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2018 was a whirlwind of a year for business related events at our venues, and we’re hoping to top it in 2019. Whether you’re planning a small breakfast seminar or large year-end gala, events are a great way to cement your brand in people’s minds, generate leads and create long-term connections.
For planners, organising an event that is both informative and enjoyable for guests can be a daunting task. There are literally hundreds of decisions to consider from start to finish, so where do you start? To keep it simple we’ve wound it back to the basics. Who, what, when, where, why & how much?
Follow these first steps to planning a successful business event and you will be on the right track. We’ve organised them into the most useful order for event planners.
Identify the strategy behind the event. Do you want to acquire new clients, increase customer engagement, secure new leads, schedule meetings? Having a clear objective from the get-go will help you develop strong key messages and delivery mechanisms.
Having a good understanding of the interests and requirements of your attendees will guide you in planning an enjoyable event schedule. A good way to do this is to search your database of clients and examine their information patterns and behaviours (business size, industry, contact position, purchase history), then segment them into different groups and select your most represented cluster to target.
This step is no brainer. To avoid nasty surprises, make sure you account for everything! Even the small things like paper for marketing materials or run sheets should be included from the start. We suggest planners put aside a contingency budget of 10 to 15% to account for any unforeseeable costs.
Planning your event around a create concept or visual theme will create interest and generate excitement. For some fantastic ideas read these 83 Event Ideas and Formats to Inspire Your Next Great Event.
To maximise attendance, ensure there are no major events due to appear on your chosen date. Do your research or read our Key Calendar Dates For Sydney Event Planners in 2017 and save yourself a marketing headache in the lead up the to your event.
Once you have decided on a concept for your event this will become much more straightforward. Our venues at Jones Bay Wharf, Darling Island, Hyde Park and Sylvania Waters offer a number of versatile spaces capable of hosting from 10 to 1200 guests with options for indoor/outdoor activities.