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