Is Event Software Worth It? How to Get Leadership Buy-In

  • Event Management
Leadership Buy-in on software

Planning and executing a corporate events program is no simple task. 

From managing registration lists and building an event website, to scheduling sessions and marketing the event… the logistics never end. Many corporate event managers quickly become overwhelmed by having to jump between so many different tools and tedious manual processes.

Does this sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone!

While event management software has become increasingly popular, convincing stakeholders to invest in an all-in-one platform can be an uphill battle. Decision-makers may be hesitant due to perceived costs or be skeptical about the real benefits.

The truth is, implementing the right event software saves your team significant time and money in the long run.

By the end of this post, you’ll have a clear understanding of the key advantages of using event management software and how to make a compelling case to your leadership team. Let’s dive in!

The Hidden Costs of Not Using Event Software

While continuing to rely on manual methods and disconnected tools may seem like the path of least resistance, there are substantial hidden costs to this approach. 

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest drains on resources and missed opportunities:

1. Lost time and productivity

Team members’ time and productivity take a major hit when they have to jump between various platforms for different event tasks. These inefficient workflows can lead to wasted hours and increased frustration.

2. Increased third-party fees

Beyond that productivity loss, paying for multiple third-party tools like social media and email marketing services, event website builders, and other one-off platforms can really add up. Those fees really cut into your event’s budget.

3. Greater likelihood of manual errors

With so many manual processes involved, it’s easy for important details to slip through the cracks. One missed deadline or last-minute fire drill can derail your entire event. Not only does this look unprofessional, but missed opportunities have real impacts on revenue.

4. Missed revenue opportunities

Speaking of revenue, having no centralized system to track attendee registrations, check-in rates, and event participation metrics means leaving money on the table. You’re shooting in the dark without good data to guide decision-making.

5. Employee burnout and high turnover rates

Ultimately, these inefficiencies contribute to employee burnout and high turnover/low retention rates on events teams. Constantly struggling with tedious tasks makes it tough to stay engaged and motivated.

The real hidden cost? Being outpaced and out-performed by competitors using new technology to run lean, insight-driven programs that wow attendees.

GO DEEPER: 5 Ways to Streamline Your Corporate Event Planning

 

Is Event Software Worth It? A Look at the ROI

The hidden costs of relying on manual processes and disconnected tools are substantial. But an all-in-one event management platform like EventUp Planner eliminates these drains on company resources while driving greater ROI. 

In the next sections, we’ll dive into the specific ways EventUp Planner saves your company valuable time and money.

How event management software saves your team time ⌚️

One of the biggest time drains for corporate event managers is juggling multiple different tools and platforms for every event. 

EventUp Planner eliminates this inefficient juggling act by centralizing every core planning process into an all-in-one event command center.

  • With simple drag-and-drop design tools, creating on-brand event websites and email campaigns is a breeze. No more wrestling with code! 
  • Save hours of manually building and revising your event schedule. Instead, drag and drop sessions, speakers, and rooms for your meeting or event. Catch scheduling conflicts in real-time and automatically push schedule changes to your website, mobile event app, and more.
  • Easily monitor sign-ups without clunky spreadsheets—our live registration tracking dashboards have you covered. 
  • The ability to clone and replicate previous events and brand assets makes it easy to whip up new events on the fly. 

By consolidating every core event planning workflow into one modern platform, your team will regain significant chunks of their workweek. No more wasted time or headaches juggling various tools—just simple efficiency from start to finish.

READ MORE: How to Conduct a Needs Assessment to Find the Best Event Planning Software

How event tech saves money in the long run 💰

Say goodbye to paying fees for multiple third-party tools and platforms. With EventUp Planner’s all-in-one capabilities, your budget goes further.

  • No need to hire expensive outside designers and developers. Your in-house team can easily create beautiful, on-brand websites and emails with our simple drag-and-drop tools.
  • Our fair pricing model beats paying per-registration fees that quickly add up for large events. With EventUp Planner, you can run unlimited events for one flat fee, making it a great choice for teams hosting multiple events at once.
  • Streamlining inefficient manual processes also cuts labor costs. Let automation and templates handle tasks like scheduling, reminders, check-ins, and reporting.
  • Speaking of reporting, centralized data on registrations and attendance unlocks new revenue opportunities through insights on your biggest draws and gaps! Insight-rich KPIs are your best friends.
  • As your events program grows, EventUp Planner allows you to effortlessly clone previous events without the redundant setup time. It’s never been easier to expand your reach and scale up your corporate events program

By consolidating everything into one cost-effective solution, the efficiencies gained allow the savings to stack up over time.

CHECK OUT: How to Bring Event Costs Down Using Corporate Meeting Planning Software

Event Management Software Cost: Making Your Case to Stakeholders

When pitching an event management platform to key stakeholders, take a strategic approach to build a strong business case.

➡️ First, frame event tech as an investment, not a cost. An event management platform isn’t just an expense—it delivers quantifiable return on investment.

➡️ Quantify the potential cost and time savings to get buy-in. Crunch the numbers on inefficiencies eliminated, labor optimized, and revenue opportunities unlocked.

➡️ Emphasize the competitive disadvantage of sticking with manual methods. Your corporate events can’t afford to fall behind more efficient competitors.

➡️ If using legacy systems, note the opportunity costs of not modernizing. The costs of inaction add up quickly.

➡️ Suggest a pilot program to demonstrate the value before broader rollout. A trial makes the benefits tangible.

➡️ Inquire about flexible pricing and implementation options to find the right fit for your organization’s needs and timeline.

By coming prepared with real metrics and a step-by-step plan, you’ll be positioned to get stakeholder alignment on event management technology.

READ MORE: Everything You Need to Know About Event Management Software Pricing

Maximize Your Event ROI With the Best Event Planning Software

The advantages of using a modern event management platform are clear: 

  • Streamlined efficiency
  • Richer data insights
  • Substantial time and cost savings

… and the ability to effectively scale your corporate events program. 🚀

Bottom line: by consolidating every core event workflow into one platform, EventUp Planner eliminates wasted time and missed opportunities. It’s the smart long-term investment to save time, reduce costs, and deliver maximum impact from your events strategy. Schedule a demo today to experience the EventUp Planner difference!

Let's Talk!

Choosing the Right Event Management Software: Questions for Marketing and Project Managers

  • Event Management

As a project coordinator or marketing manager, you’ve likely been tasked with planning company and product events—even though event planning isn’t a core function of your role. Your boss wants improved workflows and better results…but provides little guidance on how to get there. You’re left scratching your head, wondering where to even start.

This disconnect is super common, but it doesn’t have to be insurmountable. 

Choosing the right event management software can revolutionize your processes for putting on successful, highly profitable events. The trick is asking the right questions to find the best event planning software for your company’s needs.

In this blog, we’ll cover key considerations for choosing the right event management software so you can make an informed decision. With the right tool, you’ll be equipped to deliver awesome events from start to finish—while saving time, reducing headaches, and maximizing ROI in the process. Let’s dive in!

Step #1 – Identify Your Company’s Specific Needs

Before searching for event management tools, it’s crucial to clearly define your event planning requirements and objectives. Having a clear “why” will shape how you’ll leverage and get the most out of the software.

Are you looking to improve online ticket sales or boost registrations? Or perhaps you’d like to segment and personalize your marketing communications to improve your outreach. Setting these goals from the start provides a roadmap for your search.

To identify your company’s specific needs, ask yourself key questions like:

  • What types of events do I typically organize (corporate meetings, conferences, trade shows, etc.)?
  • How many events do I manage per year on average?
  • What are the typical sizes of these events in terms of number of attendees?
  • What are the biggest pain points or areas for improvement in my company’s current event planning process?

Getting granular about your event objectives and current challenges allows you to pinpoint must-have features and capabilities. With a clear picture of your requirements, you’ll be better equipped to vet solutions and find top event management software aligned with your company’s goals.

LEARN MORE: How to conduct a needs assessment to find the right event management software

 

Step #2 – Understand Which Features Your Company Needs

With so many options on the market, it can feel overwhelming trying to choose the right software for your company. Once you’ve clarified your goals and objectives for using the software, the next step is carefully considering which features will be most valuable for your specific needs. 

As you evaluate event management software providers, keep an eye out for these key features that can dramatically improve your processes:

Event website and landing pages. Create branded, mobile-responsive websites and  landing pages to promote your events without the need for coding or developers!

Event registration and ticketing. Enable self-service registration and payments directly on your event website for a smooth pre-event experience.

Scheduling and speaker management. Easily build out detailed schedules and session tracks with workflows that save time and energy. 

Event marketing automation. Streamline all email communications and nurture campaigns to boost registrations. Automatically send out personalized emails based on attendee interests and behaviors. 

Insightful reporting and analytics. Gain invaluable insights from registration numbers, attendee interests, revenue data, and more to make data-driven decisions to improve your future events.

Take stock of which features will be most impactful for your company’s events. Perhaps automated marketing is the biggest timesaver, or maybe hybrid event capabilities is non-negotiable. Prioritize the must-have capabilities based on your specific needs and goals to narrow your search for top event management software.

CHECK OUT: How to get internal buy-in when you’re considering switching event management software

 

Step #3 – Evaluate the User Experience

Top event planning software with tons of features won’t make your job easier if it’s overly complicated or cumbersome to use.

A user-friendly interface with intuitive navigation is essential for streamlining your workflows and ensuring adoption across your team—whether it’s your event marketing coordinator, team members from across departments, or your leadership team. 

When evaluating potential software solutions, ask yourself:

  • Is the software easy to learn and use without extensive training?
  • Does it offer mobile accessibility for planning on-the-go?
  • Can the interface and branding be customized for a cohesive experience?
  • What training/onboarding resources are included to get started?
  • How responsive is the vendor’s support team?
  • Does it integrate with other tools my team uses?
  • Can user permissions be customized by role?
  • Is there a trial period to properly test the user experience?

Prioritizing ease-of-use ensures your event management software becomes an asset for your entire team rather than a headache. An exceptional user experience drives productivity.

GO DEEPER: Vetting event management technology for ease of use before you buy

 

Step #4 – Consider Your Needs for Integration and Data Management

As a project or marketing manager, you likely rely on various tools for different aspects of your role. Ensuring your new event management software can seamlessly integrate with existing solutions is crucial for maintaining efficient workflows.

Data security, privacy, and compliance are also paramount when handling attendee information and financial transactions. You’ll want reassurance that any platform you adopt meets rigorous security standards.

When vetting potential software vendors, be sure to ask:

  • Does it integrate with my company’s CRM, marketing, and analytics tools? Payment gateways?
  • How does the vendor ensure data privacy and security?
  • Is the platform compliant with relevant regulations (e.g., GDPR)?
  • Can data be exported in common file formats if needed?
  • What data backup and recovery protocols are in place?
  • How can user roles and permissions be configured?
  • What support is provided for implementation and data migration?

The right combination of connection, security, and control over your data ensures the best possible experience for your team and for attendees. 

EXPLORE: 7 steps to secure your event ticketing process & registration

Step #5 – Assess Scalability and Support

Your event planning needs will evolve as your company grows and your event portfolio expands. Choosing an event management solution with the scalability to accommodate increasing volumes and complexity is crucial to avoid costly repercussions down the road.

Equally important is having a reliable support system to ensure you’re set up for long-term success! Look for vendors that provide comprehensive training resources, responsive technical support, and a clear product roadmap that considers your future requirements.

When evaluating potential software providers, be sure to ask:

  • Can the software handle multiple events and increased attendee numbers?
  • Does it offer functionality to support more advanced event types?
  • What training resources are available for admins and end-users?
  • How is customer support provided (live support, knowledge base, etc.)?
  • What is the vendor’s track record for product updates and innovation?
  • How are pricing models structured for predictable cost management?

Prioritizing scalability and excellent support ensures your event management platform grows with your company. 

READ MORE: How to manage multiple events at once

 

Get the Best Event Planning Software on the Market

Choosing the right event management software is essential for streamlining your processes and achieving ambitious event goals.

Don’t settle for a subpar solution that creates more headaches than it solves. Take the time to thoroughly assess your needs and ask the right questions during your evaluation process.

At EventUp Planner, we’re passionate about empowering companies like yours to deliver exceptional events efficiently and profitably. Our team of experts is ready to guide you in selecting the best-fit software to power events, no matter how big or small. Book a demo today to get started!

Let's Talk!

Manage your entire event portfolio and drive down the cost per event with each additional event you execute. EventUp Planner has flat-fee pricing, with no surprises.
  • For all meeting and event types
  • For all event sizes
  • For all functional teams
  • For all use cases
Book a call with our team to learn how EventUp Planner fits your needs.

Digital Accessibility in Event Planning: Common Pitfalls & Best Practices

  • Event Management
access on a keyboard

In the event industry today, accessibility extends beyond wheelchair ramps and sign language interpreters. 

With 1.3 billion people globally requiring accessible websites, the digital component of events has become crucial for true inclusivity. Yet, a startling 90% of websites remain inaccessible to people with disabilities, creating significant barriers to participation.

As events increasingly blend in-person and digital experiences, ensuring technological accessibility isn’t just good practice— it’s essential for reaching your entire audience. 

At EventUp Planner, we believe that every person should be able to access, understand, and navigate event websites. That’s why we’ve achieved both Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and VPAT certification, making our event management software fully accessible to all users.

Let’s explore how accessible event planning software can create truly inclusive event experiences for all participants.

Understanding Digital Accessibility in Events

Digital accessibility in events encompasses every touchpoint where attendees interact with technology. This includes event websites, registration forms, scheduling tools, and virtual event platforms

While many organizations focus on physical accessibility, digital accessibility is equally important for creating truly inclusive events.

The gold standard for digital accessibility is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA compliance. These guidelines ensure that content is:

  • Perceivable – Information must be presentable to users in ways they can perceive
  • Operable – Interface components must be operable
  • Understandable – Information and operation must be understandable
  • Robust – Content must be robust enough to be interpreted by various assistive technologies

Industry certifications like Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) provide formal verification of compliance.

FREE CHECKLIST: A Guide to Creating Inclusive & Accessible Events

 

Essential Features for Planning Accessible Meetings and Events

Planning an accessible meeting or event? Let’s explore 3 must-have accessibility features in your event technology:

Event website accessibility

Your event website is often the first point of contact for attendees, making it crucial that everyone can access and understand the information presented. A truly accessible website removes barriers for users with various disabilities while creating a better experience for all visitors.

Modern, accessible event websites must include:

  • Screen reader compatibility for users with visual impairments
  • Keyboard navigation for those unable to use a mouse
  • Proper heading structure and semantic HTML

Additionally, visual accessibility features are essential for users with different needs:

  • Alternative text for images to convey visual information
  • Sufficient color contrast for readability (meeting WCAG 2.1 standards)
  • Resizable text without loss of functionality or layout disruption
READ MORE: How to Create an Event Website + Best Event Website Examples

 

Event registration form accessibility

Registration forms represent a critical point where accessibility issues can lead to abandoned registrations and frustrated users. Ensuring your forms are accessible means creating a simple, intuitive experience for everyone.

Essential event registration form features include:

  • Clear, logical layout and instructions
  • Error messages that are easy to understand and locate
  • Support for keyboard navigation
  • Compatibility with form auto-fill features

To enhance user confidence and completion rates, your forms should also offer:

  • Clear indication of required fields
  • Multiple contact method options
  • Progress indicators for multi-step forms
  • Automatic saving of partially completed information
CHECK OUT: 4 Easy Ways to Boost Event Registration by 20%

 

Event calendar and scheduling tool accessibility

Event schedules can get complicated, but that doesn’t mean they should be hard to use! Your scheduling tools need to work for everyone, no matter how people access them.

Key event scheduling tools should include:

  • Support for multiple time zones with clear display options
  • Integration capabilities with personal calendar tools
  • Clear visual and text-based interface (that works with screen readers)
  • Easy-to-use session selection and registration

To take the scheduling experience one step further, your event scheduling platform should also provide:

  • Waitlist management for full sessions
  • Automated notifications for schedule changes
  • Alternative format downloads (PDF, plain text, etc.)
  • Conflict detection and resolution tools

Digital Accessibility Examples and Best Practices

Let’s explore some event accessibility examples and implementation best practices at all stages of the attendee journey.

Pre-event planning

Getting accessibility right from the start saves time and creates a better experience for everyone. Many accessibility issues can be prevented by making smart choices early in the planning process, particularly when it comes to your technology choices.

Here are some important steps to take care of before your event:

  • Choosing VPAT-certified event planning software (like EventUp Planner 👋)
  • Testing all digital touchpoints with accessibility tools, e.g. screen readers
  • Creating clear, easy to find accessibility statements for your event
  • Providing multiple registration options with proper support

For example, you can use EventUp Planner’s pre-built accessible templates to create registration forms that work seamlessly with screen readers while also offering support over phone and email.

During the event

Live events require real-time accessibility support because technical issues or accessibility barriers need immediate attention. Having a plan for immediate assistance helps ensure all attendees can participate fully throughout the event.

Key considerations during your event:

  • Dedicated technical support team for accessibility issues
  • Multiple formats for presentation materials
  • Clear signage and wayfinding in large print (both digital and physical)

Note: When running virtual events or hybrid events, accessibility needs are even more technology-dependent and require careful monitoring and support. Ensure every attendee can access, participate in, and engage with your event by providing multiple ways to join sessions, interact with content, and get support. At minimum, this means offering live captioning, clear navigation, accessible materials, and trained technical support staff who can quickly address accessibility needs.

After the event

The end of your event is just the beginning of creating better experiences for future events! Gathering and reviewing accessibility feedback helps you continually improve and shows attendees you value their input.

Here’s how you can improve future events from an accessibility standpoint:

  • Collect accessibility-specific feedback through post-event surveys
  • Make recorded content available with proper accessibility features (such as closed captioning on all video content)
  • Internally, document lessons learned and areas for improvement
  • Share accessibility ‘wins’ with key stakeholders and outline specific plans for future improvements

Remember: If your organization is truly committed to fostering inclusive events, it should treat accessibility as an ongoing process rather than a one-time effort. This means regularly auditing digital platforms to identify areas for improvement, updating accessibility statements as new features are implemented, and ensuring team members are trained in current best practices. 

Plus, staying informed about evolving accessibility standards and regulations helps your company maintain compliance while continuously enhancing the user experience for all attendees. 👍

Common Accessibility Pitfalls to Avoid in Events

Even the most well-intentioned event planners can stumble when it comes to digital accessibility. Being aware of these common mistakes can help you create more inclusive events from the start:

Poorly designed registration forms 📝

Plenty of organizations lose potential attendees at the registration stage by using forms that frustrate users with accessibility needs. 

Common issues include required mouse interaction, timing out without saving progress, and form validation errors that aren’t clearly explained to screen reader users.

Inaccessible calendar invites 🗓️

Event organizers often overlook the accessibility of calendar invites and scheduling tools

Sending calendar invites in formats that don’t work with screen readers, failing to include time zones clearly, or not providing alternative ways to add events to personal calendars can exclude many participants.

Not testing virtual platforms beforehand 🖥️

Many organizations choose virtual event platforms based on features alone, without ever testing their accessibility features. This can lead to discovering major accessibility barriers during the event itself, when it’s too late to make changes.

Ignoring mobile accessibility 📱

With more people accessing events via mobile devices, failing to test the accessibility of your event website and materials on mobile platforms can exclude a significant portion of your audience. This includes not checking how forms and interactive elements work on mobile screen readers.

Forgetting about cognitive accessibility 🧠

In the rush to address physical and sensory requirements, organizations sometimes overlook cognitive accessibility. 

This includes using complex navigation on their event website, failing to include clear instructions at various stages of the attendee journey, or not providing enough time for users to process information and complete tasks without systems timing out.

Not planning for technical support 🧑‍💻

Many events lack dedicated accessibility support, leaving users with assistive technology to figure things out on their own. Without clear instructions for accessing help or support staff trained in accessibility features, attendees can feel stranded when technical issues arise.

Making event documents inaccessible 📄

Running a webinar? Sharing presentations and materials in inaccessible formats is a frequent oversight. This includes posting PDFs that aren’t properly tagged for screen readers, using images without alt text, or sharing spreadsheets that don’t make sense when read linearly by assistive technology.

To avoid these pitfalls, keep the following things in mind:

Test your entire event journey with various assistive technologies

Create clear documentation for accessing support

Build extra time into your planning process for accessibility testing

Train your team on accessibility best practices

Have backup plans in place for if/when accessibility features fail

Get feedback from users with different accessibility needs

Remember, accessibility isn’t just a checklist to complete. Instead, it’s an ongoing commitment to creating inclusive experiences for all attendees. 

The Business Case for Digital Accessibility

Making your events accessible isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart business decision. 

With 1.3 billion people globally requiring accessible websites, organizations that prioritize accessibility tap into a significant market opportunity. 

Plus, many sectors now mandate accessibility compliance: government agencies require VPAT certification, educational institutions must meet accessibility standards, and healthcare organizations need compliant solutions for patient engagement.

Beyond compliance, accessible events drive better business outcomes. Organizations typically see improved brand reputation, increased participant engagement, and broader market reach. 

Make Your Events More Accessible with EventUp Planner

Creating truly accessible events shouldn’t be complicated. 

EventUp Planner makes compliance straightforward with built-in accessibility features that meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. From our ready-to-use event websites to our intuitive registration forms, every feature is designed with accessibility in mind.

Our commitment to accessibility means you get:

  • WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliant templates and forms
  • Screen reader compatibility across all features
  • Adjustable color contrast and text size options
  • Full keyboard navigation support
  • Accessible calendar tools and event scheduling

Ready to make your events more accessible? Let’s have a conversation about how EventUp Planner can help your organization create inclusive experiences for all attendees. 

Ditch Disjointed Tools and Workflows with Event Planning Software

  • Event Management
  • Event Trends
[INFOGRAPHIC] The Real Value of An Integrated Event Management Platform

Event planning is a juggling act of competing priorities, tight timelines, and multiple moving pieces. 

Traditionally, event planners have had to rely on a disjointed mix of tools and workflows to get it all done—using email for communication and registration, Excel to manage schedules, PowerPoint for promo materials, and more. 

But constantly switching between apps wastes precious time and creates opportunities for errors to slip through the cracks.

Enter all-in-one event management software. By centralizing all your planning needs into a single platform, you can streamline processes and boost productivity. 

In this post, we’ll explore the major benefits of using dedicated event software and the key features to look for. You’ll see how the right tool provides a frictionless, integrated approach to save your team time, reduce stress, and deliver amazing events, time and again! Let’s dive in.

What is Event Planning Software? 

But first, what exactly is event planning software, and why do you need it? 

Event scheduling software is an all-in-one solution designed to handle every aspect of organizing and executing events. It replaces the need for separate, disjointed tools by centralizing all the core capabilities planners require into one seamless platform.

Typically, event planners have needed to juggle a bunch of different tools and log-ins to tackle their neverending to-do list, including:

  • Email for communication and registration
  • Spreadsheets to build event schedules and agendas
  • PowerPoint and other presentation tools to create promo materials
  • Individual website platforms for building event websites
  • Separate project management tools (or good ‘ol pen and paper) for managing stakeholders and team members 

… Not to mention all the manual work of switching between tabs and triple-checking everything to make sure no details have been missed. 

It probably goes without saying, but switching between fragmented systems is super inefficient and leaves plenty of room for manual errors. With an event management platform, all of these disconnected workflows are consolidated into a centralized, easy-to-use solution. *Chef’s kiss*

Read more: 5 Ways to Streamline Your Corporate Event Planning

 

What are the Benefits of Using Event Scheduling Software?

There are plenty of reasons to ditch outdated methods and to adopt event management software instead. Let’s explore!

⏱️ Saves you considerable time 

Consolidating tools and automating repetitive tasks saves you time and energy, period. Rather than manually entering data across multiple platforms, everything is housed in one intuitive place. Plus, automation streamlines processes like time-intensive processes like email marketing and registration.

👍 Keeps you organized

Event management solutions help you stay organized amid all the moving pieces. All your event details, schedules, communications, and more live in one central location. No more scrambling between apps and tabs to gather the info you need, when you need it.

📈 Boosts productivity 

With less time and energy wasted on tedious and time-consuming processes, you’ll be empowered to focus more on the tasks that actually move the needle. Plus event management software makes it easier to collaborate with your team so that everyone is aligned and on the same page.

✨ Increases event attendance

You’re able to drive more attendance with event registration platforms. From customized event websites to automated email campaigns and social promotion, you’ll have all the tools you need to maximize your reach.

Check out: 4 Easy Ways to Boost Event Registration by 20%

 

What are the Top Features of Event Management Solutions?

When evaluating event planning software, it’s crucial to identify the essential features that align with your needs and goals. 

In this section, we’ll highlight the must-have capabilities to look for, ensuring you choose the right solution that saves you time, money, and headaches. 

Event registration and ticketing

Allow attendees to easily register and purchase tickets directly from your event website with an event registration platform. 

It’s simple to manage different pricing levels, discount codes, group registrations, and to integrate secure payment processors. Attendees can also sign up for specific sessions, join waitlists for full sessions, and process refund requests smoothly.

Schedule and speaker management

The best event scheduling software streamlines the entire speaker management process—from issuing calls for proposals, to approving speakers and sessions, and more! 

Automatically sync updated speaker details across your entire events portfolio. Set up automated speaker workflows and empower speakers to self-manage their profiles. Plus, build out detailed schedules with options for attendees to customize their agenda.

Event marketing automation

Promote your events with fully-branded, customizable email marketing campaigns sent to segmented contact lists at optimal times. Automate repetitive marketing tasks and integrate with tools like Marketo and HubSpot for cohesive promotion across multiple channels. 

Plus, it’s easy to analyze your campaign performance data to optimize your event marketing strategy as you go.

Event website builder

Avoid the cost and hassle of website developers by building professional, on-brand event websites yourself using drag-and-drop tools and pre-built templates

Automatically populate website details like schedules and speakers pulled from your event management platform. You’ll be able to quickly clone previous sites for future events, making sure you don’t waste time or energy reinventing the wheel. 

Multi-event management

Centrally create, publish, and streamline every aspect of managing a high volume of events through one unified platform. Use templates to ensure consistent branding across your entire events program. Set granular user permissions and automate workflows to boost efficiency. 

Read more: How to Manage Multiple Events at Once

Virtual and hybrid event capabilities

Confidently host live, pre-recorded, or on-demand virtual sessions with robust security features. Deliver branded online experiences with engagement tools like polls, Q&A, and chat. Seamlessly manage hybrid events combining virtual and in-person components.

Event reporting capabilities

Generate comprehensive reports with integrated data from every event touchpoint, giving you a single source of truth for all of your events

Build custom dashboards that allow you to easily visualize key metrics. Integrate with analytics platforms like Google Analytics for tracking event website performance. 

Finally, survey stakeholders and attendees to get insights for future events.

 

Event Planning Software FAQs

Can event planning software handle registration for virtual and hybrid events?

Absolutely! EventUp Planner is built to streamline registration and execution for events of all types—virtual, hybrid, or in-person. Our virtual event studio allows you to confidently host online sessions at any scale with the highest level of security. 

For hybrid events combining virtual and in-person components, EventUp Planner synchronizes all aspects for a seamless attendee journey.

How does event management software integrate with my existing marketing and sales tools?

EventUp Planner easily integrates with the tools you already use—like Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, Google Analytics, and more. This allows your event data to flow seamlessly into your broader systems and campaigns for a unified view of performance metrics. No more disjointed data silos!

Can I customize the branding and website experience for my events?

Definitely! We understand branded experiences are essential for engaging your audience. With our intuitive website builder, you can create stunning, fully customized event websites without developers. It’s never been easier to stay in complete control of your brand across your entire events portfolio.

 

Work Smarter, Not Harder with Event Planning Software

Bottom line: it’s possible to work smarter, not harder. Ditch the struggle with event planning software that consolidates every aspect of the event lifecycle into one powerful yet easy-to-use platform.

With EventUp Planner, you can streamline processes, boost productivity, drive more attendance, and deliver amazing event experiences time and again! Our all-in-one solution provides all the features you need to succeed—from registration and marketing, to scheduling, reporting, virtual capabilities, and more!

Book a demo today to see how our software can transform your approach to event management.

5 Ways to Streamline Your Corporate Event Planning

  • Event Management
A group of individuals enjoying beverages at an event.

Corporate event planning is notoriously labor-intensive, with planners often reinventing the wheel for each new event. From the tedium of manual registration and spreadsheet wrangling to the headache of juggling different tools for websites, email marketing, agenda builders, and more… It’s a recipe for frustration and overwhelm. 

Yet, putting on a seamless, branded event experience is essential for driving sales, cultivating relationships, and elevating your company’s profile. 

The good news? There’s a better way that doesn’t involve burning the midnight oil. 

Corporate event management software streamlines everything into one efficient platform—simplifying processes, connecting scattered workflows, and automating monotonous tasks. With EventUp Planner, corporate event planners can cut down on busywork while leveling up their events.

Say goodbye to repetitive, time-consuming tasks— this blog explores 5 ways you can  streamline planning corporate events. Let’s dive in!

What is Corporate Event Planning?

    Corporate event planning is the process of strategizing, organizing, and executing events hosted by companies and organizations. These events can vary greatly in size and complexity, taking place in-person, virtually, or in a hybrid format.

    Here’s a brief overview of common examples of corporate events:

    Conferences and seminars

    Academic or professional conferences and seminars allow companies to share industry knowledge, thought leadership, and best practices. These events foster networking, education, and building a brand’s reputation.

    Product launches

    Product launch events generate buzz and media attention around new product or service offerings. They drive awareness, sales, and establish the company as an innovator.

    Roadshows

    Roadshows bring products, services, and brand experiences directly to audiences across multiple cities or regions through a series of smaller localized events.

    Trade shows and exhibitions

    These large-scale industry gatherings allow companies to showcase products or services, connect with prospects, meet with partners/vendors, and assess competitors.

    Corporate trainings

    Internal training events help upskill employees, communicate policy changes, reinforce best practices, drive engagement, and facilitate team building.

    Webinars

    These online seminars or presentations allow companies to share expertise, product information, and thought leadership with audiences globally.

    Why is Corporate Event Planning Important?

    Corporate events require significant time, effort, and financial investment. But when planned and executed well, they’re powerful business tools that can drive a wide range of impacts.

    Effective corporate event planning helps achieve meaningful outcomes and results. Well-organized events can:

    • Generate leads and sales opportunities
    • Increase brand awareness and perception
    • Foster customer loyalty and nurture relationships

    From increasing revenue to improving workplace culture, thoughtfully planned corporate events allow companies to accomplish strategic objectives and accelerate growth.

    What are the Challenges of the Corporate Event Planning Process?

    Planning corporate events is complex—they’re filled with numerous potential challenges that require event planners to be organized and adaptable. 

    First, aligning the event objective with organizational goals while staying on budget is an ever-present balancing act. Plus, juggling the diverse needs of event stakeholders—from leadership to vendors, sponsors, and more—demands skilled coordination.

    2. Creating and adhering to a realistic event budget

    3. Staffing the event properly and managing volunteers

    4. Negotiating with vendors and adhering to their policies

    5. Successfully promoting the event and driving registrations

    6. Delivering engaging attendee experiences that keep people coming back

    Engaging attendees and delivering memorable experiences gets more complicated as virtual and hybrid events continue to soar in popularity. Tech troubles can arise around platform selection, audio/visual quality, and attendee engagement. 

    Finally, anticipating and tackling curveballs like changing requirements, budget cuts, scheduling conflicts, tech malfunctions, understaffed teams, and more is par for the course.

    5 Ways to Streamline Corporate Event Planning

    Corporate event planners have a lot on their plates—from negotiating with venues and vendors to designing memorable experiences that “wow” attendees. 

    Thankfully, corporate event management software like EventUp Planner is making it easier than ever for planners to get things done while keeping everyone happy.

    1. Create standard operating procedures (SOPs)

    Standard operating procedures (SOPs) document established processes and best practices for carrying out complex operations. 

    Having clear SOPs for your event planning duties offers numerous benefits, such as:

    • Ensuring consistency and quality across events
    • Serving as a training tool for new hires
    • Preventing vital details from slipping through the cracks

    SOPs can also streamline time-consuming processes like: negotiating venue and vendor contracts; coordinating travel and lodging details; building out event websites and registration paths; and more. 

    With everything documented, there’s no need to start from scratch for each new event.

    2. Assemble an event team and delegate responsibilities

    As the saying goes, “it takes a village” to pull off successful events. 

    Don’t try to do everything yourself. Instead, assemble a cross-functional event team and divide responsibilities based on skills and capacity. 

    Plus, event management software like EventUp Planner makes it easy to centralize important files, share updates, assign tasks, and ensure everyone stays accountable. Read more: Engaging Your Event Team: 5 Tips for Boosting Morale

    3. Create templates for everything

    Why reinvent the wheel for each element of every single event? Having pre-built templates for common materials saves you tons of time and effort. 

    Top items that you should consider templatizing include a master event planning timeline, core email communications (save-the-dates, registration confirmations, reminders, post-event surveys), brand guidelines, event websites, and run-of-show schedules.

    Simply load the template, make your event-specific adjustments, and you’re ready to go! No need to start from scratch each time.

    4. Use cloning to its full potential

    Like templates, cloning allows you to duplicate entire event components with the click of a button—then tweak as needed for the new event. 
    For example, EventUp Planner makes it simple to clone previous event websites, email marketing campaigns, registration forms, and more instead of rebuilding them from the ground up. This handy capability prevents redundant work and maintains consistency across your event portfolio.

    5. Automate to innovate

    Manual processes waste valuable time and mental energy that you could devote to higher-impact tasks. 

    Smart event automation systematically handles repetitive duties so you can focus your efforts on strategic priorities and personal touches that truly move the needle. Common operations ripe for automation include marketing campaigns, registration workflows, attendee communications, post-event surveys, and more. 
    Plus, with all of your data consolidated in one system, it’s easier to make informed, data-driven decisions about where to invest time and resources.

    How to Choose the Right Corporate Event Management Software

    Choosing the right corporate event management software helps you work smarter, not harder. To make an informed decision, we recommend conducting a comprehensive needs assessment with all relevant stakeholders.

    Get started by asking yourself questions like:

    • What types of events do I plan (conferences, trade shows, meetings, etc.)? Make sure the software can handle the specific event formats you work with.
    • What is the typical size and complexity of my events? The software should be able to scale to accommodate your event sizes.
    • Do I need virtual/hybrid event capabilities? If so, look for robust virtual event management tools.

    If you’re looking for corporate event software that checks all these boxes and more, look no further than EventUp Planner.

    Transform Your Events with the Best Event Management Software

    You’ve got enough on your plate. Make your job easier, not harder with corporate event software. 

    EventUp Planner allows you to plan and manage all of your events in one flexible platform, from the small to the large and complex.

    Ready to learn how to streamline your workflows and do more with less? Book a call with our team today!

    How to Plan a Successful Fundraising Event: 10 Steps

    • Event Management
    2020 Event Strategy Guide

    Successful fundraising events are the lifeblood of many non-profit organizations and charities.

    A well-executed fundraiser can bring in much-needed funds, expand your organization’s supporter base, and ultimately make a bigger impact in the lives of those it serves.

    However, without proper planning, fundraisers can fall flat, failing to reach their financial goals and leaving organizers feeling discouraged.

    But fear not! Whether you’re a seasoned event planner or tackling your first fundraiser, this blog post will guide you through 10 easy-to-follow steps to ensure your next fundraising event is a resounding success.

    And with the help of the EventUp Planner event management platform, you’ll have the tools and support you need to pull off an unforgettable fundraiser that makes a real difference.

    Contents

    Here are 10 essential steps for planning a non-profit fundraising event:

    1. Define your cause, and set a fundraising goal
    2. Choose a type of fundraising event
    3. Define a realistic budget for your fundraiser
    4. Choose the perfect venue for your fundraiser
    5. Assemble your event team
    6. Secure sponsors for your fundraiser
    7. Spread the word on social media
    8. Register attendees and sell tickets
    9. Make donating easy
    10. Follow up and express gratitude

    How to Plan a Fundraising Event: 10 Steps for Non-profits

    Not sure how to plan a successful fundraiser? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with 10 simple steps that’ll take the guesswork out of event planning. Keep reading to explore each step in greater detail.

    Step 1: Define your cause, and set a fundraising goal

    Before diving into the planning process, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your fundraising event’s purpose and what you aim to achieve.

    Your goals may include raising a specific amount of funds, increasing awareness for your cause, or expanding your donor base.

    When it comes to setting a fundraising goal, it’s not enough to simply aim to “raise as much money as possible.” Instead, employ the SMART framework to create a well-defined, achievable target.

    SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

    For example, let’s say your non-profit organization focuses on providing educational resources to underprivileged children. A SMART fundraising goal could be: “Raise $50,000 (Specific, Measurable) through a charity auction event (Attainable) to fund the purchase of 500 laptops (Relevant) for students in need by the end of the fiscal year (Time-bound).”

    Step 2: Choose a type of fundraising event

    Next, it’s time to select the type of fundraising event that best aligns with your goals. There are lots of fundraising event options to choose from, including:

    • Charity auctions
    • Gala dinners
    • Walkathons or fun runs
    • Golf tournaments
    • Silent auctions
    • Benefit concerts
    • Crowdfunding campaigns
    • Peer-to-peer fundraising events

    Considering your SMART goal from Step 1, a charity auction event would be a great choice. Charity auctions provide an engaging atmosphere where attendees can bid on unique items or experiences, with the proceeds directly benefiting your cause!

    Here are some other crucial factors to consider when selecting the type of fundraiser:

    Target audience

    Your target audience is the group of people most likely to support your cause and attend your event. Understanding their preferences, interests, and behaviors will help you select an event type that resonates with them and encourages them to get involved.

    • For example, if your non-profit organization supports a cause that primarily appeals to young professionals, you might consider hosting a trendy and interactive event like a silent auction combined with a cocktail party.

    On the other hand, if your target audience consists mainly of older, more traditional supporters, a formal gala dinner with a live auction and keynote speaker might be more appropriate.

    Available resources

    Your resources include your budget, staff, volunteers, time, and any in-kind donations or partnerships you may have access to. Keeping these resources in mind will help you choose an event type that you can successfully execute without overextending your organization.

    • For instance, if you have a limited budget and a small team of volunteers, hosting a large-scale gala dinner might not be the most practical choice. 

    Instead, you might opt for a more manageable event type, such as a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign or a small-scale charity auction, which requires fewer resources and can still be effective in reaching your fundraising goals.

    Timeframe

    The amount of time you have will greatly influence the type of event you can realistically organize and how elaborate it can be.

    If you have a short timeframe, such as a few weeks or a couple of months, it may be challenging to organize a large-scale event like a gala dinner or a golf tournament. 

    • In this case, you might opt for a simpler event type, such as a virtual fundraising campaign, a small-scale auction, or a peer-to-peer fundraising initiative, which can be planned and executed within a shorter time frame.

    On the other hand, if you have a longer timeframe—say six months to a year—you may be able to take on a more complex event type that requires more extensive planning and preparation.

    Step 3: Define a realistic budget for your fundraiser

    Before you start drilling down into the details of your fundraiser, you need to establish a realistic budget. Your available resources will greatly influence the type of experience you can create for your attendees.

    To get started, work closely with your organization’s stakeholders, including your finance team and key decision-makers, to determine a budget that aligns with your fundraising goals and overall financial situation.

    Here are some top tips for building a realistic budget for your fundraiser event:

    • Identify all potential expenses, including venue rental, catering, decorations, entertainment, and marketing costs.
    • Research and compare prices from multiple vendors to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money.
    • Prioritize expenses based on their impact on the attendee experience and your fundraising goals.
    • Look for opportunities to secure in-kind donations or sponsorships to offset some of your expenses.
    • Build in a contingency fund (typically 10-15% of your total budget) to cover any unexpected costs that may arise.

    Step 4: Choose the perfect venue for your fundraiser

    With a clear understanding of your event budget, it’s time to find the perfect venue for your fundraiser! The EventUp marketplace has over 15,000 venues to choose from, and it’s free to browse and book.

    The venue sets the tone for your event and can greatly influence the overall attendee experience. The ideal venue should create an atmosphere that puts people in the giving spirit and reinforces the importance of your cause.

    So, when choosing a venue for your fundraiser, consider the following factors:

    • Capacity. Ensure the venue can comfortably accommodate your expected number of attendees.
    • Location. Choose a venue that is easily accessible and convenient for your target audience.
    • Amenities. Verify that the venue has the necessary amenities, such as catering facilities, audio-visual equipment, and parking.
    • Ambiance. Select a venue that aligns with your event theme and creates the desired atmosphere for your fundraiser.
    • Cost. Ensure that the venue fits within your event budget, including any additional fees for services or equipment.

    Keep these factors in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to securing the perfect venue that sets the stage for a successful fundraising event.

     

    Read More: Introducing EventUp – The #1 Venue Marketplace

     

    Step 5: Assemble your event team

    To run a successful fundraising event, you need a winning team. 

    Begin by evaluating your internal resources and identifying team members from within your organization who can contribute their expertise and experience. 

    Consider building a cross-functional team that includes individuals from different departments, such as marketing, finance, and operations, to ensure a well-rounded approach to planning the big event.

    If you need additional support, recruiting volunteers can be a great way to expand your team. 

    Here are 5 practical tips to help you start the volunteer recruitment process:

    1. Clearly define volunteer roles and responsibilities to attract the right people.
    2. Reach out to your existing supporter base, including donors, past event attendees, and newsletter subscribers, to see if anyone is interested in helping out. 
    3. Use online platforms or local community forums to post volunteer opportunities.
    4. Partner with local schools, universities, or community organizations to tap into their volunteer networks.
    5. Host a volunteer information session to provide an overview of your organization and the event, and to answer any questions potential volunteers may have.

    With a great team in place, you’ll lay the foundation for a well-organized fundraiser event.

    Step 6: Secure sponsors for your fundraiser

    Securing sponsors for your fundraising event has numerous benefits. First, sponsors can help offset event costs, increase your event’s visibility, and lend credibility to your cause by associating their brand with your mission. 

    Plus, sponsors can provide in-kind donations, such as goods or services, which can further reduce your overhead expenses.

    Remember: when seeking sponsors, it’s essential to find businesses or organizations that align with your cause and share your values. This alignment ensures a mutually beneficial partnership and increases the likelihood of long-term support.

    Here’s a chart to spark ideas about who you could reach out to sponsorship:

     

    Organization Type Aligned Sponsors (Examples)
    Animal Welfare Pet stores, veterinary clinics, local animal shelters
    Education Bookstores, local school districts, libraries, museums
    Environmental Conservation Eco-friendly product retailers, sustainable restaurants, renewable energy companies, parks and recreation departments
    Healthcare Local hospitals, public health organizations, pharmacies, medical supply stores
    Youth Development Children’s media companies, local youth centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, scouting organizations, children’s retailers

     

    By identifying and securing sponsors that align with your organization’s mission, you can create valuable partnerships that support your fundraising goals and enhance the overall success of your event. Check out these strategies to increase event sponsorship and find more sponsors.

    Step 7: Spread the word on social media

    Social media is a powerful tool for spreading the word about your event, as it allows you to reach a wide audience, engage with your existing supporters, and attract new potential attendees.

    For event planners (and anyone in charge of planning an event) managing promotion themselves, we recommend the following:

    • Create a content calendar to plan and schedule your social media posts in advance.
    • Use a mix of informative posts, engaging visuals, and compelling calls-to-action to capture your audience’s attention.
    • Utilize relevant hashtags to increase your event’s visibility and reach a broader audience.

    For event planners with a dedicated marketing team member:

    • Collaborate with your marketing team to develop a comprehensive social media strategy that aligns with your overall event goals.
    • Leverage the expertise of your marketing team to create high-quality, branded content that effectively communicates your event’s value proposition.
    • Monitor social media metrics and adjust your strategy as needed to optimize engagement and reach.

    Regardless of whether you’re managing promotion yourself or have dedicated support, it’s important to start promoting your event well in advance. Be sure to engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages, and to continuously build excitement leading up to the event.

     

    Check Out: Event Marketing Calendar [Template]

     

    Step 8: Register attendees and sell tickets

    Next, it’s time to register attendees and sell tickets!

    Effectively managing this stage of the event planning process ensures a well-attended event while maximizing your fundraising potential.

    To streamline this process, consider using event registration software like EventUp PlannerEventUp Planner offers a powerful online event registration and ticketing platform that seamlessly integrates with your event website, allowing attendees to register without ever leaving your site. 

    Some of the main benefits of using EventUp Planner for registration include:

    • Ability to manage pricing categories, promo codes, and group passes
    • Advanced form features, such as conditional logic and custom fields
    • Support for multiple event types, including in-person, virtual, and hybrid events
    • Secure payment gateway system that accepts multiple payment types and currencies

    Creating a seamless and enjoyable registration experience for your attendees teases the larger event to come. EventUp Planner can help you get there.

     

    Read More: 4 Easy Ways to Boost Event Registration by 20%

    Step 9: Make donating easy

    To maximize your fundraising efforts, make the donation process as simple and convenient as possible.

    First, include prominent “Donate Now” buttons on your event website and social media pages, and consider creating a dedicated virtual donation page that highlights your mission and impact. 

    Next, provide multiple donation options that cater to different preferences and circumstances at the fundraiser itself. Consider using common donation tools like GoFundMe, Text2Give, PayPal, and others. 

    Remember to offer virtual donation options for attendees who cannot attend your event in person but still wish to support your cause. 

    By making donating easy and accessible, you’ll encourage more people to contribute to your fundraiser, even if they can’t be there in person!

    Step 10: Follow up and express gratitude

    After your fundraiser event, it’s essential to follow up with attendees, sponsors, and volunteers to express your heartfelt gratitude for their support. Doing so not only shows your appreciation but also helps build lasting relationships and increases the likelihood of future support.

    Consider sending personalized thank-you emails or handwritten notes to each individual, highlighting the impact of their specific contribution.

    In addition to expressing gratitude, use this opportunity to collect valuable feedback about your event. Send out a brief survey or questionnaire to gather insights on what attendees enjoyed most, what could be improved, and what would make them more likely to participate in future events.

    By actively seeking and incorporating feedback, you can continuously refine your fundraising strategies and create even more successful events in the future.

    Pull off an Awesome Fundraiser with EventUp Planner

    Planning a successful fundraiser doesn’t have to be rocket science.

    Instead, create an amazing experience that everyone will love while staying sane along the way with tools to:

    • Template and automate key workflows to make multi-event management easier
    • Simplify planning and management of your complex events across team members
    • Support in-person, online, and hybrid events with one platform
    • Create fully branded event experiences

    EventUp Planner is a planner’s Swiss army knife for a reason! 

    Our team believes that fundraising and charity events shouldn’t be expensive. That’s why we offer plans that fit all kinds of budgets. Your team will benefit from the time savings of EventUp Planner’s handy features, without breaking the bank. If you’re curious about how we can help make your next fundraiser a stress-free success, book a call with us today.

    Transform Your Events and Drive Pipeline Using EventUp Planner

    Let’s explore how to streamline your events journey from start to finish. Book a call with our team today to get started.

    Attendease is now EventUp Planner: Same Amazing Features, New Identity

    • Product News

    The events industry has undergone a significant transformation over the past few years, driven by evolving technologies, changing attendee expectations, and the growing complexity of event logistics. For event planners (and anyone in charge of planning events), this means it’s increasingly challenging to manage every detail, from coordinating vendors and budgets to ensuring a seamless experience for attendees. As the industry’s demands continue to rise, it becomes harder to keep everything on track and deliver outstanding events.

    At Attendease, it’s always been our goal to provide planners with powerful yet intuitive tools that enable them to plan, manage, and simplify processes every step of the event planning journey. When Attendease was acquired by Tripleseat in 2023, it was a natural fit because of our shared mission to deliver innovative solutions that empower event professionals. As we joined the Tripleseat family of leading event management software, we were introduced to EventUp: the largest online venue directory with more than 17,000 restaurants, hotels, and unique spaces. EventUp streamlines the event planning process by bringing the best venues across the US into one marketplace. Designed with corporate and social event planners in mind, EventUp allows planners to browse and book the perfect venue for their event in only a few clicks. 

    With that in mind, we are pleased to announce that Attendease will become EventUp Planner. 

    The name change reflects our mission of elevating the event management experience and building a complete ecosystem for planners, from finding a venue to planning and promoting the event. As events grow more complicated and expectations rise, the EventUp ecosystem will ensure that event professionals have an easy solution to streamline the events journey from start to finish. Planners will use the EventUp marketplace to find the perfect venue for their event, and then easily move into EventUp Planner to build their event website, manage registrations, schedule the agenda, promote their event, and track performance.

    Yes, we have a new name, but we’re maintaining our mission of empowering planners to create outstanding attendee experiences and drive community engagement. Our award-winning product and 5-star customer service will continue to deliver an exceptional experience to our customers.

    As the event industry continues to evolve, we remain dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that empower event professionals with cutting-edge tools to better manage their time and stay ahead of the curve.

    Transform Your Events and Increase Revenue Using EventUp Planner

    Let’s explore how to streamline your events journey from start to finish. Book a call with our team today to get started.

    How to Plan a Successful Trade Show: 10 Key Elements

    • Event Management
    Essential Elements of a Successful Trade Show

    Trade shows are a golden opportunity for companies to shine. With 84% of attendees holding buying power (according to Exhibitor Online), these events help exhibitors generate leads, drive sales, and put their solutions directly in front of their target audience.

    For hosts, a knockout trade show is an A+ marketing move. It strengthens your company’s brand presence, unveils new offerings, and facilitates those coveted face-to-face interactions. Exhibitors get a chance to stand out, reel in prospects, and give hands-on demos that make an impact.

    And let’s not forget attendees! They gain exclusive access to industry insights, networking opportunities, and the opportunity to explore a smorgasbord of products and services in one convenient location.

    Done right, a seamlessly executed trade show can spark major business wins: increased sales, deeper customer connections, and a serious boost in brand awareness. This post lays out 10 key elements that, combined with trade show software like Attendease, will help you plan an awesome trade show. Let’s dive in!

    What Are the Benefits of Hosting a Tradeshow?

    Trade shows are a smart move for businesses, offering valuable opportunities for hosts, exhibitors, attendees, and sponsors alike. Let’s take a closer look at how each key player can benefit from a well-executed trade show:

    Benefits for your company

    Hosting a successful trade show puts your company in the spotlight. We’re talking major street cred and brand recognition in your industry— just look at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Hosted by the Consumer Technology Association, this event has become a globally recognized launchpad for the latest tech innovations.

    Benefits for exhibitors 

    For exhibitors, trade shows are a golden ticket to connect with a concentrated pool of qualified leads and potential customers who are ready to buy what they’re selling. Face-to-face interactions let them impress prospects with live product demos, gather valuable feedback, and forge lasting business relationships.

    At the SEMA Show, for instance, automotive aftermarket exhibitors get to rub elbows with over 132,000 buyers from around the globe!

    Benefits for attendees

    Attendees score an all-access pass to explore an exciting range of products, services, and cutting-edge industry trends— all under one roof. They can chat with experts, attend educational sessions, and network with peers and potential partners.

    Benefits for sponsors

    Trade shows help sponsors promote their brands and align themselves with a specific industry or major event. Secure a prominent sponsorship spot, and companies can amplify their visibility and reach their ideal audience with laser-sharp precision. Plus, it’s common for sponsors’ logos and branding to appear on promo materials (whether digital or physical) and event signage. 

    Read more: Strategies to Increase Event Sponsorship: How to Get More Sponsors

    10 Essential Elements of a Successful Trade Show

    Planning a successful trade show takes careful planning and preparation. Keep reading for 10 crucial elements that every trade show needs to have: 

    Element #1: An awesome venue

    Nailing the perfect trade show venue is your first job. The space sets the tone for the entire experience. 

    When scoping out potential locations, keep an eye out for facilities with ample square footage to accommodate exhibitors, attendees, and any speakers or special events on your agenda.

    Convenient transit options and nearby hotels make life easier for travelers. Loading docks, freight elevators, and a flexible layout that allows for creative booth configurations are key logistical considerations. On-site amenities like WiFi, A/V equipment, catering, and even parking can seriously elevate the attendee experience.

    Don’t forget to assess the venue’s branding opportunities, too. Can you plaster your logo everywhere? Are digital signage and promotional spaces available? Small details like this elevate your trade show from just “nice” to an absolutely unforgettable event.

    Need help finding the perfect venue? Find an EventUp venue near you!

    Element #2: An intuitive and optimized layout

    With your venue locked in, it’s time to create a trade show layout that keeps attendees moving smoothly from booth to booth while enticing exhibitors with prime real estate. A well-designed floor plan is a delicate balancing act.

    Tradeshows should offer a variety of booth options to suit exhibitors’ needs and budgets— from spotlight-stealing island booths to affordable inline spaces. But don’t go overboard here; leave plenty of open space for attendees to mill about freely. Nobody wants to feel like they’re squeezing through a crowded subway car!

    Transform dead zones into lively hubs by strategically placing lounges, concessions, and sponsored activation areas throughout the venue. Get creative with intelligent zoning (for instance, grouping exhibitors by product category creates a natural traffic flow). 

    With an intuitive layout offering the best of both worlds, your trade show will be an immersive experience that wows attendees and exhibitors alike. 

    Element #3: Trade show software

    Planning and executing a flawless trade show is no easy feat. However, having the right event management software in your corner can make this monumental task way simpler. 

    Don’t go it alone—streamline every aspect of your event with an all-in-one platform that handles it all.

    From trade show registration software to schedule management, marketing automation, and comprehensive reporting, Attendease puts every vital tool at your fingertips. Our best-in-class event planning software lets you check many tasks off your list with just a few clicks!

    With Attendease as your event command center, you’ll free up time to focus on the details that truly elevate your trade show from just “nice” to a wildly successful, buzz-worthy experience. No more scrambling—just streamlined operations and happy exhibitors, sponsors, and attendees.

    Get the free guide: Master The Art Of Choosing The Right Event Management Platform

    Element #4: Engagement activities 

    You’ve nailed the venue and layout. Now it’s time to get attendees pumped with engagement activities that keep the energy high!

    Spice things up with gamification elements like a scavenger hunt or a trade show passport that encourages attendees to visit different exhibitor booths.

    Offer prizes and incentives (who doesn’t love free swag?) for completed passports to encourage maximum booth circulation. You could even gamify things further with a tradeshow-themed game app that unlocks exclusive content or entries into a raffle for a grand prize. 

    Get sponsors involved by offering premium branded prizes or letting them host activation areas along the engagement trail. With a little creativity, you’ll transform your trade show into an interactive space that attendees won’t want to leave. Now that’s how you deliver an unforgettable experience!

    Element #5: A solid crisis management plan

    Even with careful planning, unexpected emergencies can happen at any trade show. That’s why having a comprehensive crisis management plan is crucial for planners and venues alike. Collaborate closely with your venue’s team to understand their safety protocols and chain of command should an incident occur.

    Key considerations to address in your crisis plan include:

    • Natural disasters (severe weather, earthquakes, etc.)
    • Security threats (active shooter, bomb threat, etc.)
    • Power outages or technical failures
    • Medical emergencies
    • Crowd control and evacuation procedures

    Don’t forget to also establish a clear communication strategy for notifying exhibitors, attendees, staff, and emergency personnel. Plan ahead by evaluating your liability. With a robust crisis management plan in place, you’ll be prepared to respond swiftly and mitigate risks, ensuring your trade show prioritizes safety above all else.

    Element #6: A comprehensive marketing plan

    A successful trade show deserves a marketing strategy to match. Creating a comprehensive plan that leverages multiple channels is key to driving awareness and attendance. Here are some important marketing channels to consider: 

    Social media

    An active social presence lets you promote exhibitors, tease special activations, give sponsor shout-outs, and build major buzz around your event. Strategic hashtagging and influencer collaborations can amplify your reach.

    Paid ads

    Paid advertising allows you to expand your trade show’s visibility based on your desired budget and targeting parameters across social media and search engines. 

    Email marketing

    With higher ROI than social media, email marketing enables direct communication with attendees through compelling content and strategic automation.

    Event website

    A dedicated trade show website serves as a comprehensive information hub, providing attendees with everything they need to know—from exhibitor lists to session schedules and registration details.

    Traditional channels

    While digital reigns supreme, traditional channels like print ads, flyers, and radio spots still hold relevance for reaching location-specific audiences or demographics that respond well to these tactics.

    Element #7: A proper exhibitor kit

    A comprehensive exhibitor kit is a must-have for ensuring your vendors have all the resources they need to make a splash at your trade show. This handy packet streamlines planning and sets clear expectations, allowing exhibitors to focus on delivering awesome experiences.

    An effective exhibitor kit should be distributed at least one month prior and include the following:

    • Exhibitor manual with all rules, regulations, and deadlines
    • Floor plans and booth assignment details
    • Move-in/move-out instructions and schedule
    • Event staff and venue contact information
    • Shipping and material handling information
    • Order forms for booth services (electrical, internet, catering, etc.)
    • Marketing opportunities like show guides and sponsorships

    By equipping exhibitors with these materials upfront, you’ll avoid last-minute fires and keep operations running smoothly. A little preparation goes a long way in facilitating a world-class trade show experience!

    Element #8: Clear and engaging maps & venue signage

    Well-designed maps and signage ensure attendees and exhibitors can effortlessly navigate your trade show. But why just make them functional when you can elevate them into an engaging experience?

    Integrate interactive map features like augmented reality (A/R) activations to build excitement as guests find their way around. Highlight key exhibits, lounges, and sponsored spaces through vibrant graphics and bold design elements. Don’t forget both print and digital versions—your trade show app software is the perfect place for a mobile-friendly map!

    Prevent aimless wandering by strategically placing signage at all entrances, cross-sections, and washroom corridors. Get creative with custom illustrations, your company’s branding, and fun directional cues for an on-brand atmosphere.

    By making maps and signage clear, fun, and experiential, you’ll keep attendees effortlessly flowing from one can’t-miss destination to the next.

    Element #9: The right entertainment 

    A little entertainment can go a long way in keeping the energy high at your trade show. The right act, performer, or activity elevates the overall atmosphere into a fun experience that attendees will fondly remember. 

    When selecting entertainment, consider your industry and audience first. Here are a few options to explore:

    • Corporate comedians or improv troupes (professional services, B2B)
    • Dance performers or acrobats (hospitality, tourism, fitness)
    • Live music acts or DJs (music, nightlife, lifestyle brands)
    • Video game competitions or esports (technology, gaming)
    • Celebrity meet-and-greets (media, entertainment, consumer products)

    Whether it’s interactive, audible, or just plain fun to watch, the right entertainment injects serious energy and creates buzz-worthy moments. An energized trade show experience = happy attendees and exhibitors.

    Element #10: Catering and refreshments 

    Providing catering and refreshments isn’t just about keeping people fed and hydrated. It’s a savvy way to encourage attendees to stay longer, plus it creates informal networking opportunities and increases overall satisfaction in the event. 

    When vetting caterers, seek ones with experience handling large-scale events and the staffing/equipment to serve thousands efficiently. Variety is also key—offer a wide selection of cuisines and dietary options to cater to every palate. And don’t forget beverages! Well-stocked bars and plentiful coffee and water stations are a must.

    The right caterer will collaborate with you on creative ways to integrate F&B activations throughout your floor plan, like sponsored snack stations or themed bars that double as Instagram-worthy hangouts. Because fed, happy attendees make for productive, memorable trade shows!

    Planning an Amazing Trade Show: FAQs

    Now that you know the key elements of a successful trade show, let’s dive into some frequently asked questions:

    How long does it take to plan a trade show?

    General wisdom states that you should start the planning process 12-18 months in advance for the best possible experience. The more lead time, the better for securing venues, selling booths, and rolling out your marketing campaigns

    How much does it cost to organize a trade show?

    While costs can vary greatly based on size, location, and scope—typically ranging from $15,000 for smaller shows to over $1 million for major expos and conventions—the potential returns make trade shows an extremely valuable investment. 

    By connecting face-to-face with your target audience, you can drive brand awareness, generate high-quality leads, boost sales, and strengthen customer loyalty—delivering substantial ROI.

    Why should I use trade show software to run my event?

    Leveraging all-in-one event management software like Attendease streamlines every aspect of planning—from online registration to email communication, sponsorship management, reporting, and more. 

    How can trade show software help me market and promote my event?

    Built-in email marketing, social sharing, customizable registration paths, and more equip you with all the tools needed to drive awareness and process registrations from a centralized platform. All this is available to you (plus more) on Attendease

    Make Your Trade Shows Even Better with Event Management Software

    Planning a great trade show doesn’t have to be difficult. 

    Instead, create an amazing experience that everyone will love while staying sane along the way with tools to:

    • Template and automate key workflows (create once, clone as needed)
    • Simplify planning and management of your trade show across team members 
    • Consolidate reporting in one dashboard
    • Deliver a fully-branded trade show experience

    Attendease is the event planner’s Swiss army knife for a reason. If you’re curious about how we can help make your next trade show a stress-free success, get in touch with us today. 

    Healthcare Event Planning: 5 Best Practices for Advocacy Events

    • Event Trends
    Advocacy Events: 5 Best Practices for Generating Support

    With corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the rise, one of the ways your healthcare organization can spread the word and generate support is through CSR events—specifically advocacy events!

    By partnering with local businesses and other for-profit enterprises looking to make an impact, you’re opening your organization to receiving support and much-needed funds.

    Advocacy events are important for your healthcare organization because they help spread awareness of your mission and bring the community together. These events can also double as advertising, making them extremely valuable for your local business partner(s). 

    In this article, we’ll cover 5 best practices for running a successful advocacy event for your healthcare organization. Let’s get started!

    Table of Contents

    1. Set clear goals for your advocacy events
    2. Personalize all promotional communications
    3. Center the attendee experience
    4. Consider virtual or hybrid advocacy events
    5. Measure the support generated

    Healthcare Events and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Perfect Fit

    Did you know that consumers are more likely to purchase goods and services from socially responsible companies? That’s why corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives are often used to differentiate businesses from their competitors. 

    These initiatives allow businesses to give back to the community, make a difference, and build a positive brand image that resonates with consumers. 

    And what’s an initiative that most businesses can get behind? Healthcare. 

    So whether your organization has been around for years or it’s just starting out, healthcare event planning can make a huge impact on your fundraising efforts. 

    You never know until you ask. Plus, you might be surprised by just how many local businesses are eager to partner with your healthcare organization to create mutual benefit and impact. 

    5 Tips for Planning Healthcare Advocacy Events

    Convinced that CSR can help your healthcare organization broaden its reach? Here are 5 tips to keep in mind when planning your next advocacy event. 

    1.   Set clear goals for your advocacy event

    It’s common to set goals for fundraising events and to set additional goals if your event is focused on advocacy. 

    Ask yourself the following questions to kickstart the process:

    • How many conversions are we aiming for?
    • Are we planning on funneling attendees toward becoming donors, volunteers, or both?
    • How long do we want our new relationships to last?
    • Will there be media coverage, and what do we hope to gain from it?

    Consider these goals in the context of the type of event that you plan on hosting. A peer-to-peer event such as a swim-a-thon is suited to advocacy and fundraising, as supporters will share their fundraising pages, spreading awareness and bringing in donations. That means that advocacy goals for this type of event can be higher than those of, for example, a bake sale fundraiser.

    You’ll want to communicate with your local business partner about their event goals so that you’re on the same page. 

    LEARN MORE: Need fresh ideas for your next healthcare event? We’ve got you covered. 

    2.   Personalize all promotional communications

    You’ll want to help your local business partner promote your advocacy event by creating promotional communications they can use. These communications can go to their employees and customers, as well as to your organization’s members and their networks. 

    You can personalize these messages by:

    • Using the recipient’s preferred name. Some individuals want to be addressed by their first name or a nickname, whereas others will be more receptive if you use their title and last name, so make note of these preferences.
    • Leveraging employee and customer interests. If your local business partner knows that some of their employees or customers would be particularly interested in an event, make sure to address that in your communications to them.
    • Examining the recipient’s advocacy history. If your partner’s employees or customers have a history of volunteering, advocating in the community, donating to healthcare organizations, or attending healthcare fundraising events, they will be more receptive to attending advocacy events for your organization. 

    You can make personalization easier by segmenting employees and customers into groups based on common interests and characteristics. This helps you send more targeted communications, resulting in a higher chance of success!

    LEARN MORE: Review our top tips for streamlining your healthcare website to better communicate about your upcoming events. 

    3.   Center the attendee experience

    Although the event’s primary goal is to increase awareness of your cause, it’s still important to ensure attendees have a positive experience. Center the attendee experience by doing the following:

    • Make registration easy. You’ll want to make event registration simple and convenient to encourage more people to attend. You can make the registration page mobile-friendly and have a simple ticket purchase system.
    • Choose an event that supporters would enjoy. Consider both your supporters and your event partner’s employees, and decide on an event that both groups would be happy to attend. You can even survey supporters and employees to determine what events they’d enjoy.
    • Keep presentations short and sweet. Presentations are often held at advocacy events to educate attendees on your cause and operations. However, these presentations can distract from the main activities of the event. Keep them concise so attendees can absorb the information and go back to enjoying the event.
    • Pick interactive activities. Games, performances, virtual reality experiences, and other interactive activities keep attendees engaged throughout the event!

    Remember that just because the event is meant to help your organization doesn’t mean the attendees your event partner brings can’t have a great time. Communicate with your event partner to brainstorm events that all attendees would enjoy and fit into their CSR initiatives.

    4.   Consider virtual or hybrid healthcare events

    Hybrid and virtual charity events are becoming more popular in today’s increasingly technology-focused world. These events have many benefits when compared to traditional in-person events, such as:

    • No distance limitation. Since the event is virtual, supporters from all over the country or world can attend.
    • Greater outreach. Because individuals from different locations can attend your virtual event, your local business partner will be able to reach a wider audience.
    • Convenience. Supporters can attend your virtual event from their homes, making it a convenient option.

    To ensure that attendees have a positive event experience, make sure to add interactive virtual activities, use music to set the mood, and interact with the attendees using the chat function. That way, you get all of the benefits of a hybrid or virtual advocacy event and the connection of an in-person event.

    LEARN MORE: Engage more supporters and grow your audience with virtual fundraising events

    5. Measure support generated

    After the event is over, help your local business partner out by measuring the support generated from their employees and customers. With this data, you can help them quantify their impact on your organization—and use this information to improve the future events you run together. 

    Take a look at the following metrics:

    • Newsletter sign-ups
    • Volunteer registrations
    • Donations

    These metrics all represent some form of conversion from attendee to supporter. By watching these metrics, you’ll be able to assess how successful the event was in advocating for your cause and gaining supporters. You’ll also help your local business partner understand the impact they helped create, which they can use as part of their marketing materials!

    Event software for healthcare makes it easy to measure success from pre- to post-event. 

    Simplify the Complexity of Managing Your Meetings and Events with a Powerful Suite of Tools

    While advocacy events can create a large impact for your healthcare organization, there’s no need to be stressed about making sure that the event runs perfectly. Simply implement the best practices above to make the most of your advocacy events, allowing you to foster a positive and mutually beneficial relationship with your local business partner!

    Eager to streamline your healthcare event planning? Look no further than Attendease by Tripleseat. From small to large and complex events, it’s never been simpler to plan and manage all of your events in one flexible platform. Book a call today and discover how Attendease by Tripleseat helps you optimize your event management.

    Simplify the Complexity of Managing Your Meetings and Events with a Powerful Suite of Tools

    Make your attendees gather with ease. From small to large and complex events – plan and manage all of your events in one flexible platform – Attendease.

    4 Proven Event Formats for Launching Your Next Pharmaceutical Product

    • Event Management News
    Apple event 2021

    This is an exciting time for your pharmaceutical company. 

    You’ve spent countless hours doing R&D, passed all regulatory requirements, and you’re finally ready to bring a revolutionary new product to market. But whether this is your first launch or your fiftieth one, you know this phase is only the beginning. 

    An engaging introduction to the market is crucial for your new product’s success. So, how do you effectively engage your audience, increase brand awareness and trust, and ensure your product starts off on the right foot—all at the same time

    You plan a successful product launch event.

    In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of planning a memorable pharmaceutical event to launch your next product. Let’s dive in! 

    What Is Experiential Marketing, and Why Does It Matter?

    Whether you’ve gawked at the lineups outside an Apple Store the week after an Apple Event or stumbled upon a unique pop-up during your lunch break, one thing is for certain: experiential marketing is more popular and more effective than ever!

    Experiential marketing—sometimes also referred to as event marketing—consists of direct, one-on-one engagement with the consumer in a branded offline or hybrid experience

    At its core, experiential marketing encourages interactivity, engages the consumer’s senses, and helps to promote a positive, humanized brand impression that can be seen, heard, and felt.

    Pharmaceutical companies can learn from the success of companies like Apple who use event marketing to generate serious buzz and sell out their new products. 

    GET THE HANDBOOK: Not sure how to choose the right event management platform for your needs? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered

    Key Considerations for Pharmaceutical Event Planning

    The first thing you should consider is the type of event that would ultimately make your launch more successful. The key is to create something that your audience will find engaging, informative, and memorable.

    For instance, if your audience is healthcare professionals, you might consider a webinar series to launch your product and provide training. Or if you’re looking to connect with the general public, a virtual press conference with medical experts might work best.  

    In general, pharmaceutical launch events typically involve a combination of educational presentations, panel discussions with experts, and media engagement to generate awareness and interest in the new product. 

    Pharmaceutical Product Launch

    4 Top Formats for Your Next Pharmaceutical Event

    Next, let’s discuss the best event formats for your next pharma product launch: 

    1. Keynote Event

    Delivering a keynote address at a major conference is a powerful way to launch your latest pharmaceutical product. This format allows you to showcase your latest innovation on a prominent stage, often in front of thousands of healthcare professionals, researchers, and industry leaders!

    A compelling keynote typically features a charismatic speaker—such as a renowned expert or company executive—who delivers an engaging presentation that highlights the groundbreaking science, clinical benefits, and patient impact of the new product. 

    For example, at the 2017 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting, Novartis delivered a keynote address to launch their new psoriasis treatment, Cosentyx. The presentation featured impressive efficacy data and patient testimonials, generating buzz and excitement among dermatologists in attendance. 

    Keynote addresses are ideal for hybrid events, as many are live streamed to reach a global audience. So if you’re looking for a way to elevate your brand and inspire a highly targeted audience of healthcare professionals, a keynote with a strong media focus is ideal.

    LEARN MORE: 35 Creative Product Launch Event Ideas to Try This Year

    2. Industry Trade Shows and Conferences

    Trade shows and conferences are the perfect place to connect with healthcare professionals, industry experts, and potential partners or investors. These events provide an ideal platform to showcase the latest drugs, therapies, and medical devices your company has to offer. 

    For example, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting—the world’s largest oncology conference—is a prime venue for pharmaceutical companies to present clinical trial results and introduce new cancer therapies. 

    Consider setting up exhibits, delivering presentations, and holding press conferences to generate interest in your product among the medical community and media. 

    Plus, by engaging with healthcare professionals and industry leaders at these events, your company can effectively raise awareness about your new product and establish valuable connections within the industry. It’s a win-win!

    3. Virtual Press Conference

    When launching a new pharmaceutical product, consider hosting a virtual press conference. Doing so allows you to effectively reach a wide audience of journalists, healthcare professionals, and industry stakeholders. 

    A well-organized virtual press conference typically includes presentations by company executives, medical experts, and key opinion leaders, followed by a Q&A session. 

    For example, Biogen held a virtual press conference in June 2020 to announce the FDA approval of their Alzheimer’s drug, Aducanumab. The event included presentations by company executives, medical experts, and patient advocates, discussing the drug’s potential to slow cognitive decline in early-stage Alzheimer’s patients.

    Ultimately, virtual press conferences allow your company to deliver a compelling narrative around your new product, generate media coverage, and build excitement among relevant stakeholders—all without breaking the bank. 

    LEARN MORE: Healthcare Events: Ideas for Every Size and Type

    4. Webinar Series

    Webinars are another powerful format to launch your latest pharmaceutical product. This format allows you to deliver in-depth, informative content that showcases the science behind your new product while providing valuable insights to medical experts. 

    A well-structured webinar series typically consists of multiple sessions spread over a period of time, each focusing on a specific aspect of the new product, such as its mechanism of action, clinical trial results, and patient management strategies. 

    Gilead Sciences, for instance, successfully launched its hepatitis C medication, Harvoni, in 2014 through a series of educational webinars. These events highlighted the drug’s high efficacy and convenient single-pill regimen, providing healthcare professionals with the knowledge and confidence to prescribe the new treatment. 

    By leveraging event management software, a webinar series can help your company educate and engage with healthcare professionals and ultimately drive the adoption of your new product. 

    LEARN MORE: Best Practices for Hosting a Webinar Event

    Uncomplicate Your Pharma Event Planning with Event Management Software

    Launching a new pharmaceutical product requires careful planning and execution.

    By choosing the right event format—whether it’s a keynote address, trade show exhibit, virtual press conference, or webinar series—you can showcase your product’s unique features, share compelling clinical data, and establish your company as a leader in the field. 

    Need a helping hand with your pharmaceutical event planning? Attendease provides a powerful suite of tools to manage all of your events—large and small—in one place.