2020 is here and I am motivated to get all sorts of things done. I am sharing my 2020 plan so that you all can help me stay on track. So here are my plans for this year.
Release my first online course March 1, 2020.
I have been working on this course for over a year but had some time issues in 2019. Planning my wedding became a huge part of my life – even with a wedding planner so I had to set this aside. I now have all of the equipment and software I need and no longer have an excuse. Beta Tests will start in early February for anyone interested in Effective Trade Shows for Small Businesses.
Gain 3 outside Social Media Management Clients by April 1, 2020.
I have been helping a select set of companies with their social media content and strategy. I am picky about my clients because I want to ensure I am the right fit for them. This allows me to hone in on their needs and help them to grow their business. I will start marketing for this service in February and already have a few prospects in the pipeline. Reach over 1k followers on Facebook and Instagram by August 1.
This is a huge jump but I know that it will help. I am expanding my blog and social media topics beyond business events and trade shows in 2020 which will help to expand my audience.
Release the second set of online courses September 2020.
I will be releasing How to Be the Perfect Bridesmaid/Man. So many blogs and books focus on the bride and leave the bridesmaids/men out. I want to share my hard won knowledge as a bridesmaid, maid of honor, and bride. I am not shying away from the hard topics i.e. Do you really want to be a bridesmaid? Can you afford it? How do you deal with the bridezilla? What is really expected of you?
These are big goals but I have a plan. I also am going to be working with a coach to help me stay on track. Having an accountability partner is essential.
Let me know what your goals are and how Events Made Sane can help your business grow in 2020.
The one biggest tip I can give people to sell more items at a trade or craft show is to elevate your booth.
No, I am serious.
Elevate your tables to bar height.
Why?
People will stop to look at something on their eye level.
They feel more comfortable stopping if they do not have to stoop or bend to look at items.
Create product groups and tiers on your tables so people can identify items at a glance.
This has years of consumer science to back it up. The most expensive items at most stores and the most expensive shelf space is at eye level of the target market.
Walk down the cereal aisle at the grocery store at the see how the boxes are merchandised. The healthy and “adult” cereals are at your eye level. The cereals that are targeted towards children are one shelf down.
Here is a great example of this by Basilwood Farms.
Notice a few great details
They have table cloths to give the booth a polished look.
They have maybe 3-4 of each item skew out on the tables to keep it from looking too cluttered.
I know they have more product under the tables so they don’t run out but putting everything they brought out would overwhelm people.
They have simple portable lights on their product.
Their lights are not shining at their customers, they are catching the shimmer that is infused into many of their products. Always use lights like this when possible.
Everything fits into the “Farm” theme.
Wooden crates and metal buckets help to organize items and give the booth a welcoming feel.
They carry these themes into the business cards and their website. It is one cohesive image. You can check them out here.
Basilwood Farms is a great example of a company that knows who they are and how to present a cohesive image from their farm store, website, booths and printed materials.
My second tip for selling more at trade or craft shows – be like Basilwood Farms. Know who you are and take that through everything.
Basilwood did not pay me to write this post and I do not get any kick backs from the sale of any items. They are a great company who graciously allowed me to write about them and their craft show booth. Support your local businesses whenever possible!
I love watching the Wedding Planner and 27 Dresses – but real world events do not happen like that for small businesses. You rarely have a crew of people running around with ear pieces to ensure that every detail is perfect. Most of the time, it is like I was this weekend – running solo.
I arrived at 10:30 am for an event start time of 5:30 pm. I had never seen the inside of the venue but the company had hosted similar events in the space. First thing that happened was the person helping me get into the building set off both sets of door alarms. Second thing that happened was that 8 couches awaited me in the middle of the venue.
They had set up the 8 tables in and around the couch formation. This completely restricted the flow of movement and was a hazard to the couches. So, I spent the next two hours moving tables, chairs, side tables and the couches themselves – and no one at the event knew about it.
Event planning is not glamorous.
It is long hours spent working on details that are rarely noticed when they are done correctly but always noticed when they are not done. It is listening to people complain about the brand of soda at the event. It is cleaning up after people as they leave their glasses and food across the tables. It is putting on make up and getting dressed in the bathroom of the venue because you do not have time to go home. Event planning is all of this but it is much more as well.
Event planning is very rewarding.
Creating and nurturing an idea that then comes to life in front of your eyes is addicting. I get a fizzle down my spine as all the details start to come together. The relationships you build with others in the industry will last far beyond that one event and turn into true friendships. Event planning allows you to transport people to worlds of fun and fantasy, bringing joy to so many.
So while event planning is not like the movies it can be so much better because you help create dreams, are involved in their most special days, and make lasting memories. At the end of the day, it is worth the long hours and the 10-15% of people who test your patience and your ethics to make someones day.
Tips for Succeeding in Event Planning
Grow a thick skin. People will always think they could have done better without knowing the details.
Learn to love the process. Taking and idea from inception to creation is an amazing feeling.
Find good partners to work with. Having the right people around you and helping you at events make a world of difference. I keep list of my preferred vendors and a list of people who I will not work with again.
Promotional items can be the cherry on the top of a great trade show or event. They will extend the life of the event and keep your company top of mind. The problem is getting the promotional items in the right hands and to keep the trick or treaters at bay.
Trick or treaters are the people that walk around with their giant bag or rolling cart and grab three of everything “for their grand kids”. They are the people that walk up and try to take items off your table that are not even promotional items. They are the life sucks that can walk away with $5 – $15 of items and never say hello or be qualified as a lead.
So how do we get items into the right hands and keep the trick or treaters at bay? Here are my top 3 tips.
1.Promotional items should have a purpose.
You can read my 5 “W”s of Promotional Items here. I do not advocate giving items away just for the sake of keeping the masses happy.
2. Make a game out of giving the items away.
A person must complete a set of actions to get specific items. For instance, if you are giving a pen away, they have to write down one thing they have learned at the show and their contact information – with the pen. You can ask people to take comment, post, like, or tag on your social media profiles. You can ask them to sing a song – whatever works with your goals for the trade show will work here.
3. Do not set them on the table at the front of the booth.
This allows people to do drive-by. They walk over, grab the item, and keep right on walking. Make attendees work for your give aways. Even if you are going for the shot gun approach of trying to hit everyone, a small interaction will make the item and your company more memorable. I will often buy big bags of candy to place out for the people just walking by to grab items. This keeps people happy and allows me to interact with the people who want to talk with me.
Every part of your booth needs to help drive your shows goals forward – especially your promotional items. These are items that people are taking with them and will be used to remember your company. Do not let it be a grab and go process – work on having an interaction and creating a memory to go with the item.
I often take the time in December to plan out my next year, to see where I can improve and how I can push my events to the next level. I have been diving into various TED Talks lately and wanted to share the top 3 that inspired be for 2020.
What I Learned From 100 Days of Rejection by Jia Jiang
Trade shows 80% rejection, people walking by or saying no thank you. Learning how to accept that is a crucial part of the process.
Embrace the Remix by Kirby Ferguson
We rarely start from scratch with our trade show programs. We have Brand Guidelines, legacy materials, and past data that we can constantly remix into better ideas.
How Great Leaders Inspire Action by Simon Sinek
I find that after a long year, going back to Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle and focusing on the why is a great reset for my brain and creativity. We often focus so hard on the benefits and features of the products or services that we forget that people don’t buy those. They buy the why.
What are your favorite TED Talks or inspirational videos?
As this year draws to a close, I often use December to plan my next year. One of the questions that I ask is if I should exhibit or attend certain shows? Here is how I decide if I should exhibit or attend a show if I am on the fence?
If I have attended this show before I will also look back on my reports and notes to see what I thought at the time of the event and if I wanted to attend again.
Always make notes after you exhibit at or attend a show. This will help you remember what was happening and how you felt. A year can be a long time.
