5 Things to Prepare Before Your Next Channel Event

“Whether you are looking to obtain tangible or intangible goals, staying within budget is a key component to planning a successful event.”

You consider your partners to be your most strategic asset, which means you put a significant amount of effort into meeting their expectations.

Channel events are not only a great way to network, but a prime opportunity to show your partners how much you care about them. There are several components to consider when planning and promoting an important event such as this. We have put together a few guidelines and strategies to ensure your next channel event is executed successfully and your attendees are satisfied.

1. Do Your Homework

Identify what you think your partners want. Analyze your past successful events and if this is your first event, evaluate recent events you have attended. Narrow in on the aspects you liked and disliked and what you thought was beneficial. Determine the most important takeaways you want your attendees to leave with. Stay informed about upcoming trends and be sure to implement these into your event program.

2. Set Goals and Budget

Keep in mind your overall event budget includes your marketing plan. Be sure to set goals that pertain to your budget and stay on track. Whether you are looking to obtain tangible or intangible goals, staying within budget is a key component to planning a successful event. Setting limits and staying within your means will ensure you are trustworthy and give you the opportunity to offer your expertise for events in the future.

3. Prepare Your Team

While planning and prepping yourself is essential, preparing your team is the key to a successful event. Create several documents outlining the specifics of your event. Include things like attire, agenda, duties, and any other information you think the team might need to know. We cannot stress the importance of a well-informed team enough. So many events fail or look poorly planned when the entire team isn’t up-to-date. Preparing your team makes the organization look successful, which will ultimately benefit partner relationships, and result in satisfied customers.

4. Promote to the Right People in the Right Places

The number of people that attend your event ultimately defines the success of your event. First, we suggest identifying your target market, then establish which platforms the best fit. This circles back to doing your homework. Once you have found your audience, you can begin to create marketing content to promote your event. Email campaigns are a great place to start your marketing. We suggest including content from previous events and even using teasers to increase your attendance rates.

5. Plan Your Follow Up

As important as getting people to the event is, following up with them is what ensures a long-lasting partnership. Thank you emails and surveys are a great way to keep your contacts engaged. We like to include personalized details from the event, this reinforces a solid foundation for your event attendees and gives them the incentive to register for your next event.

Planning an event takes a great deal of time and planning. These steps will ensure you have the right tools to take your next channel event to new heights.