When planning the agenda for your event, there is always so much to consider. Breakouts, keynotes, meals, entertainment. It’s easy to get wrapped up in what you need to relay to your audience but it’s also imperative to ensure they get something out of your event other than an overload of information. Here are a few suggestions on how to make your next Sales Kickoff or Partners Summit not just informative -- but also entertaining and motivating.

Don’t Leave them Hanging

These events, regardless of how motivational, can be overwhelming. Not only does your audience have to decide which events to attend but also, how to get the most out of them. Whether your sales team or your Partners or both, it’s imperative you have a plan for all of the “goodness” they will get out of the event that will continue to trickle through their year ahead.

• Set up quarterly refresher webinars or monthly podcasts.
• Continue to blog or share helpful tips through online media
• Provide ongoing knowledge sharing or what we call a “roadmap” like this one

Overall, don’t let the event be the first and last time they hear from you. The information and motivational messaging you’re delivering should be part of an ongoing and consistent communications strategy so they’re not discouraged after the fact.

Workshop their Success

Attendees come to these events to feel energized and refreshed. So put together a workshop that helps them rethink and reinvigorate their lead and demand generation programs for the coming year to help them do just that!

When designing a workshop strategy we always plan for varied levels of understanding. We build our curriculum around these different audiences so no one walks away feeling under or overwhelmed.. Whether you’re sharing social selling tactics, account based marketing, or content strategy it’s important to have a baseline that offers something attainable. If we walked into a room full of small MSPs and told them they needed to spend $10,000 a month on ABM, not only would we lose their attention but we would totally frustrate them and make them feel like we don’t “get” their business.

Everyone Likes a Rally Station!

Your attendees want to get something out of the event. And by something, I mean more than “death by PowerPoint” about your roadmaps. You must provide the resources and tools to help them build their business as well as yours.

Enter the Demand Gen Rally Station. First, attendees take fresh professional headshots with the best photographer around. Then they sit down with our consultants to run through their online presence. If they’re a marketing novice they’ll likely learn simple LinkedIn tips and tactics that will take them from embarrassing to outstanding. For those with more experience we offer easy-to-execute social selling strategies, SEO feedback, and ABM suggestions.

But the rally station isn’t just for Partners, by the way. If you’re trying to get your Partners to download content, follow social handles, login to your portal or marketing automation tool, or all of the above, a Demand Gen Rally Station is a great way to get in front of them.

Ready to make your next event more engaging and memorable? Make sure to check out these tips for Staying Top-of-Mind with Partners After Your Next Channel Event and don’t hesitate to get in touch - we’re always here to help out!