Tag: Event

Ways You Can Commemorate A Family Event Without Breaking The Bank

Two focuses of my blog are Health/Wellness and Financial Literacy/Money. Family is arguably the most important thing in life and it’s important to have family events. It’s also important to be cost conscious as well. The following contributed post is entitled, Ways You Can Commemorate A Family Event Without Breaking The Bank.

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Commemorating a big family event, such as a milestone anniversary, father’s day, or a reunion, can be a special and meaningful way to honor the past and celebrate the present. Here are a few ideas for ways to commemorate a big family event.

Credit: Askar Abayev/ Pexels

Hosta a family reunion

Gather all of your family members together in one place to celebrate the event. This can be a great way to reconnect with family members you haven’t seen in a while and create new memories. A good way to mark this occasion would be by creating custom coins for everyone there through Challenge Coins Ltd.

Create a family tree

A family tree is a visual representation of your family’s history. You can create a family tree by gathering information about your ancestors and charting their relationships. This can be a great way to learn more about your family’s history and pass that knowledge on to future generations.

Create a family photo album

A photo album is a great way to capture the memories of a big family event. You can collect photos from the event and organize them in an album, along with captions and notes about the event.

Create a family cookbook

A family cookbook is a collection of recipes passed down from generation to generation. You can gather family recipes and create a cookbook to commemorate the event and pass on the family’s culinary traditions.

Credit: Chimene Gaspar/ Pexels

Plan a family vacation

A family vacation is a great way to create new memories and bond as a family. You can plan a trip to a location that has special significance for your family, such as the place where your ancestors immigrated from or a place where a family member lived.

Create a family website

A family website is a great way to share information about your family’s history and keep in touch with family members who live far away. You can create a website with information about your family’s history, photos, and updates on current events.

Make a video or documentary

Create a video or documentary about the event or your family’s history. This can be a great way to record and preserve memories for future generations, and also an interesting way to share it with family and friends who couldn’t make it to the event.

Host a charity event in honor of the family event

Host a charity event in honor of the family event

Hosting a charity event in honor of a big family event can be a great way to give back to the community and make a difference in the lives of others.

Create a time capsule

A time capsule is a container filled with items that represent the present and will be opened at a later date. You can fill a time capsule with items that represent the big family event, such as photos, newspaper articles, and personal notes.

Have a family gathering to plant a tree

Planting a tree is a symbol of growth, strength and endurance. It can be a great way to honor the family’s history and look forward to the future.

These are just a few ideas for ways to commemorate a big family event. The most important thing is to find something that is meaningful and special to your family. Commemorating a big family event is a great way to honor the past and create new memories that will last a lifetime.

6 Tips For Planning & Organizing A Corporate Event

Three focuses of my blog are Business/Entrepreneurship, Organizational/Management Discussions and Workplace Discussions. If you’re in corporate management, you will likely be organizing events which needs to be done correctly to achieve the desired goal. The following contributed post is entitled, 6 Tips For Planning & Organizing A Corporate Event.

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Corporate events are an excellent platform for education and networking. While they are fun to attend, they are a lot of work to plan and organize.

You must know what you’re doing and have all the logistics figured out to ensure a smooth and successful outcome. The following tips will help you plan and organize your next corporate event so it goes over well and your attendees are more than satisfied with how it plays out.

1. Determine the Objectives

You must start by determining the objectives for the corporate event before you tackle the logistics. You should know what you want your attendees to get out of it and walk away with after it’s done. Discuss the event objectives with your team and make sure you align these with how the event will go. Keep in mind corporate events usually have the objective to grow the business, communicate a certain message, or change behavior. Think through the point of the event and then make sure the message is consistent and clear throughout it.

2. Create A To-Do List & Timeline

Another tip for planning and organizing a corporate event is to create a to-do list and timeline. There’s nothing more vital as an event planner than to be detail-oriented and organized throughout the entire process. People will be looking to you for guidance and answers and you must have them. Your to-do list and timeline will keep you on track to ensuring all the tasks are completed by a certain deadline and that you don’t fall behind schedule. You’ll not only want to have a timeline for planning purposes but to use once you get on-site too.

3. Put Time & Energy into the Agenda

If there’s one area you should concentrate on the most, it’s the agenda. You want people’s time to be well spent and for them to learn and grow at your event. The last situation you want is to pull people away from their jobs and not feel content with what they learned. Make sure you secure powerful speakers who know what they’re talking about and are insightful and inspiring. Consider the timing of each day and how long you want sessions to be and what evening activities you’ll plan for the attendees.

4. Enlist Help from the Professionals

Although you’re the event planner it doesn’t mean you have to do all the work yourself. There are some tasks you should leave up to the professionals such as the look and feel of the general sessions and stage. It’s all about the ambiance, entertainment, and experience and you can achieve this goal by executing the look and feel of the event properly. In this case, turn to the experts at https://questevents.com/ and learn more about how they can help you create the ultimate corporate experience for your attendees. The entry and pre-function space matter just as much as the main event and these are the types of details they can assist you with as you plan and prepare.

5. Focus on the Food

The reality is that your attendees will need to be well fed if they’re going to be able to learn and concentrate at your event. Focus on the food and have good ideas and options for what you’ll serve your guests. It’s a point of interest for many people and you can guarantee they’ll judge your event by what food was served and if it was satisfying or not. The key is to have plenty of options available for all sorts of tastes and preferences and to make sure you have enough healthy choices on the menus. When it comes to your evening events, consider if you’ll be planning a nice sit-down meal or if a buffet would be better.

6. Assign Roles & Responsibilities On-Site

You’re going to want to make sure you have enough help on-site at your event. You’ll be busy running around and making sure the show is going as planned and can’t be everywhere at once. Therefore, you’ll want to have plenty of staff and assistance on-site to make sure your event is going smoothly and as planned. Assign roles and responsibilities for who will be in charge of what during the event. Be prepared for glitches or mishaps but remain calm and in control so the attendees don’t notice these errors. Your goal is to keep the show running well and successfully and not panic when issues arise. Keep your composure and remember that no event is perfect and you can always make changes for next time around.

What Will Post-Covid Events Look Like?

Two key focuses of my blog are Current Events and Technology. The stark reality is that our world may be considerably different than what it used to be post-Covid. We will likely see a world that has a greater digital presence. The following contributed post is entitled, What Will Post-Covid Events Look Like?

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We are not going back to the safety of our pre-COVID lifestyle any time soon. Admittedly, it’s hard to imagine that the current pandemic will turn into a permanent health threat. However, businesses will likely face more than one COVID wave, so it’s essential to start thinking outside the box.

We can’t arrange for life events in the way we used to anymore – at some point in the future, it will be safe again. Therefore, businesses need to create health-conscious events that are engaging, exciting, and safe for the time being. For marketers, making health a strategic priority at the same level than any other objective requires a change of mindset. As useful as Zoom meetings have been since March 2020 – they’ve virtually rescued many companies from bankruptcy –, you need to think above and beyond the simple webcam trick.

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A digital event only

Of course, video conferences and workshops remain a safe option for participants and guests. However, Zoom meetings and other popular video alternatives can lack engagement on a large scale. Turning a digital event into a platform for exchange can rely on smart and cost-effective social media strategies. Indeed, you can use social media to build a digital presence for your brand, ensuring that the event gets sufficient buzz online ahead of schedule. You can prepare your platform with event-related content. Uniqlo is a brand that has relied heavily on social media events to reach out to new audience groups.

A safe-distancing show

Can you be COVID-safe without going online? As the current restrictions are easing, you can arrange for an open event as long as your guests are social-distancing accordingly. A VIP event with a reduced number of guests can be the perfect answer to your problems. You can even record video material using a drone and a camera – if you’re not sure where to start, check online articles such as the RC Hobby Review. Once edited, the recording videos can be put together into a sum-up of the event. You can also add light features – LEDs are ideal for branding messaging on social-distancing venues!

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A video community

Have you ever considered organizing an event when participants are in different places? You can encourage participants to send their videos on a specific topic, which can be edited to be played as part of branding films, for instance. Depending on your participants’ reputations, you can turn the events into a live-tweeting contest as you release the film.
Alternatively, you can also consider lifestreaming videos. While the effect may seem more real and engaging, streaming technology focuses on one venue only, which reduces the number of guests.

Storytelling via a mic

Everybody loves a good story, which is why podcasts are so popular. Podcasts are not life events; however, you can set up a recording studio with a streaming service. You can record guests via an online connection, running your podcasts on a communication tool such as Skype or Whatsapp calls. There may be a few microseconds delay due to broadband facilities, but you can ask in real-time questions that auditors are sending.

Are life events going to disappear? The answer is no. However, we need to adapt and transform our strategies to keep businesses and people safe. COVID-friendly events do not have to feel like another work Zoom meeting. On the contrary, you can get creative and design exciting arrangements for all.

The Top 5 Pros and Cons of Watching Sporting Events Live

Two of the focuses of my blog are Athletics/Sports and Current Events. Because Covid-19 it’s it’s not possible to watch sports live right now. At some point though, we will get back to a point where we can flock to arenas and venues to see our favorite athletes and teams compete. Which is better? Watching sports live or on TV? The following contributed post is entitled, The Top 5 Pros and Cons of Watching Sporting Events Live.

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Photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels

Because of Covid-19, the thought of watching a sporting event live might feel like a lifetime away. But it will return in the near future, when it’s safe to do so. And because of this, there’s no reason why you can’t get excited ahead of time for whatever event you’re planning on attending.

So many people love to attend sporting events, whether it be an NBA game, a tennis match or the MLB. Which is why it’s no surprise that the global sports market is sitting at over $400 billion. So what are some of the pros and cons of watching these sporting events live?

The pros…

There are so many plus points of watching a sports event live. Enjoyable no matter what your age, it’s an experience that you’ll remember forever.
Immersed into the atmosphere

When you attend a sporting event live, you’ll be quickly immersed into the atmosphere around you. From the moment you walk through those stadium doors, you’ll be met with a crowd of loyal sports fans, the smell of hot dogs and popcorn and the excitement of seeing your favorite players live.

When you walk into the court itself and find your way to your seats, the energy of the crowd will start to rub off on you, getting you excited for what’s to come. Unlike watching it through live streaming on the TV, you’ll be in the heart of the action instantly.
Part of the game

Following on from the above, instead of being a spectator through a screen, you’ll be part of the game seeing it unfold as you take in the sights and sounds. Whether it’s a college game or a national event, it’s the ultimate experience for any sports fan – and one that you’ll want to experience again and again.

Seeing your favorite players in real life

Seeing your favorite players in real life is incomparable. Only a few feet (or a few hundred feet depending on where you’re sitting) in front of you, you can admire their physicality and sporting skills in person rather than through a screen.

The cons…

There are, however, certain cons that come with watching sports events live. And while these aren’t terrible for everyone, they are important to consider before you look for tickets to the next planned event in the calendar.

The cost

It’s not cheap to go and see sporting events live – especially if they are a big match that’s notoriously popular. Therefore, it simply might not be feasible for everyone. On top of the cost of the match/event itself, you’ll also have to factor in the cost of food and refreshments and whether you will wager on it.

For the latter, even though it can be a quick way of earning money online and there are many sites to choose from (see the best NFL betting sites here), you could end up losing a significant amount of money.

The seats

Not only does the cost of the tickets affect where you can sit in the stadium, but the popularity of the event itself. If you attend a game and find out that you’re sitting right at the back of the stadium, you might not have the same experience that you would have closer to the players. Not only will you have a struggle seeing each detail, but the atmosphere might not be as electrifying.

Improving Your Experience: What You Need To Know

Whether it’s horse races, Formula 1, or NBA matches, if you are looking to watch your favorite sports live or have decided to place a bet, you’ll need to learn more about what’s about to happen – before you take your seat! To do so, find reliable resources online that allows you to keep up with the latest stats and news, and make you feel more confident in watching a live sports event. For example, if you are planning on betting on a horse, find websites that offer all the data you need to have at hand. Let’s say that you are looking for verified Freddie Vasquez Equestrian reviews: the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) should be your first port of call!

Final Thoughts

Those are just some of the pros and cons associated with watching sporting events live. At the end of the day, it’s up to you whether you opt to see it in person or in the comfort of your home/a local bar. But no matter how you watch the event, it’s bound to be an incredible experience.

Inspired Merchandise Ideas For Any Event

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Depending upon the type of business you’re running, the need may arise to host special events. As such, lots of thought must go into event planning. Events can be made more memorable and successful just using the right merchandise. The following contributed post is entitled, Inspired Merchandise Ideas For Any Event.

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Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Everyone loves collecting merchandise when they attend trade shows or events. It’s one of the perks. Company’s go to great lengths to attract people to their stands, so having a few lonely branded pens and note pads aren’t going to cut it in today’s competitive market.

You don’t have to break the bank, but you do need to get creative if you want to compete for people’s attention.

ID Lanyards & Holders

Many companies issue employees with cards that allow them to swipe in and out fo the office. Why not hand out branded lanyard that can go around the next, or connect via reels to a person’s clothing?

It’s a super useful piece of kit that might not seem very exciting but it’s something that a lot of people need, and will use multiple times per day.

Power Banks

Who doesn’t have a smartphone these days? A portable power bank that lets you recharge your phone, tablet, or even laptop on the move. Produced in your company color, with your logo, it’s a great way to position yourself as invaluable to your target audience.

You can choose from a smaller unit, that is good for phones, through to a more expensive, larger one that will easily charge a laptop. This is an item that is likely to be kept for a long period of time.

Desktop charger/dock

Many people like to keep their phone on charge when they’re working at their desks, that way they know that if they have to leave the office, they’re taking a phone with a full charge.

A desktop charger will let them just place their phone in the dock, upright, so that they can still see notifications when it is being charged.

Mini Bamboo Speaker

Good quality, portable speakers are priceless. People love taking them on holiday or using them in places around the house where they don’t have another way to listen to the audio. A speaker can usually last for around 8 hours on a single battery charge.

A bamboo speaker is a great option for those people looking to lessen their impact on the environment by reducing the amount of plastic.

Go for the best quality you can afford.

Umbrellas

If you live somewhere with a less than perfect climate. An umbrella is a good idea. Large golf umbrellas are popular but if you want more people to carry around your branding, go for the smaller, telescopic umbrellas that can fit into a bag or briefcase.

If you’re really looking to up your umbrella game, there are even such things as smart umbrellas that can track the weather and have a built-in tracking device so you can find it if you lose it.

Wireless Mouse

Laptops are great, but if you’re using one for a long period of time, the trackpad can become a bit irritating to use all of the time.

A compact wireless mouse that connects to their laptop via Bluetooth will come in handy and light up your logo when in use.

Smart Backpack

Briefcases and old-fashioned work bags are becoming a thing of the past in a lot of industries. To take advantage of this, a smart backpack can hold your phone in its strap, so that you can use it hands-free if you need to. It also has a charging cable that can recharge your phone or any USB device directly from your bag.

RFID Card Holder

Contactless payments are great. They are so convenient but one of the downsides to this contactless technology, is the opportunity for people to steal your money with wireless payment readers. An RFID protector is a sleeve designed to hold your credit or debit card and block anyone from being able to read your card details. It fits inside a wallet or purse like a standard credit card.

Bamboo Coffee Cup

Even though it’s reported that younger generations just aren’t drinking coffee anymore, it’s still a multibillion-dollar industry. Why not give your customers a beautiful, reusable, and eco-friendly travel mug in which to have their favorite drink. You’ll also be saving them money too as many places offer discounts for people who bring their own cups.

Ice Scraper Glove

Another product to file under the boring but useful category. If you’re in the right industry and the right location, then an ice scraper glove is a perfect piece of equipment, which will likely remain with someone for years. If, on the other hand, you live in a place that hasn’t seen snow for 50 years, you might want to reconsider your choice.

Webcam Cover

The world seems to conduct it’s meeting on Zoom at the moment and we’ve all heard the horror stories about people accessing our webcams without our knowledge. A webcam cover is a small, branded sticker which sticks over your webcam that you can slide back when you need to use it, and close again when you want to be sure you have absolute privacy.

Jute Bag

Another chance to show off your green credentials by providing an eco-friendly and useful item. A well designed, reusable just bag is a huge attraction at events. Choose a size that people can fit a lot into but is easy to store away.

If you want maximum longevity out of it, be creative with your design and branding. No one wants to be a walking advert, so think about clever ways to weave your branding into an attractive design.

Key takeaways

Everyone loves merch but you have to put effort into thinking about what is useful and what is gimmicky and will be thrown away. The best items are good quality, well designed, and have a practical purpose which will see them used over and over again, ensuring that your brand is getting the maximum value of its promotional spend. That’s not to say that pens and notebooks don’t have their place, everyone loves a good quality pen, but you need to look beyond that if you’re going to keep up with the competition.

3 Ways To Attract People To Your Business Event

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. Business events can be critical to getting the word out about your products and services. It’s important to get the word out about your event. The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Ways To Attract People To Your Business Event.

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(Pixabay CC0)

There are all kinds of reasons as to why you might put on a business event.

As examples, you might want to…

● Introduce people to your new product or service.
● Offer training to other local business owners.
● Celebrate an anniversary with your customers and investors.

Of course, no matter what the surface reason is for holding a business event, the underlying reason is this: you want to increase your local visibility. It’s a perfect marketing ploy! Still, your event will fall flat if people don’t show up, so it’s important to find ways to attract attendees. You can do this in the following ways.

#1: Raise awareness on social media

The earlier you create a buzz about your event, the better, and social media is the natural place to do it. After all, how many people don’t have a Facebook or a Twitter account these days? So, create a Facebook page for your event and invite your customers and other relevant people to take a look at it. Get people excited with well-crafted Facebook posts or tweets on Twitter. And generate interest on YouTube too, perhaps with a promo for the event detailing what will be happening on the day, or a funny video that somehow connects to the event and that has a chance of going viral. Be sure to use all of those other social media channels that your target audience uses too, such as Instagram and LinkedIn, and be creative in your postings.

#2: Send out personal invites by mail

Okay, so we know snail mail has become less popular these days thanks to the rise of digital marketing, but people still enjoy finding a piece of mail that isn’t a household bill in their letterboxes! So, send out personalized invites using an invitation maker, and be as creative as you can with the design. Let people know what to expect on the day, perhaps by including an itinerary with your invite. And give them an incentive to come, perhaps by offering them a free drink at the bar or a free raffle ticket if they show their invite at the door.

#3: Be charitable

If the people you invite suspect the event is all about your business and nothing else, then they might have less incentive to come, even with the free drink idea that we suggested above. However, if you can show your charitable side, then you may give them an extra reason to attend. So, you might give half of the proceeds you make from ticket sales to a popular local charity. If you hold a raffle, this could also be in aid of a good cause. And you might also hold a charity auction, where your attendees can both give and acquire prizes at the event, with proceeds going to an established charity.

These are just a few suggestions, so consider them if you’re holding a business event any time soon. And think about your own ideas too, but be creative, as a generic email or text message may not be enough to sway people away from their televisions on the night of your event.

Let us know your thoughts and ideas by leaving a reply below.

How To Stand Our From The Crowd At Events

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. When you’re in business, it’s important to understand how to set your self apart from your competition and peers. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Stand Our From The Crowd At Events.

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Whenever you take your business to an event, it can be difficult to stand out from the crowd. There’s likely to be many other companies showcasing on their own stands, and so you need to be able to do things that will draw the crowds to you. Here are a few ways to stand out from the crowd at events.

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Think About Your Display

Your display is crucial because it’s what’s going to help you be spotted. There are lots of companies that make, and design exhibition and display stands, and this might be something that you need. The bigger and bolder it can be, the more you’re going to get of people coming over to see what your stand is all about. So work with the right company that will be able to take your vision of what you need and to transform it into a reality that really does your company proud. Branding is what it’s all about when it comes to an event, no matter how big or small it may be. It’s important to get your area on the map for people who may be attending, whether it’s a public or industry event.

Always Have A Welcoming Atmosphere

If you’re standing there with a scowl on your face, then chances are, you’re not going to get anyone. You want to be approachable and have a welcoming atmosphere. That’s not going to happen if you have your arms crossed or you are too busy chatting to colleagues. That can often feel quite off-putting for anyone who might want to approach you. Try to engage eye contact with people as they pass by, even giving them a little greeting like ‘hello’ or ‘How are you?’ They are small gestures, but it might influence that person to stop, come over and chat to you, and that’s all you need to happen initially.

Don’t Look Bored

It can be very easy to get bored when doing long days at events and so it’s good to switch it up between you and your colleagues so that you always have that positive attitude. Try not to look bored when it comes to showcasing and always have a smile on your face, even if it’s late in the afternoon and you’ve been there since the early morning. Give yourself a break every so often to walk around and to help reset the batteries so you can come across better to those walking by your stand.

Offer Freebies

And finally, who doesn’t love a good freebie? Even simple things such as a pencil or shopping bag can be a great freebie to give out to those walking by, especially if they have your brand emblazoned along the front. It can be good advertising, especially in venues where there’s a lot of other businesses showcasing. If you’re doing shopping bags, make them big, so all the other stuff goes inside, and your brand is the one showing off.

Standing out from the crowd at events can be easy when you use these tips.

Mistakes Made By New Event Planners

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Career Discussions. Becoming an Event Planner can be a lucrative career choice. Event Planning is a world all its own with nuances and keys for success. There are several mistakes that novices make. Avoiding the mistakes can propel you far beyond your competition. The following contributed post is entitled, Mistakes Made By New Event Planners.

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https://pixaby.com/photos/concert-confetti-party-event-club-2527495/

If you have recently become an event planner or this is a career you are thinking about, learn from the mistakes that others have made by avoiding the errors we discuss below.

Not mastering the world of online marketing

There is only one place to begin, and this is with online marketing. All event planners need to have a good online presence today. If you do not have any knowledge or experience in this, or you do not have the time to dedicate to marketing your services, hire a SEO company. They will be able to help you with everything from building an effective website to producing quality content and ensuring you have a good presence on social media.

Using fresh flowers all of the time

Virtually all events require flowers. Without them, it can be difficult to adorn a venue beautifully, or create the right ambience. With that being said, read on to discover more about artificial blooms and why they are a must for your business.

As briefly touched upon, all occasions, be it a wedding or a birthday party, require flowers. This is a must-have decoration. It can help to make a venue look show stopping while also creating the right mood, from excitement to romance. But, why should you look for cheap artificial flowers in particular? There are many different reasons, but mainly it comes down to the fact that fresh blooms are too much of a hassle and risk.

When dealing with fresh flowers, you will need to get them delivered on the day of the event to make sure their appearance does not deteriorate and they do not lose their beauty. This can be very risky for any business. What if they do not get delivered on time? If you take the opposite approach, i.e. you buy fresh flowers in advance, you run the risk of not using them at an event, and thus you are going to make a loss. With artificial flowers, you don’t have to worry about any of this, you can order them in advance for minimal hassle and you can use them again and again to make sure you get your money’s worth. Not only this, but artificial blooms make sure you can cater to the demands of all of your clients, as you are never restricted to what is in season.

Putting all of your eggs in one basket

Last but not least, it can be a very big deal for any event planner when they manage to secure a big client. However, you need to be mindful and make sure you do not put all of your eggs in one basket. What would happen if this client then decide to take their work elsewhere?

Creating The Perfect Marketing Event

Two of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. A key aspect of your business is its marketing. Sometimes its wise and advantageous to host marketing events. No matter what you’re showing at your marketing event, you want it to be as successful as possible. The following contributed post is entitled, Creating The Perfect Marketing Event.

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Image Credit Pixabay.com License CC0

When it comes to driving your business, one way in which you can do this is by hosting an event that shows your potential customers, business partners, and suppliers who you are and what you are really all about.

A great event can leave everyone who attends in a state of amazement about your business and they may well be excited about everything that you have to offer. They will be looking towards the future and waiting to see what you do next. It is a great way of creating a real buzz around what you do, and what you could do in the future with their support.

Business events can be a great opportunity to unveil something exciting that you might have been working on. Make sure that if you are doing this you providing plenty of anticipation for this part of the event, and building it up in the minds of the attendees.

Budget Effectively

Events can be costly to run and the costings may vary depending on the number of people that you are planning on inviting. First up you will need a suitable venue that is easy to get to, is the right size, and has the right facilities. Make sure that you visit before booking.

You may want to hire caterers for the event, as well as a crew of experienced technicians for operating any sound, lighting, or video equipment. Shop around for quotations on all of these services, but be sure to check on what exactly is on offer.

Events may throw up surprises that you have not budgeted for. Problems that occur as you prepare for the big day may end up throwing you considerably over your budget. A vendor may fall through, and a last minute replacement may mean paying more. Prepare yourself for the fact that things may go wrong and allow a little bit extra spare in your budget for an emergency.

Source Everything That You Need Early

Start buying everything that you need as far in advance as possible. For outdoor events you may need generators, for such important aspects of your event planning, allow lots of time to source everything. Rushing around at the last minute may lead to mistakes being made and everyone involved being stressed and on edge about the event.

Market The Event Well

Although your event is designed to market your business, you will need to make sure that you market your event well. Give your attendees plenty of chance to plan to come. You can send out postal invites as this puts something physical in their hands. You may also want to send emails and take to social media to drum up interest in the event. Try to give some kind of indication of what the event is about and what may be expected, but if you are unveiling a new product or service, be sure and keep the main surprise for the actual event.

Getting people to RSVP is a great idea as it will give you an indication of how many people may actually end up coming, and it also means that your guests will need to demonstrate their commitment to coming ahead of time. You could follow up any invitations which have not had responses with a phone call.

Speeches

Your event needs a core message and you should include interesting and captivating speeches that help you to get this across. Be sure to utilize your most charismatic speaker and try and include relevant video or visual aids to help put the point over. Don’t get bogged down in figures, instead make sure your speeches centre on ideas and concepts.

Management Is Key To Success

The key to a successful event is having the right people in the right places. Delegate areas of responsibility to the best placed team members. You will need someone to liaise with caterers and any waiting staff that you have brought in. Someone will need to take control of the entertainment aspect and ensure that all speeches, presentations, and entertainment are running to a tight program.

You will need some of your best communicators out and about helping your guests and mingling with them. They will be in a great position to get feedback on how the event is going from the perspective of the attendees, and they can also do their best to help deliver the overall message that you would like your guests to take from the event.

How To Throw The Perfect Work Event

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. Two key focuses are Financial Literacy/Money and Business/Entrepreneurship. If you’re planning a work event, there are a couple of key points to think about. In addition to understanding what the work even is for, there are other aspects to consider such as cost, timing and theme. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Throw The Perfect Work Event.

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Throwing a work event isn’t an easy thing to do. If you’re struggling to deal with the pressure of trying to throw the perfect corporate party, here are a few tips that should set you in the right direction…

Keep To The Budget
First and foremost, you must keep to the budget. Most companies have a specific amount of money set aside for functions, and if you don’t keep to that amount then the budget may be decreased for the next event you throw – and more to the point, chances are, you’ll get in big trouble and you won’t be trusted by your superiors in the same way again. Make sure that you carefully plan what exactly you’re going to do and what it’s going to cost, and while you shouldn’t scrimp, you should absolutely go for more cost-effective solutions.

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Have A Goal
When you’re planning an event, you need to have an objective in mind. What exactly is this event for? Is your business launching a new product? If so, then you need to make sure that product is front and centre and that everybody there know what it is and how it can be used. Make sure that you invite the right people – you have a certain amount of money to spend and if you’re spending that cash on people who won’t invest in the company, on journalists who won’t end up covering the party, or on inviting celebrities who don’t represent your brand effectively, that money has been wasted.

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Pick The Right Venue
It’s important to book the right sort of venue. First of all, consider size. Too big and the party will feel empty, too small and it will feel crowded. Is it the sort of party where people stay all evening or is it a launch when people will be drifting in and out over the course of the event? If it’s the latter, your venue doesn’t need to be too big. You should also consider transportation: if it’s in a hard to reach area of your city, chances are that people won’t bother to show up as much or stay as long. Finally, remember that venues that provide staff, food and drink, are much easier than having to organise those things separately.

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Be Cautious
You need to be careful with your party – make sure that there aren’t any people on the guest list who dislike each other and who you’ve seated close together, for example. People sometimes drink too much at these parties and if that’s the kind of exposure that you want, that’s great, but if not, make sure that the bartenders are poised to cut people off at a certain point. You could also hire a company like Titanium Security to make sure that everyone who attends is supposed to be there and that any trouble is cut off immediately.

Finally, remember to keep talking to people – the purpose of these functions tends to be to network, to swap business cards, and to make connections, so ensure that everybody feels welcome and happy – and have a little fun as well!