Event management has always been, and always will be, one of the highly sought-after skills in the business world. What’s more, the unique skills involved in planning and effectuating a flawless event strategy are highly sought-after nowadays in all areas of life, allowing aspiring entrepreneurs in this field to organize everything from corporate events, to private parties and beyond. With such a high demand for organizational talent, it’s no wonder that the event management industry is booming around the world.
That said, this positive trend doesn’t negate the fact that event management is a highly nuanced art form few business leaders truly manage to master. Moreover, the competitive market makes achieving long-term success a difficult and complex task, so there is a need to take the time to structure your plan accordingly. Here are the five steps that will allow you to launch a successful event management company.
Put your experience to the test
There is no way around it, successful event management is not an industry you can simply waltz into without any prior theoretical knowledge or experience. The truth is that this market, like any other, is saturated with skilled and experienced teams and individuals who have been organizing successful events for years, so you need to establish your competitive edge from the very start if you are to stand a chance.
To achieve this, you will need to obtain some prior experience in event planning, or at least in the different individual skills that go into successful event management. These skills include, but aren’t limited to organization, resourcefulness, creativity, time management, financial management and fundraising, networking, market research, negotiation, pricing, and more. In order to obtain some or all of these skills, consider attending event management classes first, or sign up for an online crash course that will complete your preexisting knowledge base.
Master the art of fundraising
A crucial skill you will need to master before launching your events startup is the skill of fundraising. Clients coming to you for help won’t always bring with them the financial capability to pay your organizational fees, the venue, the food and drinks, and every other auxiliary feature that goes into a great event. Sometimes, they will require you to raise the funds for their events, and you will need to demonstrate an ability to obtain the necessary funding in a short timeframe.
There are numerous ways you can approach the problem of fundraising, the most effective being sponsorships and early bookings from attendees. To find sponsors fast, you will need to create a pool of potential funding partners you can contact on a moment’s notice, which requires some networking on your part. If you choose to sell tickets and capitalize on early bookings for the event, the best way to hit your target revenue is to utilize the power of contemporary event management software.
Leverage the power of event management software
Nowadays, there is an intelligent piece of code to satisfy every need, and address every problem in the business world. The same goes for the industry you plan to conquer, as the rise in popularity has prompted visionaries to create comprehensive events software solutions that aim to make marketing, ticketing, booking, communication, and management a breeze.
When it comes to capitalizing on the event in particular, having a flexible and scalable ticketing system on deck can mean the difference between a sold-out show and having to close the event due to a lack of funding. You cannot allow this to happen, as having to close an event can jeopardize your brand’s reputation in the competitive industry, and leave your clients dissatisfied with your service. Instead, leverage the power of intuitive software to build contemporary event pages that will attract attendees and inspire them to book their seat months in advance.
Define the scope of your service
Event management can mean a lot of things. You will encounter clients who will expect you to organize their entire event from scratch – everything from registration and finding a venue, to the color of the waiters’ ties and vests. You need to be ready and able to address these needs. For this reason, be sure to define your services early on, and decide whether you’re going to offer a full-service event management package, or specialize in one or two key areas.
Market and advertise your business
Finally, don’t forget about marketing. Your services might be in high demand all over the world, but that doesn’t mean that success is guaranteed. Quite the contrary, the highly-competitive industry begs the need of up-and-coming brands to execute comprehensive marketing strategies in order to spread the word of their startup and become a competitive player in the field.
Final thoughts
Event management is an industry on the rise. With a relatively low point of entry, provided that you possess the necessary skillset, launching your own event management brand can be a quick and easy process. That said, be sure to follow these steps in order to avoid common pitfalls and ensure a thriving future for your new business.
Guest author, David Webb, is a Sydney-based business consultant,online marketing analyst and a writer. With six years of experience and a degree in business management, he continuously informs the public about the latest trends in the industry. He is a regular author at BizzmarkBlog. You can reach him on Twitter or Facebook.
