Grow Your Business Through Events

I am a member of several event related ning.com groups. This question was presented for discussion “The ENVI team would like to know is it necessary to host client appreciation events for your customers or is that just another way for the company to spend money unnecessarily?”

My brief response was:

I believe client appreciation events are extremely important. The hard part of sales is convincing someone to buy from you the first time. Once they have already purchased they are 70% more likely to purchase from you again or recommend you to someone else. If you nurture the relationships you have already spent time building the reward for your business can be huge!

Let me expound upon that here. Most businesses spend a lot of their resources prospecting, and moving prospects through the sales cycle. It can take both time and money to woo a potential client enough to motivate them to purchase. Where many businesses fail is believing that that relationship ends following the delivery of the final product or service and a token of your appreciation.

By not continuing to court your clients after you have sealed the deal you are allowing a competing business to come in and steal them away. Afterall, you have already identified the need for your product or service why let someone else reap the residual benefits. And, even if they don’t have an immediate need to purchase from you again are you top of mind when their friends and relatives ask if they know anyone in your line of work? If they never hear from you after the final “thank you” chances are you are not.

The reaction from most small business owners when I mention holding a client appreciation event to nurture the relationships you have with existing clients is “I’m a small business or soloprenuer, I can’t afford to hold a client appreciation event.” This mindset is generally based on previous exposure to large-scale client appreciation events. You don’t have to send your clients to Hawaii or host a huge golf tournament to say thank you. Why not hold a small reception with wine and hors d’oeuvres to say thanks? Or a picnic in the park? You can offer a raffle or contest, give away free products and services, there are tons and tons of ways to host a successful customer appreciation event that won’t break the bank.

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Hi, I’m Brandi Starr the owner of Starr Studded Weddings & Events. As a small business owner, I understand the importance of an effective marketing strategy and as a marketing professional; I am experienced in developing a brand image and strategically marketing to a specific target market. Couple these experiences with creative and professional event planning and management skills and you have the perfect planner to help you grow your business through business events.

I have a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Phoenix and a Masters of Education in Adult Education from The Pennsylvania State University. I am an innovative marketing professional with seven years marketing experience focused around the development & execution of marketing strategies & campaigns, marketing data collection & analysis, basic web & graphic design, and customer relationship management. I am skilled in product positioning based on value and relationship rather than being the low-cost option.

As an event planner, I focus not just on planning the logistical aspects of events but creating a experience allowing every guest to feel like a STARR. Business events come and go, but an “experience” can last a lifetime. I will work with you to identify the type of events that will help you to reach your business goals. Together we will turn prospects into leads, clients into referrals, and businesses into partners by impressing them with a truly STARR STUDDED event.

I look forward to learning more about you, your business, and your growth goals. This blog is intended to be a two-way dialog; I encourage (and welcome) your comments and feedback. I want to hear about both your challenges and successes. Feel free to ask me questions, I don’t claim to know it all but will provide feedback and other resources to the best of my ability.

Happy marketing & have a STARR STUDDED day,

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Welcome to Starr Studded Small Biz! An effective marketing strategy can mean the difference between your businesses success and its failure. Marketing should project your brand image, prove to the client that they have a need for your product or your service, and display the passion you bring to your business. So what does small business marketing have to do with event planning?

We believe that small business events are an essential element to a solid marketing plan. Everyone loves a celebration! Planning an event to promote and celebrate your small business goes a long way in establishing your brand and generating leads. Events that allow face-to-face interaction can be 100 more times effective than less personal marketing initiatives. By marketing your business through small business events, you can:

1. Build Brand Awareness
2. Attract New Clients
3. Generate Positive Publicity
4. Establish Yourself as an Expert
5. Increase Community Involvement

The Starr Studded Small Biz blog will not only share tips on growing your business through business events but we will also share tips and best practices to help you to understand how to market your small business properly.

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