QR Codes and Event Planning

The is the QR Code for Planners Pointers

Welcome to Planner's Pointer's Planners Pointers is a blog and talk cast to help beginning event planners with their event planning. Give them ideas on planning better events, books to read and websites to discover.

Today we are talking about QR Code. QR or Quick Response Code was develop in the 90s for a Japanese car manufacturer as a way of tracking inventory. They discovered uses outside of manufacturing, QR Codes caught hold in first Japan, then Europe and finally the US. 

Since you can imbed a website or other information into the code, QR Codes have found their way into the event marketing.  There are many ways QR Codes can help the planner.  I came up with 7 to start the list. 

1. Add the QR Code to the event flyer, billboard or invitation.  Have the link go to a short video about the event, conference, trade show.  Add a testimonial from an attendee, info about early bird registration and you have a compelling message.

2. Add the QR Code to a postcard or billboard.  Have it link back to the event website.

3. Another idea for the postcard or a print invitation is to link to the registration page for almost instant registrations.

4. Along those same lines, add a QR Code with a promo code for a price reduction for people to use when they register.  You could even put this one on the website or Facebook page.

5. Add the QR Code to your business card.  With a link to the wed site or VCard information. 

6. Add a unique code for each attendee name badge and imbed contact information.  Vendors can scan badges to collect information and you can scan badges as people enter sessions as a way of keeping track of attendance for CEU's.  Also, it could as a deterrent to prevent badge scalping.

7.  Add a QR Code to the Exhibitor page to a convention or conference website and link it to an image of the exhibit floor so that vendors can see the layout.  Or a short video showing possible booth layouts. 

I am sure there are more.  A great website that I found for all things QR Code is www.qrstuff.com  Notice please I didn't cover how QR Codes work or how to find the correct scanner for your smart phone or Iphone since Qrstuff.com covers all of that information.

Scan this QR Code to get the prize!

Planner's Pointers is produced by me, Mary Pam Kilgore, of Kilgore Business Services, LLC  You may reach me through my website www.kilgorebusiness.com  You can find my blog at http://plannerspointers.blogspot.com/  You can reach me by phone at 412-260-4178.  Follow me on Twitter.  Copyright 2010

APEX Definition: Release

Welcome to Planner's Pointer's Planners Pointers is a blog and talk cast to help beginning event planners with their event planning. Give them ideas on planning better events, books to read and websites to discover.

Today's term from the Convention Industry Council's APEX Glossary is:  Release.  There are two definitions I would like to discuss.

The first definition I would like to focus on is: A signed form giving permission to use a person’s name, picture, or statement (often in an advertisement).

In this day of instant posting on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube of pictures and videos we forget sometimes to ask for permission.  While we think the permission can be implied -- if they didn't want to be in the picture, then don't stand there -- I really think it doesn't hurt anything to simply ask if this is OK. 

When I attended Pennsylvania Governor's Conference for Women I noticed that on back of the badge was a photo release.  While it wasn't signed, it was implied that since I was an attendee, if my picture were taken that it could be used for promotional purposes.  What a great idea! 

Another definition for release is: Form signed by presenter allowing recording of presentation.  One of the ways that organizations have made additional money at conferences for years is recording the proceedings and then selling them.  In recent years companies that recorded the conference and then offered them as downloads.  Free for attendees or a small fee. 

When I worked in radio I used to record the live music performances I had performers sign releases even though the broadcast may have never been used again.  If the broadcast is recorded for later use, the release is especially important since it means the performer is satisfied with their performance.

Release.  One word with two similar meanings but based in one word: permission.

Planner's Pointers is written by me, Mary Pam Kilgore, of Kilgore Business Services, LLC  You may reach me through my website www.kilgorebusiness.com You can find my blog at http://plannerspointers.blogspot.com/

Daylight Saving Time

Welcome to Planner's Pointer's Planners Pointers is a blog and talk cast to help beginning event planners with their event planning. Give them ideas on planning better events, books to read and websites to discover.


This Sunday morning at 2:00 am, we will "fall back" as Daylight Savings Time comes to a close.

I have often wondered how Daylight Savings Time came to be and this is what I learned. Daylight Savings Time was started during World War I in order to save energy for the war production. It was mandatory during that time and again during World War II. Between the wars and after World War II it was up to the states to determined if they wanted to go by Daylight Savings Time. In 1966 Daylight Savings Time became the law of the land with the passage of Uniform Time Act. In 2007. in order to save more energy four weeks were added to the time period that ranges from the second Sunday of March to the first week of November.

What I notice the most about when we go back to "regular time" in November is not only does the day seem so much shorter is that people's moods seem to change. While, seasonal affective disorder, a form of depression as a result of lack of light, effects only 4-6 % of the population, many of us still seem to feel "a little blue" during the winter months. Here a couple of things that I do during the winter to keep me going.

1. Go outside for a short walk. Even in colder weather a walk around the block can lift the spirits.

2. Watch your diet. I know that a bag of chips and onion dip are great additions to an evening of TV watching, but they will cause you problems in the long run.

3. Keep in contact with your family and friends. No, not with Facebook, but face to face. Yes, snow happens, but not every snow flake is a blizzard in the making. Play cards, share a meal, go to a movie, take in a museum all these things make for a great time together.

Before you know it, or just in time, depending on how you look at it. Spring arrives. Keep the faith.

Planner's Pointers is written by me, Mary Pam Kilgore, of Kilgore Business Services, LLC You may reach me through my website http://www.kilgorebusiness.co/m You can find my blog at http://plannerspointers.blogspot.com/

How to add Google Alerts

Welcome to Planner's Pointer's Planners Pointers is a blog and talk cast to help beginning event planners with their event planning. Give them ideas on planning better events, books to read and websites to discover.


This week let's talk about Google Alerts. Yes they have been around for a while, but are you using them is the question?

As defined by the website: Google Alerts are email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic. Source

Google Alert are easy to set up and most of all free. As my friend Techno Granny says if it's free it's for me, I'll take three! http://technogranny.com/

Yes you have to create a Google account, but you don't have to create a Google email.

From your Google account setting simply click on Alerts. Alerts takes you to a form page that you can complete.

How do you use Google Alerts? Use it to follow what is yourself or your company, your blog posts. For example, if I didn't have Google Alerts I probably wouldn't have known that iPowerGS from Open Forum Express tweeted my last blog posting. Use it to follow a topic that interests you. Sent that press release out, but not sure where it printed, Google alerts will tell you. Just add the events you are planning to your Google Alerts list.

Your brand (you) both personally and professionally maintains your creditability with your clients. Google Alerts is a tool that event and meeting planners can use to keep track of their brand.

Planner's Pointers is written by me, Mary Pam Kilgore, of Kilgore Business Services, LLC You may reach me through my website www.kilgorebusiness.com You can find my blog at http://plannerspointers.blogspot.com/