|
||
If you are in the Event Planning Business the strategies needed to make an event memorable andprofitable are extremely important. They require a certain amount of planning and a whole lot of commitment to achieve the ultimate goal: Having a Great Event with just the right number of attendees! An event, which leads to even more success, referrals, more business, and most likely more people committed to the project in the future.
A special event is an event with a specific purpose, such as a special occasion (celebration of a milestone, conference, party, awards ceremonies, fairs). They are different from ongoing programs.
Strategies for Success:
1. If a company or host has hired you, they have already determined that the purpose of the event is important enough to warrant the expense and time necessary to put it on. If you are a volunteer leader, this must be the first step in determining whether or not to pursue the idea.
2. Do you need a team of volunteers/paid staff to execute a successful event? Involve your team in the planning. This core group will help develop the “theme, select the location, and determine who else should be involved.
3. Determine the purpose of the event. Is it to make money? Is it to increase awareness of the product or company or organization? Is it to celebrate a success or a milestone? It might be a combination of all three. Once you know the purpose, you can plan accordingly.
4. Who is the target market? As an Event Planner, you may not be involved in that part of the planning. Your job may be just to stage an extraordinary event. The company or organization may be responsible for attendance.
5. How will you measure the success of the event? By the number of attendees, by the amount of money raised, by the number of people interested in helping out with future events?
6.If this event has been hosted in the past, talk with others who have worked on it before. Get their advice and support. Seeking the opinions and advice of others will help to elicit support for future success of the event. Find out what went right, what went wrong and how they measured success in the past. What are/were their expectations of this event? Were those expectations met or exceeded? If not, what would they have done differently? This will help you develop your Master Plan.
© 2005 - Heidi Richards
Here are strategies to help you request freebies and samples from companies and sponsors. You should be aware that the offers posted on many free stuff sites are not suitable for bulk requests. These sites list free stuff offered by corporations that use free offers to promote their products and services. Generally, these companies limit their samples to one per person, family, or an organization.
The best way to request multiple samples is to approach national and local manufacturers, stores, or companies directly. Visit their web sites and search for contact information of their corporate giving departments, public relations, or customer services. Then, email, write, or call to request the samples. You should consider writing letters using your organizations' letterheads. In your letters, be sure to explain what you would like to request, why you need them, how you are going to use them, and how you would recognize the companies for their generosity.
When you contact large, national companies, you may want to find out if the companies have formal corporate giving policies. Use a search engine and search for the corporate giving or donation policies. Keywords to try are the company's name and “corporate giving” or the company's name and “donation.” Then, determine if your events or your organizations correspond to the policies, and compose your letter, following the instructions listed in the policies.
You may have better response rates from local companies. Try contacting companies that have target markets of your event or your organization. For example, I helped to organize a youth artwork contest. I contacted local fast food companies and youth clothing companies for the contest prizes. I was able to get a large duffle bag, a sweatshirt, and several gift certificates from local businesses.
When you are successful in requesting the samples, be sure to write thank you letters, including photos and videos to show how the samples were used and how the companies received recognitions.
Here are additional resources to help you request multiple free samples:
1. Read “Secret Ways to Get Free Stuff” to find more examples of contacting companies directly and asking for free stuff.
http://freestuffpage.com/forums/showthread.php't=3469
2. Contact nonprofit groups such as Gifts in Kind International. These groups take extra inventories from manufacturers and redistribute them to other nonprofits. You may have to complete applications and wait to use these services.
http://www.giftsinkind.org/
3. Visit fundraising sites for resources at Yahoo! Directory of Fundraising
http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Issues_and_Causes/Philanthropy/Nonprofit_Resources/Fund_Raising/
4. Read books on fundraising. Visit the site below for fundraising titles that you are able to locate in your local libraries.
http://govolunteer.ca/library/Search.do?keyword=Fundraising
Good luck and best wishes on your efforts in requesting multiple samples and donations.