Smart Analytics

As promised, the slides from my presentation "Smart Marketing: Using Online Analytics to Understand Your Guests" are now available: View Slides Here (PDF)

IAAPA 2014 Recap

We said our goodbyes to friends new and old we connected with this week. We had our last cups of Dippin' Dots. And we packed up our booth, feeling great that we gave out tons of great advice at our new Expert Bar.

IAAPA 2014 was over and the week felt like it flew by, but it was still as fun and enjoyable as ever!

In talking to a lot of visitors, I found a few common situations:

1) Nearly everyone is engaged in various aspects of digital marketing, whether it's online advertising, social media or SEO.

Talk About Something Amazing

Lots happening on Thursday! The morning started with Jeff and Mark Kupferman from Six Flags giving a fast-paced, informative talk on using analytics more effectively. Slides will be available soon if you missed it!

Venturing Out

IAAPA Day 2 report — lots of reconnecting, plus lots of obligatory Dippin' Dots: 

Yeehaw! It was a fun-filled rodeo at this year's FEC reception — especially thanks to WDD's resident cowgirl Katie:

Off and Running

Yesterday I posted right before the show doors opened — and it truly was the calm before the storm! With a great location this year (and some friendly faces...) the action really was non-stop.

Of course it wouldn't be IAAPA without some great after-show events, and this year's opening gala was no exception:

Now on to day 2!

IAAPA Kickoff!

The IAAPA expo floor is officially open and our new booth looks spectacular!

This year we're going with a new approach by introducing an "expert bar". We're encouraging attendees to stop by and ask us anything (really, anything!) about digital marketing. Whether it's an easy question about website design or some obscure SEO problem, we're there to provide answers. Find us at booth #3813. 

Last night WDD helped celebrate "IAAPA Connects" at the Magic Kingdom, decked out for the holidays:

All the Pieces

I love blogs. Every day I read several — some tech, some news, some from friends — and they're ideal for keeping current with what's going on in the world.

Writing for blogs on the other hand — that's a challenge.

Trying to decide on topics and then actually producing it. Mixing up good information with visuals, not to mention having a 'voice' that's informal but informative and enjoyable. Many blogs start with good intentions but after a while... silence. (We're guilty of that, too.)

Time to change that!

Most Fun Trade Show in the World!

Oh my gosh, IAAPA was fantastic!  For those of you not in the industry, the IAAPA Expo is the biggest trade show in the amusement and attraction industry.  As you can imagine it is a lot more fun than your average trade show.  This year I gave two talks, participated in two round tables and attended the Family Entertainment Center Committee meeting.  Scott gave two talks as well.  Jeff gave a presentation in the Technology Showcase and basically “represented” at all the cool parties.  Mark made sure all of our IT worked in the booth and basically kept me sane.  Kumi did an awesome job for her first year talking to customers and looking adorable every day.   I think she was surprised at how hard the whole trade show experience is physically. 

We saw tons of old friends and got to meet face to face with a lot of clients that we usually only get to communicate with via phone and email, which was great.  So nice to see real people for a change!  It is also funny how people move around in this industry.  It is like pro football.  The players are the same, they just change uniforms. 

There is such a wonderful international flavor to the show.  Amusement is a worldwide industry and this is where the world meets.  Mark, Jeff and I all attended the Blooloop party given by two of our favorite Brits, Charlie and Rachel Read.

We ended the week with a rousing game of miniature golf at Hollywood Drive-In Mini Golf at Universal City Walk using the new mini golf scorecard app we created for them.  It is hands down the coolest mini golf course anywhere ever!  We all agreed that we liked the “Invaders from Planet Putt” course the best. 

With the IAAPA Expo behind us, it’s time to get back to work until we head back to do it all again next year!