Corporate events are held for different reasons. Some of the most common purposes include employee training, product launch, and strengthening corporate relationships. Most of the time, these events aim to reward, entertain, or support important marketing goals. As such, planning a corporate event covers plenty of aspects. Usually, it can take months to organise and finalise an event before it’s announced or confirmed.
Event objective determines planning direction
Before planning a corporate event, the first concern to settle is the objective. This will set the tone and the direction for planning. By establishing objectives, the planner can also make crucial decisions in choosing suppliers and vendors. For instance, will the company need entertainment for the event? From here, the planning team can make a list of popular choices such as fairground stall hire, food booths, performers, and many more.
Understanding the event’s primary aim will also help define how it will support or align with the company’s bigger goals.
Sourcing the right venue
There are many things to consider when looking for a venue. If it’s for a recurring event, you may want to look into how the attendees rated the previous location. If the task is overwhelming, ask some members of your team to help. Also, don’t be afraid to think outside the box and consider unique venue options.
After making a list of venues, proceed with making proposals. Pay attention to crucial details such as the size of the venue, amenities, and inclusions. This way, you can compare and contrast the responses you receive before making ocular visits.
How do you effectively market the event?
Corporate events organised to launch a new product or service requires effective marketing. It’s also the perfect opportunity to communicate instructions and details about the event. With marketing, you can engage and involve key stakeholders as well as the audience.
Marketing includes promoting on social media channels, event applications, and sending out emails. In addition to digital methods, traditional marketing materials are also effective. With these strategies combined, you can build anticipation and keep interest high regarding the upcoming event.
If the budget is sufficient, you can also build a website that doubles as a registration portal for confirmed guests and attendees. A well-designed and custom site with bespoke features is worth the investment, especially if it’s for an event that is sales related.
Engaging event attendees
Attendees have different expectations when they participate in a corporate event. It’s critical to ensure that attendees are engaged so that they have a positive takeaway. In addition to entertainment and activities, using a variety of tools will help keep the guests focused. When the event intends to achieve specific goals, the event schedule should be designed to maximise the available schedule.
Attendees can engage with other guests, with content, participate in group activities, among others. As much as possible, you’ll want to avoid leaving guests with nothing to do unless they are actively interacting with others. Before the event ends, you may also ask the guests to answer polls and surveys to determine how well the event went and get their feedback and tips on how to improve.
