With summer just around the corner, it’s common for businesses to overlook their marketing and promotions and take a step back. It makes sense – businesses and consumers in some sectors are less likely to make big purchasing decisions in the height of the summer holidays – but if you’re not at the top of your game and encourage people to keep spending with you, you could lose both potential and existing customers and miss out on growing your brand.
One way to raise awareness and take your business to the next level is to host a business event, where you can meet leads and chat with B2B customers about their needs. A time when you can take full advantage of your promotional marketing abilities and fill up the location with promotional materials like branded balloons, T-shirts, face caps, even Customized Styrofoam cups. Below, we have put together a four-step guide to organizing the perfect business event this summer.
Choose the right venue
One of the most important things to consider when planning a business event is your venue and hosting it in the right place. In the summer, you’ll likely want to steer clear of stuffy indoor meeting spaces, but you also can’t guarantee the sun will be shining on the day of your event. Consider something in between, like a conservatory or an outdoor space with a gazebo, and make sure that you choose a venue that’s close to home and easily accessible.
Advertise in advance
Whether you’re operating in the B2B or B2C niche, planning is key to running a successful event – and in the summer holidays, even more so. The chances are that some of your key contacts and leads will be heading off on their holidays, and will be out of the country. If you advertise your event in advance, important contacts can confirm their attendance and you will have a better understanding of potential visitor numbers – leave it until the last minute, and you could have an embarrassment on your hands, with nobody turning up on the day.
Hire temporary staff
Something else you must consider is staffing, especially if you’re a small business and want to offer food. We recommend contacting catering recruitment agencies, for example, who can provide you with temporary staff to run your event and provide food and drinks for your guests. Sure, you’ll spend a little more than preparing your own buffet from Marks & Spencer but you’ll impress your guests and your day will have a lasting impact on your business.
Plan your itinerary to the letter
Finally, start planning your itinerary as soon as you’ve decided to host an event, or you could be scrambling for ideas at the last minute. Booking in special guests or speakers takes a long time, and again, during the summer months, there’s no guarantee they’ll be available. If you can show potential attendees what you’re going to be doing and what they can expect, they will be more likely to show up on the day – and eventually become a client in the future!
There you have it – just some of the ways in which you can organize the perfect business event this summer. We wish you the very best of luck with your planning – you can do it!
