June 17: The Day All CE Pros Unite

It’s an interesting paradox: Given the state of the economy, CE pros are reluctant to spend money on travel to training events and conferences; yet there has never been a time when training and business education have been more important to achieve success.

Enter CEProLIVE!, the first industry-wide virtual event for custom electronics professionals, produced by CE Pro. The one-day online event, taking place on Thursday, June 17, is designed to bring custom electronics professionals the education and benefits of a live event – without travel expenses or time away from their business.

The technology simulates a show environment where dealers can access a full roster of relevant, in-depth business education, view products, download content-rich vendor materials, and interact online with leading manufacturers, dealer colleagues, presenters, and the CE Pro staff.

Expert Training to Help You Grow
Industry experts and CE Pro editors Jason Knott, Julie Jacobson, and Tom LeBlanc will present a wide variety of video and audio Webinars throughout the day with live Q&A after all major presentations. These in-depth business sessions will introduce attendees to the hottest new technology and business opportunities and tell them how and what they need to do to succeed.

In several New Technology Sessions, panels of experienced custom electronics integrators will share their strategies and insights - and offer valuable tips to save attendees time and money going forward.

The program will also feature live and on-demand Webcasts addressing macro and micro business topics such as:

• Keynote: State of the Industry 2010
• Proven Success Strategies in Smart Energy Management
• Making Money on Digital Signage
• Secrets for Success in Home Health Tech
• 20 Things You Need to Know to Create Winning Strategies for 3D and iPad
• Recurring Revenue Strategies – Make Money While You Sleep
• Companion Selling Strategies
• How to Maximize Your Website Investment – and Get Discovered Online!
• Grow Sales and Profits with Light Commercial Projects
• HDMI1.4/3D – The New Frontier
• Increase Profits with Smart Job Costing Strategies

How It All Works
Best of all, CEProLIVE! is free for dealers.

The first step is to register at http://www.ceprolive.com. Participants will create an attendee profile by uploading their photo or choosing an ‘avatar’ to represent them at the event. Attendees will also create a virtual business card which they can exchange with other dealers and manufacturers they meet at the virtual show.

After entering the Event Lobby, they can choose among several virtual conference venues:

• Auditorium--CE Pro editors Julie Jacobson and Jason Knott will moderate new technology sessions that provide education to grow sales and profits. Attendees can check in all day to watch additional content-rich business sessions with industry experts and get valuable tips and advice for every area of their business.
• Networking Lounge-- Sponsored by Sony, this is the place for attendees to make connections through group or one-on-one instant message chats with presenters, manufacturers, and fellow CE pros. Scheduled Tech Connect Chats will run throughout the day featuring live instant messaging with product designers and industry VIPs.
• Interactive Virtual Exhibit Hall -- Top manufacturers including AMX, Arlington, AVocation Systems, Control4, Definitive Technology, DSI Systems, Innovolt, Lutron Electronics Co., Mitel, Somfy, Sony, and WyreStorm will host virtual booths which dealers can visit to view products, watch training videos, download white papers, win prizes, take advantage of show specials in each booth, and interact with vendors and reps via live public or private chat.
• Virtual Briefcase -- Much like the bag attendees probably fill with literature at physical events, dealers can download all educational sessions, vendor training, and manufacturer product information into their Virtual Briefcase for future reference or to share with colleagues and staff.

Tips for Success
CEProLIVE! suggests the best way for attendees to experience the event is to log on the morning of June 17, check the event schedule for “must-see” sessions, and run the conference on their desktop all day to listen as they work. Meanwhile, they can enter drawings for event prizes and vendor giveaways throughout the day in the Virtual Exhibit Hall, making time to visit each booth to check out new products, training, show specials, and support materials from leading CE manufacturers exhibiting at CE Pro Live!.

Owners and managers may also pinpoint specific sessions they would like their salespeople, installers, programmers, and staff to attend.
CEProLIVE! will take place on June 17. Complete event details and free registration are available at www.ceprolive.com.