Technology

In the beginning there was the meet up where people would get together in real life. Then there was the Internet where suddenly everyone met friends online chatted via instant message and stayed in touch by micro-blogging their daily lives on websites like Facebook and Twitter. Now online social circles are moving out of cyberspace and back into the physical realm. Where is everyone going? Why to the nearest tweetup of course—a real-world meet-up made up of Twitter followers or “tweeps.” And brands in the know like Panasonic and Zipcar are moving there too.

Tapping into online communities before a live event allows a brand to learn a great deal about its target audiences’ behaviors and preferences. The insights can lead to more meaningful and relevant live experiences.

Laptops were all the rage that is until cell phones turned into mini personal computers. Now consumers get sports updates the weather email photos and news—you name it—all on a device that fits in the palm of their hands. Through SMS (text messaging) they’re also communicating with each other faster than ever before.

Celebrity appearances are a perennial tactic in the event marketer’s cookbook. But there’s a new winning recipe on the rise: celebrity chefs. Popular Food Network stars like Emeril Lagasse and Rachael Ray have been cooking their way into America’s hearts for years. And cookware brands like All-Clad and Meyer have put these chefs’ signatures all over their products. But it’s not just kitchen brands that are picking up on celebrity chefs’ thunder. Meow Mix threw a celebrity chef into the marketing mix to tout its natural ingredients.

When it comes to mobile tours technology is one of the best ways to differentiate one truck from another. Graphics are eye-catching but for an engaging consumer connection high-tech touches such as lighting and sound effects interactive touchscreens and other cutting-edge gizmos make the experience memorable and worth the investment of time energy and dollars.