An event management platforms can make planning, managing, and executing your events easy. You can use these platforms to create a website for your event, manage registrations, track attendees, and more. Here’s a look at how to start an event with an event management platforms.
Choose the Right Platform
As you begin planning your event, one of the first decisions you’ll have to make is which event management platform to use. Many options are available, and deciding which is right for you can be tough. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you evaluate different event management platforms:
- Cost: One of the most important factors to consider is cost. Some platforms charge a monthly fee, while others charge a per-event fee. Make sure to find a platform that fits your budget.
- Support: Another essential factor to consider is support. Some platforms offer 24/7 support, while others only provide support during business hours. You’ll want to make sure you choose a hybrid event platform that offers your needed help.
- Ease of Use: Another thing to keep in mind is the ease of use. You’ll want to make sure the platform you choose is easy to use so that you can focus on other aspects of event planning.
Create a Website for Your Event
Creating a website for your event is a simple and effective way to communicate all the necessary details to your guests. It’s also a great way to promote your event and sell tickets. Once you’ve chosen an event management platform, you can use it to create a website for your event in just a few simple steps.
List the Key Details of Your Event
Once you’ve chosen a platform, you can use it to create a website for your event. This is where you’ll list all the vital information about your event, such as the date, time, location, and what activities will be taking place. You can also use your event website to promote your event and sell tickets.
Use Your Website to Promote Your Event
Your event website is the perfect place to promote your upcoming event. You can use it to post photos and videos from previous events and provide information about speakers or performers appearing at your event. You can also use social media to promote your event website and drive traffic.
Manage Registrations
An event management platform will also allow you to manage registrations for your event. This includes collecting payments, issuing refunds, and managing attendee information.
- Collecting Payments: Your event management platform will allow you to collect payments for your event through the website. This can make it easy and convenient for attendees to pay for their tickets.
- Issuing Refunds: If an attendee needs to cancel their ticket, your event management platform will also allow you to issue refunds.
- Managing Attendee Information: Your event management platform will also allow you to collect attendee information, such as contact information and dietary restrictions. This will help ensure a smooth check-in process at the event.
Track Attendees
Most platforms will allow you to track attendees to see who is attending your event. This is helpful for planning purposes and can help you follow up with attendees after the event.
There are a few key reasons why tracking attendees is essential:
- It allows you to better plan for your event. When you know who is coming, you can plan accordingly. This might include ordering enough food and drink, having enough name tags or swag bags, etc.
- It allows you to follow up with attendees after the event. This helps network purposes and can also help you gauge the success of your event. Additionally, following up with attendees shows that you value their attendance and feedback.
- It allows you to keep track of no-shows. No-shows happen, but it’s helpful to know who they are so you can note them for future events. Some event management platforms like Swapcard or the alternative to Brella will also allow you to send reminders to people who have not yet RSVP’d.
- It helps with overall event evaluation. After your event, tracking attendees will help you understand what worked well and what didn’t. This information can be beneficial when planning future events.
Promote Your Event
You’ve set the date, planned the perfect event, and now it’s time to start promoting it. You can use social media, email marketing, and other marketing channels.
Social Media
Social media is great for getting the word out about your event. You can create a Facebook event, share it with your friends, and then encourage them to share it.
You can also use Twitter and Instagram to promote your event by using hashtags and tagging relevant people and brands. If you have a budget, you can boost your social media posts to reach a wider audience.
Email Marketing
Another great way to promote your event is by using email marketing. You can create a beautiful email template with all the details about your event and then send it to your contacts list.
You can also segment your list so that you’re only sending the email to people who are likely to be interested in attending. If you don’t have an extensive list of contacts, you can rent an email list from a reputable provider.
Other Marketing Channels
In addition to social media and email marketing, there are many other marketing channels that you can use to promote your event. This includes paid advertising, guerilla marketing, and PR. If you’re not sure where to start, consider hiring a marketing agency that specializes in events so that they can help you create a comprehensive marketing plan.
Execute Your Event
You’ve planned and promoted your event, and now it’s time to make it happen! Executing your event successfully is all about following your plan and being prepared for anything. Here are some tips to help you make sure everything goes smoothly.
Follow Your Plan
You’ve put a lot of work into planning your event, so follow the plan! This will help ensure that everything runs smoothly and keeps you on track. Of course, be flexible and prepare to adjust the plan if something arises. But in general, stick to the plan to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Be Prepared for Anything
Despite your best efforts, things may not always go according to plan. Be prepared for anything that comes up by having a backup plan and being flexible. Things will inevitably come up, but if you’re prepared, you can still execute your event successfully.
Have a Positive Attitude
Attitude is contagious, so make sure you have a positive attitude! This will help ensure everyone enjoys themselves and that the event goes off without a hitch. Remember, even if things don’t go exactly as planned, it’s still possible to have a successful event. Just stay positive and roll with the punches!
Follow Up With Attendees
After your event, it’s essential to follow up with attendees. You can send them surveys, thank-you notes, or even just follow up with them on social media. By doing this, you’ll be able to get feedback about your event and also let attendees know that you appreciated their attendance.
Surveys and Thank You Notes
One way to follow up with attendees is to send them a survey. Surveys are a great way to get feedback about your event so that you can improve for future events. They also let attendees know that you value their opinion and want to ensure they had a good time at your event.
Thank-you notes are another great way to follow up with attendees. Thank-you notes show appreciation for attendance and can also be used to promote future events.
Social Media
Another way to follow up with attendees is through social media. This is a great way to keep the conversation going after your event. You can post pictures from the event, tag attendees in posts, and even run contests or giveaways.
By following up with attendees on social media, you’ll be able to keep the momentum going and ensure that your attendees had a great time at your event.
Conclusion
Event management platforms make it easy to plan, manage and execute your events-from start to finish. By following these steps, you can use an event management platforms to create a successful event from start to finish.
