mobile devices and make sure your app looks amazing. Once that is done, its time to build. 

Step 3: App production, submission, and data management

When: 6 weeks before your event

Your app provider can the build and submit your app while also giving the organizer access to the backend for managing event information. Approval times can vary, but it usually takes 1 day for Android, and up to two weeks for Apple. During that time, the event organizer can import their event information, get their social settings set up, and start to market the app.

Step 4: Release and Marketing

When: 4-5 weeks before your event

As soon as your app is released, its time to market! There are many ways to do it including sending emails to your attendees, building a download site (EventEdge can do that for you), and spreading the work via social media. Once users to start to download the app, they can start conversations with Twitter, mark their favorite schedules, and start to give the organizer the feedback.

Step 5: Enjoy the app and your event!  

We have focused on simplifying and turning the design into something more modern and adaptive. We have spent lots of time researching, talking to event organizers, and built the platform from the ground up. 

More news coming soon.  

You may ask why we are adding this now? The key for us in developing this feature was to do it right. Its easy to search information, but much harder to do it in a way that is intuitive and useful. We worked hard to build a search that sorts results by type, allows for live searching offline, and uses an algorithm to find the result that you really want.  

Universal search is included in every new EventEdge App for no additional cost.  

Haven't seen the look yet? Take a look below:

A few things that stick out on first review:

1) Flat/Depth in the same design - Apple seems to have gone in two different directions that wouldn't normally work, but seems to find a way. They simplified their icons, menus, etc, but managed to also add parallax and depth with faded views. Its a bold experiment, so its interesting to see if it will work.

2) A New Standard - Apple has completely changed the way they built and designed their standard applications. They have simplified (white and flat text) their menus, removed icons, and kept single colors rather then a mix. Its a bold change, and one that may make users less comfortable, but something that keeps up with modern design. 

3) Actions Matter - One thing that Apple has really been 'borrowing' from other platforms is interactions and actions to make user experience better. In iOS7 users can swipe from left edge to right to go back and swipe up for an actions menu.

As EventEdge apps evolve, we are excited to see a new perspective from Apple to continue improving their platform.  

The function automatically fills all of the information, lets you edit it and then saves it directly to your address book. This includes items like pictures, social media accounts, or any other information available for the attendee.

Its included as part of our attendees module, so add it to your event today.  

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is still the standard when it comes to easily distributing information. Setting up a feed gives you a consistently and constantly updated news feed that can easily be shared. Many events and companies publish only via RSS because it gives their followers and easy way to spread news.

Thats why we included RSS feeds as part of our EventEdge platform. Organizers can easily setup feeds on our backend and automatically distribute them to  their attendees and plug your event directly into your already existent information network. Super easy and super convenient.

When you open a document, simply click on the share option in the top right of the app. The app will give you the option to choose the source and you can log in to Dropbox and easily save as many documents as you want. 

It comes as part of our Documents feature, so add it to your EventEdge app today!

We are also working with our friends in the even industry to give new perspectives and interviews from up and coming companies. If you have any suggestions or would like to contribute, let us know at social@eventedge.co  

Our first podcast will go up the first week of March, so we look forward to having you listen in. 

1) Always Available - Events are chaos. There is always something going on and sorting through that information is a big enough challenge. The apps for your event should not have attendees walking around, searching for signal. With our sync system, the information is always available, meaning handing out wi-fi passwords or searching for areas to get signal is not an issue. The apps sync when you have data and keep that information available all the time.

2) Speed - Let's face it: we are stretched for time, especially at events. No one has time to sit and wait for every page to be loaded from a limited internet when they need information NOW. The app should load the data quickly and let the user find what they are looking for in an instant.  

3) Limit Data - We live in the age where minutes and texts are free and data is where cell companies make their money with data. You should only have to load information once and not spend half your data allowance on constant reloading. Creating an app that only syncs the data makes its available as many times as you need it makes your event experience even better. 

For events, sharing can be a double-edged sword. Productive sharing could be one of the best enhancements to your event and create a really awesome experience for your attendees. However, oversharing by your attendees can bury you and your team in a haze of unrelated social media that can prevent your attendees from leveraging social networks as a positive method of communication. 

That brings us to the overlooked hashtag. Hashtags are the tool of choice when trying to cut the fog of social media and get to the posts that really matter. The most popular micro-blogging service, Twitter, and most popular photo sharing service, Instagram, have taken full advantage of this. Your event can choose a hashtag or a series of hashtags and then only get posts related to that tag. The hashtags let you organize the posts so your attendees are seeing only the ones that matter most to them. They are the secret weapon in your event's social network strategy. Plus, with the easy tracking of hashtags, events are using them to conduct polls to getting feedback. 

Thats why on our EventEdge system we let you search, organize, and post via hashtag. Whatever we can do to make it a little easier for event organizers. 

As we get rolling on a new year, we at EventEdge have been working on some big things and we are excited to share them with the world.

One thing that we are really excited about is the evolution of EventEdge towards an even more amazing platform. We are upgrading the design of our apps, rebuilding our backend and added tons of new features. Our goal is to make event organizers lives super easy while giving attendees a top of the line experience. With features like gamification, advanced contact swap and chat, and virtual conferencing coming your event experience will be better then ever.

We are also working hard to stay in touch like never before too. We have revamped our website and would love to hear from you on our Twitter and Facebook pages.

If you have any feedback or questions, feel free to contact us.

Check out this video  that demos the app with the integration. 

Introducing The Event Farm & Bloomberg my2012 Convention Apps from Event Farm on Vimeo.

Using analytics, organizers can see how attendees are navigating through the event and what areas of the event are of the most interest to the attendees.  With information such as which sessions are added to personalize schedules, number of page views for speakers, and which attendees are interested in.

 Using this information the organizer can determine how to time, manage, setup, and focus the event to cater to those needs.  Since analytics are live, organizers can streamline the event as the event is still going on, using the data to change on the fly and using the app to effectively communicate those changes instantly.  Analytics aren’t just a buzzword but rather the smart basis for making decisions for your events.