This column offers a monthly check-in on all things event tech, from new virtual platforms to social distancing-focused tools to software that will make your job easier. Got a tip? Get in touch!
In Case You Missed It
At BizBash, we recently took a deep dive into the metaverse, weighing the pros and cons of the concept that's on everyone's minds right now. We also had a fun podcast conversation with event tech expert Julius Solaris, Hopin's vice president of marketing strategy of events, to discuss how new platforms are influencing post-COVID event design in dramatic ways. And don't miss our in-depth Q&A with Eric Lochner, CEO of the newly merged MeetingPlay and Aventri platforms.
Event Technology We're Excited About This Month
To enhance your virtual networking and sponsor engagement opportunities
Last week, Zoom launched Expo From Zoom Events. Available to any customer with a Zoom Events license, the optional new feature allows event organizers to set up a virtual exhibition that connects attendees, sponsors and other booth representatives for live networking and other enhanced interactions. On a digital expo floor, attendees can freely move around the space, network via one-on-one chat, join the Expo booths for topic-based conversations, interact with sponsors and more. Booth representatives or sponsors can host multiple simultaneous conversations, and attendees can preview those meetings before deciding to join. Check out Zoom's recent blog post that explored the new offering in-depth.
To find and hire minority-owned event vendors
We recently caught up with Chicago-based couple Lola and Richard McClaney, who launched ourBLOC this week. The new online platform seeks to support diverse event vendors via a platform that’s designed for those specifically seeking minority-owned businesses within the event industry. ourBLOC currently hosts 70 vendors in markets including California, New York, Florida, Arizona and Texas, with plans to expand in the future. Right now, listed vendors include photographers, videographers, bartenders, DJs, event planners, venues, officiants, florists, rental companies, stationers and caterers.
To handle your marketing efforts and virtual event production in one place
Event marketing platform Splash has debuted Splash Studio, a new hybrid, virtual and in-person event platform. The offering enables event professionals to quickly build interactive virtual events directly within the Splash environment—meaning Splash’s core event marketing tools are conveniently built into the service. Third-party streaming or engagement tools can be integrated; other features include a full suite of engagement tools like Q&A and chat, fully automated data integration that syncs back to existing CRM and marketing automation systems, and more. Over the next few months, Splash also plans to add new integrations to its event marketing platform, as well as a new sessions feature that allows users to run multitrack events with simultaneous video streams.
To get more out of your influencer marketing
Open Influence, a global influencer marketing platform, has announced the launch of Go Prism, a proprietary creator marketing trends and insights tool that leverages AI-powered content analysis and cross-channel data to help brands make better decisions when it comes to influencer marketing. Go Prism analyzes over 421 million unique pieces of content, 87 million hashtags and mentions, and 1 million high-caliber creators across all major social media platforms. In turn, brands can use the platform to conduct deep dives into potential influencers’ posts, generate custom competitive reports, analyze industry trends and audience data, and more.
“Most marketers are still struggling to figure out exactly what to do or who to work with when it comes to influencer marketing, and that problem is only growing as more creators, platforms and features emerge,” explained Eric Dahan, co-founder and CEO of Open Influence. “Go Prism cuts through the noise of social media to provide actionable insights, allowing brands and agencies to better track influencer marketing industry trends and ultimately, make better investment decisions.”
To see what your peers think about various virtual event platforms
#EventProfsBreakShit is a community of event management professionals working with big and small event technology providers to put them to the test by experiencing and experimenting with the platforms as a group. Since its inception, the group has partnered with event tech platforms such as Swapcard, YoTribe (now Wonder.Me), Shindig, Engamio, Rally and Twine. Tech platforms can reach out to the group, and then the team plans and produces a one-hour virtual event on the platform for 100 to 150 attendees (fellow event planners) to test either the platform’s functionality as a whole or target a specific feature by request of the company. Learn more in our recent interview with the team.
The Latest Promotion, Funding and Merger News
Live, hybrid and virtual event management company Canapii has launched a new partner program. The offering will empower event and production agencies to grow and expand their business by offering Canapii’s all-in-one event technology and event expertise to their clients.
Videoconferencing platform Livestorm has announced several new features intended to boost engagement, including the ability to host events of as many as 3,000 people in a custom-designed event room. The technology also now allows up to 16 people to be speaking simultaneously, along with private chatting capabilities, integration with HubSpot and more.
1-800-Flowers.com Inc. has acquired Alice’s Table, further expanding its experiential offerings for customers. Alice’s Table, launched in 2015, offers fully virtual floral and culinary experiences to public event guests, as well as to private and corporate clients across the country. It joins 1-800-Flowers.com’s portfolio of more than a dozen gifting brands.
Hybrid engagement platform ON24 has announced a new integration with the Drift platform. Joint customers will now be able to combine real-time Drift activity and conversational data with attendee and first-person engagement data from ON24 digital experiences. The integration allows companies to track engagement across marketing and sales activities and increase customer pipelines.
