How to Start Event Management Business From Home
As an event professional, you know that you need clients to survive. However, too many newbies take on whatever work comes their way without considering whether it’s the kind of project they want to do.
This can result in feast or famine times that are exhausting and unsustainable. Here are a few ways to attract the right clients.
1. Do your research
Having the right clients is key to any business. Being able to prioritize your leads is important to ensure that you aren’t spending time on people who won’t become clients or worse, turning down work that could be good for the business.
Developing a niche in the market can help your business be more successful. Clients who know that your event planning company is specialized and understand their needs will be more likely to hire you.
Providing information about your expertise to local media outlets is a great way to secure new client leads. Joining specialist sites such as HARO can provide you with opportunities to contribute insight and knowledge to local or national press. This can help to secure exposure that presents you as a thought leader in your industry.
2. Identify your target market
Depending on where you live and the business structures available, there are many ways to set up an event management business from home. This is a great option for those who want to be their own boss and work a schedule that suits them.
Having an online presence is important for an event management business. This allows you to showcase your past events with beautiful photographs that show how successful they were and gives potential clients a chance to preview your services. Many website builders have different gallery functions that allow you to display your photographs in various ways.
Choosing the right clients is also important. It’s easy to agree to take on a client that isn’t your ideal because of the money, exposure or networking opportunities but this could hurt your business in the long run.
3. Create a website
Creating a marketing plan and an online presence are key to gaining new event clients. For example, you can offer to be a resource for local journalists through sites such as HARO (Help A Reporter Out).
Make your website easy to navigate. Aim for a clean layout and include photos from past events that you have organized. This can help potential customers understand the type of events you can organize and may encourage them to choose your company.
Create a valuable opt-in freebie on your site to entice prospective attendees to sign up for email notifications and updates about your event. This can be a cheat sheet, checklist, or other informative asset that makes it a no-brainer to register for your event.
4. Develop a marketing plan
A business needs clients to survive. Numbers matter but getting the right kind of clients is just as important. The wrong clients can make you dislike your job. The right ones will build a business you love.
Develop a marketing plan that includes email, social media, and SEO. Identify what your budget is for each and create a list of must-haves and stretch activities. For example, an opt-in freebie that relates to what your ideal attendee hopes to gain from the event can get eyeballs on your website. Then select your channels based on where your audience hangs out online. For instance, LinkedIn may be the best channel to reach corporate attendees. It’s called specializing. And specialists are worth a lot more than generalists.
5. Get started
As a service-based business getting clients is an important part of your event management company’s growth. For many freelancers and small businesses it can feel like feast or famine with some days turning away work and other days worrying about how to pay the bills.
Reach out to your network and ask them to refer you to anyone they know that needs an event planner. Also consider joining a referral group where you swap services with other events professionals – this can reduce your marketing expenses as well as providing you with work to tide you over in the lean times.
Register on specialist sites that help people find business support and put yourself forward as an expert – getting quoted in the local media can be great for brand awareness. Taking on freelance work with agencies is another way to bring in some income until you get the business off the ground.