Whether it was organised by your company or by an external organisation, chances are, you would have attended a seminar before. Seminars are held for a variety of purposes, including training staff, sharing knowledge with clients, or presenting a new service or product.
If you have been tasked to organise a seminar, you may find it tough to decide how to go about doing it. Indeed, there are many aspects to consider! To add to the pressure, how well the seminar goes can make a big difference on how your attendees perceive your company. In other words, you wouldn’t wish to disappoint your attendees who take the time out to attend your seminar. It is in the best interests of your company that you plan the best possible seminar.
To help you plan the best seminar to suit your needs, here are some considerations you need to think about in preparing for your seminar:
1. Engage your audience
A seminar is not a lecture! Seminars typically involve the sharing of knowledge on a particular topic, but it does not mean the speaker has to ramble on extensively for the duration of the event. For a successful seminar, the audience should be engaged. Do this by asking the audience questions periodically, and having discussion sessions within the seminar. An effective seminar involves more than one voice, and it makes participants feel valued that they can express their thoughts as well.
2. Select the right speaker
Your choice of speaker can make or break the seminar. Depending on the purpose of your seminar, you may have to select someone in your company who knows the product well, or an external speaker who is an expert in his field. Apart from ensuring your speaker is well qualified to speak about the topic, your speaker should ideally be someone who is trained in speaking. If not, finding someone who is passionate about the subject can also be a good choice of speaker to engage your audience.
3. Market your seminar
If your seminar is targeted towards clients, you will need to market your seminar so that people are aware and attracted to attend your seminar. You could plan a great seminar, but it won’t please anyone if nobody turns up to your seminar! Thus, effective marketing is crucial to ensure your plans don’t go to naught. Some marketing strategies you may consider employing include:
- Email marketing
- Social media marketing
- Guest blogging
- Paid advertising
To achieve the best results, be clear about your target audience and market your event to the people who are likely to be interested. Targeting your marketing efforts can attract more attendees and potential clients for less, rather than let extensive marketing on the wrong audience go to waste.
4. Delegate the Tasks
Running a seminar is not a small feat, and it involves many smaller tasks. Form a committee to oversee the running of the event and delegate tasks that need to be done. For example, one person will manage the selection of the speaker, and another team will take care of marketing strategies. This makes it easier to concentrate on getting the best for every aspect and reduces the burden on one person to handle everything well. A large-scale event might require external help, in which case event planners can provide you with the necessary assistance.
5. Select a suitable venue
Large office spaces are a luxury these days. If your office does not have a suitable room for a seminar, seminar room rental may just be your answer. Rental services let you choose from an array of room sizes and layouts to suit the scale of your seminar. Venues are also often well-equipped with necessary setups like projectors and screens. A comfortable venue is crucial to ensuring a conducive and welcoming atmosphere for your seminar, so take care in selecting a suitable place.
Planning a seminar may involve many aspects, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Keep these tips in mind the next time you are tasked to plan a seminar!