Event Consultation Experts explains Venue Questions

For most, venue and ambiance are the first things to attract you to a space for your event and many locations meet these basic requirements and are similar in cost. However, you have to dig deeper to find what those expenses cover and whether a venue is right for your needs.

Expenses

To ensure you stay on budget, ask what the base price includes. Some venues give you only the space. Everything else is extra. Others include amenities such as tables and chairs, basic lighting and multimedia equipment, drapes, and parking. If your event is outdoors, it is necessary to know you can be charged for the basics like electricity and water. Or you might be required to provide your own. Some offer a staff for free while others require one or more site staff for which you will pay extra.

Time

Another item to consider is time management. For locations that charge by the day, how many hours are included and when does the times start and end? An event lasting three or four hours may need two hours of setup and at least an hour or more for breakdown. Full rates may only apply to the hours the event is held if the venue offers hourly rental. Charges for setup and breakdown can range from a far reduced rate to full price.

Staff

A day-of-the-event coördinator can take care of all the little details to make certain your event runs smoothly as well as manage setup and tear-down. Even if you’re having the venue handle everything, you still want to follow-up and have several on location meetings and walk through(s). Even with a coördinator, you need to be on top of things.  Most venues include at least one coördinator with your space. Find out how many are coming, their schedules, and responsibilities. Venues may also require security guards depending on the size of the crowd and whether you serve alcohol.

Meals

What about food and drink? Hotels and restaurants usually need to only use their Food & Beverage departments. This may not only be a matter of profit because any food on their premises reflects on their standards. Also ask, if the venue supplies the meals, is there an added cost for plates, silverware, and serving utensils? Linens come at a price. How many servers, and bussers will be working? And remember servers are tipped separately from all charges should they be allowed to accept tips.

Insurance

It is also a good idea to carry liability insurance and to ask if coverage is included, or is it an extra cost? It can take care of material damage should a guest break or steal decorations belonging to the venue, cover injuries like a person tripping down a flight of stairs, slipping on a spilled drink, or falling on the dance floor. Some venues may carry a basic amount or only need it if you’re serving alcohol. Keep in mind, even though many caterers and event planners have their own coverage, which can cut the need for you to spend on insurance, it is best to be covered.

If you would like more information, please contact us, your event consultation experts.

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How to Communicate Your Vision Strategy

When two parties come together there are occasionally creative differences that must be resolved to move forward. It is important to be able to explain your vision to your client while also listening to their ideas for the vision and end results. 

Any good conversation, work-related or not, includes healthy amounts of listening, asking questions, and seeking to understand the other perspective. There may be times your client’s vision is the right one for the job. But there may be times you need to tactfully steer your client in another direction.

When there are differences of opinion, it is good to focus on something you can both agree on — namely, the mission, vision, and goals of your client. Ideally, both you and your client will be pursuing their business success, whether that is selling products, running events, or connecting with consumers. Once this ground is reestablished, it is up to you to clearly communicate the vision based on your experience in the field, creative genius, etc. 

 It helps to remember to stay professional and offer your client  reasons why your design ideas are strong and likely successful. You have the experience they need, and when you can clearly communicate your ideas you give your clients every reason to trust you with their hopes and dreams. Remember, business is not personal and a client simply might not like your designs for no clear reason. 

As Steve Jobs once said, “[they] don’t know what they want until you show them.” So your job is to show your clients what they want in a professional and tactful way.

Contact us for more tips about corporate communication or other questions.

The Core Concepts of Effective Reputation Management

“Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow.  The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.” Abraham Lincoln.

Do you have the good reputation that you deserve? Bad publicity has always been a challenge, even to the good guys. In these days of social media that can instantly harm you there is a need for a sophisticated response strategy. Make sure people are aware of your character, and not looking at someone else’s shadow.

Reputation management can have many forms, and can require several different roles. In a large organization, the role would be filled by a full-time strategic communication advisor; but even then, the key employee may need consultation depending on the situation.

Perhaps the defining characteristic of effective reputation management is good judgment. Maintaining a good reputation involves planning your organizational structure so that you have a smooth flow of information as well as confronting specific issues as they appear in the business environment and in the media.

Any confusion caused by incorrect reporting must be addressed with authority in a timely manner.  Any roadblocks to communication within your organization must be located and eliminated.

Whether it is for a hospital board, an African nation, the U.S. Department of Defense, a corporate public relations department, or a small business operating a marketing strategy, a reputation management strategist coordinates clarifying your position. This important advisor will also assist in the formation and adjustment of policy.   

The higher your authority, and the broader the scope of your endeavors, the more important it is that you are in position to be able to manage the public perception of your efforts. An effective reputation management strategy is much more than “spin.” The creation and implementation of good policy needs dedicated attention and support in the unpredictable climate of popular opinion.

The Possible Roles involved in reputation advisement:

• As an educator, the advisor communicates with employees and associates to make them better conduits for a policy that has been decided upon.  In order to avoid inconsistency of services or product, all people involved in implementing your service should be schooled in the philosophy of your business or social mission. This involves coordination with human resources and training of department heads as well as direct presentation to large groups.

• As a publicist, the advisor has editing, writing and speaking skills to distribute information through appropriate networks, whether through existing corporate newsletters and email systems, or media outlets. The publicist is familiar with social media and monitors interaction on strategic sites. The publicist can produce content, as well as inform others on proper responses to online forums.  The publicist has a close relationship with any formal spokesperson or media relations department for a large organization, acting as a liaison between management, media, and policy formation.

• As an analyst, the advisor suggests what information should be given to a particular group, be it employees, associates, or volunteers. The analyst assists in the timing and proper media for press releases. The analyst provides support and assembles research opportunities when adjustment of policy is necessary.

• As a researcher, the advisor is aware of trends in the social fabric regarding your endeavors. The researcher is aware of meaningful published work, and, if necessary, attends relevant summits and discussions by experts in the field. The researcher evaluates new ideas and innovations, making recommendations to you for discussion and review of policy.

• As a coordinator, the advisor makes certain that internal and external policy is consistent with your goals, and develops measuring techniques to monitor progress in accurately portraying your efforts to the public. The coordinator will be aware of budget compliance, and will be able to provide recommendations for necessary adjustments, whether in policy or implementation of existing policy.  

Give us a call, and clarify your position.

 Contact us

Brand Development through Relationship Marketing

Relationship Marketing is an important part of brand development, focused on the long-term benefit of customer retention. This strategy places an emphasis on building customer relationships. In the modern age, marketing has evolved to include many technology-based methods, including email, video, and social media. There are benefits and challenges to relationship marketing across these various means, although it could be argued that connecting with customers has never been easier than it is today.

Relationship marketing is of particular importance when there is a competitive market for customers. When faced with many choices for the product or service they desire, customers seek to make a connect with a brand or company. That connection will fuel their consumer decisions in the future, and is often built on unique features of a brand. Some customers may gravitate to popular, well-know brands; others may gravitate to local, niche brands.

Relationship marketing usually features a combination of customer retention and customer satisfaction. Customer retention focuses on repeated transactions between customers and companies, building long-term relationships. Repeat customers are often less price sensitive and less inclined to switch companies. Because long-term customers are familiar with goods and processes, these relationships are cheaper to maintain when compared with the cost of attracting new customers.

An added benefit of customer retention is the likelihood that long-term customers will bring additional revenue to companies by word of mouth. Ensuring customer satisfaction, by building customer relationships with many positive associations to a specific product or brand, gives a worthwhile return on investment. Knowing the specific interests and desires of customers is done by accessing names, addresses, demographic information, buying history, and many other variables available with today’s analytic technology.

For help implementing relationship marketing as a brand development strategy, contact us today!

 

A New Logo, Now What?

The new logo for our new division.

So your enterprise is sporting a new logo, now what? You might think it’s easy to continue to market your brand the same way you did before, but it’s not. Now’s the time to saturate your audience with your new brand development. With change comes progress; so always keep in mind that change is good, and often great.

Current logo

Due to frequent changes in the economy, social issues, and technology, the expertise of businesses often change. This is why companies rework or recreate their brand; emerging with a new, improved, and “fresh” new image. A branding “face lift” can work wonders for your company by re-introducing you to your loyal customers, and reaching an even larger audience. The idea is for you to say “I’m breaking brand.”

Another version

Give your business cards a make-over, making your new logo the star.

Redesign your websites, keeping new and potential clients in mind.

All business stationery, most importantly letterheads, will need to feature your new brand.

Don’t just change the logo on your products; give them all fresh new labeling.

And yet another version.

If you offer clothing items, think about expanding the styles offered; if you don’t offer clothing, think about doing so. T-shirts are a great way to increase visibility of the brand.

For more information on how to increase your brand visibility and interaction, contact. And, remember always represent your

Original logo from 2008

• product/services
• reputation
• rates
• logo/tagline
• customer service that supports your business.
• brand’s promise.
• customer’s feelings about your business. 

 

Top 5 Mistakes Business Owners Make When Implementing Online Marketing Strategies

As a business owner, the main goal of your overall marketing strategy is to communicate to your customers how your business can help them solve their problems, with the outcome of getting and keeping profitable and valuable customers. In today’s digital age and with all current advances in technologies, business owners can reach out to thousands of people in new and engaging ways. However, this also means that the marketplace is saturated with competitors who will seize opportunities to gain advantage from your mistakes. This is why it’s critical for any business owner to work smarter and acquire the right knowledge, tools, and build a solid plan of attack.

An online marketing strategy is part of the overall marketing effort and flawless execution is essential, if you aspire to create impact and add value to your target audience. Unfortunately, many business owners rush into creating an online presence without taking the time to build a plan of action, which results in putting energy and effort into weak strategies. The most common mistakes business owners make when marketing on the Internet Are:

1. Creating A Website With No Careful Planning

 This might sound obvious for some, though you’d be surprised how many business owners end up wasting time and money building and developing a website where visitors have no idea what to do when they arrive or what type of business is represented. You only have one chance to impress your visitors within the first ten seconds of landing on your website before they experience a “stay” or “go” moment depending on the quality of your website’s look, feel, and ease of navigation.

 2. Failing to Research Competitors and Marketplace

Passion in life is important and can lead to happiness, however if you want to turn your passion into a business, you cannot jump into a venture without conducting impartial research in advance. A well-executed market research will show if enough people share a desire to buy your product or service, and it will also reveal the level of saturation in the marketplace which will allow you to determine if you can create a unique niche you can call your own. It’s critical to always check your competitors and find out how their business compares with yours to determine any opportunity for improvement you can capitalize on.

 3. Failing to Build E-Marketing Lists

Are you familiar with the phrase “If you build it, he (they) will come?” Well, when it comes to running a business, building it can be the easy part. Once your business is set and ready to go, you need to start building a relationship with your desired audience. One of the most important pieces of information your website can provide to you is the names and email addresses of visitors. The most effective way to develop an email database is to create a call to action instructing visitors to register. Once people register, they give you permission to send them promotional emails and other information. Keep in mind, it takes time to build and people are more apt to purchase from companies and people they know, like, and trust.

 4. Failing to Track Marketing Campaigns Results

Tracking is the only way to find out what is working and what needs some adjustment. For every marketing strategy a business develops, it’s important to track its Return on Investment (ROI) to avoid wasting precious time and money. For instance, two promotional email campaigns are developed and tracking results shows one worked better than the other. A company is now in a position to better understand how to communicate with their customer base. Keep on testing new ideas and eventually a winning formula will be developed allowing a business to pinpoint the areas where improvement is needed.

 5. Failing to Follow Up With Prospects and Customers

 Sadly, a lot of business owners fail at creating a follow-up system with prospects and consumers which is detrimental to help keep them loyal. Consistent communication builds trust and it can take up to 20 targeted reminders before an interested prospect turns into a customer. Once you have customers, do not ignore them or they will take their business elsewhere. You need to remind your prospects and customers how your benefits and features will help them solve their problems and needs.

What other mistakes can you think of when implementing online marketing strategies?

TwoGirlsConsulting can assist you with any marketing need or pain point you are experiencing. Contact us today.  

 

 

Success In Brand Development Related To Mobile Consumption Patterns

Internet consumption patterns are rapidly evolving. Any brand strategy needs to account for the pace of change. For example, in the past year, the amount of time that users spend within mobile apps began to exceed the time spent browsing the web.

Following the consumer is crucial in brand development. When it comes to mobile, that may very well mean in-app advertising for many enterprises. When it comes to such advertising, customer engagement will be the key. The use of rich media and even mobile video can better engage the user and build brand identification.

Identify Mobile Usage Patterns

The customer’s journey from exploration to purchase is certainly being re-defined. Enterprises that can identify emerging trends have a unique opportunity to grab market share during this paradigm shift. Carefully map out the journey(s) that your customers are taking on the web and seek to personalize their experience at key spots along the way.

Discounts On-The-Go

For example, the increase of in-store app usage in driving the grocery shopping experience more than ever. About half of female grocery shoppers used their smartphones while shopping, according to a study commissioned by allrecipes.com that was published in December 2012. Forty-seven percent of the respondents said that they did so because the apps were both easy to use and helpful.

Localized offers and downloadable discounts are ways that businesses can capture the attention of the smartphone shopper. Successful customer engagement can quickly translate into loyalty in the smartphone  world.

Look At The Competition

Even though this shift to mobile eCommerce is rapid, there is still no sense in completely re-inventing the wheel. Careful competitive analysis can expose effective strategies that you too can employ.

Mobile & E-mail Conversions

Another emerging trend in mobile is the increasing use of e-mail on-the-go. Reports suggest that easily over 40% of users are now viewing emails on their mobile devices. A fourth quarter 2012 report from Experian Marketing Services identified upward trends in sales via email. Revenue per email was up 8% for the quarter. The average order was up 12% for the same period.

Developing your brand with device-specific optimization is more important than ever. Consult with us to make your branding strategy relevant and mobile-friendly. Please contact us today.