Nice Vs. Memorable Events

If you are in business, do you ever cringe when you receive “Another” invitation to attend another event? But do you end up going for “Business” and to try to find that elusive prospect that turns into a customer? We all have been faced with that and probably will continue to do so and go to these events.

Most events are well, nice. Nice is another word for OK. If dating, and your date said, “Oh, I had a…nice time.” I hope you took a picture because that will be the last time you see them.

You see the same people from one event to another. Eat the same meatballs and carrots from one event to another. Hear welcoming addresses by the host organization that proclaims not to be a “Sale Pitch” but as luck would have it, ends up as a “Sale Pitch.” The event doesn’t have a spark and your spark is fading away as well.

Many of the same conversations about what a “Nice” event it is with people you find out would never use your product/service. You really don’t want to bash the event too much since you are eating their food and drinking their 2014 vintage wine selections. Plus you called home earlier and said you’re eating at the event so don’t worry about me. First mistake.

Is a nice event the atmosphere you want for your event when trying to thank customers for their support while looking to attract new prospects? To make an impression?

If you are thinking about using event marketing to grow your business, which is still an approach that is hard to beat, make your event stand out. Make it memorable. Something that your guests will talk to others about.

Perhaps the one area that prevents your event from going from lackluster to memorable is risk. The risk on your part to make it different.

Here is an event marketing bulletin; You don’t need a huge budge to make your event different and memorable. Creativity and the willingness to do something your competitors are not trying.

Just like everything around us in life, we are bombarded with emails, texts, mail, phone calls, advertisement, social media and information overload. So when you do something, make it different and let it stand out.

If you think people will remember your welcoming self-serving info-commercial about your business and the never ending introductions of people within the organization, I’m sure someone has some swampland for sale that you might be interested in. People will not remember that John is celebrating his 30^th anniversary with the company in accounts payable. Congrats John but that is not going to make the needle move. It may be nice but it is not memorable.

Make it fun. Try the unexpected. Most importantly, give your guests a reason to remember you and your business. More importantly, give them a reason to RSVP to your event.

Your event is in place to make people feel good. Let them remember how good they felt at your event, instead of hoping they will remember some dry facts about your business. This is not a time to pull out a contact and have your guest sign on the dotted line (Would be nice, but don’t plan for it) but to:

• Thank current customers for their support.


• Welcome prospects and let them get to know you personally.


• Interact with Referral Sources.


• Bring something educational or entertaining to them.


• You are using a presentation, not related to your business, to get them to get to know you.


• Make introductions between guests. Yes, they are getting something they didn’t expect.


• Set up the follow up with those you’ve engaged in conversation with.


• Dare I say, “Start building relationships for future business?”


• Strive to create the sense that “This” is the business where you want to be associated with.


• Your competitors may deliver the same product or service, but your organization aims to deliver an overall experience.

Here is a rough example of a memorable event:

• Using the premise that kids like and know the names dinosaurs (Which they do)


• Your business invites and is host to current customers, prospects, referral sources, former customers, suspects that have no connection with your company but you would like to get to know them, city officials, high profile community members, members of charity boards that you serve with and friends that you would like to have as a customer but where afraid to ask.


• The event is an Evening with Dr. X a noted Paleontologist to talk about dinosaurs at a local hotel, club or other venue.


• In your invite, you ask to please bring their spouse and or significant other (but not both…kidding!) as well as their children, grandchildren, young people and other young family members.


• The event starts at 6:00pm with beverages and snacks, presentation by Dr. X starts at 7:00pm giving you time to work the crowd between 6 and 7.


• A SHORT welcome by the host, then turn it over to the good Dr. X who talks for 30-45 minutes and hopefully working in questions to the audience (kids) to get them involved, followed by Q&A from the attendees to the Dr.


• The hook: Old Dr. X. has brought along an actual 100 million year old dinosaur bone that each kid can get their picture with, which your company just happens to have a photographer at the event, holding the bone along with the Dr. and family members. Part of the FOLLOW UP, you get the photos developed and deliver them to your guest shortly after the event. Everybody will have their own phones to take the picture, but this gives you an excuse to make another contact with your guest. And hopefully to talk a little business too.


• You tell me there won’t be good vibes from the kids/family about the evening with the dinosaur guy long after the event? And who brought this to them? You and your company.


• Would you be surprised to see a framed photo on the desk of your prospect of their kid with that bone the next time you visit them? Positive thoughts about you and your company in their mind? I think so.


• This event becomes another step in your efforts in converting a prospect into a client.

The reality is that there is not one way to grow your business or attract new prospects. But if you fall back to safe or “Nice” events, you may be missing out to create separation between you and your targets.

So if in the event, you are going to do an event, make it eventful and different.

Nice Vs. Memorable Events