Anyone who spends enough time on the internet browsing videos will have not only heard of TED Talks but will also be smitten with them once initiated. Some would even go so far as to argue that TED talks are platforms that implore people to indulge in much-needed soul searching and push them to develop a desire to dig for deeper knowledge, better understanding and clarity regarding their points of interest. Even eventprofs.
In the ever evolving world of events, insights, strategies, ideas and information never seem to be enough. As an event planner are you using the right technology in your events? As an event marketer, how do you identify your target audience? Have you digitized your marketing strategy yet? As a meeting planner are you delivering the right value to your customers? As a speaker are you saying the right things? What about sponsorship, brand identity, and thought leadership? If you are an event professional on a quest, we bring you the holy grail of TED talks.
Alexis Ohanian: How to make a splash in social media
If you have an active social media presence and a bit of a geek allegiance, you will have heard of or even been on Reddit. Alexis Ohanian is the proud co-founder and chairman of this democratic platform of social news. In his TED talk, Ohanian speaks about how to create a viral marketing campaign on social media.
In proper Reddit style, he cites an example of the Humpback Whale’s rise through the ranks of social media into superstardom which clearly portrays that for every viral campaign, the brands need to get comfortable with the idea of having to lose control of their message a little. Watch this talk and get great ideas about how to generate a buzz with your marketing message online especially on a shoestring budget.
Seth Godin: The tribes we lead
Blogger, author and entrepreneur, Seth Godin is widely considered to be a thought leader who has a powerful voice when it comes to the world of marketing. In 2009, he spoke at the TED about passionate communities drawing parallels from his book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us.
He says people all over the world are uniformly connected by interest, which is also the basis of TED itself, and this is a concept that has a profound impact when it comes to mass marketing. Godin says that it is not money or factories, but this common ground and tribe mentality that has the power to impact our thought process, our decision and the world that we know around us.
It can also single-handedly align a large gathering of people towards a singular cause. There is a lot of power in this since all these people were not united against their will, rather they were unified by their individual need to connect. Event marketers need to understand this concept to identify their “tribe” before they engage with them.
Sherry Turkle: Connected, but alone?
Sherry Turkle, often described as the Margaret Mead of digital culture, focuses on the rise of the world of social media, sociable robots, chatbots and the digital workplace. Rather nicely put, she states that these are technologies that are the architects of the user’s intimacies.
In this talk, Turkle explores how technology has given rise to hyper-connectivity along with the illusion of companionship so much so that people are now ready to sacrifice proper conversations for the mere need of a connection. This is a very interesting perspective for event professionals since it focuses on the ways in which the digital landscape has managed to redefine the core value of having a face to face conversation.
Turkle rightly points out that digital technology is very much still at its infancy giving eventprofs a lot of time and scope to reshape how it may be built and used.
Joi Ito: Want to innovate? Become a “now-ist”
Joi Ito, the director of the MIT media lab, is a name that is quite threaded throughout the history of the internet. As a now-ist as opposed to being a futurist, Ito speaks about the importance of aiming for resilience instead of strength and risk instead of safety. In this video, he speaks about the importance of bottom-up innovation which is chaotic, democratic, very hard to control yet effective when put to use and why it is important to focus on the opportunities right when they present itself.
Even in the world of events, professionals need to understand that it is time to let go of the traditional ways and rules and look for new ways of innovation. This may have you looking at a radically different set of principles, but if done right, it is sure to bring you success.
Morgan Spurlock: The greatest TED Talk ever sold
Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, in this TED Talk braves the hidden yet influential works of brand marketing all the while setting a tone of persistence and humor. His quest was to make a sponsored film about sponsorship? Alliterations much? The greatest Movie Ever Sold is a documentary that explores marketing, advertising as well as product placement.
This TED talk brings to screen his talks with marketing agencies as well as executives, along with his experience that defines brand personality, the brand here bring himself. The last but not the least is the fact that he sold the naming rights of his film to the presentation. This TED Talk about his documentary on brand transparency, identity, and sponsorship is political, personal and above all very deeply empathetic.
David Kelley: How To Build Your Creative Confidence
David Kelly is best known for his design firm IDEO that came up with some of the best-known icons of this digital generation, namely the first mouse for Apple and the up and down buttons on Tivo’s remote control among others.
His TED talk is quite interesting for event designers as well as event professionals since even in this field it is important to come up with creative concepts on a daily basis to keep the audience engaged. David shares some of the best methods to channel creativity from the team and this is inclusive of even those people who consider themselves to be analytical.
John Maeda: How art, technology and design inform creative leaders
John Maeda, former president of the Rhode Island School of Design is an artist who blurs the lines in between art, design, technology and leadership, amalgamating them as one. He believes that when he fuses novel artistic approaches with a simple design and cutting edge technology, he paves a way for leaders to become more adept at managing their many responsibilities.
When it comes to event planning, it is very important to consider the possibilities of implementing different forms of technology that constitute novel artwork along with simple but effective designs for the purpose of helping event attendees network better with each other. For example, in this talk, he points out that events should have photo booths that facilitate event images to be uploaded directly onto Instagram.
This will let the event attendees experience a novel form of technology which also serves as a very good opportunity to break the ice and improves networking possibilities. Isn’t that perfect thought leadership?
Jinsop Lee: Designing for all five senses
Jinsop Lee is an industrial designer who firmly voices that great designs should be appealing to all 5 senses. As an industrial designer, he states that over the years he has experienced that the best designs and the most memorable experiences are those that has a profound effect on all 5 senses.
Usually, event designers or all designers in particular, focus on trying to make things visually appealing. They have at the maximum reached out to include the sense of touch which leaves out the other five senses. When appealing two senses can have the much-desired effect, imagine the effect and response that can be found if event planners and designers started planning and carrying out events that have components that satisfy all five senses of the attendees. Isn’t the potential huge?
David Grady: How to save the world (or at least yourself) from bad meetings
David Grady, an information security manager, has been crusading to try and save the world and reclaim power over the meeting calendars. He points out that more often than not, meeting prove to be inefficient since they are done wrong.
While meetings are important for the collaborators, it is equally important for the attendees to understand the end goal of a meeting before they simply accept an invitation or send out one just for the sake of networking. Grady’s talk is an inspiration for meeting planners and professionals and can help to inspire new strategies for conventions, conferences and meeting enjoyable and productive.
Julian Treasure: How to speak so that people want to listen
The saying the pen is mightier than the sword originated to show the power of words. Spoken or written, words, when communicated helps us understand the world around us better. There may never be a shortage of words or even the right words, however, one may always be afraid of not being heard right, or heard enough.
As event professionals who have also been speakers, have you ever felt that no one may actually be listening to you? Sound consultant Julian Treasure talks about the seven deadly sins of speaking, a must hear for event professionals and event speakers alike, to make your speech powerful. Don’t forget to take down the tips on vocal exercises which you may find helpful for your next speech.
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