Planning an event can be a daunting task, especially when you are the host of a corporate function. There are so many things to take care of, from inviting guests and decorating the venue to catering and arranging entertainment.
Set Goals and Objectives
Before planning a corporate function, it's important to have clear objectives and goals in mind. Without knowing what your event is trying to achieve, you won't have a plan for how to market it or reach your target audience. This means you'll also have no way to measure the success of your event once it's over. But after taking the time to set the goals and objectives for your event, you'll be able to easily track its success.
Once you've completed the above step, move on to creating your overall event goals and objectives. For example, if you want to boost brand awareness for a new product, establishing that as your primary goal will help you determine how to market the event and what to include on the agenda. For your second goal, you could include a desire to generate more sales for your new product and brainstorm ways you can accomplish this goal at the event.
Your final set of goals should consist of what you want your attendees to get out of the event. Do you want to provide your prospects with information about the benefits of your product so they buy it from you after the event? Do you want them to network with other professionals in your industry so they can make connections and build business relationships? Are you interested in getting feedback on a new product before it's released so you can make adjustments before rolling it out to the public? Think about your goals for attendees, and make sure you include those in your final list of objectives. With your objectives and goals established, you'll be ready to move on to the next step of planning your corporate function!
Set the Event's Budget
When planning for a corporate event, the first thing you need to figure out is how much the event will cost to make happen. Be realistic about what your budget can afford. Remember to consider other things like catering, decorations, venue costs, invitations, etc. Once you have a budget in mind, you can start planning your event around it.
If you've never planned an event before, it may be helpful to work with a professional event planner who can help guide you around the common pitfalls and set a realistic budget. They can also help you pick out a venue, caterer, and any other vendors you may need.
Make a List of Guests
Setting a budget and assigning an appropriate number of guests to your budget is critical for your corporate event management plan. If you do not set appropriate goals, your event will be doomed from the start. Once you decide the type of event you want to hold, decide on the number of attendees you can accommodate based on the size of the venue you choose. Do not exceed your guest capacity, as this will be a recipe for disaster!
Choose a Location
You and your employees have likely spent a fair amount of time at the office, so choosing a location that is "outside of work" will be a refreshing change of pace for everyone. You should choose an event that your team will enjoy and find educational at the same time. Your team will likely appreciate getting out of the office for the day and evening out or dining at a fine restaurant instead of meeting in the office conference room again.
Spend Time on Marketing
Yes, it's true—events can be a lot of work. That's why it's so important to devote time to marketing your event. Here are the main points to keep in mind when marketing an event.
Firstly, you need to get the word out about your event. You can do this by sending out emails to your entire database, posting on social media, or creating printed materials to hand out around your office. Be sure to include all the details of the event, such as where it will be hosted, when it is happening, and what attendees can expect. You might also want to share any speakers you have lined up for the event or list the awards you're hoping to receive as a result of hosting the event.
Most importantly, create excitement around your event by giving people time to look forward to it. Share updates as you get closer to the date of the event so people know what to anticipate in the coming months. You might also want to send a reminder email a few days before the event as a friendly reminder.
Creating excitement and momentum for an event is important since it will help motivate people to attend the event itself as well as attract potential sponsors and other donors. Plus, when the event is actually happening, you want plenty of guests there so you can accomplish your goals!
Need some assistance planning your event? Contact us for more information on our event management services. We can help you plan your event from start to finish so you can reach your goals.
Hire An Event Manager
If you have a corporate party coming up, consider hiring an event planner. Even if you're good at organizing and planning events, you may still benefit from help from an experienced event planner. A professional will know the ins and outs of planning the perfect corporate event. They will have connections in the industry, and they will know exactly how to manage everything from vendors to guests. They will also help you create a budget for the corporate event because that's often a tricky part. By hiring a professional event planner, they'll help you stay on or under your company's budget while still managing to create an amazing and memorable experience for those attending. On the other hand, if you don't hire an event planner, just remember that you need to account for a lot of additional costs, such as food, decorations, entertainment, etc.
For more information about creating a successful corporate event, visit us at 16633 NE 40th Ct, Redmond, WA 98052, for a discussion in person, or ring us at (425)-737-9015 to book your appointment.
