Business planning

Top 10 Event Planning Tips for Small Businesses

eventPutting an event together is just like most other things in life, the more often you do it, the easier it becomes. Sure, if you have not done it many times, it can be quite daunting. Relax! The point is to have fun. Follow these basic tips and you will have people begging you to help them put their next event together.

1. Plan

Do not leave anything to chance. Forgetting one small detail can ruin an otherwise perfect event. Make a checklist of everything you will need to have on hand and create a timeline. Mentally walk through the event, minute by minute and ensure everything is in place.

2. Double Check

So, you have done all the planning. But don’t forget to check, and double check. Get confirmation in writing from all the parties involved. Remind people. If you are in any doubt, consider using an event management company. They have years of experience and expertise that can guide you and ensure your event is a success.

3. Timing

Like so many things, timing is everything. You do not want your event to conflict with a major sports match or even, a similar function of your own competitors. Choose your timing carefully. The day of the week can be a critical factor, take that into consideration. Think about holidays as well, if your event falls on such a day, you could have poor attendance.

4. Budget

You are not putting this event together simply to have fun. You need some return on your investment. Seemingly, small amounts can add up quickly so take care. Make sure you confirm all costs and charges and ensue they are adhered to. Decide what is important and what is not, spend appropriately.

5. Understand Your Target

Give some thought to who you expect to attend your event. What’s good for one audience is not necessarily good for another. Adapt the format, content and style accordingly. Understanding this will assist you making decisions on location, speakers, layout and other factors. A group of bank managers, for example, will expect and require a different style to an event for plumbers or bus drivers. Cater for your audience.

6. Embrace Social Media

Get the word out there. You have something to say, let people know. Social media is powerful, take advantage of it. You want as many relevant people as possible to attend your event. Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and other forms of online media can help you achieve that.

7. Create a Brand

An event, like anything else, is a medium to promote your brand. Treat it as such. Use consistent images and logos in your communication. Take the time to make your event into a memorable brand.

8. Venue

A few miles can make a big difference. If you host your event at an inconvenient location, you run the risk of putting a lot of people off. Again, it comes back to knowing your target market and understanding where would be most suitable. The venue itself is also important. Some places have a great reputation and people want to go there, other venues have the opposite effect.

9. Remind People

We all get busy and wrapped up with hundreds of other things. A quick phone call a day or two before the event, or even a simple text message, can make the world of difference to your event.

10. Get Feedback

As you do more events, you will get better and better at it. A simple way to maximise this and perfect the process, is to ask for feedback. That will give you valuable insight and information. Your next event will be close on perfect.

So, now that you understand those basic principles, putting your next event together will not be as challenging as you thought. Spend a bit of time on planning, budgeting and following up and your event will go off perfectly.

If you have any questions, please ask below!