Making the right impact

An event is an experience and often it’s the best way to engage with people in person. It also enables you to give them a true feel for your brand’s energy and the energy of the people behind your company.

But what makes an event a success?  It’s not just a numbers game.  A successful event can’t be measured on how many people attend, but whether they are the right influencers. And what they go away saying about your product or service can be very powerful.

At Flagship we specialise in coordinating and managing events of all sizes – from high-end intimate lunches to large press conferences, from new product launches to AGMs.  Each event is tailored to meet our clients’ objectives yet still be ‘bang on brand’.  Events need to be dusted with glitter – that extra bit of pizzazz to get people in the door and keep them talking about your product or service when they go home through it.

We’ve been organising events for more than 15 years, and here are some of our top tips:

Get their attention, and in their dairies

People are so used to being emailed these days that receiving post is now a novelty.  Grab attention by sending a physical teaser or invitation.  It’s also a good idea to send out a “save the date” email as soon you have it confirmed.  There are a lot of events on every night of the week, so make sure you get yours in peoples’ diaries first.

Location is everything

People are busy. If the news or the occasion is big enough, they will come to your event.  But most events are not ‘must attend’ sessions, so it’s important to select a venue that appeals to your audience – a central location and a place they can ‘namedrop’ often works.  Try to ensure that the venue is ‘fillable’’; you don’t want people rattling around in a big space, so make it look bustling.

The power of celebrity

Everyone loves to rub shoulders with someone famous.  If budget allows, a guest speaker or celebrity appearance can add instant clout to your event and also provide instant publicity opportunities.  Social media is very powerful when it comes to events, so giving your guests something to tweet about and update their statuses will help disseminate your message even further.

Keep it interesting – and relevant

Once you’ve got their attention and given them a reason to attend, don’t let them down by delivering something dull or off-the-mark on the day.  Keep presentations short and be sure to hit home with your most important key messages.  If they’re interested and it’s relevant to them they’ll come to you for more information.

Give them something to remember

Whether it’s a photo with a famous guest speaker, a fabulous meal, a gorgeous gift or a 3D press kit, give them something great to take home and talk about.  It’s no secret everyone loves a goody bag, but a boring ‘baddy bag’ can result in a big Twitter fail the next day.

These are just a few of our top tips for getting it right when event planning. If you would like more information on how we can develop or manage your next event, please contact our director of new business rebecca.dunstan@flagshipconsulting.co.uk or call 020 7886 8446.