It doesn’t matter whether you’re a real-world or digital business, in-person events can be a terrific way to grow your brand. By taking to the streets, you’ll have a chance to engage directly with the public, sell your products, and gather feedback that can help to direct your strategic decisions.
Plus, they can be fun and exciting. It’s always good to get out of the office and into the wider world. Presenting at events is relatively straightforward, but there are a few things to keep in mind before doing so. In this post, we’ll look at some handy tips that can put you on the right path.
Find the Ideal Event
Not all events are created equal. Some are good, and some are not so good. Plus, some just won’t be relevant to your business. When you’re looking for an event, consider the reputation of the hosting organization and check that it’s logical for your brand. The event doesn’t necessarily have to cater to your specific sector, but it should be in the same ballpark at least. The other option is to host the event yourself, which will give you much more freedom, but will also require more work.
Galvanize Your Team
Your team is going to have a huge impact on the overall success of the event. Why? Because they'll be on the front line, directly interacting with the attendees. It’s best to involve your team from the very beginning since they'll be more likely to come with enthusiasm if they’ve been a part of the decision-making process. It’s also best to see who volunteers to help out at the event, rather than telling people that they have to work there. Ideally, you’ll have your most outgoing and friendly employees as part of the team.
Selling Products
Most businesses attend events as a way to grow brand awareness, make sales, or both. If you’re planning to sell products at the event, then you’ll need to do a few things. For instance, you’ll have to select the right products to sell, since it’s unlikely that you can bring all of your inventory with you. You’ll also need a way to accept payments; mobile card readers, which will allow you to take payments while on the move, provide the ideal solution. It’s also recommended to find ways to gather customers’ contact information, so you can add them to your marketing lists.
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Related: Job Description for Event Manager
Review and Repeat
Once the event is over and you’re back in the office, take some time to review how things went. You’ll likely find that some elements went well, some could have gone better, and some things you didn’t need to do at all. No one perfects events at the first time of asking; it’s an ongoing process that involves reviewing, tweaking, and repeating. If it doesn’t go as well as you hoped, then don’t be too disappointed — there’ll always be another opportunity in the future, and provided you’ve learnt from your errors, the next time will be more successful.
