Using Social Media to Promote Your Event

We are definitely in the age of technology. As much as I hate to admit it, I have a mini panic attack every time I don't have my iPhone within an arm's reach. I feel like I've been a let down when I don't tweet someone back or answer a Facebook message as promptly as I do voicemail or emails.

Some people and companies may be reluctant to embrace the era of social media that is upon us and to that I say: use social media to your advantage. It is your friend, not your enemy- I promise.

So this week we dedicate our blog post to social media and some of the ways that you and your company can use it to your advantage while promoting your next event. These next few tips are simple, effective, and best of all: FREE (who doesn't love that? If it's free it's for me!)

1. Create a Pre-event Buzz
Utilize your Facebook page or send out an email blast to encourage your fans and potential attendees to sign up and share the event with their friends. You can even offer prizes for the individual who refers the most people or a discount when a certain number of their friends buy a ticket. 

If you're feeling really fancy, you can utilize sites such as Meteor Solutions helps you to incentivize your event by offering rewards for sharing your content.

2. Encourage your guests to use a pre-agreed upon Hashtag when discussing your event on their own personal social media sites. Make sure you inform them of the exact hashtag to use (For example: #EventsNorth or #TinasWedding2012) so that there are not two or three different types floating around. Hashtags allow you to promote your event and include it in conversation threads. If you have enough people discussing your event, it may even start trending within your area- the ultimate social media accomplishment!

3. Keep up the buzz by keeping some things a surprise. If you keep mentioning snippits of what is to come at the event via social media outlets, but don't let your guests know the whole picture until the day-of...they're more likely to stay hooked. Even snapping mystery pictures and showing them bit by bit to your social media audience works. Your attendees will remain engaged by guessing what is to come and keep checking back...once the get a hint of what's to come they'll keep coming back for more!

4. Use QR codes on your ads or Facebook page to allow people to easily access your website. A large majority of people are smartphone owners, so they can snap a picture of the QR code and be led to your site immediately. This will allow you to give them an abundance of extra information that you couldn't fit onto your ad.

5. Encourage your attendees to check in at the event using Facebook Check-ins or Foursquare. This will allow them to promote your event on their Facebook or Twitter. Their friends can then simply click on the link and be directed to your page and find out easily exactly where your event is...and see what they're missing out on!

6. Have a lot of things going on at once? Utilize live videostreaming of your event via Facebook or Youtube to allow attendees (and virtual guests following along at home) to catch a glimpse of the speeches or concerts they're missing.

7. Create a Twitter Wall at your event. Mashable Business explains this concept best: "The most successful social media campaigns merge what’s happening online with what’s happening offline. Setting up Twitter walls throughout the event space is an effective way to entice attendees to get involved in the online discussions stemming from the event.

If you’re running a smaller gathering, consider creating a virtual welcome wall near the registration area so that you can say hello to attendees on Twitter as they check-in. When attendees see their username displayed on the screen, next to your hashtag, they’ll be encouraged to get involved.

There are a number of vendors that provide Twitter wall functionality, including Socialping, Visible Tweets and TweetWally. Each offer varied levels of customizability and analytics. Just be sure to think through filtering options and map out a plan for the worst-case scenario, like a hashtag hijack."

8. Make sure to follow up post-event. Thank your guests for coming via Facebook or Twitter. Send out a follow-up email to let everyone know the event specs and how much you appreciated them coming out. Already know the dates for the following year's event? Post them on your Facebook or Twitter and let your guests know so they can plan ahead.

Social Media is such a useful tool and in today's day and age...if you're not using it, you're behind the times. Make sure your event promotions are up to date and watch your event attendance (and number of twitter followers) soar!


Sources for a few of these tips include:
Social Media Examiner
and
Mashable Business

Bridal Blog: A Creative Way to Register for What You Need

Sometimes you just do not need another blender or another set of towels as wedding gifts. Perhaps you're simply just too busy to go to Macy's (or even to go to Macys.com) and register for all of the things you'd like to receive from your wedding guests. You might already own an impressive amount of home goods...

Or maybe you really would just prefer cash.

Well, we recently stumbled upon a new online-registry that allows you to ask for cash while still allowing your guests to gift you that cash in a more personal way.

Wedding Republic is basically an online wish list that couples can create and send to all of their guests, but instead of listing the specific products that they would like, it lists different items or expenses that the monetary donations are going towards. For example, "Our first dog" or "Our honeymoon" or even "The mortgage on our first home."

The site operates by having the couple select the price points for certain items (for instance, you may have your sights set on a brand new TV. If the TV costs $750, then you can split that gift into six parts of $125 each, three parts of $250 each, or even leave it as one whole piece of $750. It's completely up to you!). The items are then displayed as a puzzle with the pieces representing the amount needed to purchase the entire item. Once an item is completely paid for, it becomes locked. It's that easy!

It seemed too good to be true...and there are not a whole lot of reviews out there on Wedding Republic because it is so new, so I, Meaghan, decided to test out the site myself to see how simple it was and to figure out "what the catch" was. After creating a fictional account for my fake fiancé, Tom, and myself, I was happy to find that signing up for this site was a piece of cake (the really delicious vanilla-butter cream kind. You know what I'm talking about) and sending out the information to tell guests how to use the site to donate was even easier.

How It Works For Couples

1 Create Your Wishlist Set up your free registry in minutes! You can choose from our list of gift ideas or customize your registry by adding your own!

2 Share It With Guests Share your registry with friends and family through email, Facebook or by adding a custom link to your wedding website.

2 Share It With Guests Share your registry with friends and family through email, Facebook or by adding a custom link to your wedding website. 3 Watch As Guests Contribute Login to see who has contributed to your registry. Forgot something? No worries, you can edit your list anytime! 4 Collect Your Funds Congratulations, you're married! When you're ready to close your registry, simply login and collect your funds.

3 Watch As Guests Contribute Login to see who has contributed to your registry. Forgot something? No worries, you can edit your list anytime!
4 Collect Your Funds Congratulations, you're married! When you're ready to close your registry, simply login and collect your funds.

The only "catch" was that when guests choose which piece of your registry they'd like to purchase for you, the site does
add a 4.5% processing fee to their purchase...which if you think about it, is even cheaper that Michigan's sales tax.

All in all, this website seems like a wonderful way to allow a bride and groom to ask for cash only, but still allow guests to feel like they're giving more of a "gift." It also allows the couple to still thank their guests for specific items. Instead of "Thank you for your generous donation" they can write out a card saying "Thank you for helping us to purchase our future dog, Rover! I'll be sure to send pictures as soon as we adopt him so you can see how adorable he is!"

Asking your guests for "cash only" gifts has never been easier!

(Source for Pictures)

Vendor Spotlight: Grandview Catering!

We really do love all of the amazing vendors that we get the privilege to work with...and we've worked with quite a few!

There are always those few vendors that we work with regularly who continue to impress us again and again, and Grandview Catering is definitely one of them. So, we would like to dedicate this week's blog post to the spectacular Grandview Catering and let you know a little bit about why we (and our clients!) love to work with them.

Source: Grandview Catering

Grandview Catering not only has excellent food, they provide phenomenal service every single event they cater. Their staff is both professional, personable and simply just great at what they do. They always dress to impress and not a single table is left unattended. They go the extra mile to make sure that all of the guests are enjoying their meals and that they are delivering appetizers and meals in a timely manner.

Source: Grandview Catering

Their food...well...let's just say that if we could eat Grandview Catering's meals every single day, we would be in heaven. From their appetizers (we're HUGE fans of their stuffed potatoes. I actually think I started salivating just thinking about them) to their meals (whether they be buffet style or plated...I'm pretty positive that Grandview Catering can do no wrong.) to their desserts, everything meets...well, okay, exceeds all expectations.

Source: Grandview Catering

The best part? They offer such a variety of options that I don't think I have seen the same meal twice. Is your event themed? They can offer you options that will fit perfectly- believe us, we had them cater everything from corporate dinners to Western Themed cocktail hours. Want to make sure your vegetarian guests are satisfied? Grandview Catering can do things with Eggplant that will make even the biggest meat lover's stomach growl.

Source: Grandview Catering

Honestly, I cannot think of one bad thing to say...but you should definitely check out Grandview Catering for yourself. Make sure to stop by their newest restaurant, The Kitchen, to grab some lunch or dinner for you and your family- you can even steal a peak at their tasting room while you're there!

Thank you, Grandview Catering, for making our job even more fun by providing excellent meals, service and displays!

Guest Blogger: Macaila Schlaff! "What I Learned During my Internship with Events North"

For those of you who didn't know, we had the privilege of having Macaila for our summer Event Coordinator. Macaila was an absolute dream to work with and we could not have asked for a more perfect fit. We asked her if she'd mind talking a little bit about her internship at Events North and she was happy to provide some answers for us! Tomorrow is her last day with us and we're still in denial, but here is a look into Macaila's internship with Events North: 

Meaghan, Allison, and Macaila on site at an event!

What are 3-5 things you have learned from your internship with Events North?

1. No matter what happens, there is no need to freak out. Allison Beers is a calm and collected professional who has taught me that when an incident occurs, panicking is only a waste of time. The best solution is to think about the problem, then either come to a realistic resolution or if there is nothing to be done then accept the fact that it is the way it is.

2. Networking is not as easy as it seems, but also not as scary as you think. When first entering the professional world, networking appears to be simple…you go to an event, talk to some people and hand out your card. However, there is a lot more too it. Walking into a room where you are not only the youngest person but the “new girl” too is very intimidating…I felt like the awkward girl at a high school dance just waiting for someone to come over. Then I realized that I need to make moves, I have nothing to lose if I just go talk to people and see what they do, how they got involved in their industry and their experiences. Being young was not a disadvantage like I believed because people were interested to hear my career goals and happy to give their advice on growing in the professional world. They had been in my shoes before and knew how to relate. Networking can be compared to going to a new school, the first day can be overwhelming but if you be yourself and get out there you are sure to find new friends and connections!

3. Always have your business card on you. Everyone and anyone you meet could be a potential client.

4. Be confident in all that you do. Before this internship I second-guessed choices and worried that my ideas/work would not meet expectations or be as good as someone else’s. Allison gave me large responsibilities but also gave me the tools I needed in order to be confident in the final product of those tasks. I make sure to triple check, ask if I need assistance, take time to perfect but also be efficient. Allison gave me constructive criticism on the assignments I turned in, and in addition she made sure to tell me when my work was fantastic.

           

What was your favorite event or experience in general?

I don’t think there was just one event that was my absolute favorite because each one taught me something new and when you are with the Events North team there is no such thing as a “boring event.”  I genuinely loved all the events I was a part of because our clients are fantastic people to work with and I spend my days with the two most fun people I know. 

One that sticks out was the LaBelle Family Reunion (also known as LFR to honorary members of the family…aka Meaghan and I) and Frank Wedding Weekend Bananza was one of the craziest, busiest, most fun events! It resulted in family shenanigans, karaoke contests, hiding out in a closet with Allison Beers and an intense dance party with the Events North team. Oh, and did I mention that Allison rapped the entire “shoop” song by Salt and Pepper to Meaghan and I…just one of the many skills she possesses. (owner's note: I'm mortified that Macaila told you I rapped the entire "Shoop" song by Salt and Pepper

...when the name of the group is "Salt and Pepa." I made her aware of her mistake, don't worry.)

 Two of my favorite parts about working with Events North were shopping days for different clients….there is something about spending money on random event items that is very entertaining. Also, just work days in the office where we are all in intense work-mode but on random occasion someone blurts out something weird or hilarious and just for a moment we get distracted for a mental break. The dynamic between the three of us works to make our job good-busy.

Meaghan and Macaila before the DTCA Annual Dinner

What has this internship taught you?

1. How to manage social media

2. How to market and promote events

3. How to properly budget for each client

4. How to spark my creativity and stretch my brain for ideas

5. How to construct a proposal

6. How to organize and collaborate with vendors

           

The list of things I have learned this summer are infinite. Not only will I take the valuable skills I acquired and apply them to my future career….hopefully in event planning…but I also have improved my life skills and grown up a little more during this internship.

           

What is some advice you have for future interns?

1. Always be early.

2. Events North is not just a company to work for- they are like gaining a new family. I spend about 100 hours a week with them and yes they are my bosses but I also know that I can come to them with anything.

3. If you don’t genuinely enjoy coming to work every day then this is not the job for you. People ask me how I deal with the insane hours and jam-packed days but it honestly rocks! I love what I do and who I work with. Events North is the best company to work for…no joke.

4. Pay attention to every detail, write everything down so you don’t forget and ask questions when you need to.

5. Have fun! Don’t be too serious all the time or you will not enjoy your job. Events North is a fun group so don’t be the odd one out.

Events North Staff onsite at an event

What will you miss the most?

1. Allison and Meaghan :(

2. Dr. Dre Pandora

3. Event Days

4. Ruby the Michigan Blood Drop Mascot

5. Road trips. Especially when I sit in the back seat and feel like I’m being driven to soccer practice or have to fit into a four year olds car seat. (editor's note: we did not actually make Macaila sit in a four year old's car seat....more than once.)

The Things we Carry: Our Event Box

They say you can tell a lot about a woman by what she carries in her purse. I agree, considering if you looked inside Meaghan’s purse, you would find neon band-aids, some tie dye wayfarer flip-up sunglasses, packs of gum, Events North business cards and an apple at all times. Meaghan likes to think this says she is “fun, but prepared!”

Our trusty event box!

While Events North does not have a “Purse,” we consider our event box to be a huge reflection on who exactly we are. Our event box is on site with us at every event we manage and is an excellent example of the things we carry. So, we decided that devoting a blog post to our beloved event box would give you a little better look into our lives.

So, here are some of the things we carry in our event box:

Just a few of the things we have inside our event box.

·      Tic Tacs: fresh breath is a must.

·      Clippers: A.K.A. an event planner’s BFF. These snip even the toughest of materials. Zip ties, metal…our clippers can conquer.

·      Corkscrew: you never know when the bar is going to need an extra!

·      Exacto knives (in floral prints of course).

·      Lighters: We guarantee that your candles will remain lit so your event will be sure to get glowing reviews (We couldn’t resist the pun).

·      Flash light: You never know when you’re going to need that extra bit of light.

·      Tide to go: Stain free is the only way to be…plus, red wine + white wedding dresses sometimes= disaster. We have you covered.

·      Memory card: To be sure that we capture each and every moment.

·      Duct Tape: Multiple rolls. We promise things will not fall apart on our watch.

·      Tool kit: “Can we fix it?! YES WE CAN!”

·      Paper clips, tacs, safety pins, post-its, pens, pencils, sharpies, stapler: Our event box also doubles as an on-the-go office!

·      Zots: glue dots that hold things down to protect them from wind. They are one of our favorite discoveries to date. If you have not experienced Zots, please remedy this immediately.

·      Zip ties: Zip ties just hold it all together! Whether we need them to hold banners, tie together materials, etc.- Zip ties are always an excellent solution!

·      Kleenex: For both touching moments and touch ups. Yes, we do tend to cry at your wedding ceremony.

·      Rhinestones: You can never have enough sparkle!

·      Ribbon: Last minute details are no issue for us!

·      Make up: We want to make sure to look good while we make your event look great!

Our box is crucial to our event success. It’s always better to be over-prepared than to have to rush and collect materials last minute. I hope by getting a look into our event box, you have an even better idea of who Events North is and what we do!

What does your purse/prep box say about you? We’d love to know!

What We Have Been up to Lately!

You probably noticed that the Events North Blog Post is a little late.

While we are not fans of excuses, we're going to use one anyways: We have been ridiculously busy and did not have a spare moment to write up a blog post worthy of your viewing until right now...

which is exactly how we like it!

What have we been up to you ask? Well, this blog post is going to give you a VIP peak into a few of the many events that Events North has been a part of recently/is working on currently.

A few things we just finished up:

Elena and Andrew's Wedding

The ceremony- thanks to The Floral Underground for the fabulous Chuppah!

 It was absolutely gorgeous! Elena and Andrew have been one of our favorite couples we've gotten to opportunity to work with. They're both just genuinely good people (both with an excellent sense of humor, which we LOVE!) and they know exactly what they want out of life.

The Hora! What a fun group!

 Their wedding was at the beautiful Ciccone Vineyard and Winery (The views were almost too good to be true- seriously, the sunset was simply breathtaking. We could not have asked for a more stunning location).

The Events North Crew on Wedding Day!

Events North was there for their entire wedding planning process, so this day was extra special for us since we got a chance to get to know the happy couple on a more personal level. The weather was perfect, the vendors were great and all of the guests had a spectacular time!

2.  Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association Event

We're in the final planning stages of both an opening and a closing event for the Michigan Beer and Wine Wholesalers Association. Not only has this client been simply wonderful to work with, we have had a blast planning all of the activities and themes for these two events, which both take place at the beautiful Boyne Mountain Resort.

The first event is an Olympic themed Family Event, so not only do we get to display our American pride all day long, we get the extremely fun task of facilitating Olympic games and crafts! Bonus: there will be a bounce house, exceptional food, and a "closing ceremony" where we will announce the winners of the Olympic Games. 

The closing ceremony is on the fancier side- a dinner and musical performance by the outstanding Miriam Pico. We will make sure to put up a bunch of pictures from both nights on our Facebook page so you can see how everything turned out!

3. Pigstock

It's back! We're working with another one of our favorite clients, Cherry Capitol Foods, to put on this "food mayhem" event. If you're new to the world of Pigstock, here is a little background information: Pigstock is a four day event that features an array of activities and events (learning how to slaughter a pig, finding ways to cook the entire hog instead of wasting the meat, culinary classes, etc.) Pigstock attracts attendees from all over the state and we are so excited to be a part of it again this year! We will have much more information on everything Pigstock as the event draws nearer, but for now we just wanted to give you a little background information!

4. LaBelle Family Reunion

The view from the tent- not too shabby if you ask me!

We just finished up one of our absolute favorite events to date, The LaBelle Family Reunion. The reunion took place in a giant tent (thanks American Rentals!) on site at Sugar Beach Resort. Meaghan, our event manager, was on-site the entire weekend to make sure that the LaBelle Family had the best reunion possible.

The inside of the LaBelle Family Reunion Tent- Thanks for the great banner, Signs Now!

To give you an idea of how absolutely fantastic this family was, by the end of the reunion, Meaghan was trying to find a way to snag an invite to the next one. From Family Beach Olympics to a Karaoke Dance party, the LaBelle family made it clear they knew how to have an extraordinary time. 

Meaghan and Macaila doing time at Pirates Cove

Some highlights from the weekend included a parasailing adventure with Traverse Bay Parasail, Jetsking and Water Trampoline fun compliments of J & N Watersports, a morning cruise on the Nauticat, an afternoon of mini-golf and activities at Pirates Cove, a surprise 70th Birthday dinner at Lodell's, a tear jerking speech by Grandma Labelle, and delectable meals catered by the superb Chef Joseph George at Lochenheath.

That's just a taste of what we've been working on lately! We have so much more in store for 2012 and are even beginning to plan events for 2013. While we're always keeping busy, we absolutely adore our mix of corporate, social and nonprofit clients and honestly would not have it any other way!

We hope everyone else is enjoying their summer season as much as we have been- we love what we do!

Blog Post: Rehearsal Dinner Spots with Views You Can't Resist

We at Events North are huge advocates of "keeping it local" by dining at Traverse City Restaurants. Luckily for us, there are a TON of amazing local dining options- many of them with breathtaking views. 


Many brides ask us about great local options for rehearsal dinners where their guests can both fill up on fantastic food and embrace the views that Traverse City has to offer. So, we decided to give some local shout outs to a few of the establishments that provide both group dining options and spectacular sights to see. 

Lobdell's

The Hagerty Center, located right on the Bay. Source: MCCB

Located on the second floor of the Hagerty Center, Lobdell's is a wonderful bayside dining experience that seats up to 90 guests. If you're looking for something with a view of the bay, but is a little out of the ordinary, Lobdell's is an excellent option. Why? Well, Lobdell's is not only an exceptional Rehearsal dinner space, but also serves as a working lab for the culinary students of the Northwestern Michigan College's Great Lakes Campus. The food is delicious, the view is great, but the overall experience is what makes the trip to Lobdell's so fun!

Call 231.995.3120 to make a reservation.

Aerie Restaurant & Lounge

Aerie Restaurant & Lounge. Source: Grand Traverse Resort and Spa 

The view from Aerie Restaurant & Lounge. Source: Grand Traverse Resort and Spa

Though it is little further outside the realms of Downtown Traverse city, Aerie Restaurant & Lounge (located on the 16th floor of Grand Traverse Resort and Spa) offers an elegant and modern group dining experience. Not only is the decor and food sophisticated and phenomenal, the view of the bay, the surrounding countryside and the Resort's golf courses is simply inspiring. Another great feature of Aerie is that they pride themselves on focusing on regional selections that highlight local produce, breads, cheeses, wines and even micro brews on tap! If your Rehearsal dinner group consists of less than ten people, there are intimate Private dining rooms that you can reserve!

Call 231.534.6800 to make a reservation.

Top of the Park

A glimpse into the Top of the Park. Source: Park Place Hotel

Located at the very top of the Park Place Hotel (Hence... the Top of the Park), this small dining room is a great spot to host your Rehearsal dinner. While it cannot accommodate a gigantic group, it's perfect for parties of around 50 and less. The food is great, but the view is the main attraction. The Top of the Park has giant glass windows serving as the outer walls, giving you and your guests a fantastic overlook of all of Downtown Traverse City. If you time your dinner to accommodate the sunset, you're in for a fantastic treat.


You can call 231.946.5000 to make a reservation. 


Apache Trout Grill

Private Banquet Room. Source: Apache Trout Grill

View from the Banquet Room. Source: Apache Trout Grill

If you're having a Fall or Winter wedding and are searching for a restaurant that features superb food and a spectacular view of the bay, search no further than Apache Trout Grill. They just added a new Banquet room that is available for private parties in the fall and winter seasons. One of Apache Trout Grill's three-tier group dinner menus is sure to fit your and your guests needs.

The best part? Apache Trout Grill is located right on West Bay and is around a five minute drive from downtown Traverse City- convenient location, excellent meals, and a wonderful view. What's not to love? (Their bread is TO DIE FOR...but you should probably sample some yourself, just to be sure.)

You can call Manager Chris Moses or the Director of Food and Beverage Josh Benedict, at 231.947.7079 to make a reservation.

Regardless of the views, there are still many other wonderful local options for hosting your Rehearsal Dinner or get together in Traverse City (believe us, we've tried as many as we possibly can...for both the benefit of our clients and our stomachs). We recommend paying a little visit and making sure to arrive hungry- the options are almost endless! 


Keeping it local while dining is just so much easier when the meals and views are both wonderful and plentiful!