Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM March 2020 | Page 16

MARKETING
LEEANNE LOWE
President and Founder
Empire Creative Marketing
www.empiread.com
HOW TO PLAN A
SUCCESSFUL SEMINAR
P
lanning and holding a seminar is a fantastic
way to develop your brand identity and
communicate your value to your target
audience and attract potential new clients. Use
these tips to ensure success.
Determine a purpose
Is your seminar intended to inspire or educate? The
purpose of your event is very important so your speakers
can prepare their content.
Set goals
Make sure your audience leaves with a clear
understanding of what their next steps are after the
seminar. Will their goals be something they accomplish
as a team or actions they
will work on personally?
Set a budget
Create a budget
for the event. Include
all anticipated costs
(venue, marketing, travel,
salaries) and revenues
(sponsors, donations,
ticket and merchandise
sales). Consider seeking
out new sponsorship or
partnership opportunities.
Set a date
Set a date four to six
months in the future.
This gives your speakers
and team enough time
to prepare, and allows
participants time to make arrangements. Be sure the
date you pick does not fall around a major holiday. If you
are planning a seminar for your company, a weekday
may be the best option to maximize attendance.
Choose a location
Choose a venue that best suits the style and tone of
your seminar and number of participants. Locations
may include hotels, event centers, churches, schools,
community centers, or meeting rooms at restaurants or
office buildings. Consider the activities your seminar will
consist of when selecting the space. Will it be a formal
meeting just involving seating? Will you need space for
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MOMENTUM
exercises or break out sessions? Will you be serving
meals? When calling venues, be sure to ask what
equipment is provided and if there are additional fees
for set-up, electricity, etc.
Gather your tools & supplies
Test the equipment on-site to ensure there are
no technical glitches. Order banners, handouts and
promotional items well in advance to avoid misprints or
rush fees.
Promote your seminar
Social media is an effective and efficient way of
communicating to the masses. Posting your event across
social media should be a top priority. Share photos
or videos of previous
seminars in your event
posts. Include a link
to an updated event
landing page on
your website, as new
prospects are likely to
visit your website for
additional information.
Agendas are a great
way for attendees and
speakers to keep track
and make notes. Use
evaluation forms to
measure your event’s
success and gather
feedback to make
improvements for
future events.
Use online registration
Make registration simple with online registration. This
way, you can manage your ticket sales, RSVPs, and costs,
and provide a seamless experience for your guests.
Once you receive your RSVPs, create an email contact
list in an email marketing tool. This will allow you to
keep in touch with your attendees after the event,
and email them updates and information about future
events.
With proper planning, seminars can bring increased
exposure to your company while establishing you as an
industry expert.