They will help inform your decision-making in two major ways, ensuring youre always focused on your target: Each aspect of the SMART principle has a unique benefit for organisers looking to set goals for their event. And because their solution was inherently linked to data-gathering software, they were able to track participation and other event KPIs at the same time. : You may want to break your overall objective down into more manageable, smaller goals to check off as part of your event planning checklist. Dont make this mistake! Listen to and acknowledge customer feedback. Is it a large business conference, where youll be launching a brand new product? Setting performance goals can help you with the following: Praised by project managers, the SMART goal-setting system is one of the best ways to set performance goals. Habitica is a gaming app you can use to make event goal setting a lot more fun. The goals will help guide the appraisal and give you specific employee responsibilities and metrics to evaluate during the performance meeting. To foster a better attitude: Ensure that your tone, body language, and other nonverbal cues convey the proper respect and attitude toward others.. Moreover, another issue many event coordinators face is not correctly budgeting finances. This way, it will be easier to identify performance gaps and address them at the outset. Was that budget adequate? Objectives are the strategies and steps that you use to reach your goals. M: This goal is measurable because you can easily list all relevant parties you must communicate with and track who you have and have not yet contacted. Here are some key questions to consider when you are setting and defining event goals and objectives: The right event goals should align with the brands overall marketing as well as the companys mission statement. Contrary to common belief, they arent interchangeable particularly regarding event planning. Did the brand goals remain aligned to the event? Customer Satisfaction Goal Example: Increase the number of five-star online customer reviews by 20% by Q2.. Yet, at the same time, it can also be profoundly stressful and chaotic. Event organizers also set goals and KPIs for each event and reflect on what they could do better next time if they didnt achieve the outcomes they hoped for. Creating a timeline is also crucial if you dont have the luxury of time when planning an event for a client. Instead of: I want my next event to generate 100% more revenue than the previous one. You want to attract people who belong to your target audience. A: This goal is realistic and attainable because increased public awareness and marketing should increase ticket sales. They help managers conduct more effective performance reviews. Communicate thoughtfully during meetings. Over the past two years, many planners have had to figure out how to plan, manage, and execute large-scale global events with multinational audiences because of the evolution of digital and hybrid events. 2. Refrain from violating company policies when communicating with customers. Its not the end of the world, provided you have a crisis management plan to deal with it. Find a solution that helps attendees network with one another while also measuring event effectiveness. Use: I want my next event to generate more revenue than the previous one. Identify a realistically achievable target not always as straightforward as it sounds. During multi-day events, mini-daily debriefs are important not only for making in-the-moment adjustments but also for capturing the successes and challenges of the event itself. To help support our reporting work, and to continue our ability to provide this content for free to our readers, we receive compensation from the companies that advertise on the Forbes Advisor site. An event goal is a specific and measurable result from an event. When the pandemic first rattled the industry, event planners were forced to rapidly pivot to, Event planners are experts at creating event experiences because they possess the perfect balance of. This is a self-development goal. There are several sources of data you should use to plan your next event, including surveys, social media, and good old-fashioned conversations as well as numbers and metrics. If you incorporate these five aspects into your goal-setting process, you should achieve success. The Forbes Advisor editorial team is independent and objective. For example, if 100 people visited your sales page and 10 of them bought your product. Anticipate what your manager will need to know and provide that information. For managers: Keep team members informed of each others actions.. KPIs vary according to what your overall goals are. My goal is to increase profits generated by this event by at least 5% compared to the last event. The formula is: (conversions / visits) x 100 = conversion rate percentage. success. Performance goals help businesses measure where a business is compared to where it wants to be and can help bridge the gap between the two. 2. Whether thats to make money from ticket sales, raise funds for a good cause, or educate and inform your attendees. Nick Artsruni is a thrice-published author and 15-year veteran of the publishing industry. Provide constructive criticism to coworkers. It should highlight the goal you set and detail the actions youll take to reach those goals. How do I deliver a meaningful and comparable digital and in-person experience? Discourage harassment, bullying, and poor behavior. This will include the caterers, decorators, keynote speakers, and anybody else of relevance.. But you can assess the number of sales made before, during, and after the conference. Specific. Performance goals: Relate to the position at hand Focus on the duties of the job and what it produces Aim to get an employee to meet a higher-level goal Development goals: Focus on learning and improvement Encourage an improved performance Professional development goals are goals focused on plans for learning and development. To nurture diversity: Appreciate the unique perspective, skills, and experience that each person brings to the team.. Were pre-determined measurements of success achieved? What went well, what didnt go well? In fact, MarTechs Event Participation Index study found that the average marketer says theres just a 50-50 chance theyll attend an in-person event during the first half of 2022. Otherwise, the person responsible for generating traffic will be incentivized to maximize it without regard for its quality, which is a wasteful approach. R: This goal is relevant because you cant have a coordinated event if you dont have adequate staffing to execute all necessary functions and aspects. Performance goals, also known as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), are the goals you set to evaluate employee performance. Their goal is to ensure people are aware of a particular activity theyre organising. My goal is to run a series of increasingly profitable events. In many cases, theyre even comfortable with change because theyre used to it. To foster leadership: Discover the problems that prevent team members from performing at the highest possible levels.. We know that an event planning timeline is crucial to stay on track. Increase overall event engagement by 30% by the last day of the first annual event. . You can set monthly, quarterly or yearly sales goals, depending on the length of your sales cycle. Now that you know the top skills event planners need for success in the era of hybrid and virtual events, its time to continue your journey to reaching your full potential as an event experience leader. You can have security staff members at the entrance to do event check-in if youre hosting a high-profile event. To improve planning: Begin projects by identifying all the resources required, including staff, funding, materials, and other support.. There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. Escalate complex customer issues when necessary. Get all the support you want for your events because we know hospitality matters. But, of course, actually making a profit or a return can also be a challenge. While traffic goals are relevant to all businesses that have websites, they are the most important for online businesses such as e-commerce stores and SaaS companies. Collecting event data will help you to devise an effective strategy and work towards consistently improved results. As part of their performance measurement, great event planners ask for feedback from their attendees, participants, and stakeholders utilising specialist tools. Lets use the above example to move away from generic goals and towards SMART goals: Instead of: I want my next event to be more successful than the previous one. The concept was pioneered in 1981 by consultant George T. Doran in a paper for the business periodical Management Review. Say, in 2016, the goal was to reach $5 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). Use: I want my next event to generate 30% more revenue from virtual and in-person ticket sales than the previous one. People who thrive under pressure often do well at this type of job, but its not just about personality. Checking this information daily means you can be proactive in reallocating marketing spend, knowing how much food to order, or inviting more people to your event - rather than waiting until it's too late. To achieve this, I will apply to 1 job per week for 2 months submitting a total of 8 job applications. Define key performance goals Understanding the "why" is important " but you also need to quantify your goal. Understanding the why is important but you also need to quantify your goal. Keep reading to learn more about the event planning skills you need in order to deliver event experiences that attendees wont forget anytime soon. When working with performance goals, focus on what you can control. Whether the budget, location, or date changes, event planners must roll with the punches to put on an exceptional event. Also, when it comes to physical products, you can use the return rate as one of the customer satisfaction metrics. While not all of these goals may apply to you, the methodology is how you should create all your objectives. 2023 Forbes Media LLC. I will implement this change in 15 days when the next event I am coordinating occurs.. In 2023, anything is possible in the events industry. Seek ways to assume responsibilities beyond your current job description.. After all, planners need to coordinate a slew of competing interests vendors, clients, venues, speakers, staff, attendees, and more. 55 Mothers Day Event Ideas That Mums Will Love, Planning Conferences and Corporate Events in 2023: Trends and Challenges, several sources of data you should use to plan your next event. The list can go on and on. Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Our complete 52-week event communication plan is packed with ideas to keep in touch with clients, attendees, and suppliers for a whole year after your event. Having that clarity of focus will help you plan for success, not waste any resources, and leave you feeling motivated. Through an enhanced design and strategically placed conversion tools, they ended up with a total of 6.84% more conversions. Sales goals work well as employee performance goals for salespeople. Manage your events and boost your event planning career with our, 7 Things the Most Successful Event Planners Do Every Day. Make sure to schedule any event marketing emails, such as a thank you for attending or event photos, into your timeline. Weak Goal Example: I'm going to secure a promotion. When thinking strategy, think of it from two perspectives: How will both the planning team and the attendee help realize the goals? The goal is to have at least one staff member for every 50 attendees. Objective: Sell a certain number of tickets at various price points to ensure you hit your goal. Even after a successful event, planners never rest on their laurels. Meanwhile, case studies can show you what your competitors are doing. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest are just some of the platforms you should be using on a regular basis as the owner of an event planning business. Setting performance goals can help improve employee retention, motivation and productivity. Your event budget, event theme, speakers, and entertainment will all have a place and will ultimately have commonality with your goal. Well start with the steps to setting goals for an event, and then well give you a few examples of great event goals for a bit of inspiration. Ensure that your tone, body language, and other nonverbal cues convey the proper respect and attitude toward others.. Goal: Stronger social media presence Let's start with an area we know you're familiar with - social media! , including surveys, social media, and good old-fashioned conversations as well as numbers and metrics. I will implement this RSVP system and activate it as soon as tickets to the next event go up for sale.. Traffic Goal Example: Increase organic website traffic by 50% by July 2023.. As more variants crop up and event planners around the world wait for a return to in-person events, one thing is certain: Virtual and hybrid event planning skills are no longer optional. Tracking customer satisfaction might require setting up an automated system for gathering feedback. Achieve 5% more event ticketing website visitor conversions than the previous year. Your vision can parallel yourevent goals: why are you hosting an event? While it may not always be feasible to set just one goal, especially for large organizations, what matters here is clarity. Whether the budget, location, or date changes, event planners must roll with the punches to put on an exceptional event. Be on time for all meetings, which shows you respect your colleagues time.. In the age of virtual and hybrid events, it comes as no surprise that planners need to be more tech-savvy than ever before. Use sales techniques to offer additional products and services. For example, Noah Kagan, the founder of Sumo and AppSumo, shared that with Sumo, he would set a single revenue-based goal each year. M: This goal is measurable because you can easily compare ticket sales from one event to another through simple calculations. Encourage team creativity by listening to new ideas. Goals are usually specific and measurable. Why or why not? Make an effort to understand the perspectives of others. Performance goals are usually developed for experienced employees, while learning goals are most often applied to new or inexperienced people. Keep reading to discover how you can set realistic event goals that produce results and get inspired by our event objectives examples. Refrain from publicly criticizing coworkers. 7600A Leesburg Pike, West Building, Suite 300, Falls Church, VA 22043. Your objective should be something you can realistically achieve. In many cases, theyre even. Use: I want my next event to generate 30% more revenue than the previous one from virtual and in-person ticket sales in the next six months. But if you do have time, a timeline can help you with coordination as far out as days and weeks in advance to event day. This compensation comes from two main sources. The conversion rate of that page is 10%. Event organizers need to possess crystal-clear writing skills and strong negotiation chops that enable them to help stakeholders reach a consensus, attendees choose the right ticket packages, employees work out live chat monitoring schedules, and more. Some events focus on raising brand awareness, while others focus on generating new sales leads. Their goal is to ensure their events get more profitable. Although this new era of event planning may seem overwhelming, the most committed event planners are making magic happen for virtual and hybrid events. Employees can also use performance goals to make themselves more valuable. SMART goals for event planning are your safeguard when organising your event and also measuring the results afterwards. Many employees lack the initiative to take on new tasks or complete assignments without the need for micromanaging. Planners should be skilled at vendor management in order to build strategic partnerships and maximize outcomes and impact. Following an event,you have all the knowledge from what just took place fresh in your mind. Here are some performance review phrases to use if communication is a weakness for the employee: Some employees just arent creative or struggle to come up with innovative ideas. As an event planner, setting goals and executing them can often mean the difference between success and failure. Adapt customer service scripts when communicating. Did the event strategy serve stakeholders as intended? My SMART objective is for my next event to generate 30% more revenue than the previous one from virtual and in-person ticket sales in the next six months. The term successful is too vague to qualify here, so its impossible to know if and when youve completed this goal. It may seem obvious, but when decision-makers look to measure the success of the event, they may suggest things that are simply out of your control. While running events can be fun and rewarding, it can be challenging, too, especially since the onset of COVID-19. Please try again later. Let us know at @socialtables. Specific: This goal is clear to increase initial profits by 5% by hosting a raffle, with a raffle twice the size in the following event granted the first one is a success. Complete tasks without frequent supervision. Using SMART goals helps you cover all of the bases. MAISON&OBJET, an event geared toward lifestyle-related professionals, hosts four main events every year and has an international audience. Email Marketing Goal Example: Increase email click-through rate by 10% by May 2023.. You can increase your revenue by increasing your conversion rates across your sales funnel, e.g., ad clicks, email opt-ins, sales, etc. A 5% increase is not much, and raffles are popular. You could create general goals, such as planning a certain number of events per year. Moreover, its also about ways to measure how close you are to your goal, especially to a particular timeline. Because they are one of the few industry events of its kind, networking is the #1 priority for most attendees. This is where goals and objectives come into play. Creative Thinking Up next, discover the best floor layout apps for events to bring your event goals to life, and check out a helpful event planning checklist you can customize for your objectives. $39-plus per month, depending on company size and needs. Social media goals are typically based on the target number of followers you want to amass. On the other hand, getting a higher satisfaction rate than for your last event is much better! Consider setting additional performance goals that include other relevant metrics, such as open and click-through rates, to balance the incentives. One way to define what they want to achieve and make it easier to accomplish is by setting SMART goals. One staff member for every 50 attendees not much, and other support this goal effort understand. For the business periodical management Review security staff members at the outset people are aware a! 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