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bXb Online Announces the Development of a New Global Online Network
Designed By – and For – the Event Marketing Industry and its Respective Communities
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With top industry associations’ charter collaboration and support, bXb offers an open invitation to the industry to finalize development.
bXb Online Announces the Development of a New Global Online Network Designed By – and For – the Event Marketing Industry and its Respective Communities

The majority of the content and community within the Network will originate from face-to-face events. The industry channels will be a primary structural component of the Network, so professionals can easily join a relevant online community in their respective channel(s) as well as search and find the best content and community available in their discipline or area of interest.

After collecting its initial round of hybrid and online event content in charter industry channels, the Network will launch in the Fall of 2012, delivering a valuable resource to a global audience. bXb to date has received substantive strategic advice, support and industry-wide collaboration from many respected leaders. CEO and Board member input from select charter organizations – American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), International Association of Events & Exhibitions (IAEE), Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and Virtual Edge Institute (VEI) – has been significant. After months of initial discovery and business model development with select core industry leaders, bXb is now asking “What’s NeXt?” with an open invitation to the industry for strategic input.

In the spirit of working with industry leaders, bXb Online has identified INXPO as a technology partner for the Network. However, online events and other content from the content owners who work with all technology platforms will represent the majority of aggregated and increasingly valuable content on the Network. Those same content owners will benefit, as they will continue to own the content they feature on the Network.

bXb Online’s support of the industry extends beyond the delivery of the Network. The agency has committed $100,000 to a scholarship program supporting Virtual Edge Institute’s Digital Event Specialist (DES) certification offering.

Tony Lorenz, Founder of bXb Online and the driver behind this initiative stated, “A robust online Industry Network along with bXb Online’s investment in the DES Scholarship program are both put in place to help drive a next exciting chapter for the event marketing industry. Online events are still in the early stages of development, so as it relates to the Network, we especially want input from those individuals and organizations not currently deploying an online event strategy. As an industry network, I feel the entire industry must have an opportunity to co-create it. The bXb Scholarship program will benefit a growing number of individuals seeking an opportunity to learn about online events, making a positive difference in their professional communities as they do.”

John H. Graham IV, CAE, CEO of ASAE stated, “Online events as a component of the overall industry are here to stay. This Network model under development potentially leverages the power of face-to-face events to a global audience at the right time in the industry.”

Chris Brown, EVP, Conventions and Business Operations, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) believes that this event marketing industry-driven approach is key to the Network’s success. “A global communications platform, executed properly, could certainly have a significant impact on the events industry as we know it. By taking this approach, and also funding the scholarship, Tony is showing the kind of vision and commitment that is needed to finally realize the full potential of the marriage between live and online communities.”

Throughout 2012, feedback will be gathered from the industry via additional forums:

Physical Events: Face-to-Face Feedback Forums (F4) sessions will be established in Chicago, Washington, DC, New York City, San Francisco, London, Frankfurt and Barcelona. Locations and dates are being set and will be published on the ASAE, PCMA, IAEE, VEI and bXb Online websites. All F4 sessions will be hybrid events so interested industry leaders can participate in the physical event or online as appropriate.

Online: Feedback can be shared at www.bXbOnline.com/blog, while conversation will be encouraged within Twitter @bXbonline, and periodic questions and discussion topics will be posted in discussion groups on LinkedIn, including Virtual Edge, ASAE, PCMA, IAEE and TSNN. The entire industry will be encouraged to participate.

One-to-One: Interested participants who prefer one-to-one communications can contact thenetwork@bxbonline.com to establish a dialogue.

For more information on the bXb Network and the bXb VEI Scholarship program, visit www.bXbOnline.com.

Resources
bXb Online FAQ’s | www.bXbOnline.com/news.php
Video | Michael Doyle Interview Tony Lorenz
Virtual Edge Institute | www.VirtualEdgeInstitute.com
VEI Digital Event Specialist Certification | www.VirtualEdgeInstitute.com/des-certification/des-overview

About bXb Online
bXb Online accelerates the power of face-to-face marketing through online business stories and experiences. Founded by industry leader Tony Lorenz, bXb Online delivers online event strategy, creative, content development, and management solutions that brands rely on to activate their business events to the next level. In concert with leading meeting organizations, bXb is developing an industry platform for event marketing professionals and the communities they serve. Headquartered in Chicago, IL, bXb Online partners with world-class leaders in their respective categories, including Freeman, INXPO, Professional Convention Management Association, and the Virtual Edge Institute.

Learn how bXb Online can accelerate your event marketing strategy today: www.bXbOnline.com.

Media Contact:
bXb Online
Gretchen Kihm-Stegall
o 847-681-0506 | c 847-922-5931
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