Thank you for watching this episode of Channel Maven TV (#CMCtv). Join Ashley Haga, Channel Maven Demand Generation Specialist, in this short video as she and Heather K. Margolis discuss best practices for hosting, planning, and attending events in the Channel.

At Channel Maven we’re no strangers to event planning and attendance and long story short - it’s never simple to attend or plan an event! Many factors and logistics come into play and it’s not uncommon to run into something unexpected, you forgot this or that, your flight is delayed etc. This CMCtv segment takes a deeper-dive into the tips and tricks we’ve learned to ensure the best outcome:

Planning for and vetting the events you will attend:

There are so many different events in the Channel and deciding which ones are worth your time and budget each year is a challenge in and of itself.

As a starting point, here’s how we begin :

1. Start looking at events three months before year’s end. (We started looking for 2018 in October of 2017)
2. Ask colleagues, clients, or Partners - they have insights on interesting events
3. Look for events your clients will find valuable

As an event planner, what steps can you take to ensure a smooth process?

• Garner input from everyone on your team - their ideas can help
• Collect social handles and promote speakers and details to excite your audience
• Obtain a list of audience members before going to the event and consider reaching out to see if they want to connect in-person

If it’s your event - build momentum: things you can do to get the most out of your time

• Build awareness by reaching out to attendees via email in advance
• Use social media profiles to build excitement and let people know you’ll be there
• Connect with fellow attendees through the event app
• Focus less on selling and more on connecting - you’ll open more doors that way

Following up after the event:

Whether you’re the event host or an attendee, leave a lasting impression and bolser new relationships by communicating after the event:

• Follow up with your audience. A simple “It was great to meet you” goes a long way
• Connect with new contacts on social and share your insights
• Follow speakers and presenters and share their content

Whether you’re planning, hosting, or simply attending an event this year, these steps will help ensure a successful and exciting experience. Many thanks to Ashley Haga for lending her valuable insights and experience.

Want to learn more about planning Channel event planning? Our One Stop Checklist for Successful Channel Events is the ebook for you!