What Technology is Bringing to Event Planning

Having an accurate head count and attendees list is essential for any successful event. Whether you're planning a tradeshow, hosting a seminar, or taking some of your associates to a corporate event offsite, you can take advantage of several apps and tools that will make the event planning process that much easier. Instead of emailing invites and contacting attendees individually with information about an upcoming event, you can use some simple tools and apps to communicate information about the event, and even get an RSVP within a few minutes.

Here are some ways technology can make the event planning process that much easier:

#1: Using Mobile Apps for Events

Sending out email notices to prospective attendees can take a lot of time and you may end up doing a lot of back-and-forth email exchanges just to clarify details. Use mobile apps that capture key details about the event and send a quick message or link out to your email list. These feature-rich applications can make it easy to deliver information about your event, tickets and some can encourage involvement before and after the event.

#2: Tapping In to Social Media

If you're hosting an event or conference, create en event landing page with all relevant information and details, and use Facebook or Twitter widgets to help with the event promotion process. Many people will be more than happy to leave a comment or share the link via Facebook and Twitter after RSVP'ing to your event, and this process will help them share the event with their friends or followers. If you have a Facebook Fan page, create an event right within the Facebook platform and encourage attendees to RSVP on Facebook. If it's a public event, the event will post to their Wall and in their News Feed when they RSVP as "Attending". Using the Events feature in Facebook itself can make it easier to invite large groups of people and generate some interest in the event you are hosting.

#3: Sending Custom Evites to Announce an Event

If you want to make an email invitation more formal, consider using an evite template that is customized with your company name, logo or event banner. These can add a more professional touch to a simple email and can be a powerful branding tool for a large-scale event or other high-profile gathering. Custom-branded templates typically don't take very long to set up, and you can even have your in-house graphic designer create the basic design and layout. Evites can be sent out to hundreds, even thousands of prospective attendees and may generate more interest than a standard email blast.