Tips for Producing a Business Event

 

  • Small Business Event Planning: First Steps
    • Make a list of details - everything including lighting and public transportation, to content and refreshments
    • Decide upon your target audience before anything else
    • Watch out for other industry events when scheduling
    • Have a clear business purpose for holding the event
    • Know your limitations
    • Be flexible with changes in size, location and other details
    • Create SMART goals
  • Marketing
    • Be tireless in your efforts or your event will fail
    • You`ll need a DETAILED marketing plan
    • Lay out in writing why your target market should attend - don`t assume the benefits are obvious.
    • Define good reason(s) for people to show up.
    • Use Twitter hashtags.
    • Learn how to talk to the media
    • Buy advertising on social media networks
    • Use online social pre-events to promote the main event
    • Create an awesome low-budget promotional video
    • Use YouTube to promote your event
    • Leverage event registration platforms like Meetup
    • Get local bloggers involved
    • Get listed on sites catering to your group
    • Use online registration
    • Make it easy on your speakers to publicize to their followers
    • Offer local partners incentives to promote you
    • Give early bird incentives
  • Team Considerations
    • Follow up - and follow up again
    • Delegate responsibilities
    • Always underestimate turnout, for sponsors
    • Sponsors are royalty - make sure they feel like it
    • Have a skilled social media team cover your event
    • Ask people what they think, and be ready for feedback good or bad
    • Look for vendors who serve your niche and are willing to get involved
  • Budget
    • Create an expense budget - and save money through "in-kind" sponsor donations
    • Develop a "financing plan" for your event, and estimate the numbers
    • Consider crowdfunding as a new option to raise money for an event
  • Contingency Plan
    • Be ready to lend a hand to fill any gaps
    • Imagine the event, step by step, and make a 2-column list: what could go wrong in one column, and your contingency plan in the second
  • Event Day
    • Attitude is contagious
    • Set expectations carefully - then deliver
    • Always ask yourself: How is this relevant to attendees?
    • Let crowd reaction be your barometer
    • Look your best
    • As the master of ceremonies or a speaker - practice