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You get a lot of
enhanced benefits with Circle of "I" membership:
CLICK FOR INFO
 

Orlando Events
Tampa & Pinellas Ev

Feedback &
Corporate Sponsors:

"One of your members, Dr. David Allyn (my neighbor and friend) told me of your website. It is VERY informative. I never knew that so many networking opportunities were available in Central Florida!!
Thank you!"
...Angie Langley

"Thanks to you I found out about Winter Park Chamber of Commerce eventa and the Altamonte Leads Group. I went, and met a bunch new people. Thank you!
...Irlianna

"Because of your newsletter, a friend of mine learned about the Winter Park Pig Roast last night at the Farmer's Market ....we went and had a great time. Thanks!"
...Jennifer Devitt

"The thing I love about going to the events I read about in the Connections web site and newsletter is that I always see some familiar faces. When I go alone it makes me feel comfortable knowing I'll probably run into other members I already know."
...Barbara Deacon

"I attended one of your groups at Panera in Altamonte and was very impressed. Please include me in your E-mail newsletter mailing. Thanks! I've been passing the word on to others."
...Brenda McKay

"I attend the Waterford Lakes Networking group. It is a great group and Jim does a fantastic job. Thanks for all you do for us!"
...Jane McCoy

"I love your e-mail updates ... and thanks for putting our golf tournament in here. Your website and service is simply awesome! Thanks,"
...Angie Langley.

"Thanks for posting the Feb 23 "Fine Art Auction to benefit UCF College of Education." Keep up the great work in the new year. I appreciate all your events listings and the fact that you keep Central Florida's "social scene" spinning!"
...Rich Sloane

"I can't even begin to tell you how impressed I am with the Orlando Connections networking group. Your organization really understands the difference between true professional networking and a pass the basket around the room leads group. I am the Director of Marketing for a firm introducing new technology to the public and the support that I have received from Connections has been tremendous. Thank you ever so much for being there."
...Jon D. Van Loenen
Southern Comfort
Protective Systems

"Sue, In the years that I have known you, you have gone from a stranger at the end of an e-mail message to a familiar and welcome smiling face. Thanks to you for all you do to keep us informed and for your help in spreading the word about various charity events."
...Dan Kirby

SUBMIT YOUR EVENT

Do you want YOUR events included in the Connections web site and newsletter?

The great thing about your Connections membership is that it's FREE to get this kind of publicity for your... events, seminars, business meetings, networking & leads groups, charity fundraisers, parties, or whatever special events you are a part of!

Your event details will be included in the Connections web site for FREE.

It also MIGHT appear in the NEWSLETTER (space available) so that ALL 12,000 members will know about your event!

We only ask you ONE thing...
Please follow these
simple steps:

Will having your event in the Connections web site
and newsletter help make your event a success?
See what one member said recently...

"Thank you for all of your assistance in the promotion of our Orlando EXPO. As you know, we used a variety of media forums in which to promote our event. The following are the attendance results of the marketing mediums used for the promotion of our EXPO:

28% Newspaper
21% Connections Groups
17% Friends/Co-worker
10% Emails from Nat'l HomeBiz Network
8% Current Members
7% Flyer Distribution
3% Radio
3% Fax
3% Telemarketing

As you can see for yourself, promoting an event through Orlando Connections is HIGHLY effective! We look forward to utilizing your group again."
...Linda Bartz, Home BiZ Expo

Want YOUR event to be a FEATURED Event?
 . "Enhanced/Display" ads are only $75.
 .  Just $50 for CIRCLE OF I Members (click for info)

Why pop for the $75 or $50?

It gives you GUARANTEED placement in the newsletter along with more text, bold headline and graphics.  Your event will be a "featured" event and really get noticed! (see what others have said!)

Why is it important for you to format your events for us this way?

To put it simply...
TIME & RESULTS!

Events that have a consistent "look" about them make it easier and faster for members to "skim" the events page.

Events that are missing important details... like the exact address, or phone number, mean that the people you want to invite have to spend THEIR time looking up this information.

This will greatly reduce your response.  After all.. if YOU didn't find the time to look this info up (and it was YOUR event) how many of those potential guests will be too busy to?

You may think that "everyone knows where it is,"  ...But we have new members joining all the time that are also new to the area. With the exact address, your guests can look up your event location in MAPQUEST.

Even a detail you think could be unimportant (like the phone number of the venue), could be critical to the person who gets lost on the way.

And finally...
Getting people to come to your event is a lot like "SALES" ...the MORE info you provide, the better you make it sound, the more fun it seems like... the better your response will be.

There is a lot of competition out there for people's TIME... make sure they know why YOUR event is the one they should come to!

...Sue  :)

See more
Info below
in the Q&A
Section!

Q&A:

Do you want to get free Media exposure for your event from the NEWSPAPER, Radio, TV or other web sites (like ours)?

TIP #1 - Your absolute FIRST step: LOOK at each "media" or site you are sending your information to. They each have a different order, or way, they present the information. Some may have the event name first, some the date. Some may use "bullets" of information, others longer descriptive paragraphs.

If they do not have a "form" for you to use to submit your information then your "best bet" is to...

Send a PERSONALIZED version (eMail if possible) to each media formatted specifically for them so it looks EXACTLY like the ones you already see on their site, or in their paper or magazine.

Yes, we know this is more work for YOU. But you are the one asking for free publicity AND, if you get it, each of these publications or sites will take your information and put it in front of hundreds, or possibly THOUSANDS more people than you could yourself.  This is worth hundreds, and possibly thousands of dollars to you. BUT, whether they GIVE you that publicity is going to depend on how easy you make it for them.

TIP #2 - Put together a "media" notebook. List the media, contact info and NAME of the person who will be handling your info. If you are going to be sending info regularly, call them or Email them personally and introduce yourself. Ask them how they prefer to get the information. This could be the most important phone call you make! Now they will be looking for your info and will know in advance you respect their time. Guess who's event will get priority?

TIP #3 - Send them a "Thank you" note or eMail after the event. OR... if you REALLY want to be remembered, send a "Thank YOU" prior to the event and include a couple of complimentary tickets. (budget permitting) The next event you do is SURE to get special treatment now!

Q: How can I make MY event stand out?

A: Include a graphic, or logo for the web site. (attach to your eMail in any standard graphics format). ALSO: Make your event description sound FUN and inviting. People like to have a good mental picture of what's going to happen and getting people to come to your event is like "selling," ...there is a lot of competition for people's time, so the BETTER your description sounds the BETTER your RESULTS will be! Tell them what they can expect, every detail can be important, even whether the parking is free! 

Q: What are the most common questions people ask about events?

A: The most asked are "comfort" questions... "what will people be wearing?"  "what type/ages of people will be there?"  People just want to know that they will fit in... that they will feel comfortable. For instance... not be over ,or under, dressed, etc.  The more you can paint a "mental picture" ...the more you increase people's comfort level and the better your response will be.

Q: Why are the following details important?

A: Exact street address? So we can link to "MapQuest.com" Venue PHONE? So people can call if they need more specific directions or if they get lost enroute. END time? People sometimes plan more than one activity in an evening and want to know if your event will fit into their schedule. Attire? People want to know they will fit in and feel comfortable. Cost? If you don't say what it costs, or specifically that it is free, you force people to call to find out. They may not do it and you lose a reservation. Multiple contacts for more info? You want people to come don't you? Of course! Then you want to make it as convenient as possible for them to get the info, or make the reservation. Again, getting people to come to an event is a lot like sales... you have to "sell them" on the idea and then "close" the sale (get the reservation). A good salesperson makes it easy for the customer to "give them the sale."

Q: Are there any major "DON'T's?"

A: YES! Do NOT send your invitation as an attachment. This is not a good idea whether you are sending it to the media, or to your own list.

"Why not? The invitation looks pretty!"

A couple of things you might not have thought of from your end...

1) Courtesy.  Opening an attachment takes time, again you are making them WORK.  It shows respect and consideration for their time when you give them the information right in the body of the eMail.

2) Virus's. Attachments may contain computer virus's so some corporate eMail systems do not allow any attachments through their firewall at all. And some people just don't open attachments for fear of virus.

3) What looks pretty printed out on paper may be too large to be
seen on their computer monitor. They may not have any way to print it out, or may be too busy to do so.

6) If you are sending your event to the media, or someone like us... you want to get your event in right away don't you?  If you are sending an attachment, it is like a FLAG that says "you're getting information you are going to have to reformat."  This means they will probably put it in their number "#2" pile without even looking at it.  The "#2 pile" is the one they hold until (and if) they have time and space to use it.  The ones that came already formatted and easy for them will get priority. (trust me on this!)  ALSO... some of the media, like the Sentinel only have limited space and often they get 3-10 events for every space they have available.  The ones that get used tend to be the "easiest" ones for them to work with.  Make YOURS the easiest!

SUGGESTION:  Send them all the information in TEXT format in the BODY of your eMail. You can include a line like this at the bottom: "For a beautiful invitation that you can print out for your friends, reply back and we'll send you a WORD 96 document you can print out and photocopy."  ...Now everyone gets your invitation and THEY get to choose whether they want the attachment.

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