MMC and Arnold Bread Hit Blissdom 2010!

This weekend, hundreds of online influencers flocked to Nashville, Tennessee for the opportunity to network, learn and kick-back with their “Web friends” at Blissdom 2010.  We attended the conference on behalf of our client, Arnold Bread, the Blissdom Lunch Sponsor.  While we were there, we had the chance to meet many of the women we speak to daily via the Internet in person, a real treat!  We also made new friends and can’t wait to stay in touch with them in the future. 

All of the women at Blissdom were there to further share their personal stories, and in our opinion, they did so in a big way!  I now have at least 100 new sites to add to our RSS feeds and dozens of new Twitter followers.  The attendees left Blissdom feeling inspired and refreshed, saying they had learned valuable information. We left feeling motivated and full of key learnings!

-          Engage in advance:  Don’t be afraid to say hello before meeting someone in person, whether it be via tweet, blog comment or private message, the main reason influencers attend these conferences is to network.  We listened to online chatter about Blissdom prior to the show, waited for key opportunities to connect with attendees, and when appropriate, introduced ourselves and shared information about Arnold. Many of the influencers we engaged in advance were excited to stop by our booth and say “hi” in-person. This helped forge new relationships, while simultaneously driving booth traffic.

-          Add value:  Everyone loves free swag. In the end, it can help keep your Brand top-of-mind with key influencers, but to develop deeper relationships, enhancements relevant to both the Brand and the influencer should be offered in the booth.  Arnold Breads offered free nutrition consultations with our registered dietitian, helping attendees understand the importance of a balanced diet that includes whole grains, like the ones found in our breads.  Influencers engaged with us in a highly personalized, intimate manner (even sharing their weight and waist size!) resulting in a positive, lasting Brand experience.

-          Provide inspiration:  Our sponsorship consisted of a variety of different touch-points, from pre-conference couponing to consultations in our booth.  Perhaps the most valuable interaction was our sponsored lunch, which offered influencers the opportunity to taste a variety of unique sandwiches made with Arnold sliced breads and Sandwich Thins.  This drove immediate trial, which we believe our influencers will seek beyond the conference.  Attendees experienced key Brand qualities and learned that nutritious can also be delicious.