I have been in a stuck spot with my writing for most of this summer. I have subjects I’ve thought about writing about but haven’t been able to talk myself into making it happen – but mainly, I just haven’t made it (writing) a priority. It is summer after all and there’s so much else to do.
And, then today I came across a post from North Woods and Wicks Co https://www.northwoodswicksco.com that caught my attention because: 1) I found it visually appealing, eye catching, if you will -- it just spoke to me; and 2) it caused me to focus on a subject I’ve talked about but hadn’t yet put pen to paper.
In meeting planning we look at meetings and events as "creating experiences" for our guests, and that to do so requires the integration of all five senses: taste; sight; touch; smell and hearing. I was reminded of the similarities between the images/feelings the picture in the post conjured up as it related to the senses -- how what I saw in the photo made me feel.
The image grabbed me from the start; it was visually appealing (sight). I could “feel” the love the person who created the product had for what she’s doing. Then there was the “smell” of the spices. I mean, you could almost “taste” the oranges and cranberries. What did I hear? Maybe it was the fall leaves rustling in the breeze that I imagined – or the oohs and awes of guests walking into my home after they caught the delicious smells of the just baked orange-cranberry bread (or perhaps, the Orange Cranberry Spice candle burning instead).
With a meeting or event it, too, needs to be visually appealing – from the initial invitation, the registration materials, to the registration area and meeting space once on site. It needs to be welcoming and provide a sense of safe. And, there’s nothing like walking into the meeting area first thing in the morning to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and breakfast pastries. Messaging is of utmost importance: before; during and after. What is being conveyed; the tone, what people are hearing, the takeaways.
With a book, it may start with the cover, but once the book is launched, there’s all the promotion, from print, e-book and/or audio, to in-person table top displays where these same five senses come into play. It takes planning and a coordinated effort to make everything happen and to make things visually appealing.
In the end, it’s about PROCESS, PLANNING, STRATEGIZING and EXECUTING. It doesn’t matter if you’re running a promotion to sell candles, planning a meeting or special event; or selling books at an author fair.
To LEARN more about the PLANNING PROCESS, check out my book: “The Meeting Planning Process: A Guide to Planning Successful Meetings.” It’s available online at Amazon and Barnes & Nobel. (Clicking on the "Book" menu tab on this website will redirect you to the Amazon site.)
Take care. Be well. Stay safe. And, never stop LEARNING!