Getting ready for a live event!
Hosting a live event can scare many entrepreneurs! I know, I hear it all the time. But what I also know for sure is that by hosting a live event, entrepreneurs can grow their business in record time.
Why would you even consider doing this? You would like it because you can leverage your time, attract a large audience, generate a lot of income that can set you up for the year, have fun, get a lot of exposure, and get your information out to a lot of people at once.
However, organizing a live event ‘takes a town’ because it is not usually the area of expertise of all entrepreneurs. And you don’t necessarily want to start by putting together a big 3-day adventure, either. I started small, offering half day workshops and have grown my business to a stage where we now host 3 day events a year (along with the half day and full day workshops leading up to this).
HERE’S WHAT I KNOW FOR SURE WHEN IT COMES TO HOSTING A LIVE EVENT:
- ASSEMBLE YOUR TEAM
A town is needed. In the beginning, even with half-day events, it is important to have support in the areas of administration, graphic design, registration support and help with logistics. As the business grows, it is essential to hire an event management company, who will work with you in hiring an audiovisual team, a videography team, and continues with photographers, makeup artists, hairdressers, graphics team, your own team. supportive and so on.
- HAVE A PLAN
This may sound simplistic, but I’m talking about all the details here, from setting the date, finding the location, creating your vision/theme, getting your team in place and sharing the vision with them, getting your finances in order (in al least a year in advance), sign hotel contracts (at least a year in advance too), identify your revenue goal, create your marketing plan, and map it all out so everyone knows roles and responsibilities. This is the same process whether you are organizing a one day workshop or a large 3 day event.
- CREATE YOUR CONTENT
Most entrepreneurs already have a ton of content…in their head! There’s no better time to get your intellectual property out of your head and into a workbook format than when you’re planning a live event. And many entrepreneurs really underestimate the time it takes for that knowledge transfer to happen! That’s one of the reasons I go into seclusion, several weeks before my events, to gather the content and create the workbook. Once this is done, wow! In marketing to attract the ideal audience.
- GOAL SETTING THROUGH…
I remember after my first big 3-day event in Toronto a few years ago, many people asked me if I was going to take a vacation. Well, I certainly felt I deserved it because putting on a big event is no small thing. Everything you have is needed! But it’s critical to set goals during the event – THAT’S when a lot of the action takes place! That is a critical point in the sales cycle. Goal set for you and your team to create a time frame of what will happen, who will handle it, what you want to accomplish, and ensure communication is optimal.
Hosting live events is an amazing way to grow your business, generate lots of revenue, and share your content with a large audience. It’s a smart way to spend your time and information.
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