When you’re hosting a business conference, you want attendees to enjoy themselves and benefit from the experience. It’s a hefty responsibility to provide real value, and this can sometimes get lost among all the details when organizing a business event. Here are some tips to help you put on the most effective conference possible. 

3 Suggestions for Holding a Successful Business Event

1. Focus on the Takeaway

Don't try to address every possible issue. Instead, decide in advance what you want your audience to take home from the experience and direct your energies toward accomplishing that. For instance, if your goal is to encourage networking, make sure you provide opportunities for attendees to interact.

If the plan is to introduce a new technology, offer hands-on learning and make sure the audience understands the benefits of adoption. The more focused your approach, the more successful the conference will be and the more likely people are to return next time. Leave secondary topics for next year's event.

2. Design Effective Badges

To promote interaction and networking, you need effective and legible ID badges. That way, attendees can identify each other by name and organization. Avoid lanyard badges, as they’re hard to read and flip around easily. Instead, ask attendees to pin the badge in a visible location on their outer layer of clothing. Minimize your logo in favor of larger fonts to permit easier identification. 

3. Maintain Communication

Your business event attendees need to know a lot more than just the conference date and address. Anticipate what people might need to know and communicate it effectively. Explain where to park, how much it costs, and whether a shuttle is necessary and available. Notify guests where they can refuel, where they can buy lunch, and whether they'll need cash on hand during the conference.

Provide a map of the venue showing vendor booths and a list of speakers and events. The better you communicate, the more prepared your guests will be to get as much as they can out of the event.

If your organization is putting on a business event, get in touch with the South Fulton Chamber of Commerce in Union City, GA. For nearly 70 years, they’ve been focused on promoting economic development in the South Fulton County area, including Palmetto, Chattahoochee Hills, East Point, College Park, Hapeville, Union City, Fairburn, and southwest Atlanta. They specialize in creating business networking events and entrepreneurial opportunities. Visit their website to learn about the benefits of Chamber membership or call (770) 964-1984 to make an appointment.