How The Marketing Shift Has Changed Event Management

It should be clear to anyone who’s been paying even the least amount of attention that the world of marketing has changed. With the birth of social media, consumers demand more than a sizzling sales pitch or clever advertisement. The drastic shift in communication brought about by social networks such as Facebook has altered how consumers look at their brands. To be involved in marketing today isn’t just about telling customers why they should value a brand; it’s about establishing a relationship with those consumers. Not surprisingly, this shift has also resulted in a significant change to the events industry.  Events […]

Perfecting The Art Of Gift Giving For Event Marketing

Everyone appreciates a good gift. So long as it’s something they’re actually interested in receiving, you’d be pretty hard-pressed to find someone who won’t willingly accept something for free. Not surprisingly, this means that gifting is actually among the most formidable strategies in any marketer’s arsenal. “When you look at the process of giving, it’s easy to see why it works as a form of marketing,” explains Cvent’s Jenise Fryatt. “A gift is offered that meets the needs of the receiver. The person receiving it uses it for his or her betterment, and is grateful to the giver. The receiver […]

Foolish Marketing Tactics You Need To Avoid

Believe it or not, the most challenging thing about running an event isn’t often the logistical side of things – that’s something most event planners live and breathe. It’s marketing. Executing a successful campaign requires a deep knowledge of the event in question along with its guests. Not only that, it requires considerable marketing knowhow. The second bit is where a lot of event management professionals – novices in particular – tend to get tripped up. See, marketing isn’t exactly easy. Even one tiny mistake can render an entire marketing campaign useless. Factor in how much misinformation is currently floating […]

Event Marketing FAQ

Planning an event is one thing. Implementing a sound marketing strategy is another thing entirely. When it comes to event marketing, there are sure to be many questions on your mind. Your goal is simple: to settle on a plan that will boost attendance and help ensure the overall success of the event. Here is a group of frequently asked questions related to event marketing. Once you answer these questions, it becomes much easier to move forward in a confident and concise manner. Which marketing tactics will generate the best results? There is no easy way of answering this question, […]

Five Mediums You Can Use To Market An Event

So, you’ve got this great idea for a conference, and you know exactly who you want on staff. Your brand has a clear end goal regarding what they want to achieve here, and you’ve given yourself more than enough time to adequately prepare yourself. There’s just one problem…no one actually knows about your event yet. I’ve said in the past that event management is a vital element in any marketer’s toolkit, but the inverse is true, as well: marketing skills are invaluable for any event management professional worth their salt. Knowing how to get the word out about a conference […]

How Much of Your Budget to Save for Marketing

As an event management professional, budgeting can be one of the most difficult tasks you’ll ever do. Sadly, it’s also the most important – failure to set a proper budget for an event makes it infinitely more likely that you’re going to end up with a catastrophe on your hands further down the line. For that reason, it’s imperative that you get your budget figured out before launching into the planning phase. Now, every event is different; no two events will have a budget that looks entirely identical. There are still some rules and guidelines you can follow to ensure […]

Marketing: Everything An Event Planner Needs To Know

In our last series we focused on tips & tricks for an event planner; ways for you to be more successful and make your job easier. The next few weeks we are going to switch our focus to marketing. This week we will focus on marketing your events. After that, the next two weeks will focus on personally using social media to advance your personal brand as well as that of your firm’s. Each day we will present you with a new post diving deeper into how you can be more successful all around, often by just doing little things that […]

The Do’s And Dont’s Of Running A Secret Event

I did a piece awhile back that made reference to a party hosted by Bud Light in Crested Butte, Colorado. It was a secret event for 1,000 lucky fans of the brand; the culmination of one of Bud Light’s most successful marketing campaigns ever. It also made residents of Crested Butte very, very angry. “Most residents in the town itself didn’t know [about the event],” notes adweek. “After word leaked out, many of them were exceedingly perturbed.” The end result of that perturbation was that Bud Light ended up having to pay double what they’d originally agreed upon with the town, […]

Everything You Need To Know About Getting Your Events Going On Facebook

Whether you’re running a trade show or a corporate fundraiser, Facebook is going to play into your events in some fashion. That’s simply the reality of the world we live in. As the largest social network in the world, Facebook gives brands an unprecedented level of access to their audience. This is especially true if those brands are working in event management. “In the event industry, people have always been social by nature,” writes Cvent’s Eric Eden. “It’s an innate part of what we do.” What that means, continues Eden, is that event management professionals can no longer afford to […]

The Event Manager’s Guide To Search Engine Marketing

What exactly does search engine marketing have to do with event planning?

Alright, so this is probably something of a strange topic for an event management blog. A lot of you are probably confused as to why I’m writing on it, but the answer is actually “more than you’d think.”

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The Ten Most Catastrophic Event Management And Marketing Fails Of 2014

2014 has finally come and gone. As is the custom around this time of year, we’re going to take a brief look back before turning our eyes toward the future. More specifically, we’re going to take a look at some of the biggest blunders, mess-ups, and fiascos of the year in the dual world of marketing and event management. The catastrophes you’re about to witness are many and varied in nature. From Apple and U2’s decision to force a new album on fans to Paddy Power’s baffling decision to bulldoze part of the Brazilian rainforest; these gaffes all have one […]

Twenty Components Every Event Management Website Needs

Most event management professionals understand the importance of having a website – or at least some sort of online presence.  While it’s certainly possible to get by without a website, it’s not the wisest choice in today’s competitive marketplace. Yet, not all websites are created equal. There are certain elements, components that make up a site, which make one website more successful than another; attracting traffic, retaining visitors, and bringing people back to look again. If you really want to see a return on the effort you put into your site, here are twenty components every event management website should […]

Boost Event Signups: Strategies to Attract More Attendees

If you’re struggling to attract attendees for your event, you’re not alone. Many event planners face the challenge of low signups despite their best efforts. The key is to alter your approach, address the gaps, and implement strategies that drive engagement and conversions. Here’s how to turn things around and get your signups rolling in.

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Five Effective Strategies to Minimize Event No-Shows

Event planners know that one of the biggest challenges they face is dealing with no-shows. Whether it’s a small gathering or a large-scale conference, no-shows can lead to wasted resources, unnecessary costs, and a less vibrant atmosphere. To minimize event no-shows, consider implementing these five effective strategies. 1. Ensure Your Event Resonates with Your Audience To minimize event no-shows, it’s crucial to create an event that your target audience finds genuinely interesting and valuable. The more your event resonates with your audience, the less likely they are to skip it. Clearly communicate the event’s objectives and highlight the unique benefits […]