Posted in Advergames, Custom Branded Games, Events, Experiential, Interactive Brand Experiences, Interactive Museums, Multi-Touch, Uncategorized Bookmark the permalink. What do you think?

It’s All About Connection – Gen C

June 26, 2015 at 11:00

by Chris Rogne

Connecting to your customers is key. To do that, it’s crucial to know your audience. Who are you targeting? There’s so much information about Millennials, how to reach them and why they require a different marketing approach than other groups. Now comes Gen C also referred to as Generation C. The C stands for connected.

Is this a different group of people? Gen C is not defined by the year you were born but by your digital actions. When writing about millennials, I found myself thinking I had many of the attributes that described them (well not the age part-I’m older) but then I read all the articles about Gen C, these descriptors are a much closer description of how I work and surf. What are these characteristics?

• Connected—well of course, that’s the premise of this blog. Many were born into this technologically driven connected entity and others have adopted it. They connect through technology: smart phones, iPads, tablets, and wearable devices. It’s how they create deeper relationships with their family, friends, interests and co-workers. They are online—all the time.
• Community centric—as a way to stay connected to things they are passionate about, they think community by joining and following online groups or starting them.
• Content driven—whether they create it or consume it, it’s important to them. It’s where they derive their information and that drives their actions. Videos have become a huge part of the content they enjoy and YouTube is a favorite destination for them.
• Communicators—they communicate digitally and often. It’s become an easier medium for them to reach out this way. Social platforms have certainly helped with this.
• Collaborators—they absorb the information they consume and share it. This allows them to collaborate with companies and brands. They provide reviews and look to others for their reactions and opinions

Do these describe you too? I’m sure some, if not all, these apply to many of you. If you are reading this–you are connected. Gen C overlaps with Millennials and other generations too. Since it’s based on behaviors, the age group can span from teens to retirees.

So what do we do now? Just as in reaching millennials, it is important to connect to the Gen C audience in the medium they prefer—digital. Meet them where they are, allow and encourage them to interact and communicate with you. They are already connected. You just need them to connect with you.

Learn more about how Elation Digital can help you connect to your audience!

Elation Digital develops a wide variety of interactive brand experiences and event technologies to draw crowds for tradeshows, events and mobile marketing tours including photo & video activations, custom branded games, infotainment, social media, data capture, tracking and reporting. Their solutions are perfect for all budget levels from simple solutions to complete integrated campaigns.

Posted in Uncategorized Bookmark the permalink. What do you think?

Google Jump a 3D Virtual Reality Solution

June 17, 2015 at 10:17

by Chris Rogne

At Elation Digital we love technology. We are a bunch of geeks–technology geeks, that is. Well, I’m a marketing geek, but I’m always awed by the technology we create. We keep an eye out for the latest in tech advancements and we experiment with them too, so we can bring them to our clients.

This new Jump technology is an awesome step in virtual reality. With multiple GoPro camera’s, they will capture a 360° view weaved together to make a video. You’ll be able to watch these videos on YouTube this summer, using Google Cardboard. Technology is always improving and the newest technology is the new hot thing. We’ll see soon enough.

This Jump technology reminded me of a video activation that we offer using multiple camera technology similar to the Google Jump concept; we call it Elation Photo Motion. Our solution uses a series of cameras harnessing several computers to weave a photo motion video capturing 180° or 350° action of a person (or people) doing a fun activity like jumping. We describe it as capturing a “Matrix” style video (you know, like the movie). It’s a cool technology and our clients like it. We are also experimenting with embedding a person’s photo motion video into a 3D background. It will be very cool!

Learn more about how Elation Digital can help you reach your goals!

Posted in Custom Branded Games, Events, Experiential, Interactive Brand Experiences, Tradeshow Technology, Tradeshows, Uncategorized Bookmark the permalink. What do you think?

Prize Management Drives Lead Generation

May 27, 2015 at 08:29

by Chris Rogne

Elation Digital recently finished up another successful event. For this trade show, we worked with Capgemini at Sapphire Now, the SAP conference in Orlando that took place earlier this month. Their goal was to generate leads and collect information from interested attendees in a fun and engaging way. We developed an integrated software solution that scanned the badges of attendees and offered the opportunity to play a spin wheel game for a chance to win a prize. We also incorporated a trivia game to educate visitors about Capgemini. This concept made learning about their company more interesting and gave the salespeople an opportunity to engage with the prospects.

Here’s how it worked:

ATTRACT: An attendee approaches the booth and is enticed to learn more about Capgemini (and possibly win a prize–this always a great booth attractor).

COLLECT: The brand ambassador scanned the badges to collect the lead.

QUALIFY: The addition of a quick survey captures additional important information about the lead.

EDUCATE: As the trivia game gets played, the attendee learns about Capgemini. The brand ambassador is also nearby to share any pertinent information tailored for the visitor based on information gathered during the survey.

ENTERTAIN: Spin to Win! Our prize management system allows booth personnel to add the prizes, quantity, and expected booth traffic times, so that the prizes are inventoried and evenly distributed throughout the show in real time.

WINNER: The attendee finds out what they won!

The Capgemini booth was well received by attendees. Lead generation and product education are two of the main goals most companies have for events and tradeshows. Some marketers fear that giving away prizes do not generate qualified leads. If the interaction between the brand ambassador and the lead is genuine and informative, as it was in this case, it works. We are pleased our integrated interactive solution met the needs of our client.

Posted in Advergames, Custom Branded Games, Data Capture, Events, Experiential, Interactive Brand Experiences, Lead Generation, mobile marketing tours, Multi-Touch, Strategy, Technology, Tradeshow Technology, Uncategorized Bookmark the permalink.

Why Experiential Marketing Works

April 30, 2015 at 12:44

by Chris Rogne

Experiential Marketing is on the rise and we’ve been busy, so it must be true. Marketers are dedicating larger budgets toward incorporating these initiatives into their marketing mix. According to Event Marketer’s Event Track 2014, it’s an increase of 5% and is expected to be higher throughout 2015. It also says that marketers saw an ROI of 5 to 1–that’s 7% higher than the previous year.

But what is it about experiential marketing that makes it so successful? According to Quartz, it’s “an alternative to hard-hitting selling tactics, experiential marketing is fuzzy and abstract—prioritizing delight, touch, wonder, play, and encounter.” This is a great description and these attributes touch upon emotions and emotions are what drive sales!

Experiential marketing can be incorporated into the marketing mix in many ways and with that comes flexibility to develop a successful program. With so many choices, marketers select the solution(s) that best fits their brand and (prospective) customer. As new technologies continue to emerge, the number of options grows: gamification, RFID, custom apps, beacons, wearable technology, infotainment, interactive and immersion experiences—the list goes on.

Marketers are learning that active participation between the customer and these programs is increasing. It’s driving engagement and it’s deepening the emotional connection to the brand through these new and innovative experiential solutions.

Want more information on adding experiential solutions to your next marketing event? Learn more!

Posted in Custom Branded Games, Events, Experiential, Gamification, Interactive Brand Experiences, Multi-Touch, Uncategorized Bookmark the permalink.

5 Reasons Why Gamification is the Right Experiential Solution for Events

March 26, 2015 at 16:04

by Chris Rogne

Gamification is defined in many different ways. A business using gamification for its own internal use utilizes games for on boarding, training, employee motivation and peer building, to name a few. For companies looking to incorporate gamification into an event, trade show or conference, it solves completely different goals:

1) Booth attraction—People are waving their arms around or jumping in place. These types of games work to bring a level of excitement to your booth that gets people curious. Once you’ve gained their attention you can share the message you want them to learn.

2) Lead generation—Capturing attendee information before playing a game is a great way to generate leads. People don’t mind giving up a few personal details for some fun. Be sure to collect the data points you will use to contact your lead for post event follow-up to keep the conversation going and extend the relationship.

3) Brand awareness—Perhaps you are a well-known brand and just want viewership to stay in the minds of consumers. If you are a smaller brand or a company wanting to create a brand image, games can be leveraged to reinforce brand messaging throughout the game.

4) Occupy and entertain—Have you been fortunate enough to have an interested group of people in your booth but all your booth attendees are with other people? Having a game in the booth that reinforces your brand while they are waiting to learn more about your product or service is a great way to keep them occupied and engaged until someone is free to chat with them. Also, if you anticipate long lines at your event, having gaming stations throughout the line is an excellent way to keep your participants happy while waiting.

5) Infotainment—Playing games can actually be created to teach the participant in your booth what you want them to learn such as key features of a product. It becomes an interactive canvass to help to convey the message(s) you want to share.

Any or all of these reasons are why you should choose adding games to your next event, trade show or conference. Gamification allows for a fun interaction with your brand which leaves a longer lasting impression on an attendee.

Want more information on adding gamification to your next marketing event? Learn more!

Elation Digital develops a wide variety of interactive brand experiences and event technologies to draw crowds for tradeshows, events and mobile marketing tours including photo & video activations, custom branded games, social media, data capture, tracking and reporting. Their solutions are perfect for all budget levels from simple solutions to complete integrated campaigns.

Posted in Custom Branded Games, Events, Experiential, Interactive Brand Experiences, Multi-Touch, Uncategorized Bookmark the permalink.

Generate Leads With 1 to 1 Interactive Technologies for Tradeshows

March 16, 2015 at 11:25

by Chris Rogne

Participants and attendees at tradeshows and events have goals. They know what they are looking for and while many will still walk the entire show, they know what they want to see. You need to grab their attention. How will you do that?

· Entice them with exciting elements in your booth
· Keep the experience one to one
· Make it personal
· Teach them something

Do you have something exciting to showcase? If you are a technology company or if you solve a need, you probably do. If you don’t, there are plenty of experiential technology companies that can help make your product or service enticing.

One to one experiences resonate more than group presentations and will leave a more lasting impression. Have interactive solutions for them to have contact with which will make it more memorable–which is good for your brand.

Personalization is a buzzword I’ve seen discussed lately but it’s always been important. Be sure to tailor your pitch specifically to the person’s needs and company. Keep asking questions because you might have a solution for them they didn’t even know they needed.

Learning something new stimulates the brain and can pique interest. Think about what do you want people at your booth or show to learn and how you can make teaching that interesting.

Attendees are smart. Make them feel special so they don’t feel like everyone else that stopped by. Use these ideas and choose an experiential partner that understands your needs and how to get your audience excited about your brand. Once they are excited you will generate solid leads of people who now have a real interest in your company, product or service.

Elation Digital develops a wide variety of interactive brand experiences and event technologies to draw crowds for tradeshows, events and mobile marketing tours including photo & video activations, custom branded games, social media, data capture, tracking and reporting. Their solutions are perfect for all budget levels from simple solutions to complete integrated campaigns.

Posted in Events, Experiential, Interactive Brand Experiences, Multi-Touch, Uncategorized Bookmark the permalink.

Success at ExhibitorLive 2015

March 6, 2015 at 13:28

by Chris Rogne

Our CEO made the cover of Exhibitor Magazine! Well, we weren’t the only ones….but we’ll take it! ExhbitorLive 2015 was an amazing show. Great exhibits, fun friendly people and there was much to learn and experience.

We wrapped up the show feeling good about what we accomplished for our first showing at ExhibitorLive2015! Our interactive booth attractions which showcased custom games, infotainment and more were well received and the feedback was very positive. Check out what we have to offer!

Looking forward to next year! See you there.

Elation Digital develops a wide variety of interactive brand experiences and event technologies to draw crowds for mobile marketing tours, tradeshows, and events including photo & video activations, custom branded games, social media, data capture, tracking and reporting. Their solutions are perfect for all budget levels from simple solutions to completely integrated campaigns.

Posted in Events, Experiential, Interactive Brand Experiences, Multi-Touch, Tradeshow Technology, Uncategorized Bookmark the permalink.

How Adding Interactive Solutions Can Drive Engagement for Your Next Event

February 17, 2015 at 10:24

by Chris Rogne

Entertaining and engaging an audience with interactive solutions can drive brand awareness, aid in teaching your message and meet your campaign goals. You have a strategy–what is the best way to get the information to your audience? Digital Interactive Solutions.

Here are some examples of how getting your audience involved generates buzz and knowledge about a brand.

Food Bank of NY

The Food Bank of NY put together a program to educate teens so they could learn to make better food choices for their health. Their campaign was #changeonething. The strategy was to teach teens that if they learn to change one thing rather than their entire lifestyle completely, that change would help them make better choices over time. Two games were created for this campaign to help instill these better choices. One was a trivia game where the teens had to answer questions about making food choices. The other was a multi-touch game where food images appeared on screen and users had to choose only the healthy options by touching the correct ones and ignoring the unhealthy choices. This was a great way to disseminate information in a fun and engaging way.

Ministry of Health–Argentina

The Ministry of Health in Argentina wanted to share tips to staying healthy during summer. We developed interactive solutions to engage audiences on the beaches in Buenos Aires. Running in place against a friend, choosing healthy food options and jumping in place to get your heart pumping helped spread their message and were all very successful. These games created excitement and the participants learned while they played. Players also had the opportunity to have their pictures taken and could share these photos socially. Data capture was used so the Ministry of Health could collect email addresses to send news and information to help participants stay healthy.

Twingo

When Renault released Twingo, they wanted to do something special for the launch. We created a Kinect motion game where audiences or individuals could control a Twingo car and maneuver it by the movement of the player’s arms and body–move your arms to the left and the car will move to the left, move arms to the right and the car moves to the right–as it drove through a virtual city collecting points. The game was premiered at Kineopolis Cinema and there, the audience worked together to move the car. Getting the entire audience to move their arms simultaneously to control the car created an exciting experience to launch Twingo.

Deciding to offer solutions for your audience to engage and interact with your brand will leave a more lasting impression than the typical event experience of simply talking about it.

Posted in Events, Experiential, Interactive Brand Experiences, Technology, Tradeshow Technology, Uncategorized Bookmark the permalink.

Why You Should Have Photo Activation At Your Next Event

February 5, 2015 at 11:24

by Chris Rogne

People love capturing memories and photos are one of the best ways to do that. Truth is, people love getting their picture taken. A branded photo opportunity gives attendees a memorable way to keep the experience alive. People of all ages love to share photos whether via email or on their favorite social site: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and more.

What Photo Activation Can Do For You

• It’s an attraction draw to your booth.
• Participants generate branded user content for you!
• It’s socially viral and your brand will gain even more visibility
• Photos will live on even after the event is over.

What to consider:

• Give them a reason to stop–Make it fun and memorable
• Brand it properly–Use interesting backgrounds, filters, overlays or frames showing off your brand!
• Offer social sharing options¬–Make it easy and they will share!
• On-site print options–Some people just love getting things and your brand looks good in print.

It’s good for your ROI!

Posted in Events, Experiential, Uncategorized Bookmark the permalink.

The Millennials—What’s Next?

January 15, 2015 at 13:13

by Chris Rogne

I’ve been reading many articles on Millennials; what to expect from this group, what do they respond to and how they interact as consumers. Articles list this group size anywhere from 70 to 100 million with a purchasing power of over $200 billion. As companies, don’t we want a piece of that pie?

This is what I learned:

o They want to be engaged with and recognized as individuals. Since this group is extremely diverse in culture, religion and ethnicity—they recognize their uniqueness.
o They expect two-way communication. If there is no back and forth communication, they are not interested.
o They respond in real-time. Growing up in the socially centric world, they are not willing to wait.
o They have strong belief in philanthropy and expect companies to feel the same and give back.
o They want to feel involved and informed, not just marketed to. They enjoy rating products and rely on peer reviews to make decisions.
o Happiness, passion, diversity, sharing and discovery are extremely important to them.

So what does all this mean? Companies always need to continually make shifts to their business goals as things are constantly changing. If the Millennial generation is causing the push to change—great, but companies need to get there regardless. And since this group is approximately 25% of the U.S population and the buying power stated above, they shouldn’t be ignored.

What should you do?
o Stay current on trends
o Stay technologically up-to-date
o Interact with your customers (the Millennials require it)
o Listen and learn about your customers’ wants and needs
o Apply that knowledge by customizing your marketing and products/services
o Get out and meet them (check out this article on how to interact with them at events)

Not sure where to start? The number of articles written about this group is staggering, but check out a few. Type ‘Millennial’ in your favorite search engine and you’ll see articles upon articles, infographics, and statistics until your eyes blur. What else could you do? You could always hire one. They know the trends, the technology and as hyper-connected socially driven individuals, they just might help with reaching your audience from the inside.