Business events are an investment in building the brand of your company, but planning for the success of an event can feel like an insurmountable trouble. However, whether you are a small business owner or a local business manager, planning doesn’t have to be difficult.
What you need is a planning system that works. With this guide and the right people on your side, you can successfully plan for a local business event.
Determine Your Goals
Like with any business activity, defining your goals for the event will help you formulate the strategy and create limitations in terms of scope.
What is this event for? A networking event to build and celebrate customer relations would have an informal atmosphere and a relatively small scope. On the other hand, an official product launch or an announcement on expansion might require more champagne and a larger venue.
Set the Venue
With the purpose of the event in mind, you can decide on the venue. Smaller events and internal affairs like employee recognition awards can be efficiently done in your own facility. Inviting clients to your facility for workshops or small get-togethers can also promote a feeling of intimacy.
If you are planning for a big event, either open to the public or just to journalists, renting a more impressive function hall would be better.
Decide on the Design and Theme
The design and theme would influence the food choices, the invitations, the audiovisual materials, and dress code.
Formal events might ask for a black-tie code, while a more informal party for long-time customers can be set up as a costume ball.
Time It Right
To guarantee the success of your event with maximum attendance, schedule your event around holidays and regular community events. Knowing the date will also help you know how much time you have left to prepare.
Set the Budget
With the scope in mind, figure out how you can fit your budget to meet your goals for the event.
Working with a budget requires you to do costing and logistical preparations. You need to have an idea of how much decorations, audiovisual equipment, catering, setup, and rent would cost. You would also need to plan for manpower and labor.
Establish How to Market the Event
Since one of the common goals of hosting a business event is to build your brand, marketing your event is essential.
Your Partner in Making Business Events Happen
Having a goal and a general idea of what you want is only a small part of the process. You need to flesh out details and execute the plan.
You can assign a team from your employees to manage the event. You can even head the preparations yourself. The downside to this is how time-consuming event planning is. You’ll also have to deal with operational concerns on the day of the event itself, dividing your attention from connecting with your guests.
The better option is to trust an event planner to handle the details for you, from cost to cooperating with providers of catering, furniture and more. They can successfully integrate your strategy and move straight to execution. Contact an event planner today!
Written by bleu events, one of the top event planners Columbia, MO has to offer.