Here are the best cell phone charging stations to rent for your events:

When it comes to hosting events, it is essential nowadays to provide attendees with cell phone charging stations. There are many different sizes, shapes, and options that you can choose from so we have narrowed it down to the top 3 best cell phone charging stations for events:

1. Phone Charging Stations with Lockers

The most popular phone charging station at events has been the LockerPower, which features individual lockers. Each locker has built-in charging cables for all devices, including iPhones and Androids. The lockers are also big enough to charge most tablets. The Charging Station with Lockers comes equipped with fast charging technology, giving devices around 2% battery life for every 1 minute of charging. This popular model also features a display screen for custom branding your event or sponsors. The screen can display any amount of videos or images you want. Further custom branding is available with full custom wraps. Typically for a 1-2 day event, the rental fee is $740.

2. Portable Phone Charging Station

Another popular charging station for events is the Power Pax, a portable charging station. It features individual portable chargers that have built-in cables. They can charge almost all iPhone and Android devices with fast charging technology. Each portable charge has a capacity of 5,000mah meaning that it can charge most phones twice over. Attendees simply borrow a portable charger and use it on the go. They return the portable charger when they are finished using it. The Power Pax comes with a charging bay that houses and recharges the portable chargers when they are not actively being used by attendees. Both the charging bay and each of the portable chargers can be custom branded for your event or sponsors. Typically for a 1-2 day event, the rental fee is around $260.

3. Hightop Cell Phone Charging Table

Many events already utilize high-top or cocktail tables which may as well be converted with tables that can charge phones, laptops, and more. The Veloxity phone charging table for events features 4 charging cables on each corner, which accommodates charging for all major devices. Furthermore, the phone charging table comes equipped with 2 wireless charging pads. There are also 2 AC outlets built in for charging laptops and other devices. The charging table can be custom branded all around for your event or sponsors. Typically for a 1-2 day event the rental fee is around $540.

With most attendees carrying one or more phones, it’s a no brainer that events should incorporate phone charging stations to keep attendees charged up and happy. Whether your event or meeting has 100 or 100,000 attendees, charging stations are always a good idea and can be tailored to meet your needs and budget.

Picking Phone Charging Stations for Your Event

When it comes to picking which charging stations, there are a variety of options to choose from depending on your space and plans. Some options include portable charging stations, table top charging stations, wireless charging furniture and more. But at events, the most popular type has been phone charging stations with lockers, which allow attendees to have a safe and secure charge.  The last thing an event planner wants to hear about from an attendee is that their phone got stolen.

Charging stations with lockers catch a lot of eyes and give event planners the opportunity for custom branding their event or selling a unique and engaging sponsorship. Some charging stations like the LockerPower, incorporate custom branding on a display screen where the event or sponsors can promote with videos, images, and custom surveys. For additional branding, there is the option to fully wrap the charging stations with a custom skin. Make sure to rent a phone charging locker that is also compatible with charging tablets, as some lockers are not big enough to fit them.

Incorporating Phone Charging Stations For Attendees

Event planners can take advantage of charging stations by placing them in high foot traffic areas such as near the registration desks, conference ballrooms, or main hallways. To further delight attendees, many events have incorporated a “relax and recharge” lounge where a combination of charging stations, couches and light refreshments give attendees another reason to love your event. If a charging station is sponsored by an exhibitor, there is the option to put them in or around their booth to attract foot traffic.

One of the toughest jobs faced by event professionals is captivating their attendees. Between juggling venue hire, sponsor prospecting and stakeholder management, there’s a lot that goes into organizing an event. A common pitfall can be neglecting or not maintaining attendee engagement leading up to an event. With a little planning and the right event app, driving engagement at your next event can be as effortless and rewarding for you as it is for your attendees.

Push Notifications

Keep your attendees in the loop by sending push notifications in the lead up to your event. Advertise speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, key event app elements or new content to keep your attendees checking back and engaged. Bonus points for making use of notification links to direct attendees to relevant pages.

Plan ahead of time, set up a document of all planned push notifications and times for stakeholder approval. You’ll then be able to pre-schedule your push notifications using your event app, leaving you to focus on running the event.

Gamification

Level up your event by introducing gamification. An event app leaderboard is a great way to drive app adoption rates and engagement. Attendees are rewarded with points and achievements for completing challenges, driving them to explore the event app and engage with their fellow peers. By providing a platform for friendly competition, you’ll be opening up a whole new means of social engagement, helping to break the ice before the event has even begun. There are also a number of opportunities to further encourage your delegates by offering up prizes for those highest scoring individuals.

Phone Charging Stations

It’s obvious that pretty much everyone these days has a cell phone and it’s important that your guests and attendees are able to charge their phones. Supplying phone charging stations for event goers to charge their devices is more beneficial than you might think. With charged phones people at a events can tweet, post a status to Facebook and Snapchat your event creating a buzz.

Interactive Sessions

Collaborate with your speakers to organize exciting and engaging sessions. Gather each speaker’s desired questions or event app live polls pre-event. Advertise these sessions through event app push notifications to help build interest and attendance. Couple this with the session bookmark feature to allow your attendees to customize their personal schedule.

Promotion

Build buzz around your event app by taking advantage of already established social media channels. Work closely with your sponsors, exhibitors and invited speakers to generate engaging content leading up to the event and share it on social media and within your event app. Consider creating a hashtag to further promote the event app and event. Lastly, get creative. A picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth even more.

Wearable tech – like accessories that charge your phone – seem to be popping up everywhere these days. In 2017, fashion is officially colliding with technology, meaning household labels and startups alike are scrambling to create the most stylish, high-tech accessories.

Here are our top picks for the best phone charging backpacks and wallets you can snag online today:

TYLT Energi Backpack

The Energi backpack by TYLT comes in two models. The standard model is a combination between a briefcase, backpack and a mobile charging station. It comes equipped with a charging system that allows you to route the cables to any one of the 5 external pockets or 2 internal pockets. The Pro Power backpack is the upgraded model which TYLT touts as the only bag that can provide a full charge to your cell phone, tablet and your USB-C laptop. It includes a 20,800 mAh battery and 12 internal pockets to store all your daily gear.

BirkSun Solar Backpacks

Designed in California, the rugged BirkSun backpacks rely entirely on solar panels that can store a 150% charge from its internal battery. Short on direct sunlight? You can also recharge from any wall outlet. Ideal for the beach, the hike or the daily commute, the BirkSun waterproof backpacks keep you dry and powered up!

HP Powerup Backpack

Billed as a “revolutionary backpack,” the HP Powerup features a high capacity 22,500 mAh battery that can charge your phone, tablet and your laptop. The backpack works with most HP laptops and USB-charged devices including iPhones and iPads, GPS devices and wireless headsets. HP claims their backpack provides a full charge to most of their laptops, charges a tablet up to 3 times, a smartphone up to 10 times.

When you’re scouting locations for your event, easy access to power isn’t necessarily high on your list of “must-haves.” Whether your ideal venue is a warehouse, a large ballroom, or a hotel, one thing everyone is focused on is trying to create an event that attendees are able to enjoy.

Phone charging stations at events allow people to roam around freely and not have to worry about charging their phone, thus helping to contribute to attendee satisfaction. Here are 5 things you won’t have to worry about when choosing to use a phone charging station.

Buying extension cords at the last minute

An attendees closest power source might be 50 feet away from where they’d like to be at your event. Save yourself the hassle of buying extension cables last minute by choosing our battery-powered option instead.

Make sure attendees don’t trip over power cables

Running power cables can be a challenge if you don’t have much space to work with. We also understand that taped-down cables might not fit your aesthetic. Using a charging station alleviates the issue of having to run power cables in walkways or in areas where event attendees may trip over them.

Compete with others for an outlet

If you’ve ever attended an event where your battery died, you know all too well that finding an open outlet can be a challenge. Between vendors using outlets to power their displays, event staff shooing you away from outlets, and other attendees fighting to charge their devices, a spare outlet can be a rare commodity. Spare yourself the hassle by switching to phone charging units.

Worry about an unplugged unit

Have you ever done your laundry in a laundromat, only to come back and find your wet clothes on top of the washing machine and someone else’s dirty laundry in the wash? The same thing happens with power cables every day.

Tether yourself to the closest outlet

We know all too well that the right location can directly influence your success. If you’ve ever felt tethered to the closest outlet, using a charging unit will give you the freedom you need to roam!

You plugged your phone in hours ago, but when you go to check your phone you realize that it hasn’t even reached 50% yet. There are many reasons why a phone may be charging slow or even not charging at all, but here are the four most common culprits:

4 Reasons Your Phone is Charging Slow:

A Weak Power Source

Charging your phone through your computer is one way to get a super slow charge. That’s because even with the latest USB, the standard energy output of a PC is really low. So next time you want to charge your phone fast, just plug it in the wall.

A Bad Cable

The number one reason your iPhone or Android smartphone is charging slow is because of a bad cable. USB cables get dragged around and beat up quite a bit and most people never even think to replace the ones that originally came with their devices.

Maybe your cables’ wires are exposed, or maybe the USB connector’s “teeth” are looking a little bent, either way, it’s time for an upgrade. Thankfully, USB charging cables are easier to replace than replacing a new phone. Just make sure they’re certified.

An Old Phone

We hate to be the ones to say it, but sometimes you have to learn to let go. An older phone means an older battery and memory, both of which grow slower and degrade significantly with use. In recent years, smartphones have been equipped with newer processors and fast-charging technologies that you take you from zero to 50% in just 15 minutes.

Furthermore, older phones aren’t always compatible with the latest software and app updates, making slow charging the least of your worries. So if your phone is over 3 years old, it’s safe to say it’s time for an upgrade.

A Dusty Port

Lint from a bag or pocket can build up and start to tamper with the phone connectors ability to properly charge your phone. If you suspect a clogged port is the source of your charging problems, thankfully there’s a low-tech fix.

Just grab a toothpick or bobby pin and gently clean out any lint or debris from the port’s opening. If your clog is a little more serious, you may need to use one of those compressed air cans to blow out excessive build-up.

Are you struggling with event ROI? If so, it’s probably because there’s a lot that goes into the calculation of a successful event and most of it depends on your role. Here are the things you need to know to calculate it successfully.

In the simplest of definitions, return on investment measures what you spend on your event versus what you make. But there’s more to it than that. Because it’s not just your ROI. You have:

• Your exhibitors’ ROI
• Attendee ROI
• Client’s ROI

While all of these calculations take into account what’s put in and what’s received, when it comes to ROI calculations much of it falls upon the event planner to prove the return to others.

So how do you do it and ensure everyone is as satisfied with the financials as possible?

Steps to Calculate Event Return on Investment

To calculate ROI for event exhibitors, clients, and attendees you need to analyze the following and understand the influences of what goes into ROI for each segment.

• Understand their goals.
• Know what they care about and how that’s measured.
• Analyze timelines and competition.
• Understand and assess expectations.

What Is Return on Investment?

Return on investment in the generic sense tallies up everything spent on the event and everything made on the event. The equation is:

ROI = Net Profit / Total Investment x 100

This calculation gives the percentage of the increase or decrease on the event.

While you can leave it up to each group to calculate for themselves, and you’ll likely have to to a certain extent because there are numbers you simply won’t have, it benefits you to add to as much of that ROI discussion as you can.

After all, exhibitors are notorious for not following up on leads at trade shows, and that affects potential earnings. We can only imagine their hesitancy in doing a complex compilation of numbers that likely involve multiple people.

Why Calculate ROI for Others?

Without exhibitors/sponsors you might not have an event. If attendees can’t justify the expense, you’ll be shutting your doors. So don’t leave the number crunching solely up to them. Take the time after the event is over to look over their potential leads, attendance numbers, floor traffic, networking connections, activity, and more to get those numbers that will justify their interest next year.

What Goes into ROI?

The following things will influence event ROI:

1. Understand Their Goals

Event ROI is somewhat based on goals. For instance, if your exhibitor is wondering whether attending your trade show was worth it, they need to ask themselves why they were there. If it’s to increase exposure, get interest for a new product line, or increase sales, these are all measured in very different ways. Sales will be a very cut and dry calculation, particularly if the product is sold at the show as a one-time offering. You simply add up what you sold at the time. If there’s a longer buying cycle with the product, you might also assign a value to leads you picked up from the show.

However, if the exhibitor went to make a name for their brand, sales may not be an expectation. In that situation, an increase in website traffic or social media shares or followers may be of more interest. Goals will factor into the ROI calculation so it’s important you understand what each person wants out of their investment.

2. Know What They Care About and How That’s Measured

Again, as mentioned previously, the type of ROI largely depends on the person or group as well. For instance, an exhibitor will ultimately be deciding ROI and a cost-benefit analysis before a boss, board, or his wallet. A client may be analyzing what you were able to do versus others before you or when they handled it on their own. An attendee may be doing the ROI calculation based on fun factor: was it enjoyable and did I learn things I can use or meet people who will be helpful to me in the future?

3. Analyze Timelines and Competition

Financial people may largely argue this point. You either made money or you didn’t. But timing can affect how people perceive the revenue. For instance, an exhibitor may only look at orders received during the show, leaving out connections and leads that later become sales.

Since participation is not always determined by raw numbers it’s also important to point out how an exhibitor’s competition being present or not can affect their view of your show.

But what about attendees? How does timing and competition influence ROI? For them, timing could involve their company’s budget or revenue.

4. Understand and Assess Expectations

Again, since some of the interpretation of the calculation is subjective, expectations also factor in. If someone expected a lot more than what they received, they’ll likely be unimpressed.

That’s why managing exhibitor, client, and attendee expectations are also very important to the return on investment.

Measuring ROI in Events

The aspects above all influence the ROI calculation but here are the things that will help you pull together some numbers that will likely help you influence your exhibitors, client, and attendees.

Exhibitors

Ultimately, you only know what they paid to you. There are many more costs than what you’ll see such as travel, shipping, hotels, customer entertainment, etc. So you can’t do the ROI calculation for them but you can supply them with the following:

• Attendee numbers
• Exhibition floor traffic numbers
• Mobile app insights
• Directory clicks on their listing
• Leads collected

Attendees

Attendees tend to be a little more subjective in their calculations because other than defending the expense to a boss when it comes to budget time, the decision may be largely theirs. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need to be involved and there are still things you could provide that would make them more likely to attend again.

If possible, use an exit survey of some kind to find out why they were interested in your event and whether it met their expectations. If you know their why, you will have a better understanding of what they need from you.

You can customize this list based on why your attendees come to your event but here’s a start of what you need to give them to improve their ROI:

• Past attendee discounts for a future event.
• Information like the number of people they connected with, if you tracked this through technology.

With attendee ROI it’s not so much about an actual calculation but about enticing them back. You do this by showing them an enjoyable time at the event and giving them post-event value.

Clients

Your clients want to make sure you made them money but don’t stop with mere registrations,  ticket sales, and attendance. Include these things too:

• Sales opportunities and future sponsorships.
• Analytics on social shares and follows before, during and after
• Website traffic and content interaction before, during, and after.
• Mobile app insights.
• Showroom floor traffic and exhibitor stats.
• Early bird registrations.
• New versus returning attendees.

Finally, provide them with ideas of how you plan on building on your post-event momentum and expectations for next year.

Takeaway

ROI is only a number, not good or bad, if you have nothing to compare it to. If you have never tracked ROI in the past, begin now. If you have, be as consistent as possible in factoring in what goes into your calculations and when they are collected. Your website hits may increase slightly up until a few weeks after your event. Putting together your numbers too soon after close may mean you aren’t able to capture some of that residual uptick.

Event planners work hard to make sure that event attendees are satisfied and happy. Here are 6 ways you can ensure that you leave a lasting impression with your guests.

Attendee happiness is not something that happens by accident, it is something that takes a lot effort and planning. To plan a great event, nothing can get in the way of a positive user experience. It isn’t only big budget events that can make an attendee happy, so no matter if your event or budget is big or small, here are some ways to make sure your participants are satisfied.

• Network

Offering plenty of networking opportunities for attendees can help them foster connections that are long lasting and beneficial and in years to come. Attendees will remember that they meet these new people at your event. Networking increases business, leads and opportunities which means that facilitating this is bound to make attendees satisfied and doing it in a low-key and natural way is even better as it doesn’t feel awkward or forced. Also, networking can be an excellent way for attendees to share knowledge and expertise with like minds which can also increase the value of your event to them and offers opportunities to discuss with influencers and experts.

• Reward Loyalty

With all the competition and brands seeking their attention, if you have loyal attendees and followers, reward them to keep them happy. Make sure they have no reason to check out your competition. Treating them better by opting for exclusive discounts, early bird offers for past attendees only or regularly run competitions for bigger prizes.

• Communicate

Attendees like to know what is going on so communicate with them, let them know what is happening and make sure information is easy and clear to find and understand. Also, engage on social media and give yourself a presence there so that they know you are easy to reach and listening. Communication is key. We also know that attendees don’t always read or digest information, so make it easy for them to absorb the key stuff.

• Care

Get to know your attendees, ask them their problems and what they would like to see and then respond appropriately. Create polls or surveys as well as opportunities to talk about themselves and show that it isn’t all about your brand or business. One of the main ways to show you care is by listening to them and sometimes merely asking the right questions can set you apart from the competition in their eyes.

• Free Products

Obviously, free stuff makes everyone happy. That being said, as much as we wish we had the budget to give out the latest tech or gadget to every attendee, it is not always possible. But you can opt for something a little more frugal instead. For example share knowledge such as an eBook, webinar or short course. Or simply make it more interesting.

Nothing brightens an attendee’s mood more than getting free things right from the start and it tends to put you on the right foot so that your event is received well.

• Use Tech

Technology can enhance the event experience and make attendees happy, as well as making their lives easier. Utilizing it in the right way can make a big difference. For example, use event apps to allow attendees to check in and beat the queues, offer exclusive entertainment value with things such as VR or drones.

Even if you don’t have a high budget for the latest in virtual reality, you can still provide the basics such as free WiFi or phone charging stations so that attendees can stay connected.

Trade shows continue to be a great way for companies to promote their business. Today, with advancements in technology, the benefits of promoting your products, services and business at a trade show have improved dramatically.

Take a look at this infographic from Bags of Ideas for some invaluable tips on how to get the most out of exhibiting at a trade show, before, during and after the event.

Before the trade show:

1. Contact current customers to set up appointments

2. Contact previous attendees by obtaining a list

3. Train your staff to be on the same page

4. Get placement in the show guide

During the trade show:

5. Be groomed and dress professionally

6. Give away promotional items

7. Be loud, stand out

After the trade show:

8. Follow up with leads within 48 hours

9. Personalize sales pitches and offer trade show promotions

10. Examine efforts and determine ROI

Many event planners look to regular or cheap phone chargers when planning an event, and while this may work for some events, it’s usually not the best option for your attendees and it often leaves them frustrated.

We’ve taken this into consideration with our charging solutions so that we can provide products that meet the needs of event attendees.

Here are just 4 things you won’t have to worry about when choosing a Veloxity charging station for your next event.

Security of your phone

One of the main reasons why charging stations are convenient is because you don’t have to be present while it’s charging. You’re able to place your phone in a secure charging locker and come back to it when you need to pick it up. Having to watch over your phone can be hassle when using an everyday phone charger.

Making sure attendees don’t trip over charging cables

Running power cables can be a challenge if you don’t have much space to work with. Using a charging station alleviates this issue of having chargers in walkways or in areas where event attendees may trip over them.

Compete with others for an outlet

If you’ve ever attended an event where your battery died, you know all too well that finding an open outlet can be a challenge. Between vendors using outlets to power their displays, event staff shooing you away from outlets, and other attendees fighting to charge their devices, a spare outlet can be a rare commodity.

Worry about an unplugged charger

Have you ever done your laundry in a laundromat, only to come back and find your wet clothes on top of the washing machine with someone else’s dirty laundry in the wash? The same thing happens with phone chargers. If you think that event attendees may unplug your phone charger to use the outlet, consider using a charging station.

Want to impress your attendees at your next event? Consider choosing a Veloxity cell phone charging station instead of regular phone chargers https://veloxity.us/cell-phone-charging-stations-rental/

Everyone dreads it. Sitting around in a waiting room for several hours at your local physical therapist or doctor’s office or hospital room is frustrating and it tests your patience, especially if you’re not feeling well.

If you’re looking to improve the patient experience, it’s a great idea to start with a little revamping of your waiting room. Here’s how you can improve waiting rooms for patients so that they can stay occupied.

Tips to Improve Hospital Waiting Rooms

• Put out a Coffee/Tea Maker

It may seem simple, but having small comforts of home like the ability to make yourself a warm up of tea or coffee can make a huge difference to your patients. Just imagine all the sore throats that come through your space. Additionally, studies show that when waiting at a doctor’s office, it’s more about the perception of how that time is spent as opposed to the actual length of time spent waiting.

• Implement a Registration Kiosk

Touch-based patient registration tablets offer self-service capabilities to hospitals, physician clinics, surgery centers, and standalone emergency clinics. It affords patients the convenience of pre-registering from any outside web portal, then checking in by using a tablet or iPad when they arrive for their appointments. It’s been said to reduce patient wait times by as much as 75%, substantially cut down on paperwork and help handle high patient volume without increasing staff.

• Adjustable Seating

When it comes to seating, it’s important to remember that what works for one person may not be comfortable for everyone. For example, older people or pregnant women may struggle with deep cushions that are difficult to get up from. Purchasing seating that is adjustable will help you cater to your patient’s individual needs.

• Wi-Fi and Educational Health Material

Many patients have to take time out of their busy workdays to make their scheduled doctors’ appointments. Instead of a rack filled with out of date magazines, why not give patients the opportunity to be productive by completing emails and other work related to-dos on your office’s wifi network? You can also direct them towards patient educational health materials on your website or social media networks.  Patients will appreciate you taking an extra interest in their health and being considerate of their work obligations.

• Provide Free Charging Stations

Of course, if patients are using lots of data, even when connected to wi-fi their cell phone batteries can get drained quickly. To help patients avoid the added stress of seeing their phones steadily wear down, you can help by providing free charging stations around the waiting area. https://veloxity.us

Ultimately, waiting is merely a part of life. However, by adding a few simple extras to your waiting room you can help ease what is otherwise an often unpleasant experience.

Events are being revolutionized by mobile devices, making human interaction more efficient and exciting. Phones help bring an event to life and improve how we experience an event.  Because of that, people that attend events want to stay connected. They can’t have their phone dying halfway through because it ruins the event and their experience at that event.

Luckily, most event organizers understand this dilemma and know that they need to provide a source for people to charge their phones. Otherwise, how can fans truly appreciate the event?

Providing phone charging stations at your event can be more than a shelf of dangling cords, or a metal locker with screens.  It is an opportunity to make memorable connections. Low-tech and cheaper charging stations aren’t able to offer this value.

So what are the key characteristics that event organizers should look for in a phone charging station?

Key Characteristics for Event Charging Stations:

• Proven: has the solution been field-proven over many years with a variety of clients?
• Integrated: was the charging solution specifically designed to incorporate a variety of features (safe & secure charging, interactivity, energy-efficient) or was the charging solution just pieced together over time?
• Open: Does the charging solution offer support and data reporting?
• Versatile: Can the charging solution be customized?
• Responsive: What happens if a person can’t remember their passcode? Is their work-arounds for being able to get your phone out of the charging station?
• Trustworthy: Security is important with phone charging stations. Trust is earned over time through consistency and excellence
• Valuable: No matter the cost of the charging station, is it good value for money? Is there room to upsell the solution to a partner or brand?  Do users love and value it?

Veloxity has spent years perfecting its charging solutions in order to offer the best phone charging station on the market. If you’re looking to rent or purchase a phone charging station for your event, contact us to learn more about our products.

You can have a great conference, but that’s not enough to increase conference attendance the next year.To keep people coming back year after year, you need year-round engagement. To help you streamline some of your efforts, here’s a few ideas on how you can make your next conference even better.

How To Increase Conference Attendance

Customize Your Marketing Efforts

Your marketing efforts for your conference should not be the same for people who have never attended and people who attend every year. Nor should you assume that because someone has attended for the past two decades that you don’t have to include them in your marketing efforts.

While return attendees are an easier to attract than someone who has never visited your conference, they still need to be targeted with interesting learning opportunities, and feel there is still something of value in order for them to attend.

Your messaging to returning attendees should be different than the messaging you use to acquire new attendees. For return attendees, you’ll want to create a campaign of targeted emails that will get them excited about coming back the next year. The messaging that you use can incorporate several different themes, including:

• Nostalgia: conference time is a great time to check in with old friends and connections
• Networking: meet new friends
• Innovation: while the conference retains a sentiment of familiarity, never give return attendees the feeling that you’re stuck and not offering anything new
• Learning opportunities: stress the freshness and need for continuing education
• Things to do: just because they’ve attended before doesn’t mean they know or remember the operations, provide them with reminders
• Activities in the host city: return attendees need to get excited about the host city too. Don’t leave this crucial marketing component out.
• Sign-up reminders: these should be written with a nod towards the attendees’ past experiences
• Incentives- You can offer incentives to companies that return to your conference year after year.

Often past attendees know whether they plan on attending the next conference by the time early-bird registration opens. If you don’t hear from them immediately, reach out. It may have slipped their mind or they may be on the fence. Hearing from you may sway them into sending in their money.

Not everyone sees every social media post or reads every one of your newsletters. While they may remember your conference is in June, they may not remember early-bird starts in March. Reminding them may be the difference between them attending or deciding to spend their time and money elsewhere.

Create an Online Community

Sometimes at conferences you’re unable to say good-bye and exchange information with all the attendees you would like to. People’s travel schedules or work demands sometimes get in the way of attending the final session.

One of the top reasons people return to conferences each year is the relationships they forge or rekindle while attending. An online community through your association, or dedicated to your event, can help attendees stay connected.

Another reason people come to your conference or annual meeting is because of the continuing education sessions. An online community can provide a forum for more in-depth discussion about the topics presented (post conference) or build excitement about what they’ll learn at the next conference.

Use Social Media

Auto posting to social media isn’t enough to increase returning attendee numbers. You want to increase engagement. This means using posts that appeal to your past attendees. Ideas for posts that (generally) receive the greatest shares:

• Pictures from last year’s event inviting people to tag themselves.
• Polls about favorite foods or favorite aspects of last year’s conference.
• Encouraging members to share their pictures of the host city or suggestions of where to eat or tour.
• Any post that encourages answering or sharing that can be done easily and without embarrassment.
• Make a time-lapse video showing the activity of your conference this year and use it next year to market your conference.

To retain past attendees you must engage them year round. You can accomplish this through interactive posts on social media, consistent messaging through your marketing efforts, and even by creating an online community. Use these tips to keep them talking to one another and about your conference. When they do, make sure you’re there to continue the conversation and stir excitement.

Read next blog: “20 Steps to Take After Your Event”

Events are hard work. You spend time a lot of time planning and preparing, as well as during the event making sure it’s a success.

People often forget what really matters is what you’re doing post-event. Post-event follow up is key to ensuring your attendees’ experiences are stellar.

An infographic by agencyEA, an experiential and event marketing company, highlights 20 steps to take after your B2B event.

Consider this: One study found that 87% of people who bought a product or service at an event also bought a product or service at a later date. How can you take advantage of that behavior? The infographic suggests that after you’ve thanked your attendees and sponsors, be sure to continue to keep them engaged with related online events and other follow-up content.

For more details, and to see all 20 tips to help you keep the buzz going, stockpile customer and prospect data, and more-effectively plan future events, check out the infographic:

According to Aaron Smith of Pew Research who published the results of his findings in January of 2017, illustrated that “roughly three quarters of Americans (77%) own smart phones” http://www.pewresearch.org. Over the course of the year at one point or another everyone goes in to crisis mode when they see their battery almost out of juice. Somehow phones always seem to die at the most inconvenient times, whether you’re at a music festival, hospital, or on a college campus. Having phone charging stations at your venue, hospital, college campus and business provide that relief factor everyone is looking for in the desperate state of a drained cell phone battery.

If you’re looking into getting your first phone charging station, deciding whether you’d like to rent a charging station or purchase a charging station is a solid starting point. There are several advantages both ways, but in this article we’re going to discuss 4 reasons why it would make more sense to rent a phone charging station.

Reasons to Rent a Phone Charging Station

1. More Cost Effective

There is no need to spend a lot of money to purchase a charging station if you’ve never used a phone charging station before. Spending a large percentage of your budget isn’t worth it for all customers, especially businesses in the event space. This is why renting a charging station is the perfect solution to a cost effective marketing strategy. Renting a cell phone charging station is only a fraction of the cost of buying one.

2. Less Hassle Without Maintenance

When you rent a cell phone charging station from Veloxity, we ensure that the unit is working properly every time it’s deployed.

3. Veloxity Stores and Ships For you

When you rent instead of buying a cell phone charging station from Veloxity, we take full responsibility in shipping and storing the kiosk. As we rent to hundreds of clients, we are efficient with time and logistics. Let us do the heavy lifting for you.

4. Extra Services

When you rent a cell phone charging station from Veloxity, we make it our top priority to provide you with the best service from beginning to end. Think: Branding, shipping, delivery and installation, and storage. We’re here for you.

Do you have other questions about renting a charging station? Feel free to give us a call to find out how we can help or send us a note.

Events like trade shows and conferences can be the cornerstone of any month, quarter, or year.  Whether you are attending or hosting, theses circled dates on calendars hold a world of potential in terms of education, relationships, and opportunities.

However, with so much to gain during these events, there can also be a considerable amount to lose.  Marquee events like multi-day conferences, and even single day trade shows require an immense amount of resources.  Massive investments in time, capital, and people go into planning, implementing, and executing these events.  The same is true for those in attendance.  According to a study from CEIR, 78% of trade show attendees travel over 400 miles.

With so much invested from both hosts and attendees, offering the best experience possible is vital.  So take a look at some of the latest event trends that can pay dividends.

Massages (Our Favorite Top Trend)

Conferences and trade shows can be a physical strain for attendees so consider offering complimentary massages. Just 5 minutes of a back massage can do wonders and wow your attendees. It can be relatively cheap to hire and something your attendees will be sure to remember. Offering massages can also be a great way to sell as you can expect to have attendee’s full attention or cooperation. Consider taking surveys or gathering data in exchange for free massages.

Charging Stations

People that attend your event are already believers, fans, and followers of your brand.  With that said, there is one amenity that you can offer to your attendees that can elevate you to a hero’s status: phone charging solutions.

Posting social media updates, staying in touch with family and co-workers back home, and keeping up with everyday tasks can quickly take their toll on everyone’s devices.  From phones to tablets to laptops, the time is going to come during any well spent day where are a recharge is going to be necessary.  This is where portable power packs and charging lockers can help to turn a good event into a great one. Having a charging station at your event will also benefit you as it is custom wrapped in whatever advertisement you want. A great idea would to have your new product advertised on the charging station.

WiFi

This may sound obvious, but WiFi has become less of an amenity and more of an essential necessity.  The days of offering a “guest access” or WiFi that only works in a certain area, and only with limited participants are gone.  Leveraging the power of highly performing broadband as well as supplemental hotspots can provide everyone the ability to connect, communicate, and enjoy all that your event has to offer.

Signage

Again this may sound obvious, even simple, however signage is a highly important and often underappreciated element of any trade show or conference.  You can never have enough signage! Your signage, whether digital or otherwise should reflect your brand and your event; but most importantly it should help everyone, internal and external, find their way around.

The latest event trends include outdoor signage that helps attendees to the venue, and indoor signage that helps them navigate their way from session to session.  Another thing that can enhance your event’s signage strategy is that they be flexible. Should a session move from one room to another, or additional speakers are added, having the space and ability to add new informational directions can be a benefit.

It’s hard to take pleasure in stopping at the gas station.  It’s a necessary evil that takes a chunk out of your wallet.  However there are ways to delay and extend the time in between fill ups.  Turning down the air conditioner, accelerating smoothly, avoiding sudden stops, and using cruise control all make your gas tank seem a little bigger.  But eventually the time will come to refuel.  In this sense, your car isn’t too different from your phone.  In fact, it may even be accurate to say that you’d rather see your gas light illuminate your dashboard before seeing the battery icon on your phone turn red.

According to a recent study by Pew Research, 68% of Americans have smartphones.  That’s more than two in every three pockets or purses.  It’s probably safe to assume that 100% of the 68% have had their phone die at an inopportune time due its battery’s lack of stamina.  While phones have improved in design, functionality, security, and even power efficiency over the years, there are still several things that move the needle in the wrong direction when it comes to battery life.  The good news is that they can be fixed, in turn adding more miles to your phone’s daily commute.

• Apps Running in the Background: While many of the applications on your phone may be out of your sight, they are not out of your phone’s mind.  Just because you exit Facebook, Twitter, Maps, Email, or Monopoly doesn’t mean that they stop updating or running down your battery.  For iPhone users, simply double tap the home button and swipe upward on the apps you’d like to close.  For Android users, download an “app killing” app to end the programs you aren’t using.

• Improper Charging: Sometimes to achieve an end goal, you need to look at the beginning process.  Some batteries see enhanced performance when they are fully used and completely run down.  This strategy uses all of the cells equally, preventing some from being overused.  However, the lithium ion batteries that power smartphones don’t benefit from the same treatment.  The lower your phone’s power gets, the more stress it puts on the battery, increasing the wear and tear on its cells.  Avoiding a total charge down of your battery will improve both performance and longevity. Furthermore, try to only use the charger that came with your phone. When replacing your charger you may want to opt for the less expensive no name brand charger, these chargers are made with lower quality parts making them a hazard to your phones battery, also they are known to break down easier than the brand name chargers that come with your phone.

• Avoid Overheating: Your phone is a small computer that runs processes and generates heat.  It can handle the heat it creates, however external factors like direct sunlight, a hot car, or any type of insulated storage can overwhelm its internal cooling measures.  Overheating can damage the battery and reduce its ability to effectively hold a charge.

• Wi-Fi Connectivity: When your Wi-Fi settings are enabled your phone will constantly attempt to connect to a network.  Searching for available networks is a highly battery-intensive chore.  This feature can be disabled, and should be if you aren’t going to be in an area with Wi-Fi.

While these facts and tips won’t do much for your gas mileage, they can help you pass the time as you fill up with a fully charged phone.

Ever since the portable external phone battery became widely available, far less people have found themselves stressed about their phone battery running out of juice.

The convenience of having a whole extra battery is quite amazing. But at the end of the day, every cell phone user still has to find an electrical outlet to get a charge. On top of that, they also have to charge two different batteries and keep track of how much charge each has.

So it’s no wonder that the concept of a kinetic energy phone charger has been picking up steam. That being said, let’s take a look at the top 4 kinetic energy chargers out there right now and how well they perform.

OUR TOP PICK: A 10,200 mAh Power Bank 

• Rugged high capacity 10,200mAh power bank (2.1A Power Output) that is perfect for smartphones, tablets and portable electronic devices
• Tough and sturdy: Designed to be snow proof, dirt proof, drop proof and water proof.
• Built-in short-circuit, over-charge, and over-heat protection. Comes with LED flashlight, compass, and a Carabiner
• IP67 certified: dust and water resistance for up to 3ft/1m for 30 minutes under water.
• Storage temperature: 32F to 113F, Input: 5V / 2A; Output: 5V / 2.1A; Dimension: 3.98 x 2.54 x 1.06in, Weight: 7.76oz.

FosPower PowerActive 10200 mAh Power Bank – 2.1A USB Output [Water/Shock/Dust Proof] Rugged Heavy Duty Portable Battery Charger for iPhone/iPad, Android Smartphones, Tablets & MP3

AMPY Move

This is probably the most well-known of all the kinetic energy phone chargers currently on the market. It has received quite a bit of attention since it promises that a fully-charged AMPY can provide the user with up to 24 hours of extra battery life. Not only that, the manufacturer also claims that this unit can become charged by the energy generated from your everyday movements such as walking and running.  However, it seems that the reality may not match up so well to the promises made.

As a battery, this unit has rave reviews. But as for its electrical generating ability, the unit comes up way short. Many reviews from professionals and consumers alike suggest that it requires an unrealistic amount of movement in order to generate enough charge to fill itself. One reviewer ever made the claim that “You’d have to shake the Ampy nonstop, for days on end, to fill up the battery cells.” This doesn’t inspire much hope, but they also have a wonderful and free app for monitoring your smart phone battery in detail. You can check out the manufacturer’s website and decide for yourself.

nPower PEG

This device is roughly the same concept as the AMPY except this unit seems to be geared more towards the outdoorsy crowd. The manufacturer states that this device can hold a charge for up three months and will keep itself continually topped off by using the kinetic energy from your motion. But, much like the AMPY, this charger also falls short. Users have complained that the energy generation mechanism is quite weak and it only seems to work when the unit is completely upright.  In practice, most activity will not generate the energy required. It seems that many of the larger retailers such as Amazon have chosen not to keep these in stock, though this device may make a reappearance after some of the issues are worked out. For more info, WIRED magazine has a hilarious review here.

American Red Cross FR1

Yes, you read that correctly. The American Red Cross has a kinetic charger. Although, this one isn’t a kinetic charger in the same way that the last two entries on our list are. The last two promised a charged phone or device simply by utilizing your everyday movements and, sadly, neither one could really deliver on these promises. This unit, however, makes no such promises and gives you a classic hand crank with which to provide power to your device. Sometimes old trick really are the best tricks. For more info, you can check out the unit’s Amazon listing here

It seems as though the world of kinetic charging devices still has a way to go especially since the emergence of commercial charging solutions such as phone charging kiosks with lockers that are seen at bars, restaurants, hotels, casinos, events, and more.

In the world of smartphone gaming, Pokémon Go is without a doubt the hottest game out there right now with over 100 million downloads since it launched this July.

Unlike most smartphone games, this game has a lot of real world interaction. For instance, it requires players to walk around large areas such as parks, neighborhoods, shopping centers, etc, with the object to catch as many different Pokémon as possible.

In order to do this the players must visit many different locations in many different environments. For business owners, this is a great opportunity to increase their traffic and possibly their customer base. Here’s a handful of ways to utilize Pokémon Go to increase your business:

Pokestops

In order for players to catch Pokemon, they must have Pokeballs. These Pokeballs can be bought for money or found for free at locations called Pokestops. If your business is lucky enough to be a Pokestop, then you may be sitting on a gold mine. For bars and restaurants, this is a great opportunity to bring in some customers who have been hunting Pokemon for hours and need something to eat or drink. An especially smart business owner could also invest in a cell phone charging station so the patrons could charge their phones while they replenish their own energy. Consider a model such as the LockerPower Lite for this.

Lures

Another feature in Pokemon Go is the use of Pokemon lures. Lures are basically items that are purchased and used to attract more (sometimes rare!) Pokemon wherever it is placed. If your business is a retail store, consider buying one and placing it in the center of your store. By placing it in the center, players will have to come into the building in order to find the Pokemon attracted by it. Alternatively, if your business is a bar, you could offer a free drink to players who dropped a lure at your location. This plan would have the advantage of bringing in customers by way of the large numbers of Pokemon and by way of a free drink.

Contests/Promotions

The point of the game is to catch as many Pokemon as you can. That being said, some of these Pokemon are rarer than others. If you run a bar or restaurant, consider running a special for the Pokemon hunters who have gone the extra mile such as a free drink or appetizer for the hunter with the rarest of Pokemon. A similar promotion could work for retail outlets, such a free small item. Alternatively, as a bar or restaurant, consider coming up with food or drink promotions that are named after Pokemon. Some ideas here could be a drink with 100 proof whiskey and hot sauce named “Charizard’s Breath” or even a simple chicken breast dish named “Another Stupid Pidgey.” If you don’t understand the last one, don’t worry. The players will get it.

You’ve decided to take advantage of a phone charging kiosk for your business or event, so make sure you’re getting the most out of it with these 6 branding tips.

Beyond providing a great customer convenience, charging kiosks can also make a statement about your business. According to DS Marketing Solutions, “It costs a whole lot more to bring in new customers with advertising than it does to increase sales with current customers. You have an incredible opportunity to increase sales with customers that are already in your store by using in-store signage effectively.”

Here’s the right way to do the custom branding:

Put the customer first

The main purpose of retail signage is to communicate with customers, so be sure to not lose sight of that goal. Keep the messaging clear and think like a customer to make sure everything on the charging kiosk is understandable.

Consider location

Is the charging kiosk in a prominent enough place to be seen? Besides that, make sure the message makes sense for the placement. Instructions for how to use the kiosk are probably helpful on the front. The sides could be useful for directing customers around the venue or event space. Take into account all angles.

Don’t be afraid of digital

Many kiosks come with display screens that are capable of providing digital signage. This could be valuable because then you might be able to deliver multiple different message with a slideshow of changing screens. Also, since the screens can be updated as needed, you can consider utilizing time sensitive messaging or changing them daily or weekly.

Keep things consistent

Your brand should have a developed look and feel that includes a logo, colors, and messaging tone at a minimum. Make sure that comes through when you design a wrapper for the charging kiosk. It’s important to make sure your business looks unique from competitors and recognizable to customers.

Focus on quality

A charging kiosk is a high-tech, premium benefit customers love. Branding it is a valuable tool as we’ve discussed, but it’s also important not to diminish the value of it. Make sure the sign is clear and there aren’t any typos. If you’re using a wrap for the kiosk, make sure it’s a high quality material that sticks without falling off. If you own the kiosk, it’s important to think about durability as well. The goal is for the kiosk to attract eyes for the right reasons.

Think outside the box

The first 5 tips have been focused on making your brand shine on the charging kiosk, but there might be times where it makes sense to showcase a sponsor as well. If you have a partner who is paying to provide the kiosk then it’s one less cost you have to worry about.

Veloxity offers three different charging solutions that each have unique branding opportunities for your business or event. Contact us today about purchasing or renting phone charging kiosks and portable charging stations.

If you’re considering buying a phone charging station, there are many things to first consider so here’s a how-to guide to help you out.

Whether you own a business or are planning an event, a cell phone charging kiosk is a worthwhile investment that provides a great benefit for customers.

1. Audience

Just like with sales, know your audience and numbers. Typically, one device charging unit can keep about 400 people fully charged up and happy.

2. Storage

A place to store a freestanding or portable charging unit should be taken into consideration before making a purchase.  Got space?  Stand-alone charging kiosks like the Veloxity LockerPower are typically stored in wooden shipping crates. The crates can be reused 4-5 times and should be kept inside. Portable units like Veloxity’s Power Pax will come in a cardboard box and should also be kept indoors.

3. Price

How much something will cost is very often a concern. Do you go with the lowest price and possibly sacrifice quality? Or do you pay top dollar for a premium product with tons of features? The answer is likely somewhere in the middle, and you’ll chose a product that gives you the best bang for your buck. Purchasing or renting multiple units at a time often warrants discounts from charging station vendors so feel free to ask, it can’t hurt.

4. Quality

Price and quality go hand-in-hand. It’s important that the product you purchase is up to your standards and provides excellent value. How exactly can you tell the difference in quality from one kiosk to another? That depends on the amount of features like how many cords are available or if there are branding opportunities. Warranties, which can be limited or comprehensive (keep reading for more). And finally certifications that give you a baseline for how reliable or environmentally friendly the charging kiosk is. One example of a certification program is Apple’s MFi system. Be sure to ask about the operating system and if the charging cables are MFi certified.

5. Support

Cell phone charging kiosks are an investment for your business, so what good are they doing for customers if they don’t work? As an owner or renter you’ll want to make sure the station is always running. You also don’t want to waste time trying to fix issues on your own, so having access to a support line is necessary. Some vendors will charge a monthly support fee while others will provide it for free.

6. Warranty

Protecting your investment is very important and sometimes overlooked. Besides support, you’ll want to learn about the warranties as a form of insurance and a way to save you both time and money if there happen to be any issues. Read the fine print and ask questions.

7. Reputation

Before you buy something online or visit a restaurant, you probably read a few reviews and check background info on the company, so it shouldn’t be any different for a charging station. You don’t have to be a detective to find background info on the company you’re buying from. Just do a simple google search to see which companies they’ve sold to, or if they’ve sponsored any events. Ask for references.

8. Safety

As a business owner you always need to have customers’ needs in mind. Usually chief among those needs is safety and privacy. You can’t provide a charging kiosk if it’s dangerous, or could compromise the security of their phone. For more information about the safety of charging kiosks, check out a recent blog post from Veloxity.

Cell phone charging kiosks provide a much needed convenience, but are they actually safe?

As cell phone charging kiosks are becoming more and more popular it’s important to make sure you keep your phone secure and data safe if you happen to use one at an event or business.

While we can’t speak for every product out there, we will highlight some things to watch out for and give you tips for staying safe.

Necessary Precautions:

One thing you should beware of juice jacking. That’s a term used to describe the illegitimate access someone could gain to your phone while it’s plugged in. As with most popular smartphones – and this is true for Androids, iPhones, and even BlackBerrys – the charging cable and data cable are the same exact cord. So while you think your phone is plugged in to charge the battery, someone could be gaining access to steal your data. One easy way to protect against this happening is to set up a PIN or password to your phone that way it’s inaccessible to any pairing devices.

Another possible way to keep your phone safe is to turn it off before you charge it. A lot of phones don’t allow access to flash storage when they’re powered off, so that should keep your device more secure. This also has an additional benefit: your phone might charge faster since it’s not using any resources.

At DefCon hacker conference in Las Vegas, Brian Markus, president of Aires Security, set up a charging kiosk that would flash a warning message when someone plugged in their phone. The goal was to educate conference attendees to take precautions. One man plugged his phone in and said, “I don’t care, take my data, I need my phone charged to make a phone call!” This shows how desperate people are when their phone batteries get low, but it’s still important to not sacrifice safety.

Avoiding the Hassle:

Veloxity offers two different charging stations with

• Smart Locker Access, so that your phone is kept secure while it’s charged.
• Each locker is protected by entering a combination or swiping a credit card. We have the safest commercial charging solutions available, so contact us today about renting or buying one for your business or event.

Today we live in a society where people are dependent on their cell phones and other devices. Our cell phones are our alarm clock, our GPS, our news source, and keep us connected all day everyday.

It has become the main way we communicate, and with the development of newer software, cell phones can make other aspects of our lives just as easy.

But what happens when your phone dies? Do you have a portable charger available? If not, how many times are you charging your phone every day?

These are the questions our team wanted to answer.

Back in 2013, the Veloxity team gathered phone battery statistics across 4 U.S. cities. The study surveyed 200 people in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago. To build on that, Veloxity decided to add Miami and Washington D.C. to its 2015 report, while featuring several new questions.

The results from Veloxity’s 2015 market research is described in detail below:

Veloxity’s Market Research Infographic – 2015 Cell Phone Battery Statistics

1) Of those surveyed at 6pm, individual phone battery life averaged just over 40 percent. As expected, the average individual battery life at 10pm decreased to 27.50. Both averages are consistent with the survey results from our 2013 study.

2) After surveying 1,200 people in 6 cities, the results showed that a phone’s battery life isn’t a purchasing decision for most consumers. But 32% of consumers consider the battery life of a phone when deciding on a phone, which is a much higher number than our team had predicted. Additionally, a majority of people surveyed have used a public phone charging kiosk. 

3) When asked “how many times you charge your phone per day?” the results remained relatively consistent to Veloxity’s 2013 study. In 2013, the results for the four cities were as follows:

NYC: 2.6

Boston: 2.2

Philadelphia: 2.2

Chicago: 1.8

The numbers fluctuated among these cities, but remained similar to past results.

NYC: 2.7

Boston: 1.9

Philadelphia: 2.1

Chicago: 1.9

4) In Veloxity’s 2013 report, 85% of people surveyed didn’t carry a backup charger. Our findings in 2015 showed a 13% decrease in that category. This can be attributed to more people carrying a charger with them (7%) and the rise in portable chargers (6%). 

5) Low battery anxiety can affect us all sometimes. It’s a real issue, especially in younger generations where people find it hard to live several hours without their phone. Our study shows that on average, 6.95 people out of 10 face low battery anxiety. From the 1,200 people that were surveyed, this means that over two thirds of them describe having this anxiety. 

We’re always looking to improve the market research that we do to provide businesses with important statistics and help consumers that are looking for this information. If you have any questions that you’d like us to add in the future, leave us a comment below.

Most popular industries and usage for Veloxity charging stations so far this year:

1. Trade shows:

   Attendees tend to stay longer at events longer when tradeshow exhibitors or event planners offer cell phone charging stations.

2. Universities:

   Students live in a hyperconnected world.  A charging station on campus offers a way for students to stay connected with one another and the university.

3. Hospitals:

   A hospital visit can sometimes cause anxiety.  Many hospitals are curing dead battery anxiety by providing charging stations for visitors, patients and staff.

4. Restaurants:

   Dining establishments of all sizes are serving up charging stations and seeing patrons stay longer and longer.

5. Clubs & Bars:

   These venues are experiencing the ROI of vending electricity through charging stations. Patrons can enjoy the night instead of leaving early to go home to charge their phones.

6. Arenas 

Sporting events are often long and when your phone dies you may not be able to catch an Uber home or be able to Instagram,tweet and share Facebook status’ from the game. Having a charging station at an arena will keep your fans happy.