From seminars to conferences, corporate events are a great way for brands to connect with their target audience. Apart from the brand buzz it generates, a well-executed event has the potential to increase sales, drive growth opportunities, and position a brand as a major thought leader in the industry.
By well-executed, the event should be able to draw in attendees and accomplish the event organizers’ main goals. Since it’s a costly endeavour to organize an event, it’s important to double down on one component that’s crucial to success: marketing.
If you’re planning an event this year, don’t push marketing to the sidelines. Make the most of it so you can get the best returns in terms of attendees, networking opportunities, and sales. Here are five tips to keep in mind
1. Set specific objectives
Before you can even plan for the event, you will need to figure out what you’re planning to achieve. Whether the event is meant primarily to educate or generate publicity, you should be specific with the goals you have laid down. From there, you will be able to give your event planning activities direction, ensuring that you’re not wasting time and money on costly strategies and campaigns that produce next to nothing!
2. Build an event marketing team
When marketing an event, you need creative people at the backend. These are the individuals who will craft your communications plan, develop promotional materials, and come up with creative ways to generate interest. Your event marketing team should include graphic designers, content marketers, and PR specialists who can work closely with the overall organizing committee. This enables you to craft content that aligns with the event’s main goals and your brand’s identity.
3. Don’t overlook traditional promotions
Today’s brands rely heavily on social media and landing pages for promoting corporate events. But not many notice the immense value that traditional strategies deliver. In addition to word-of-mouth, you can also distribute flyers and posters, especially if the event caters to consumers. Just look for a service provider like The Printed Image that also specializes in printing out business cards, custom notepads, and whitepapers you can distribute to attendees.
4. Ensure a smooth confirmation process
Your marketing efforts will go to waste if you provide attendees with a confirmation process that’s anything but straightforward. A seamless way to collect RSVPs should go side-by-side with your marketing activities.
Consider building a landing page that doesn’t require too much information. A simple fill form where they can enter their name and email address will do. Make sure to send out automated emails confirming their attendance at the event. If the event requires a registration fee, offer attendees multiple secured payment channels.
5. Be ready for questions
You’re bound to receive inquiries coming from confirmed attendees or interested joiners weeks before the event starts. It pays to have a technical support team to stand by to handle issues such as double payments and unconfirmed invitations. This team will save you from last-minute cancellations and negative press. To be sure, always have a crisis management plan ready in case you encounter complications along the way.
Endnote
For your corporate event to succeed, you will need flawless event marketing. Use the tips above so you can meet your attendance numbers and put your brand front and center in the aftermath.
