B-to-B Events

With a strategy usually reserved for broadcast and cable networks—not movie theaters—NCM Media Networks on May 15 held an upfront presentation dubbed “The Bigger Picture” for more than 700 media buyers and planners, brand managers and promotion agencies during New York City’s Upfront Week. NCM is an advertising network of more than 19,000 screens in movie theaters.

At the close of the business portion of Toyota Motor Sales’ annual national dealer meeting in Las Vegas last fall, one dealer, or “partner” as the brand calls them, walked up to Bob Carter, svp-automotive operations for the car manufacturer’s U.S. unit, to offer a little feedback.

In a TED talk entitled “The technology of storytelling,” celebrated multimedia storyteller Joe Sabia said, “The art of storytelling has remained unchanged… but the way in which humans tell the stories has always evolved, with pure consistent novelty.” Storytelling, and especially the way brands use stories to create a compelling narrative around their products, is making just such an evolution.

The 102-year-old Hallmark brand is a $4.1 billion business reminder that our e-society still values a meaningful message delivered in a physical form, be it a greeting card, plush toy or figurine. But like most (if not all) 21st century companies, Hallmark is busy forging a new path into the future, leveraging digital strategies to enhance the experiences consumers have with its products.

Every conversation in the event marketing industry eventually comes around to technology. You want to know what tools are out there to make your jobs easier, make your programs more successful and most crucially, make your target consumers love you the most. We have heard your clarion calls for help and now, with this monthly series, EM’s own Ken Briodagh will collect and codify the hottest, newest, most interesting, best (and sometimes worst) technological doohickeys available to you.