5 Tips for Hosting a Killer Corporate Event

Corporate events are something that your business may or may not have hosted in the past. But regardless of how you’ve previously done things, now’s a good time to consider throwing a party. In the age of social media and viral word of mouth, a successful corporate event can bring a massive return on investment.

How to Make Your Corporate Event a Smashing Success

Corporate events take on a number of shapes and forms. For some businesses, a corporate event is nothing more than a small gathering in a nearby conference room. For other companies, it’s a massive event with a six-figure budget. Try not to get distracted by what others are doing. You know your company and what you want to get out of an event.

Here are a few tips to help you along:

1. Identify Goals

Planning a corporate event starts with goal setting. You need to be acutely aware of what you want to get out of the event; otherwise, you’ll find it difficult to focus your efforts.

For example, there’s a big difference between hosting an event with the intentions of raising money for your company’s charity, and hosting an event with the goal of impressing prospective clients. Clarity in this area will go a long way towards helping you develop a game plan.

2. Set the Tone

The venue you choose for the event, as well as the décor and lighting, says a lot about your event. Whether you realize it or not, you have the ability to set the tone and nudge people towards your objectives. Based on the tone you set, people will be more likely to respond in a particular manner.

For example, if the event is a fundraiser for a charity that helps special needs children in the community, you could set the tone by including a gala of children’s artwork, videos testimonials of families who have been positively impacted, and upbeat music that communicates a sense of optimism. All of these elements are tone-setters that align with your event objectives.

3. Hire the Right Entertainment

If you have the budget for it, live entertainment is a way to take your corporate event to the next level. It’s always a good option if the event is upbeat and you want the crowd to be energetic. Many popular wedding bands – such as The Grooves – also play corporate events and can specialize in specific genres and styles of music that you want.

4. Select Good Food and Drink

Food and drink is where you can really make or break an event – both in terms of how much guests enjoy themselves and how much you spend. The goal should always be to provide good food and drink to guests. If you have a small budget, don’t opt for cheap food. Instead, you might need to adjust your approach and do something like hors-d’oeuvres, instead of a three-course meal.

5. Network

Don’t get so caught up in the details of the event’s execution that you forget to do some networking. It’s best to hire or appoint someone else to focus on execution so that you can enjoy the event and mingle with your guests. After all, that’s what it’s all about. 

Consider the Return 

In addition to ensuring the corporate event is properly executed, you also need to have a plan in place for measuring the results. This will ensure you get a realistic picture of what happened, whether it’s worth hosting another event, and how much value you’re extracting for every dollar you spend. In most cases, a well-executed corporate event will generate a healthy return that justifies future investments.