Face to Face Events – A Private Media Solution?

King Fish Media recently produced the 2007 International Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Conference. The four day summit brought together people from over 25 countries to hear speakers such as David Cooperrider, Marcus Buckingham and Martin Seligman. I will not even attempt to explain positive psychology and AI even though I am the proud owner of a 20 year old BA in psychology. Click here to learn more about the conference and see links to AI resources.

Spending several days at this conference reinforced my belief that face to face events are a critical media channel, and a key component to any Private Media solutions. Events a media channel? Of course, they are. Events bring together a community of people with similar interests with compelling content in a high affinity environment. That is the perfect description of private media. Additionally, a live event is the best community building mechanism known to man. It is one thing to join an online social network, but it is quite another to spend three days with a colleague in keynotes, breakout sessions and social situations. You can actually see relationships being created and deals being done when you walk around reception rooms and break areas. Can you think of a better customer retention venue than spending 48-72 hours with your best customers?

Events can be a hub and jumping off point for additional permission marketing vehicles such as newsletters, magazines, Web sites and more. As we become more and more Web centric, live events are more critical than ever to build relationships and market your company. As a marketing guy who has run his share of events and conferences, I am a huge believer in face to face. I strongly believe that focused events are a “must have” in most private media solutions. When you have someone in your own environment for a period of time, you have a golden opportunity to message to them and create long term customers.