With how much time, funding, and energy planning a business conference requires, you want to be sure to optimize your profit margin. The best way to do this – besides proper budgeting – is to draw in as many attendees as possible.
Business leaders are becoming careful about which conferences they attend. They look to optimize the value of their experience by comparing travel and attendance costs with what your conference has to offer.
Follow these 5 tips to take your conference from “just another business conference” to a “must-see event”:
1. Get a head start
Don’t wait till every last detail is planned out to start attracting attendees. You are going to need sufficient time to advertise. Pick your venue and a date that doesn’t conflict with holidays or other, similar conferences and start marketing. The larger the conference, the further in advance you will need to announce it.
2. Make it marketable
Marketing firms are constantly keeping an eye on the latest trends. The goal is to borrow a trend’s existing momentum to advertise their own products or services. Search social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to find out what subjects are trending in your industry, and brainstorm ways your conference can provide exclusive content on these topics.
3. Don’t skimp on the speakers
Anyone can talk about trending topics in your industry. The trick is to find experts at the top of your field, people who are seen as innovators and industry leaders. These are the kinds of speakers that bring with them the promise of inside information on the future of your field. The money you spend on expert presenters should be made back in increased registrations.
4. Interview the speakers beforehand
Introduce your speakers to potential attendees through interviews leading up to the conference. If you are able to, make video interviews and share them on YouTube. This provides registrants with a chance to preview the speakers before committing to registration.
5. Industry outreach
Send personalized letters to major industry groups. Advertise in magazines, newsletters, quarterlies, and any other media that your target audience would read. Take advantage of social networking to spread the word. Savvy marketers can hire industry bloggers to promote the event through advertising, or even contests and giveaways.
We offer laughter workshops for both teams and organisations. Have laughterworks deliver a laughter session at your next quarterly forum or team-building day. Contact us: info@laughterworks.com.au, or 0438 545 607.
5 Secrets to Drawing Attendee’s to Your Conference. http://t.co/5dIcIaV29w
— Cris Popp (@laughterpopp) December 1, 2014