To date, cred has provided event management services for more than 100 industry events from coast to coast and around the world! From multi-day conferences to intimate executive team dinners, the cred team has seen it all, and we’ve developed a streamlined process to ensure your industry event is a success.
Brainstorm Goals
Start with the big picture and important questions. What are three things that will make you and your leadership team happy campers post-event? Be transparent with yourself and your team about what outcomes will make the time and financial investments all worth it. Make these goals as tangible as possible to track progress. We utilize these goals to keep the whole team accountable along the way!
Commit to an Event Budget
Understanding the numbers early in the planning process is crucial. Adding a contingency cushion is also smart to give you flexibility throughout the planning process. Being honest with your vendors on budget will allow us to get the most bang for your buck and use it to guide your decision-making throughout the entire process.
Set a Date & Location
When picking a date, do your homework and research to ensure nothing conflicts with your event. A few things we consider:
National or Religious Holidays
Corporate Conferences
Smaller Industry Events in your field
With a date in mind, finding that perfect venue is next. Make a list of all your non-negotiables—does it need to be in specific city due to client needs? Is parking and/or public transportation needed? Is an onsite caterer preferred? Know what you need ahead of time to save time and avoid venues that don’t meet your criteria.
Content & Speakers
Here at cred, we believe strong, relevant content is the core of all successful industry events. Use these simple steps when mapping out your content:
Create Your Agenda: Build your agenda with an overall theme and key takeaways for your audience. Build in transition times between sessions and make sure there is enough networking time for attendees.
Source Speakers & Schedule Discovery Calls: Use your network to secure the best speakers with the most relevant message for your agenda. Don’t be afraid to send cold emails or reach out to someone on LinkedIn. Set up discovery calls with your potential speakers to make sure they are a fit and share more information about the event.
Schedule Prep Calls: Once your speakers are confirmed, set up prep calls to go over session details, day-of-event logistics, and review questions.
Develop Your Marketing Plan
What’s an event without an engaged audience? Now that logistics are set and your agenda is in progress, start bringing in those attendees! There are many free digital platforms out there to market your next event—Eventbrite, Facebook Events, LinkedIn, and many paid opportunities to expand your outreach if it’s within your budget. Regardless of the platform, having an effective marketing strategy is critical to maximizing your RSVPs and minimizing your attendee attrition rates.
Onsite Support
The day of your event has arrived and it’s time to execute! Make sure you have enough support onsite to keep your event on track. We help assign the right onsite roles for everyone and plan to have an onsite staff meeting before the event to review logistics and responsibilities.
The Impact
We help clients create compelling content and environments that inspire. With over a decade of experience managing events, the cred team prides ourselves in making sure your event runs seamlessly every step of the way. Our work with countless vendors across different cities, a large pipeline of venues to recommend, and our mastered workback plans help us stay organized and efficient.
Interested in hosting your next industry event? The cred team can manage your next function from start to finish. Connect with us at events@credpr.com!
