Corbin's March/April 2002 TechTalk Newsletter
©2002 Corbin Ball Associates

I will be racking up the air miles in the next couple of months with presentations scheduled in Mexico City, Kenya, Tanzania and several locations in the U.S.

Observations from my recent travels seems to be that life for many is returning to a new "normal" and the business in the meetings industry is beginning to pick up.

Technology remains a hot topic for our industry as people continue to deal with the rapid rate of change and the amazing array of options available.

The goal of this newsletter is to shed light on this subject. This issue is filled with new articles, Excel 
spreadsheet tools, readers' comments, hot links and news you can use!

Corbin

IN THIS ISSUE:

• NEW ARTICLE: Super Badges -- Tech to Improve Networking
• NEW ARTICLE: The Power of Email Marketing
• 9 HIGHLIGHTED BOOKMARK FAVORITES
• NEWS: Corbin's programs on the Web and CD
• READER COMMENTS: Guarding Against Computer Viruses
• NEW FREE EXCEL SPREADSHEET TOOL : Meeting Expense Tracking Workbook

--- and more!

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.

Bill L. Johnson, CSP(www.billjohnson.com):Speeches and Seminars, Wireless microphones, Multi-media projectors, Digital Recorders, Stealth (invisible) and Headset microphones

NEW ARTICLE: 
Super Badges: Using Technology to Improve Networking

Humans are social animals -- we love to get together in groups to share ideas. Networking is a vital part of the way adults learn and do business and is a key reason why face-to-face meetings will remain vital.

However, the current tools we use to facilitate networking often leave something to be desired. The standard name badge is frequently forgotten, poorly printed, or worn so that it can't be read. "I recognize the face but can place the name" is commonly heard. People forget or run out of business cards. 

We need help in this crucial aspect in the way we meet. Fortunately, there are a number of significant technology developments coming to the marketplace that will help. This article will cover a number of novel and interesting uses of technology to improve networking.

www.corbinball.com/articles/art-badge.htm 

NEW ARTICLE: 
The Power of E-Marketing -- How Email Marketing Can Boost Attendance in Tough Times

By Cathy Chatfield-Taylor, ©2002 

Reprinted with permission from "The Power of E-marketing," EXPO, January 2002, pp.34-37. Copyright 2002 EXPO Magazine, Overland Park, Kan. 

The weeks leading up to the New York City-based Direct Marketing Association's annual meeting, Oct. 28-31, 2001, at McCormick Place, Chicago, were undeniably the worst weeks in U.S. exhibition industry history. If events weren't cancelled or postponed, they suffered unprecedented attrition. The DMA forged ahead with its 84th Annual Conference & Exhibition, which last year drew an estimated 15,000 attendees, but an e-mail marketing blitz was the only way to get people there. 

Personalized e-mail messages cost less to send and get a higher response rate than direct mail promotions. A carefully crafted e-mail campaign can talk prospects through just about any purchase - from an early-bird registration package to a post-conference getaway. Using industry best practices and making an offer prospects can't refuse, e-mail campaigns pull. 

This carefully researched and documented article covers trends, case studies, and best practices in this very important area.

www.corbinball.com/articles/art-emarket.htm

CORBIN'S FAVORITES
Check out Section 2: Meetings Technology in "Corbin's 
Favorites" file:www.corbinball.com/tips.list.corbinslist.htm#p2

It has just been substantially reorganized, streamlined, and updated. This is by far the most comprehensive listing of meetings technology web sites on the web.

9 HIGHLIGHTED BOOKMARK FAVORITES

Executive Planet
www.executiveplanet.com  

This is the best international business etiquette site around -- nicely organized with excellent content! It includes tons of business etiquette tips for more than 30 countries (with suggestions for negotiation, entertaining, appointment making, gift giving, addressing people, public conduct, clothing guidelines, conversation).


******

Gist
www.gist.com
For you U.S. TV buffs out there trying to make sense of the hundreds of channels your cable company provides. This site is customizable for your zip code and for just the channels 
(or program genre) you are interested in.

This site is a great example of how the web can be used to sort a huge amount of data, in many ways, to provide useful and digestible information to the user.

******
"Road Warrior" sites:

Air Travel has gotten more difficult since September 11th. These sites will help you fly smarter and safer.

OneTravel.com
www.onetravel.com 
Several helpful links are found under the left-hand "Advisor" column. The "Rule of the Air" provides concise explanations to all of the most common questions and concerns surrounding airline rules and regulations - categorized by airline.

PassengerRights.com
www.passengerrights.com 
Here's an easy and free way to file complaints without making dozens of phone calls, spending countless hours researching your rights or finding out the proper process for complaining when you've been mistreated.

AirSafe
www.airsafe.com 
Although this content-rich site focuses on air accidents, there are lots of safety tips and other info.

Healthy Flying
www.flyana.com 
Lots of articles on smart, healthy flying.

The Complete Carry-On Traveler
www.oratory.com/travel/index.html
Everything you could want to know about traveling light, what to pack and how to pack it.

World Electric and Phone Guide
kropla.com 

Those doing lots of international travel? Want to know what AC adaptor plugs you need? You will find this global database of electrical power and phone standards (with pictures) a very helpful resource.

NEWS
I am pleased to announce an alliance with Conference Archives, Inc. (www.conferencearchives.com) to provide my programs on CD-Rom and on the Web. These programs will include high-resolution slides, audio-narration and searchable text. You will be able to stop, pause, and search through the 
program with ease. The first program will be “Hot and Emerging Wireless and Handheld Computer Trends for Meeting Professionals.” Pricing information and other details will be posted at my Web site sometime in the next month or so.. New programs will be added monthly. Please see my web site or this newsletter for future developments.

READER COMMENTS
Stephen Nold, Advon Technologies (www.advontech.com) sent this comment about an article in my last newsletter:

"I have enjoyed the last 2 newsletters I have received, but felt obligated to provide feedback on a recent article "Computer Viruses: 5 Easy Steps to Guard Your Data" (www.corbinball.com/articles/art-virus.htm). I think your guidance is on target but would suggest that the key to protection is more centered around virus protection software rather than 'not opening certain files prior to contacting the sender'. I cringe at this suggestion since this overlooks worms involving embedded scripting. To date, malicious e-mail worms have been relatively benign when compared with what is possible.

Your readers face a false sense of security, assuming that an unopened executable is still a safe email. Again, your suggestion is not wrong, but I would offer that the emphasis should be placed on computer virus protection software."

Reply:
Thanks Stephen for pointing this out. Keeping your virus protection up to date and regular backups are crucial - you never know what will come your way. Indeed, there are viruses that can infect you computer that do not require opening up files.

The emphasis in my article is that the great majority of viruses these days are being propagated by such attachments. 

McAfee, one of the top virus protection sites, also heavily emphasizes this point 

4 out of the 5 of it's top 10 "Virus Detection and Prevention Tips" deal with not opening up suspect files.http://dispatch.mcafee.com/virus_tips.asp?cid=1593

My speaking and consulting travel schedule for March and April will bring me to: Atlanta, Mexico City, Kenya (Nairobi and Mombassa), Tanzania (Dar-es-Salaam), Phoenix, Twinsburg, Dallas, Chicago, Ocean Place (NJ), and Washington D.C. If you have or know of a group that would benefit from my presentations, please let me know. http://www.corbinball.com/contact.htm  

CORBIN'S PROGRAMS:www.corbinball.com/presentations.htm 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: www.corbinball.com/presentations.faq.htm 

TESTIMONIALS:www.corbinball.com/testimonials.htm

CORBIN'S CONSULTING AND WRITING SERVICES: www.corbinball.com/services.htm

SPONSORSHIP: Want to help sponsor Corbin's Tech Talk Newsletter sent to thousands of subscribers in 60 countries interested in meetings, events, trade show and hotel technology?

E-mail me at: contactcorbin@corbinball.com

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REFERRALS: If you know of anyone that would benefit from my free email newsletter (sent every two months) containing the latest in meetings technology in clear language designed specifically for the meeting professional, please forward this newsletter on. 

CONTACT INFO: 
Corbin Ball, CMP
Corbin Ball Associates
506 14th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225-6107
Phone: 360-734-8756, Fax: 508-632-7730
Email Corbin
Web: www.corbinball.com 

© Copyright 2002 Corbin Ball Associates.
This letter and its content are proprietary products. All rights reserved. You are welcome to forward the entire letter to anyone you feel may be interested.