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BowerPower Papers, a quarterly digital newsletter from Bower & Co. Consulting LLC, aims to inspire non-profit, association, destination, business, and event/festival leaders to think creatively about marketing, corporate sponsorship, events, and strategy. |
Volume 6 Issue 2
| Summer 2011 |
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 | | Hiking at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, New Mexico |
Greetings!
This issue of BowerPower Papers is a 5-minute "vacation" from your daily grind to take a quick quiz and consider your events from new angles.
Hiking recently among the ruins of New Mexico's Ancestoral Pueblo homes and great kivas, I saw how invested the ancients were in what, today, we call, 'events.' They built grand structures, using elaborate masonry and advanced engineering techniques, to house their ceremonies and rituals, drawing thousands of people - and without using social media!
Events today are just as important symbolically and emotionally; yet in the midst of our hustle to check tasks off the list, we sometimes forfeit the meaning in our events.
The self-test below helps you assess your event to see if you are on track or off when it comes to keeping the spirit, strategy, and tasks of your event in alignment. Afterwards, if you'd like to learn more, be sure to request the special bonus - my gift to you!
Welcome to all new subscribers. As always, please feel free to forward this newsletter using this button below to maintain the formatting and integrity of the content. Thanks!
Here's to your event success!
Warm regards, Gail S. Bower President
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10 Big Time Event Blunders
-- Plus, how to make them better
by Gail S. Bower
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You're heading full throttle into the fall and holiday event season, racing to the finish line. Are you sure you've thought through the most important decisions for your events?
It's natural to compile production schedules of task after task. All those details are important. However, if they're in service to the wrong - or no - strategies, you'll wind up:
- diminishing event results,
- siphoning staff time and enthusiasm,
- missing opportunities,
- squandering your budget, and
- leaving money on (or somewhere near) the proverbial table - and not in your organization.
An event can be the bane of your organization's existence. Or it can be just the leverage point that will catapult your organization to new heights, allowing you to cultivate important business relationships, share important news and stories in emotionally resonant ways, and bring your brand to life.
Events also are mini (and sometimes not so mini) businesses, brand extensions, and earned income generators. It's not uncommon for board or staff members to dismiss their organization's events, take them for granted, or ignore their potential, rather than value and cultivate them.
How is Your Organization Doing?
Give yourself 1 point for every "yes" answer; 0 points for every "no"; and for question 9, 1 point is equal to 1 notch on the rating scale.
- Are you reinventing the wheel each year, instead of building on previous experiences?
- Are you focused on making the event no-cost at the expense of more meaningful results?
- Are you sidetracked by board and committee member opinions?
- Are you dubious about your event outcomes and how to achieve them?
- Do your event revenue expectations seem like a bit of a stretch (and not in a good way)?
- Do you avoid taking calculated risks?
- Do you overlook the cultural influences and competitive forces that affect your eventgoers' expectations?
- Does your event layout look or feel chaotic or, worse, cause chaos?
- On a scale of 0 (not at all) to 10 (exceedingly): how boring is your event?
- Are you too quiet about your event and the value to potential audiences?
Scoring
How did you do?
- If you scored less than 2, you're doing very well and (mostly) maximizing your event investments and seeing results.
- If you scored between 2 and 5, you may already have known instinctively that your events were ready to evolve, but maybe you haven't been ready to acknowledge it. Well, it's true. You'll benefit from taking a step back, envisioning where you want to go next, and developing a solid strategy to help you get there.
- Is your score higher than 5? Your events and approach to them are problematic and will continue to drain resources and fail to deliver unless your organization makes significant changes. You'll need to learn more about the basics of the event medium, allow plenty of time, and make sure you're well supported to develop and implement an outcome-oriented event strategy.
Special Bonus
Would you like to learn more about producing painfree and profitable events? I am offering subscribers of BowerPower Papers an hour-long recording (mp3) of a teleseminar I recently presented, entitled Planning Pain-Free Profitable Events. It's my gift to you.
Simply send me an email or hit "reply" with "Painfree & Profitable" in the subject line, and I'll send you the recording. You'll learn more about how to:
- develop a powerful event strategy,
- recognize opportunities to reap the benefits of weaving corporate sponsorship into your event strategy, and
- powerful ways that your organization can benefit from events.
When you email me, let me know how you scored in the assessment above. I'd love to hear more about where you organization feels challenged, struggles or sees opportunities
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NEW ON
Check out these recent posts on Gail's blog, SponsorshipStrategist.com:Subscribe by email or RSS and participate in the discussion by commenting. As always, feel free to send me suggestions of topics you'd like to learn more about.
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 Do you have your own copy of How to Jump-start Your Sponsorship Strategy in Tough Times?
"Gail Bower, astute specialist in corporate sponsorship, published a book more than a year ago titled, How to Jump-Start Your Sponsorship Strategy in Tough Times.
"Well, tough times continue, and Bower's advice in this small, jam-packed book remains as relevant as it was a year ago."
"There is much more in Bower's useful book. You've likely acquired a small collection of materials about operating in a recessionary climate. Be sure to add this book to it."
--Joanne Fritz, About.com
To pick up your own copy of Jump-start, visit the store on my web site. Many organizations and associations have purchased copies for their members, staffs, grantees, and board members. Contact me to order quantities of 25 or more at a reduced price. | | |
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Gail Bower, President, Bower & Co. Consulting LLC, specializes in raising the visibility, revenue, and impact of non-profit organizations, destinations, associations, and festivals/events. She's a professional consultant, writer, and speaker, with nearly 25 years' experience managing some of the country's most important events, festivals and sponsorships. Launched in 1987, today Bower & Co. improves the results of clients marketing strategies, events, and corporate sponsorship programs. She is the author of the guidebook, entitled How to Jump-start Your Sponsorship Strategy in Tough Times, and is a trusted source for the media. For more information, visit her web site or contact her at 215/92-BOWER (215/922-6937).
© 2011 Gail S. Bower. All rights reserved. |
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| Gail Bower in the Media | |
Do you partner with small businesses? Are you a small business owner who sponsors events? Check out the Fox Small Business Center's recent article, quoting Gail Bower, entitled What Every Small Business Needs to Know About Being a Sponsor.
The Pocono Record recently quoted Gail Bower about the economic impact of events, like NASCAR at Pocono Raceway, on a destination or region.
Are you targeting quick service restaurants in your sponsorship or cause marketing efforts? If so, you might want to send your prospects a link to this article Gail Bower was quoted in for QSR Magazine, entitled "Charitable Giving Isn't an Option, Consumers Say." It will help your prospect think strategically about partnering with your organization and stimulate discussion about their goals. Interested in CSR and Green PR? Gail had an essay published in a book on the topic, Guide to Best Practices in CSR & Green PR. Gail Bower and client Nancy Gilboy, President of International Visitors Council of Philadelphia, were recently featured in Drexel University's Lebow College of Business' publication, LEAD Magazine, Winter Issue. The article, on pages 10-13, is "Expand Your Global Network without Leaving Philadelphia" by Lisa Litzinger.
Gail Bower quoted in TIME magazine
20 min. podcast: Gail Bower interviewed by business performance expert Pamela Harper
Gail Bower Guest Blogging on Sponsorpitch
Gail Bower Guest Blogger on Communications Strategist Blog
How To Jump-Start Your Sponsorship Strategy in Tough Times Excerpted in IFEA's magazine: Part One (PDF), page 30
Part Two (PDF), page 37 |
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Gail's Upcoming Speaking Dates
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Rethinking Gold, Silver & Bronze: More Powerful Nonprofit/For Profit Partnerships.
Wed., September 28, King of Prussia. GPSEG. Contact Eric David for details.
Partnering with Corporations: 5 Strategies to Increase Sponsorship Income. Thurs., Oct. 13, 2011, in Media, PA. PANO.
Designing Your Eventgoers' Experience. Thurs., Oct. 20, 2011. Webinar for IFEA.
10 Steps to Sponsorship Success: What Nonprofit Leaders Need to Know.
Thurs., Nov. 3, 2011, in Bethlehem and Fri.,
Nov. 18, 2011, in York. PANO. Click on the Event Calendar and dates for details.
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| | Sponsorship Toolkit | | Check out the National Council of Nonprofits' Toolkit on Corporate Sponsorship,
which includes several resources Gail Bower developed for the Council.
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