Any entrepreneur worth his salt knows the importance of creating a memorable conference, and how a successful event can help your business to prosper and thrive. Maintaining a high level of concentration from attendees often seems to be an impossible task, but is essential if you wish those taking part to take your intended message away with them. Organisers so often make the mistake of filling a conference schedule with speeches alone, not making space for creativity or ways for attendees to truly participate. With this in mind, here are just a few suggestions guaranteed to leave those attending your conference impressed and inspired.
Get Creative
Although it may sound like an overused phrase, thinking outside of the box is absolutely necessary when planning a successful and memorable conference. Creativity is a must, and there a plenty of ways in which to showcase your creative side throughout your conference. From workshops to the décor you choose, steer clear of never ending blocks of speech and outdated PowerPoint presentations; instead, opt for ways to include and empower attendees. If you do choose to incorporate workshops or group activities, ensure they’re easy to follow for all levels of experience, and that they are relevant to the message you intend to convey.
Location, Location, Location
Location is everything. If you choose to hold your conference in a run-down hall with shabby looking décor, then the impression you’ll leave will certainly not be the one you’re hoping for. Pick an easy to find location with plenty of character and attractive aesthetics: although they may seem like minor details, first impressions count. From luxury hotels to converted barns and serviced offices, there are plenty of incredible location choices around the country which are able to cater to your requirements in order to create a bespoke conference that is completely unique to your brand.
Spicing Up Your Conference
Concentration levels for those attending conferences so often diminish as the event progresses, and as such the message you’re hoping to share is likely to be lost. As interested as participants may be at the start of a conference, sitting and listening for a long period of time is enough to make even the most interested attendee’s mind wander. Luckily, spicing up such a corporate event could not be simpler: brighten up your event with classes, colourful décor, film clips and even the promise of a free lunch, allowing attendees to interact, learn and connect. If your conference does require a large amount of speech in order to get your point across, plan carefully and do plenty of research in order to pick a speaker who is engaging and inspiring as well as on brand.
Try to see your conference as less of a formal procedure and more of a way to open the eyes of your audience to what truly makes your business unique. Avoid the conference clichés we all hate so much and opt for engaging ways to motivate participants.
