According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), goal setting for your company, especially setting long-term goals, is the cornerstone of management by objectives (MBO). Focusing on goals allows you to steer the course of your company instead of every upset or unexpected occurrence steering your company for you. It is also smart to revisit your goals every year, adjust anything that needs adjusted, and fine-tune your plan. Make Sure Goals Are Concrete Make sure your goals are concrete goals. Don’t just have a goal setting session where you say you want to make more money. Instead, get rea ..read more

If you haven’t already started to plan your New Year’s Eve bash to help promote your business, now is the time to do so. You still have time to plan a fun event and invite your favorite customers or influencers in your community, particularly if you run any type of event venue business. Here are some ideas for each type of possible venue and how to promote. Paint and Sip New Year’s Eve Bash If you own a paint and sip event service, think about what your typical customer might most enjoy out of a New Year’s Eve bash. Obviously, you’re going to host it longer than you would on a typical paint an ..read more

The holidays are a time of year where people are looking for fun events to attend, enjoying time with family, and seeking out gift giving opportunities. You can tap into this buying bonanza and secure some new customers in the process by strategically planning some holiday events. The best time to start booking is now, because people’s schedules tend to fill up the closer it gets to Christmas. Here are some ideas for special events for specific business types. Cooking Classes Cooking is a tradition in most families during the holidays. Families are looking for fun outings and a way to make mem ..read more

Do you have to plan an event quickly? Even though every event organizer dreams of having  a full year or more to plan the perfect event, the reality is typically far less. You may even find that the ball has been dropped in your court and someone else has walked away, having finished very little of the planning. If you have 30 days or less to pull everything together, then you’ll want to print out this checklist. It’s going to be your lifeline to pulling an event even under less than ideal circumstances. Plan an Event Checklist When you only have 30 days to plan an event, you learn to foc ..read more

A high traffic blog post is something most website owners strive for. The more attention you can draw to your posts, the more visitors come to your site, and the more conversions you’ll hopefully get. While there isn’t a cure-all formula that will help you hit it out of the ballpark every time. There are some basic skills to writing a high performing post that are universal. Steps to Write a High Traffic Blog Post Just like anything worthwhile, there aren’t shortcuts to writing blog posts that people will want to read. There are some very specific ingredients you need to add if you want the re ..read more

Guest blogging can increase your number of followers and customers. Assuming you have established your blog and published valuable content, you’re in a position to find relatable blogs without being in direct competition. Finding places to guest post about your event can be a challenge, but there are some techniques you can use that will make this endeavor successful for you. Start with Local Companies If most of your business is local, start here and then branch out. If you’re a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, you have a ready-made list of potential blogs in the membership roster ..read more

It’s been said over and over that dog is man’s best friend, but friend doesn’t really do justice to the relationship most of us have with our canine companions. More and more people are looking for dog friendly businesses these days so they can take Fido along. Yes, they may even be looking for a bring your dog to paint and sip night event! Bring Your Dog to Paint and Sip Planning an event where people can bring their dogs may require a bit of additional planning than your typical event. For example, if you also serve meals at your venue, you’ll need to check local board of health policies on ..read more

Most people are conscious of their impact on the environment and event hosts are no exception. You can exercise your eco-conscience and lessen your impact on the local landfill by turning to ways to make your events greener. How green is your event? You should first decide how green you wish to make your event. You might decide to go all in, including the vendors you use, such as caterers, and even how you dispose of the waste from your event. Set Criteria for Your Green Standards Before you set out to have a green event, you need to set the criteria for your green standards and stick with the ..read more

A website won’t give a return if no one knows about you. With a little effort, you can utilize social media to get more followers and direct them to your website and/or blog. Get More Followers Locally Creating a local presence can be more challenging than establishing an Internet presence. If you need to be more visible, there are a few things you can do to connect locally. Use targeted ads on Facebook targeted to your geographical area. Set a budget of a few dollars each week to test the waters. Connect with people you already know. Encourage customers/clients to follow you on social media ..read more

If you’re planning your very first event, or you are on a tight event budget, the costs may seem almost insurmountable. However, you can start small, cut costs where you can, and still put on an amazing event. The first step to working with a small budget is to write out your budget and stick to a plan. However, once you have your basic budget in place, there are some additional things you can do to save even more. Pinching Pennies There are a number of ways you can stretch your event dollars even further. One key way to stretch your event budget is to think outside the box. Volunteers Seek ou ..read more