Tools for Event Transformation
When we first announced our “SXSW Session on “Events are now Platforms”, it always had as its subhead, “Seven Tools for Success”. While the number is actually arbitrary, my goal is to move the conversation forward around how technology can transform events for the better.
Below are just a few examples of tools which may play a part in this coming events renaissance. A couple of caveats—this list is not meant to be comprehensive, but rather a starting point to provoke conversation and dialog among those of us that are developing, using and promoting these solutions. So I especially want to hear about the products, services and websites I have left out here:
1. Event Discovery and Information Sharing (Solving event problems relating to The Interest Graph)
—–a. Platforms for event discovery
———–i. Lanyrd
———–ii. ConferenceHound
———–iii. Conferize
—–b. Vehicles for sharing event content
———–i. Ustream
———–ii. Livestream
———–iii. SlideShare
———–iv. YouTube
—–c. New tools for content curation
———–i. Storify
———–ii. Flipboard
———–iii. Fotopedia
2. More effective event networking (Solving event problems relating to The Social Graph)
—–a. Platforms for events to deploy
———–i. Pathable
———–ii. CrowdVine
———–iii. MobileRoadie
—–b. Tools for individuals to utilize
———–i. FourSquare
———–ii. Sonar
———–iii. Presdo
———–iv. Highlight
———–v. Glancee
———–vi. Ban.jo
———–vii. Kismet
3. Tools for lasting business impact (Relating to what I am calling The Event Graph–where the Social and Interest Graphs come together around an Event and its aftermath)
—–a. CRM and lead management tools
———–i. Salesforce.com
———–ii. Microsoft Dynamics
———–iii. Oracle, SAP, etc…
———–iv. Marketo
———–v. Rapportive
—–b. Content Sharing tools–The Big Four
———-Given that lasting impact is going to come by sharing across the Social Graph and our personal Interest
———-Graph, itis also important to recognize that the top four Social Networks:
—– -I. Twitter
—– -II. Facebook
—– -III. LinkedIn
—– -IV. Google+
———-…all have an important role to play as solutions to our event challenges.
—–-c. In many cases they are leveraged by some of the more specialized tools above, but they also have a
———–number of their own direct initiatives that could play a key role in improving events, including:
———–Google Hangouts
———–Facebook Live
———–LinkedIn Events
———–Twitter Initiatives
4. Event infrastructure tools
And finally, the three solution areas above are supported by a growing collection of overall Events Industry tools, including:
—–a. Event Management Tools
———–i. EventBrite
———–ii. Cvent
———–iii. Eventasaurus
—–b. Sponsorship & Vendor Marketplace Tools
———–i. SponsorHub
———–ii. Eved
———–iii. EventUp
———–iv. The EventShop
If I’ve left you out, or mis-categorized you, please let us all know in the comments. And if you are attending SXSW, please join me for the in-person part of this discussion, along with Loic LeMeur of LeWeb and Robert Scoble at our Interactive Core Conversation on March 12th.
