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RECAP - THE ROBERT DUNCAN LECTURE
The following post is for those who were wondering how the Robert Duncan remote lecture went near MIT last week. Allison Ireland gives a great summary of the logistics of the event. Robert's lecture on video follows her post.
Allison: It went well. I think we can make the content more professional but it was a learning experience and overall I feel more effective than handing out flyers on a street corner
We originally had 260 RSVPs. I sent out a final head count email and in the end only about 60 showed up. The only TIs there for the most part were volunteers helping me except maybe 1 or 2.
Most of attendees were students and professors, neuroscientists and engineers from local tech schools.
Here is follow up market research from sign in sheets. I thought it was interesting and worth sharing for future events:
When asked if they were familiar with tech prior to this event:
-- 32% said yes while
-- 68% said no
When asking those saying they were familiar how they became familiar:
-- 40% said internet, web articles or alternative media
-- 20% said through the Cuban embassy news story
-- 20% said personal experience
-- 10% said government affiliation
-- 10% said experience of a loved one
When asked if they would like to receive lecture materials emailed to them:
-- 67% said yes
-- 33% said no
And when asked if they would like be involved in more in-depth discussions and help us working towards solutions
-- 3% said not sure
Also so we know which marketing platforms were most effective at bringing attendees to gauge ROI (return on investment).
I spent a few months (maybe 3-4) sending emails and organizing logistics. This was how those that signed in learned of the event:
-- 40 EventBrite (free)
-- 26% word of mouth (but 1/3 of these said it was from their professor so that more from direct email)
-- 21% Meetups (free)-- 9% direct emails (free)
-- 2% flyers ($300)
-- 2% newspaper print ad ($600)
ADVERTISEMENTS:
-- We handed out 500 flyers around MIT
-- emailed directly 5,000 Neuroscientists, engineers, human rights groups, professors and student from local tech schools as well as all local Congress and Senate and
-- ran an ad in the Boston Globe that got a circulation of 225,000.
Lesson learned: free online marketing is way more effective! More effective than handing out flyers on a street corner in my opinion.
Email blasts, word of mouth, and EventBrite traffic are most effective. Flyers and newspaper ads only accounted for 4% of attendees.
Kate Ryan and I actually got a meeting with Congressman Kennedy (JFKs great nephew) who was not able to attend Wednesday, but was interested in learning more about neuroethical human rights legislation.
We presented him with a rough draft of a bill that is excepts from that Ianca/Andorno paper.
I had another congresswoman in the area and the attorney general also interested. I want to send out the lecture and other content not just to people who came or RSVPed but all 5000 relevant parties I invited, but feel the content I have right now could be better.
Allison Ireland
allison.ireland@yahoo.com
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