You want your next event to be as memorable as possible. Why? Because you want a good return on your time and financial investment. If an event is good….it’s less work to get those same attendees back the next year. If an event is memorable, not only will you get your attendees back, but they’ll be advertising to others for you! That’s why I’m giving you 10 Keys to Help Your Next Event Be Memorable, and it’s all d etermined by how much fun people have, the connections they make and what experience they gain from it, and that doesn’t happen by accident.

10 Keys to Help Your Next Event Be Memorable:

Tip 1: Bring in volunteers to greet attendees as they walk in.

The best event I ever went to had volunteers high-fiving and dancing with people as they walked in the door. Everyone was in the best mood before the event even started. When planning your event, start lining up volunteers to help get the energy started.

Tip 2: Play upbeat music to enhance the energy in the room.

Tip 3: Hire an energetic and fun Emcee!

The Master of Ceremonies you bring in sets the tone for the entire day. This person will either have your attendees jumping to their feet with excitement or snoring in their seats. When I emcee events I make sure to ask the client these 5 main questions:

*Who is your audience and what are they there to learn?

*Are you looking for a motivational emcee, informative emcee or both combined?

*Do your prefer audience participation with giveaways, dancing, mingling, jokes or all combined?

*What is the theme of your event?

*What is the result you are looking for with your emcee?

Tip 4: Take pictures of attendees during the event.

Take pictures of attendees and show them throughout the day on the big screen to make your audience feel special and engaged. It’s a great way to get some laughs, and you can sell a cd of the photos when the event is finished to make a profit!

Tip 5: Pass out promotional pieces.

Use the company logo or a catchphrase that will inspire your audience. Promotional pieces  are a great way to keep your audience happy while providing a way to market your event sponsors, products, and speaker’s products. I f one of your speakers is bringing books, audio cd’s …etc to sell at your event, ask them if the will provide one or two to give away as prizes. This nudges your speakers to promote your event and helps increase product sales at the same time!

Wristbands, lanyards, frisbees, mugs, t-shirts, USB drive, keychain, hats..etc…

Tip 6: Provide food at the event venue.

Allows time for relationship building and bonding time for attendees. It also encourages attendees to stay on site instead of leaving the venue and chance not returning.

Tip 7: Create an agenda that includes social media and other ways of marketing.

Use social media to promote while at the event. Perhaps use a Twitter hashtag quote, and encourage attendees to tweet. Hint…The Emcee should know the hashtag by heart and get everyone to tweet throughout the day. You can also use your speaker’s pictures to help promote your event, as seen here:

Speakers love to post their upcoming events on their social media sites before their events. Find a speaker who has pictures ‘ready to go’ to promote your event and get more people in the seats!

Tip 8: Hire a memorable speaker.

I’ve spoken at and attended many events, and the either the least or most memorable part of an event is the guest speaker. Think about these 3 positions:

*Opening Keynote-This speaker should be known for having high energy and getting good audience interaction. Besides the emcee, they’re next in line to kick off your event with a POW or a FLOP.

*Main Keynote-This speaker should be motivational and informational combined. I like to call it, “infotainment” in my talks! Their message needs to be relevant to the audience and experiential at the same time.

*Closing Keynote-The speaker’s job is to end the entire event with a BANG! Like the opener, they should project high energy and tons of audience participation.

(Download this list of what to ask any expert leadership speaker/trainer before booking them for your event.)

Tip 9: Add a networking opportunity to the event.

Hold a meet and greet mixer before or after the event, for better engagement and a chance for attendees to develop relationships.

Tip 10: Give your audience the opportunity to take pictures with the keynote speakers.

After the keynote speeches, audience members love to get a signed copy of their book and take pictures with them. (Hint….place a banner with the company logo in the background to promote the company and give them free advertising when people post the pictures on their social media sites!) They will love you for thinking of that!

About Betsy: Featured on FOX, CBS, NBC, and ABC, Betsy Allen-Manning is a leadership keynote speaker, workplace culture expert, and best-selling author who helps executives and HR leaders strengthen employee engagement, improve retention, and prepare for the future of work. Betsy’s thought leadership and original research in the National Workplace Trends Study and the Destination Workplace™ framework equips organizations with data-driven strategies to build cultures where people apply, engage, contribute, and stay. She is also the founder of an award-winning company known for providing top leadership training in Dallas, and is recognized for advancing leadership excellence and driving workplace culture transformations worldwide.

The best thing about memories is making them.
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