Corporate events can be important to business for a number of reasons. And they can contribute to a lot of success within your industry. Not only do events help you push your company name out to a wider audience, but you can also use them as excellent ways to network and meet new clients.
It’s easy to keep the stress away during planning and organization. As long as you start well before the big day, you’ll be able to think all the big decisions over in plenty of time, so you’re not rushing things. To help you out, though, here are five steps you can take to help nail your next corporate event.
Decide On Your Event
There are a number of events you could use from. Some of the most popular corporate events are banquets, drink receptions, or presentations. Whichever one you decide on will depend on the type of business you have and, also, what you want your event to achieve. If you are hoping to increase your customer base or attract new clients, then an event which is open to the public would be best. Think about maybe holding an open day in your offices. If your offices or place of work isn’t suited to hosting the public, you could always hire out a conference space elsewhere. Many hotels have conference facilities, so speak to your nearest to see what prices they can offer. One of the benefits of hiring out a space for your event is that the venue staff could help you set up and sort out any food and drink options that you need.
Think About The Venue
I quickly touched about this in the point above, but thinking about your venue isn’t something you should take lightly. The venue can make or break the entire event. If you are hiring out conference facilities, arrange to meet with the venue staff the week beforehand. This way you can chat with them and let them know exactly what you want. They will also let you know what is and isn’t possible within the space. Of course, if you are holding the event in your own workspace, all you have to do is make sure the space is going to be presentable to the public. If the weather is going to be nice, and you have an outdoor area, why not take the event outside? Event Marquees can add a nice touch to the day. You can hold a buffet inside, and things won’t have to be called off if the weather takes a turn for the worse.
Organize Your Staff
It is very important to make sure all your staff is on the same page. They will all need to know what is going on and their exact responsibilities throughout the day or evening. Give each employee a job for the entire event so that they can keep busy. They should also look professional throughout, and be easily identifiable from the public. If they usually wear a work uniform, tell them to wear it on the day too. This will help add an air of professionalism and make your company come across very well indeed. If you employ a lot of staff and won’t have enough roles for them throughout the event, you could get them to take hour-long shifts. Or, give some the day off! One of the most important things to remember is that every member of staff is an ambassador for your company. So they should each endeavor to put all their effort into the event. If they do, your company’s reputation will certainly be given a boost!
Sort Out The Food
A successful corporate event will have food and drink to keep all the guests happy! People always appreciate when there is free alcohol at events. It will help your guests relax if it is a networking event. Not only that but a free buffet of nibbles is often greatly appreciated. You might think of it as just a little gesture, but it certainly looks good from the point of view of all your guests. You don’t need to go over the top with your catering. When it comes to drinks, wines and beers will be enough. Don’t forget some non-alcoholic options in case some visitors do not drink. Ask if any of your staff would be able to help with making food for the buffet. If you have the time, though, you could benefit from hiring a catering company to sort out the snacks.
Materials
You should see your corporate event as a big marketing and PR campaign. It’s a way of putting your brand and product or service out into the public, so seize the moment and use it to your advantage. Print out lots of business cards, flyers, and any other materials you can hand out throughout the event. This way, your guests have no excuse if they forget you! Try and make your website and social media handles visible throughout the day or evening. Then people can instantly connect with you online. If people are very impressed, they’ll want to tweet about you to all their followers. So make sure they can find you online easily! If you are holding a presentation, print out paper copies of the slides and hand them out to everyone. People like to have physical notes to read during any kind of presentation.
Corporate events can be super beneficial to your business, for various reasons. One thing is for sure, if you hold one, you will certainly reap the benefits. Especially if you plan it all correctly and thoroughly. This will ensure your event is memorable for all the right reasons!
After your event, remember to take a note to see if your profits and sales are affected. If you see an improvement, you should almost definitely consider planning on in the not-so-distant future! If you don’t notice a change in your business’s performance, there’s no reason to worry. There’ll always be room for improvement at your next event!
