How to Hold a Super Business Generating Event for Your Small Business

So what does it take to make a small business event successful? How should it be planned? How should it be funded? What and how can you make it worth your while? Today we will concentrate more on how to boost attendance and market the event so that it turns into the lead generator that you hoped it would be. After all, while the devil may be in the details, keep in mind covering all these bases can result in a heavenly return.

1-      Market, market, market then market some more.  Without a more detailed plan of how to get the word out about your event, you may end up with just yourself and family and friends.  To avoid this, be certain to devise a detailed strategy if your event is not invitation only and spread the word as far and as wide as you can leading up to it. If you are hoping to attract a local base of prospect, then don’t neglect local publications or TV stations and radio alike.

2-      Leverage the use of unique Twitter hashtags.  Don’t neglect to use this one strategy to your advantage. Leveraging the use of social media is just good business and likely you’ve had some sort of presence on at least the big sites such as Facebook and Twitter. By devising a unique and memorable hashtag you give people the opportunity to easily spread the word about your event.

3-      Make your own inexpensive video to use to promote your event.  This may sound overwhelming but it can be as simple as a $25 or $50 project on any freelance network. You can write the scripts yourself, or even pay someone to help you, and then record them on YouTube. You can then share those YouTube videos you created on all your social media sites, along with your other contact information, such as your vanity toll free number. You can even having them playing on your laptop or tablet before or after your event to gain an audience.

4-      Don’t neglect online advertising. Regardless of how small of an event you are starting with, you can reach out to both local and industry bloggers to spread the word.  For the local press there is undoubtedly opportunity to be listed in an online publication advertising your event, which gives you another place to link to your video and advertise your vanity toll free number. Offer to write a guest post and try and tie the subject of your event into the subject of the guest post, but remember to add value to the reader and not just push your event. The event mention comes in the last sentence of a “to learn more,” or “X will be hosting a live event at…on….”

5-      Follow up to follow through.  If you were lucky enough to be able to delegate any parts of your event planning, be sure to follow up with those staff members, event site, or vendors who will be supporting the event to be certain that the day and time are accurate. This way there are no unforeseen surprises that could have an adverse effect on your event.

Remember there are a number of ways you can have a successful event regardless of the size of your budget. If you find your budget is relatively small, try taking on some of the things you might hire out and do them yourself. You can also enlist the help of those close to you in order to share some of the load. The less you have to spend might just mean that more creativity is needed.  Regardless of the size of your event, if you’ve clearly identified the goals and you know who you your small business wants to target, you’ll be able to accurately measure the success by the rewards that you reap.