All New: Sponsor Spotlight Sessions!

Hello BarCamp’ers!

Can you believe it is only 13 days until RE BarCamp Seattle??  WOW!

The #rebcsea planning committee is putting the final touches on plans for the upcoming event… and wanted to let you know about a couple of updates and a brand new addition to our day!!

After much deliberation and conversation, the committee has decided to forgo a ‘bling/giveaway’ this year… Our non-profit partner, Solid Ground, is in tremendous need of assistance this year – and our community at large needs food more than you, our dearest participant, need another mug, t-shirt, or keychain.   The committee trusts that you will agree.

In lieu of honoring our sponsors with their names on ‘bling’ the plan is to enhance their vendor table display area, as well as host a special “Sponsor Spotlight Session Track” to spread the word about their products, tools, resources!

Many of our sponsors will be hosting drawings, giving out their very own bling, and sharing how they may be able to fulfill your business plans and visions!   

We encourage you to stop by these Spotlight Sessions and the vendor area to say “hello and thank you” to the peeps in the room.   They keep the event FREE… and allow us to donate to our community in need!

The committee looks forward to seeing you all in less than TWO WEEK! 

psssttttt…. 
Have you put on your thinking cap yet?
Any idea about WHAT you want to SHARE? 
How about what you want to LEARN? 
It is never too early to start getting your thoughts together… 
#justsayin

Hotel Max… VIP rates/treatment await #rebcsea enthusiasts!

The Hotel Max is located a skip and a hop away from everything that matters in downtown Seattle… world-class shopping, dining, the Washington State Convention Center, attractions such as the Pike Place Market and Seattle Center (the location of #rebcsea!), entertainment and nightlife.

The Hotel Max has positioned itself as the most artful hotel in Seattle, showcasing an original art collection of local artists and photographers with more than 350 original paintings and photographs guest rooms and corridors. The artistic soul of Seattle, a little edgy and always interesting, is ever-present here.

In addition to a wonderful location, super cool design and amazing art, at the Hotel Max you will also enjoy outstanding service and top comfort! Deluxe accommodations combined with high thread count linens, custom pillow-top mattresses and down bedding will nestle you in to sleep after a full day of activities. Additional amenities you can enjoy during your visit include: WIFI, Valet parking w/in-and-out privileges, 24-hour business center, 24-hour room service, 24-hour fitness center, Flat screen LCD TV’s, Spiritual menu, Pillow menu, Honor Bar and Aveda bath amenities to name a few.

Attention food lovers…make sure you try out the Hotel Max’s wonderful restaurant, Red Fin, offering delicious eclectic Asian fusion fare and some of the best Sushi in town!

Love social media? Follow the Hotel Max on Twitter @Hotel_Max! Being a follower has its benefits…You can stay in the know on special rates, Seattle events, latest Hotel Max happenings and participate in awesome raffles/prizes!

Reserve Your Room Today: Special RE Barcamp 2011 Rate

www.hotelmaxseattle.com
620 Stewart Street
Seattle, WA 98101
P: 866-833-6299
Follow us on twitter: @hotel_max
www.provenancehotels.com

Why participate in REBarCamp? One word: Relationships.

I was searching to figure out WHAT my topic for this blog post was going to be… What could I share with you, dearest reader, that would inspire you to participate in the upcoming RE BarCamp in Seattle… as well as the various events surrounding this blockbuster adventure? 

Hmmm… let’s see… should it be the passion the committee puts into planning it for you?  How about the organic, yet intentionally designed schedule you will experience? Maybe the amazing real world knowledge/education you are guaranteed to gather?   How about all of the FUN the participants have choosing the topics… things like “The Art of Poking”?  

Nope.

When it came right down to it – the answer was right in front of me – on my screen.  Okay, screens.  My TV, laptop, iPhone, and my iPad screens were ALL shouting at me, “Talk about your online inner circle… the council you reach out to when you have an idea, question or hit a wall… the ‘I have no idea HOW I survived without you in my world’ peeps… YES!  Share about those people who inspire you to reach for things you never thought possible.”

To be clear, it all started when I was in grade school… and I met my first “on screen” pals: Andie, Blane, and Duckie. If you are a John Hughes fan, you KNOW of whom I speak here – no pix or links required. 

These ‘friends’ taught me not to let ‘social rules’ determine my destiny. To reach for what I wanted – regardless of which side of the tracks I resided. There were no limits to what I could experience or achieve.

Now, fast forward (literally, if you still have it on VHS) to today.

I am truly amazed when reviewing the fabulous relationships in my world… many formed over the last couple of years!  They would NOT EXIST if it were not for epic events like #rebcsea, Inman’s Agent REBoot in Seattle/Portland, and other amazing industry events – like the upcoming NW Video Marketing Summit on 3/2/11… hosted by Frank Garay & Brian Stevens, the dynamic duo of the TBWS Daily Show!  If you participated in the 2010 #rebcsea… you may have met these two there!  BTW – they recently made Inman’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate list for 2010!

IRL (in real life) events like #rebcsea mobilize the mind-boggling knowledge and power of our community… and ignite relationships with people you and I would likely have never met.

After attending such events, I humbly, yet proudly call Rhonda Porter, Dale Chumbley, Nick Church, Rene Fabre, Scott Thomas, Mike Mueller, Chris Smith, Rich Jacobson, Michael McClure, Nicole Nicolay, Darin Persigner, Teri Conrad, Jason Hillard, Kelley Skar, Stephanie Dawson, Natalie Danielson… and many others “friend”.  Our promise to one another: Strive to LEAD one another. Humbly FOLLOW each other.  Or we, as my marvelous collaborator in all things ‘illumination” Linda Aaron says “Get Out Of The Way” and let progress continue until we are ready and able to ride the wave!  (By the way, besides my CBBain colleague, Linda… I met ALL of these amazing people “online” before I met them IRL!)

Simply put… I don’t think RElationships matter, I KNOW they matter.   This is a relationship business, after all.

RE BarCampSEA always reshapes and recharges me… and I am so excited to meet and greet new peeps this year!  Will one of them be you?  I hope so.  If you are READY to REignite, REfresh, and REnew YOUR relationships with your peer sphere, SEEK out  and nurture NEW ones - all while collaborating and participating with some of the best minds (green and guru) in our industry…

RSVP. Right now. Period.
*poke*

Thanks for reading!
~Debra
Find Me Online

11 Reasons To Sponsor RE BarCamp-Seattle!

My week has been peppered with great chats regarding sponsoring #rebcsea.  Many of the biz owners in my sphere have had the same response:  Money is tight… WHY SHOULD I? or more simply put: What’s in it for me? (WIIFM)

I decided to surf a bit and gather together some of the major reasons why companies become event sponsors.  This may help you in identifying people YOU know (including yourself) who might be interested in sponsoring!

11 Reasons 2 Sponsor Events:

1.  Corporate ID
Companies planned to display their corporate or brand names or logos on event signs, buildings, equipment, programs, uniforms, and/or promotional materials.   

2.  Target Marketing
Many companies saw event sponsorship as a way to reach a self-selected audience, hopefully interested in purchasing the companies’ products or services.

3.  Entertainment Opportunity
A number of companies mentioned that they would use an event as a place to entertain clients.
(Hmmm… sounds like an opportunity to carpool a captive audience to the event!)

4.  Offering Discounts
A number of companies said they would use events as a way to encourage product/service trial, either by offering samples at the event, or, if that was inconvenient, by passing out coupons.

5.  Awareness
Some companies wanted to use event sponsorship as a way to create public awareness of their brands or products. If you are launching a new business – this one is for you!

6.  Image
Some companies hoped event sponsorship would improve, enhance, or change their corporate, brand, or product image.

7.  Usage
Some companies planned to use events to encourage purchase of their products (e.g., buy two items to get a free ticket to the event) or usage of their products (e.g., American Express will donate twenty-five cents to the local symphony every time you use your American Express card).

8.  PR
Some companies cited public relations value (i.e., the newsworthiness of the event and/or the sponsorship) as a reason why they were sponsoring an event. They expected to see their company, brand, or product mentioned in media coverage of the event.

9.  Contests
Some companies intended to use an event as a theme for consumer contests or sweepstakes… with the added bonus of gathering names at an event to develop a mailing list or database of consumers.

10. Demonstration Opportunity
Some companies planned to use an event to demonstrate or display their products/services.

11. Sales Opportunity
Some companies wanted to use an event for on-site sales or to generate sales leads – with both consumers and other businesses! 

REMINDER:  Sponsors who sign up before February 22nd will have their company website printed on our ULTRA COOL BLING this year! 

If you are now inspired to be a sponsor or you have questions on HOW to sponsor… shoot me an email: [email protected].

Check out this example of what the WATER BOTTLE will look like…
You TOO could have your company on this list!!

"Your Name Here"