One of the best ways to advertise your business and gain more influence is to host business conferences or seminars. That’s why it seems there are more and more business seminars all over the place. But another major factor that will determine what your business will get from the event is how you plan it.
If you plan your conference thoroughly, you will become an experienced and capable entrepreneur. But if you host your conference badly, it can really hurt your credibility in business circles.
Every conference should start with a plan. You need to pay attention to details and think things through. Of course it requires a lot of preparation and planning. There are many things you can do to impress your guests, from choosing the perfect venue to thinking about details like lodging or hire transportation to pick up your guests at the airport and take them to the conference.
These are just a few examples of thorough business conference planning.
Here are some other tips you can use to ensure the conference stays with your guests, but for the right reasons.
Conference Topics
Before you plan anything else, think about the topic. This will define your target audience and guests, settings and how you will advertise the conference. Conference topics will appeal to guests who specialize in a niche.
Topics will also determine how you will advertise the conference, whether it be through classic means or online exclusives.
Place
Venue selection depends on several factors such as the number of participants, presence of international guests or VIPs, planned activities and more. Generally, conference halls can accommodate up to 200 attendees, and if you’re expecting more, you should find a larger auditorium, hall, or convention center. The location of the place is also very important, as is its quality.
Lodging and Transportation
You should provide your guests with a list of nearby lodging options, so they can plan and book in advance. Hotels often offer discounts for large groups, so you should try to arrange discounts for your guests as well.
Also, you can go a step further and hire a reputable car service to transport your guests to and from the venue, pick them up at the airport and took them to their hotel.
Marketing
For your conference to be successful, you must have a solid marketing plan in place. This will help you attract more participants. That’s why you have to define who your target audience is first and then plan how you are going to tell them.
You can use print ads, email or social marketing, based on your target demographic.
Get Everything Ready for the Conference
Amidst all the planning, don’t forget about the conference you’re about to host. Tidy up all your notes, create a power point presentation, and practice your speech. Give attendees pens and notebooks so they can write down the most important points from the presentation.
If you are planning on holding a conference for several hours, you will need to plan some short breaks, refreshments, and catering for the attendees.
