We’ve shared tips to have a successful event throughout the week. If your event is a landmark anniversary celebration, or something on a larger scale, budget permitting, you might to consider hiring an event planner. Here’s a video with some guide lines for selecting a reputable event planner.

Next week, we’ll talk about ways to run your chapters more efficiently.

So far this week we’ve talked about how to get started in your event planning and securing locations for your upcoming event. Today’s poset will talk about crafting a marketing plan to help spread the word about your event, and ensure it is well attended.

There are some staples of good marketing. Particularly in the college campuses. Make sure you tap on your available resources. Get the help of a brother or sister that’s skilled in graphic design and create great flyers that you may hand out to friends or by setting up a table at some prominent location on campus. Before you set up a table on campus, make sure it’s both at an authorized location, and that you have all the appropriate permits.

We’ve all heard that there is no better advertisement than word of mouth. That’s very much true. You want people talking about your event. The truth is though, if they don’t know about it, how can they discuss it? Announcing is a very old tradition in greek life. Send out a group of brothers or sisters to visit the different houses of fraternity and sorority row during dinner, and literally … announce your event.

In this day and age, you simply cannot have a solid marketing plan, if it doesn’t include social media. Create buzz in your circle and community by changing your avatars, coming up with a set status update with the pertinent information about the event and share it on facebook, twitter, and if you can swing it, even create a video to throw up on youtube. Be sure to create e-vites, or events on the various social networks and make sure your member invites all their friends and followers.

Stay tuned for more event planning tips throughout the week!

We began the week some tips for getting started in your event planning. In continuing our series on event planning, today we will talk about some tip and tricks to securing a location or venue for your event.

Of course we all want every single of our events to be largely popular, and very well attended. However, it is important to think realistically of the amounts of attendees you can truly expect. Based on previous attendance, what type of event it is, and what kind of buzz your event has, you can make a good assessment on how many people to expect. Once you have a clear picture of this, you have a better idea what size of venue you need.

For smaller events like educational programming, or other events that would be better served by a campus location, take advantage of being a student organization. Most campuses make meeting room, and other areas on campus available to only their student organizations. Look for campus options when available, as your event will benefit form the built in traffic of being in the middle of campus.

If your event is on a bit of a larger scale and you want to rent out a hotel or nightclub, make sure you do your research, and find out which locations have good reputations. Honest, and costumer oriented management is what you WANT for your venue. Make sure you get a fair contract, and that you have your national board or an alumni that’s an attorney look it over.

Stay tuned for more event planning tips throughout the week!