Welcome to the 17th edition of Corbin's TechTalk Newsletter
covering the latest in technology in clear (jargon-free) language for more than 5,000 meetings, hospitality and
travel professionals.
IN THIS ISSUE:
This issue has a wide range of topics, tips and tools:
NEW ARTICLE: 101 key benefits for online registration
NEW ARTICLE: Using online survey tools
4 SPAM-BUSTER FAVORITE SITES: anti-SPAM tools
4 HIGHLIGHTED MEETING INDUSTRY FAVORITE SITES
NEWS: Corbin's programs on the Web and CD
VIRUS WATCH: WORM_KLEZ.G
FOR FUN: Kenya/Tanzania photo safari 2002
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and more!
SPONSORS
Thanks to
the following newsletter sponsors:
Thanks to the following newsletter sponsors:
Conferon (www.conferon.com):
Is your marketing reaching your target audience and boosting ROI? Conferon's MRA and ConferOnline options help
you meet attendance goals.
b-there (www.b-there.com):
Twice the efficiency. Half the work. Discover the benefits of integrated online registration, housing, travel,
& e-marketing solutions.
NEW ARTICLE:
101 Key Benefits and Features to Look for in Online Meeting Registration and
Management Systems
Online registration has hit critical mass with more than half of meeting planners in recent polls using or soon to
be using these multiple-benefit tools. There has been an
explosion of useful features offered from the application services providers (ASPs) in this area in the past few
years. However, most planners are just scratching the surface in terms of the potential benefits. This article
will cover many of these features and benefits to help you analyze your online registration system.
The hard work of planning a meeting isn't over until you've evaluated your results. Did the event fulfill expectations?
Were the site and services acceptable? What activities did people enjoy? Feedback helps you plan a better event next
time, but getting it can be a challenge.
An online survey is a quick-and-dirty solution. Blast an e-mail the day after your event and invite participants to
click a link to a Web-based questionnaire that takes just minutes to complete. Their responses are tabulated and
reported in real time for you and your staff to review. You'll get the best results from an online survey with a
personalized invitation, an attractive incentive and multiple e-mail blasts to boost response. The advantages
over a mail or telephone survey are low cost, quick turnaround times and easy access to an
international audience.
Is your email inbox getting clogged with SPAM (unsolicited bulk email)? Are you fed up with unwanted promotions for
Viagra, casinos, cable descramblers, get-rich-quick schemes, and "hot babes"? I, for one, have started to fight
back!
SPAM tips:
Never respond directly to Spam - it merely identifies you as an active email user and will likely increase mail from
the spammer.
Be very careful about giving your email address out -- click "no" on web forms asking if you wish to receive
additional information.
The following two programs are excellent tools in the anti-spammer's arsenal:
MailWasher allows you to quickly preview your email headers. You can set the program to block domains and
bounce back unwanted messages. So when a spammer gets a bounced email, they remove you from their list. It also
allows you to easily view the full email header, which can
be used for the next tool below.
SPAM Punisher is anti-spam tool that makes it easy for you to find out address of spammer's Internet Service Provider
(ISPs), generate and sends a complaint to them. If the ISP receives spammer repeated complaints, often they will close
the spammer's account.
This is a shareware product that is quick and easy to use.
Although many spammers are unscrupulous, there are some that play by the "rules" and will delete you from their
lists. A one-stop way to notify many direct marketers is from the Direct Marketing Association.
An excellent, well-organized site for those who want more information about fighting spam. This FAQ (frequently
asked questions) site has lots of helpful information and links.
The best online calendar of international tradeshows, events and suppliers. Searchable by industry, city, state,
country, timeframe, and keywords in the show name.
This is an extremely helpful assemblage of articles and links. Check out the "Conferon Guide to Meeting Management"
-- one of the best free checklist for meeting planners on the web. There are also dozens of insightful articles and
other links as well.
Disclosure notice: I am on the Conferon Board of Directors.
NEWS CORBIN'S TECHTALK NEWSLETTER PASSES 5,000 SUBSCRIBERS!
Started nearly 3 years ago, the TechTalk Newsletter has focused on helping people understand, use and embrace
technology. This issue is being sent out to 5,011 people, and thank you for being one of them!
*****
CORBIN'S PROGRAMS AVAILABLE VIA CD-ROM
I am happy to announce an alliance with Conference Archives, Inc. (www.conferencearchives.com) to provide my
programs on CD-ROM and on the Web.
The first program is "Hot and Emerging Wireless and Handheld Computer Trends for Meeting Professionals" and
includes high-resolution slides, audio-narration and searchable text. You can stop, pause, and search through
the program with ease.
New programs will be added monthly. Please see my web site
or this newsletter for future developments.
VIRUS UPDATE
Are you receiving undeliverable email messages with subject
lines you haven't written to people you haven't sent messages to?
Although I am very careful about virus protection, and am certain that my system is virus free, I have received more
than 150 such messages in the past month.
These are the effects of the WORM_KLEZ.H virus.
The twist on this worm is that it "spoofs" the sender's name. So, when someone opens the email attachment
containing the virus, the virus searches his/her Outlook address folder and sends out copies of itself to random
recipients, spoofing the sender's email address (replacing the sender's name with someone else in address book). For
example, if Bob opens the virus attachment, and Mary and John are in Bob's Outlook address folder, the program will
send out the virus to Mary as if it were sent from John (it is spoofing John's email address).
If Mary opens the attachment, the whole thing starts again.
The problem is that Mary will think that the sender is John, a totally innocent bystander.
Backup regularly. FOR FUN - KENYA/TANZANIA PHOTO SAFARI 2002
FOR FUN - KENYA/TANZANIA PHOTO SAFARI 2002 I was delighted to be invited again by the East African Chapter of the Society of Incentive Travel Executives
(SITE) for a repeat speaking engagement to Kenya and Tanzania this past March. It was not "all work and no play"
however. My son, Aaron, and I spent 12 days in 6 game parks.
This is truly the most amazing place of the 50 countries I have been to! I can't wait to return. It is also a
photographer's dream. See samples in my photo diary:
My speaking and consulting travel schedule for May and June
will bring me to Stowe (VT), Dubai, Dallas, Uncasville (CT), and Providence. I would love to come to your city as
well so please contact me and let's set a date: www.corbinball.com/contact.htm
SPONSORSHIP: Want
to help sponsor Corbin's Tech Talk Newsletter with more than 5,000 subscribers
interested in meetings, events, trade
show and hotel technology?
PRIVACY STATEMENT: We respect your privacy. Your name and e-mail address will never be sold, traded, rented,
bartered, or given away. Nor will it be used for any other purpose than to communicate with you. Period!
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