Crystal Rae
Do the words “business event planning” stress you out?
That’s not a coincidence. Professional event planners hold the fifth most stressful job title in America. Even if you only have to plan a small event once or twice a year, you understand exactly how stressful it can be.
The good news is that planning a business party doesn’t have to give you an ulcer. Here are five business event tips to help you through every part of the planning process.
- Have a Clear Objective
Everyone loves a great party, but your business event needs to be more than that. You need to have a crystal-clear objective for hosting it.
For example, here are some common goals:
- Launch a new service or product
- Attract new employees or volunteers
- Generate new leads and sales
- Rally your community behind a charity or cause
- Awards ceremony for employee achievements
Your reason for hosting your event will impact every other aspect of the planning process.
- Choose the Function
Next, you need to choose the best type of function for your intended purpose. This could include:
- Business conference
- Fundraising gala
- Awards dinner banquet
- Teambuilding workshop
- Business lunch
- Weekend convention
A fundraising gala would be the logical choice to raise awareness for a charity, while a workshop is ideal to educate your staff about a new product. Match your objective to the right type of function and you’re already halfway there.
- Make an Event Plan
With the big decisions made, it’s time to focus on the details. The “big four” details of event planning are:
- The venue
- The food and beverages
- The entertainment
- The guest list
Before you get to these details, though, you need to know your budget. Sit down with your marketing team and calculate every expense, from advertising the event to renting folding chairs from EventStable.
- Think About Promotional Products
One of the main goals of any business party is to boost brand awareness. The easiest way to do this is by having some fun promotional products available for attendees.
Think beyond the pens and coffee mugs and consider unique branded items like:
- Tote bags
- USB drives
- Stress balls
- Cards or games
- Adult coloring books
- Personalized M&Ms
- Gourmet coffee beans
The more thoughtful your promotional products, the more likely attendees are to appreciate and remember your brand.
- Delegate Important Tasks
Whatever the size of your event, you won’t be able to manage everything yourself. Create a written list of everything that needs to be done and delegate specific tasks to trusted staff members.
Don’t skimp on help the day of the event, either. You can hardly register guests or clear tables if you’re trying to give a speech at the same time. Hire catering or event staff to care for the guests while you stay focused on your objective.
Make Your Next Business Event a Success
Business event planning can seem overwhelming at first, but it doesn’t have to be. Bookmark this list of tips for how to plan an event and refer back to it whenever necessary.
Now that you’re armed with these business event tips, what’s next? Our site has more great advice for you, so stick around and browse a while!
