CEO of philipfsmith.com – Serial Entrepreneur and Expert in Digital Marketing and E-learning.
As the world recovers from the pandemic, in-person events are making a comeback, and people are eager to interact with others face-to-face. This creating an excellent opportunity for businesses to promote their brands and engage with their customers. However, businesses must ensure that they adhere to local regulations to keep attendees safe.
In recent months, I’ve hosted four successful events, with an attendance ranging anywhere from 40 to 250 people. These events have proven to be powerful tools for building brand awareness, generating leads and fostering meaningful customer relationships. In-person events provide businesses with the opportunity to showcase their products or services, engage with customers on a personal level and create a lasting impact on attendees. I’d like to share a few of my tips to help your business hold a successful in-person event.
When planning an in-person event, consider your audience and what type of experience you want to create. The event’s theme and activities should align with your attendees’ interests and provide them with valuable content. It’s also essential to select a venue that can accommodate the number of attendees and provides a safe and comfortable environment. I personally find that having a “meet and greet” in the evening, preceding the event creates a more engaging environment for the next day since the attendees feel connected to each other and with the hosts. Once I implemented this, I was flooded with positive feedback and testimonials about how great the event was.
Consider incorporating interactive elements such as workshops, product demonstrations, or games to help keep attendees engaged and interested. Providing unique and memorable experiences can help create brand loyalty and positive word-of-mouth marketing. One way to do this is to hire a professional emcee to help manage and run the event. I’ve done this and found that it creates an unspeakable energy and positive mindset for all, especially for the attendees.
Another way to make in-person events successful is by utilizing social media platforms to promote them before, during and after the event. Using social media can help you build buzz around your event, attract new attendees and create engagement during and after the event. Encourage your attendees to share their experiences on social media to increase brand exposure and attract new customers. On top of this, businesses can use social media to gather feedback and insights to improve future events, such as requesting video testimonials and reviews. I’ve found that hiring a professional videographer to record the attendees during the event can help you gain important content and footage of your event and record testimonials that you can use in your marketing for future events.
By providing relevant and valuable content and prioritizing the safety and well-being of attendees, your organization can create memorable and profitable events. With so many businesses competing for customers’ attention, providing a unique and memorable experience can help businesses differentiate themselves from their competitors. For example, at one of my events, I booked a 135 ft yacht and had a VIP party the night before one of my events. So many of the attendees booked my event just for the yacht experience! I find that creating unique experiences and delivering valuable and informative content go a long way.
In conclusion, businesses should consider incorporating in-person events into their marketing strategies to rebuild and grow after the pandemic. By understanding your audience, prioritizing safety protocols and utilizing interactive elements and social media, your business can create memorable and profitable events. In-person events provide opportunities to connect with customers personally, build brand awareness and foster meaningful relationships. As the world returns to a new normal, I believe in-person events will continue to play a crucial role in the success of businesses.
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