73. How to Take Your Virtual Event to the Next Level - Lindsay Martin-Bilbrey
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Overview
Meet Lindsay. While the rest of us are scrambling to figure out virtual events, she's been orchestrating them online for years alongside her nonprofits clients. And today she's bringing those tips to the show. She'll be sharing what she believes is the new normal for event fundraising as well as sharing innovative approaches to engagement. If you're looking for virtual event ideas - today is your day. Freebies shared too!
Today’s Guest
Lindsay Martin-Bilbrey, CEO, Nifty Method Marketing & Events
“The best event planners are those that are flexible, audacious, and curious.”
Episode Highlights
Lindsay’s career journey (2:10)
The new normal for events in our industry (8:17)
Examples of successful, innovative events throughout the last year (17:32)
Lindsay’s budgeting advice: how create an outstanding event that is budget conscious (24:41)
A powerful moment of philanthropy and community in Lindsay’s life (35:12)
Lindsay’s One Good Thing: Never stop asking questions. (39:10)
Powerful Quotes:
“You really have to leverage your event in a way that tells your story in a unique way.” - Becky
“Just putting on something on stage and having the same ole people saying the same ole thing doesn't do anything to inspire, and it doesn’t make people wanna come back in and say, ‘Hey, what are they doing this year, what’s different?’”- Becky
“I think in many ways, from nonprofits up to large enterprises, has struggled with the same word for a while, and that’s ‘engagement.’” - Lindsay
“How are we really transforming attendees into participants?'“ - Lindsay
“A good event is really a 365 experience.” - Lindsay
“We’re not just creating an event, or a fundraiser, we’re creating an experience that comes across this 365 thing we’re doing, it almost turns into a large major gifts campaign.” - Lindsay
“Change the vocabulary and the way that you’re talking about it with your board, with your team, with your partners, with your vendors, and challenge them to say, ‘What could that look like?’”- Lindsay
“Don’t lose who you are as a nonprofit, but really go with the experience we’re trying to be now.” - Lindsay
“There are still very poignant ways that we can replicate the feeling even though we are virtual.” - Becky
“If you don’t have a follow up planned, you don’t have your event plan completed.” - Jon
“A lot of times, the staffing structure can play against everyone because you have communication developer…but you don’t have marketing people.” - Lindsay
“Why do you have to do it once?” - Lindsay
“It was a lot of organization, but no less than bringing together, ya know, 3000 people for one large run.” - Lindsay
“What makes you, you? Why do people give you money? What makes you special? Do that!” - Lindsay
“You need to look at your organization and magnify what makes it special, and take it virtual that way.” - Jon
“A decent camera, a microphone, and access to the internet are a lot of times what you need.” - Lindsay
“At the end of the day, a fundraiser is the same as a sales meeting. You’re bringing people together, you’re having them do an activity.” - Lindsay
“I can’t understate the ability to bring in a professional to do the things that need to be done professionally.” - Jon
“Look for your CMP’s, go to Linkedin and search for CMP, go and search for CTEs. These are certifications in the audio production world.” - Lindsay
“There’s a level of acceptance that we’re still not necessarily a tremendously better place as an industry, but there’s hope.” - Lindsay
“You have to have the people otherwise why would you have a mission?”- Lindsay
“The best event planners are those that are flexible, audacious, and curious.” - Lindsay
