I've had a new article published for Association Executives for the CSAE, about how you can innovate and jazz-up your annual meeting or conference. Here's an extract:

Does your conference marketing suck? Maybe it does, and you don't know it.

People today don't want to go to an "annual conference" and attend "plenary sessions." Kids (and today's 30-40 somethings -- the demographic you increasingly want to get to attend!) go to FESTIVALS.

I think they're expecting the same brand image velocity for the conferences or events that they might attend. Would you rather go to the "121st Annual Tree Farmers Association Annual Meeting and Trade Show?"

Or would you rather go to "TreeFest 2009 - The Place Where Tree People Rock!

Me, I'm all for idea of TreeFest!

• Read the article Get Fest-ed!