15 Feb 10 Should You Add Wedding Planning to Your Event Planning Business?
Some meeting and event planners focus solely on working for corporate clients, some have found a niche in planning SMERF events and some focus primarily on more personal occasions, such as weddings, commitment ceremonies, anniversaries and retirement parties. While there are some planners who attempt be a Jack or Jill of all trades and provide every type of event planning service to every type of client, most find that specializing in a particular area is the best way to make a name for themselves and make their jobs easier. This is what is recommended by most professionals and is what works best for most meeting and event planners.
So, when is it a good idea to add wedding planning to your menu of services if you are not specifically a wedding planner? There are some occasions when going against the logic of sticking to a limited selection of events is a good idea. For example, when planners are first starting out in the field of event planning, they may be happy to take on any event that comes their way. In these beginning stages, this also allows for the opportunity to see how you feel about planning weddings and to determine if this might be the right fit for you and your future as a planner.
WEDDINGS AT SEA
Something else to consider is planning weddings at sea. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), cruise lines are reporting a huge jump in cruise weddings – up to 60% during the last decade. It’s no wonder – cruise ship weddings make planning easy and offer an unforgettable wedding destination and honeymoon in one. The ceremony takes place while the ship is in port, either onboard or at a romantic setting ashore – and the celebration continues as family and friends enjoy the fabulous dining and entertainment options onboard their ship.
But, even seasoned planners who have never planned a wedding may suddenly have one of their best corporate clients ask them if they could plan their daughter’s wedding. If you have the time and think that you can do a good job planning the event, this would be one of those times when stepping outside of your normal event range might be in order.
Tags: Anniversaries, Clia, Commitment Ceremonies, Corporate Clients, Cruise Lines International, Cruise Ship Weddings, Cruise Weddings, Entertainment Options, Event Planners, Event Planning, Family And Friends, Jill Of All Trades, Last Decade, Meeting Planners, Niche, Personal Occasions, Planning Service, Retirement Parties, Wedding Destination, Wedding Planner
12 Nov 09 Blogging for Success…
Blogging is a great way to promote your meeting and event planning business. It is a one of the best ways to get your message out, post by post. You can also announce events, get feedback on past events, and connect with clients and vendors.
Anyone who maintains a blog can tell you that it is not always easy to come up with regular, interesting posts. Many good blogs fall by the wayside for this very reason.
But the importance of blogs should not be ignored. A study from BlogHer, a women's blog network, found that 42 million women in the U.S. alone participate at least weekly in social media of some type. Although Facebook was first on the list, blogs are the second choice with 23 million women visiting blog sites regularly. They tend to spend more "quality" time reading blogs that are relevant to their job and industry.
For bloggers, that's a real opportunity to build a strong readership by developing and maintaining a blog that develops a loyal following.
If you decide to setup a blog for your meeting planning business, here are some tips that may be of help:
- Catchy titles – having a title that jumps out from the page can gain you more curious readers
- Quality content – the content must backup the titles. You need to provide quality information that is interesting and useful for your readers
- Update regularly – establish a schedule for your blog posts. Having a regular schedule of posts lets your readers know that your blog is active and alive.
- Respond to comments – aside from spammy comments, it is a great thing when people comment on your posts. It means they are not only visiting your site, but reading your posts, as well. Responding to their comments shows you care about what they say – even if it is on the negative side.
- Read other blogs – if you read enough blogs out there, you'll get a good idea of what works and what doesn't. Also, by following blogs related to your industry, you can stay on top of events, news and issues important both to you and your readers. You may also gain ideas for future posts on your own blog.
Tags: Blog, Bloggers, Blogging, Catchy Titles, Curious Readers, Event Planning, Indust, Job, Meeting Planning, Nbsp, Quality Content, Readership, Reason, Second Choice, Success, Time Reading, Wayside
23 Sep 09 How to Lighten Your Workload
Event planning takes a great deal of time and energy. There are a great many details that go into the smooth transition from a client’s request for an event to making that event come to life. How can you lighten your load and become more efficient as an event planner?
Instead of filling out forms and emailing them to you, require that participants use online registration forms. These are stored in an online database that you can access at any time. Using an online registration form cuts down on the amount of data entry work that you have to do.
Online registration forms can effectively cut down on other aspects of your work. They can be set to respond to online registrations by emailing receipts and any event materials that are needed for the conference. Everyone who is registered can be emailed a reminder about the upcoming event with just one click of your mouse.
This software keeps you up to date should someone cancel as well. The registrant can simply go online and cancel his registration and your file is updated immediately. The more information a registrant has access to online, the less time you will spend repeating things over and over. Give online registration forms for your next event and discover how much time and energy you save.
Tags: Data Entry, Discover, Event Materials, Event Planner, Event Planning, Filling Out Forms, Mouse Software, Online Registration, Participants, Receipts, Registrant, Registration Form, Registration Forms, Registrations, Reminder, Smooth Transition
17 Jul 09 Event Planner Certification
Meeting and Event Planning is a multi-billion dollar industry, and corporations are recognizing the need for meeting planners to hone their skills and to become more proficient at what they do. Too much money is at stake! Associations raise much of their yearly operating funds from their annual meeting, and many non-profit organizations raise a high percentage of their funds from special events.
There are several associations of Meeting Professionals that are dedicated to the education of meeting and event planners. More and more colleges and universities are offering certificate programs as well as degree programs in Meeting and Event Planning.
Having the right certification and education will help meeting and planners not only get the projects they want, but also offers the skills and knowledge to succeed.
Tags: Annual Meeting, Certificate Programs, Colleges And Universities, Corporations, Degree Programs, Dollar Industry, Education, Event Planner Certification, Event Planners, Event Planning, Meeting Planners, Meeting Planning, Much Money, Profit Organizations, Stake
15 Jun 09 Innovative Ideas For New Age Event Planning
Time is money, and the meeting and event planning industry applies this rule as any other. Everyone is hard pressed for time, and clients expect more work from less time. How do you, as an event planner, handle this time-work dilemma and come out victorious?
The idea is to create and innovate, and come up with revolutionary ideas to achieve high quality work within a given time frame.
As it is not easy to work within a given deadline, event planners need to think of alternative methods to organize successful events.
Event planners tend to have a hectic time while on the job- vacationing and holidaying becoming almost an impossibility. What with time constrains and deadlines to meet, event planners are almost like surgeons on call- they need to be on site whenever needed. (more…)
Tags: Alternative Methods, Event Management, Event Planner, Event Planners, Event Planning, Events Planners, Hectic Time, Impossibility, Innovative Ideas, Invitation Cards, Management Tools, Mind And Body, New Solutions, Physical Addresses, Precious Time, Quality Work, Revolutionary Ideas, Term Dedication, Time Is Money, Time Work
18 May 09 Need Some Training? Try Marriott’s Meetings Excellence!
In a time when event planning professionals are either looking for new jobs or piling on second jobs to make ends meet, Marriott International says you can take that time to increase your value instead.
Meetings Excellence! Is a new program offered online to help both the new planner as well as the seasoned professional. The curriculum introduces event planning to new intermediary planning professionals, as well as approaches for planning a successful event. It also covers Marriott’s own offerings to the conference and business meeting planner. Soon the educational units will be offered in other languages, including Turkish, Chinese, and Japanese. (more…)
Tags: Booking Rates, Business Meeting Planner, Commission Structures, Education Training, Educational Units, Event Planning, Event Professionals, Excellence Program, Global Economic Crisis, Great Strides, Group Meetings, Group Partners, Marriott, Marriott International, New Jobs, Obligation, Offerings, Point Of View, Stamp Of Approval, Sunny Day
14 May 09 Event Planning for the Recession: Banquetology
Ten years ago a company holding a big business event was expected to lay out a lavish feast for all those in attendance and their spouses. Businesses often spent tens of thousands of dollars on spreads that sometimes produced almost as much waste as it did fulfillment. Well, the recent crippling of the world’s economy has made these affairs a relic of the past.
With company event planners now wondering how they will feed attendees at their next function, enter Banquetology, the brainchild of the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront Resort. Banquetology is a way of presenting meals in small portions with greater variety to satisfy guests, their diets, and the company’s financial limits–in other words, everyone’s bottom line. (more…)
Tags: Attendees, Brainchild, Budgets, Business Event, Calorie Meal, Calories, Chefs, Crowne Plaza, Dieticians, Diets, Event Planners, Event Planning, Feast, Girths, Psychological Aspect, Pushcarts, Recession, Relic, Sponsoring Company, Thousands Of Dollars
11 May 09 Low Budget Event Meals
The economic crunch has bitten into our lives, finding its way in everything we do. Yes, lifestyles have changed- a lavish, spendthrift economy has taken a back seat and what has come upfront is a population of anxious consumers, eager to save every penny.
With the “saving” culture finding a huge fan following, it is no great surprise that the event planning industry too has cut down heavily on unnecessary expenditure. The days of extravagant meals and rich cuisine have passed, being replaced by a much more affordable platter full of health-conscious food that causes less heart burn- both physically and financially! (more…)
Tags: Back Seat, Cost Cutting, Economic Crisis, Economic Crunch, Economical Food, Event Planners, Event Planning, Food Items, Food Menu, Intelligent Work, Lifestyles, Low Budget, Midst, Motto, Previous Years, Rich Cuisine, Rich Dishes, Spendthrift, Status Symbol, Unnecessary Expenditure
02 May 09 Event Planner’s Responsibilities
The event management industry is a huge platform that offers a rich variety of career options. For those eager to build a solid career in the event management field, it is always a rewarding profession. Be it the financial perks, the excitement or the simple joy of meeting people, event planning is like a platter full of assorted dishes, ready to be relished.
However it is not always hunky dory and fun- work duties of event planner include so many multiple activities that it’s not at all easy. At the end of the day, clients need to feel thoroughly satisfied with the service of an event planner. Let us have a closer look at two important duties of an event planner.
Tags: Assorted Dishes, Career Options, Client Requests, Closer Look, Cocktails, Designing Brochures, Event Management, Event Planner, Event Planning, Excitement, Food Menu, Invoice, Management Field, Management Industry, Neighborhood Bar, Printing Invitations, Rewarding Profession, Rich Variety, Time Management, Urgent Delivery
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