As your event planning business kicks off, you need to market yourself to ensure a steadily growing client base. Being good at your core competency, will not be enough to cut it in the business world! You will need to learn a number of other things ranging from writing contracts and finding vendors to scouting clients, researching your competition, and so much more. Here is how you can get your event business off the ground.
What Every Event Business Needs
General purpose event management companies are a dime a dozen, but if you are able to identify a niche and establish yourself as one of the top players, you will certainly find more success in the industry. Targeted strategies for every kind of event are a must. You should be aiming to build a customer base that is loyal for events small and large. Social channels are an absolute must for all promotions. Finally, you need to be wise with your finances, using industry-tested ideas to stay within budget without compromising on quality. Contracts, vendor agreements and proposals should be developed in a systematic and watertight manner.
Networking and Outreach
Networking is the number one task for any company, but especially so for event management. If you can get out there and speak to as many people as possible about your business, it is highly likely that eventually they will think of you when the need arises or if someone asks for recommendations. This is how you raise awareness and build a strong base. You can also network with potential partners like caterers, hotels and the like, so that you can rely on their services for future events.
As per https://www.entrepreneur.com, the Pew Research Center Report relating to social media usage reveals that almost two-thirds of the adults in the United States use social media actively. There seems to be almost a tenfold boost within the last ten years or so. Boost networking by socializing actively on social media.
Business Cards and Brand Paraphernalia
Brochures, leaflets, pamphlets, and of course, lanyards can be great tools for professional marketing. You must invest in good design and printing to ensure the right impression, and don’t forget to put lots of high-quality images. You should also ensure your materials fit the audience you want to cater to, and are not too tacky or too gaudy depending on the vibe you want to give off.
Further, the business card is among the most understated pieces of branding that has stood the test of time and is vital even today. You should go for a tri-fold business card as you can put in a good deal of information into a small form-factor. It is like a mini-brochure and will certainly serve more value than just your business’ name and number.
At the very least, any card or pamphlet you hand out must have your contact information, your name, and maybe some testimonials from satisfied clients. You should always carry them around and ask your vendors and partners if they would be willing to keep a stack at their reception.
Moreover, your employees should flaunt your customized lanyards containing your brand logo, and contact information whenever they are attending seminars, conferences, and trade shows. This way they could be disseminating worthwhile information about your organization. Click here for more information and customized lanyard services.
Classic Advertising and Marketing
While online marketing is all the rage and absolutely something you should indulge in liberally, print advertising is still a heavy presence in this industry. You could start small with an inexpensive or even a free ad in the Yellow Pages, and make your way up to hoardings and flashy magazine ads- the choice is entirely yours. Since you will be looking for local clients, in your county or city, you should stress on advertising in local newspapers, tabloids and magazines, especially ones that talk about lifestyle and design.
Conclusion
With a blend of these classic tips and new-age social media and search engine marketing strategies, your business will be up and running in no time. You must remember to put your customers’ needs first and always stress on providing excellent customer service. As such, you and all your personnel should spend time undergoing training on event management and customer-facing roles. It will also help to talk to industry experts, visit big local events and functions, and subscribe to newsletters and social channels from all the best names in the business.
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