Certain, Inc. Survey Reveals Pre-Scheduled, One-to-One Appointments Fuel Event Productivity and Value

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A survey released by Certain, Inc., a leading provider of SaaS technology solutions for the global meetings and events industry, finds that one-to-one interaction at events is a top priority for attendees and their organizations.  Responses revealed that almost all respondents (over 91 percent) believe that attending or hosting an event with pre-scheduled, one-to-one appointments makes the event more productive for attendees and valuable to organization stakeholders.

The brief survey was conducted live on the floor of an archetypal, vertically specific conference with a mix of general sessions, breakouts and exposition time.  The sampling of participants polled included general attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and speakers.

Additional findings from the survey include:

• 50 percent of respondents found networking the most productive component of an event, while only 35 percent of respondents viewed booth time as the most valuable
• 44 percent of respondents currently measure event ROI solely against spend; 26 percent measure through self-determined before-and-after metrics; whereas 17 percent measure through executive feedback
• 61 percent of respondents often do not attend events because they feel they cannot adequately justify the cost

"In this metrics-driven business climate, it's critical that event organizers are able to provide measurable value for time and money spent at an event to the executive sponsors at participating organizations," said Peter Micciche, CEO of Certain, Inc.  "One-to-one appointments fuel event productivity with scheduled 'face time.'  In most cases, these one-to-one meetings result in actionable follow-up, increased probability of closed business and demonstrable ROI."

Certain Presents Infographic and White Paper on Redefining Event Success with One-to-One Appointments 
In addition to the survey results, Certain, Inc. is also releasing an accompanying infographic and white paper on the role of appointments in defining success at events and meetings.  The infographic features visual content to describe the current events landscape, determine how success is measured, and illustrate how automated matching and pre-scheduled appointments can drive more meaningful one-to-one activities between event attendees of all types.  The graphic concludes with a look at how appointments foster valuable "lower funnel" engagement, when considered within the methodology of the traditional sales funnel.

The accompanying white paper takes a detailed look at the organizational objectives of today's B2B participants, and how event organizers who embrace the relevance of one-to-one meetings will be ahead of the curve in terms of attracting and retaining the best attendees and sponsors.  The paper also examines the evolving redefinition of event success, and how technology and automation can facilitate one-to-one appointments, for even the largest and most complex events.

Earlier this year, Certain announced Match2Connect, an intelligent appointment-matching component of the Certain technology platform that facilitates interaction, connection and relationships through pre-scheduled, one-to-one meetings at events.

Supporting Resources

• Certain, Inc.
• Certain Infographic
• Certain White Paper
• Match2Connect
• Certain Platform
• Certain on Twitter
• Certain Blog

About Certain, Inc.
Certain, Inc.® is the leading provider of SaaS event management technology for the global meetings and events industry. Certain's innovative solutions deliver streamlined processes, reduced expenses, greater return on investments, and improved overall business value to marketers and event professionals. The Certain, Inc. platform supports a full range of events – from small meetings and educational sessions, to large conferences and world events. Headquartered in San Francisco, Certain has operations and sales offices in North America, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Please visit http://www.certain.com.

Contact: 
Julie Tangen
Kulesa Faul for Certain, Inc.
Phone: +831.251.3450
[email protected]

SOURCE Certain, Inc.