Business, Corporate Event Planning, General Tips, Your Event Career
How to Find Clients as a Corporate Event Planner
As a corporate event planner, you know that booking clients is essential to your success. Of course, it can feel a little difficult to get your foot in the door when you’re first starting out… But with a little effort and creativity, you can get all sorts of clients who need your services! In this article, we will discuss how to find clients as a corporate event planner and grow your business.
So, follow these tips and you will be on your way to success!
How to Become a Corporate Event Planner with No Experience
Before we dive into our 22 tips for getting corporate event planner clients, let’s first discuss how you can get started in the corporate event planning world without any prior experience.
Luckily, we’ve put together the ULTIMATE Guide on this very topic! In this article, you’ll learn:
- What a corporate event planner is
- How much money you can expect to make
- The necessary qualifications of a successful corporate event planner
- Educational requirements
- The 6 steps to becoming a trained, certified, and working corporate event planner
So, we definitely recommend giving this guide a read!
How to Find Clients as a Corporate Event Planner
Alright, let’s move on to the reason you’re really here: you want to know how to find clients as a corporate event planner! By following the 22 tips below, you’ll be well on your way and booking up your calendar in no time!
Tip #1: Know Who Your Target Market Is
You can’t get corporate event planning clients if you don’t know who you’re targeting them to! So, take some time to research your target market and get an idea of the types of clients that are looking for corporate event planning services. This will help you tailor your strategies and make sure you’re reaching the right people!
For example, if you specialize in corporate retreats, then you should target businesses that are looking to have a team building event. Or if you focus on conferences and trade shows, then you should target associations and organizations in your area.
Tip #2: Have a Strong Brand Identity
When it comes to finding clients as a corporate event planner, having a strong brand identity is critical. This is because when potential clients look at your website, social media accounts, or other materials, they should be able to quickly identify who you are and what services you can provide them.
Therefore, your brand should be instantly recognizable and memorable. Furthermore, it should clearly communicate your services and values.
PRO TIP: Need help building your business brand? This Beginner’s Guide breaks down everything you need to know!
Tip #3: Understand Your Services and What Makes You Unique as a Corporate Event Planner
You also need to understand your services in order to find clients as a corporate event planner. Knowing what you can provide and, more importantly, what sets you apart from your competitors can give you the edge when it comes to getting clients.
For example, do you specialize in internal events? Do you have experience with virtual events? Or do you offer something else that makes your services stand out from the rest?
When answering these questions, make sure you can clearly communicate the advantages of your services to potential clients.
Tip #4: Get Properly Trained and Certified in Corporate Event Planning
Having the right training and certification is essential if you want to be taken seriously in the corporate event planning world. Plus, having a recognized certification will help show potential clients that you are competent and have the necessary skills for their events.
So, take some time to research the best courses and certifications available for corporate event planners. QC Event School, for instance, offers a self-paced, online Corporate Event Planning certification course that you can graduate from in as little as 3 short months! Once you have your certification, you’re ready to start finding clients!
Tip #5: Create an Online Portfolio
Your portfolio is a key component of your corporate event planning business. When put together correctly, it makes for one of the most powerful marketing tools!
Why?
Because, by showcasing your best work, you’re giving potential clients a peek into what they can expect from working with you! And since it’s all online, it’s easier than ever for people to view your portfolio.
So, be sure to have a strong portfolio of your past work. From there, make sure potential clients can easily find information about your services, past events, and contact information.
Tip #6: Make Sure You Have a Website
Your website is the face of your business. In fact, it’s often the very first thing potential clients see when they search for services like yours. As such, it’s a great place to showcase your work, list your services, and of course, give people a way to contact you!
Not sure how to put together your business website?
Here are some tips:
- Make use of free website builders.
- Create a visually appealing homepage that gives viewers a good first impression.
- Include high-quality images of your past events to showcase your work (per Tip #1).
- Write engaging copy on each page of your website that conveys the tone and style you want your clients to associate with your corporate event planning business.
- Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and easy for potential clients to navigate.
- Make sure your website is SEO-friendly.
- Includes links to your social media (we’ll touch more on that in the next tip).
- Hire a website developer if you aren’t confident about building one yourself.
Tip #7: Use Social Media to Your Advantage
Social media is incredibly powerful when it comes to marketing yourself or your business, so you should be utilizing this platform! Start with creating a professional page for yourself and/or your business on all major social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.). Once your page is set up, be sure to post regularly, engage with your audience, and work on building a strong following.
Be sure to make use of social media advertising, too! This is another great way to get the word out about your business and stay top-of-mind when potential clients are searching for corporate event planners in their area.
Tip #8: Use Email Marketing
Next, you should also look into using an email marketing service. This is a great way to stay connected with your current clients, as well as reach out to potential ones.
Basically, the way email marketing works is that you can create and send emails to your contacts list. You can use these emails to promote upcoming events, as well as share special offers and discounts.
Just make sure that you use catchy subject lines and engaging content if you want people to actually open and read your emails!
PRO TIP: Make sure to check out this 8-Rule Guide to Email Marketing!
Tip #9: Get Referrals from Past Clients
Hands down, referrals are one of THE most powerful and cost-effective ways to find new clients as a corporate event planner. So, be sure to reach out to past clients and ask them if they can refer you to anyone they know who may need your services.
You can also give your current and previous clients incentives for referring someone else, such as discounts or freebies. This way, both you and your clients will benefit from the referral!
Tip #10: Get Listed in Local Directories & Event Planning Sites
If you want to know how to find clients as a corporate event planner, then don’t forget to get listed in local directories and event planning sites! Doing so can help you gain visibility with potential clients who are looking for corporate event planners in their area. Plus, many directories and event planning sites also have review sections, so potential clients can read reviews from past customers before deciding to hire you.
Here are some local directories and event planning sites you should get your business listed on:
- Google My Business
- Yelp
- WeddingWire
- Eventective
- Google Maps
- Facebook Business
- Apple Maps
- LinkedIn Company Directory
- MapQuest
- Bing
- The Knot
- HubSpot
- Superpages
- YellowBook.com
Tip 11: Get Involved in Your Local Community
Another great ideas for finding clients is to get involved in your local community as much as you can. This is a great way to network and meet potential clients who may be interested in hiring you for corporate events.
You can start by attending networking events, joining local chambers of commerce, or volunteering with organizations that could use your help. All of these are great ways to get your name out there and start connecting with people who may be able to refer you for corporate events.
Tip 12: Ask for Referrals from Other Event Planners
It’s also a good idea to leverage the power of referrals from other event planners! Reach out to other event planners in your area and ask them if they have any corporate events coming up that you could help with. You might be able to develop a great working relationship with other event planners and take on some of their overflow work.
Tip #13: Take Part in a Stylized Photoshoot
Since getting corporate event planning clients is the goal, you should also consider taking part in a stylized photoshoot. Doing so can help showcase your corporate event planning services in the best light possible! Plus, it can help get potential clients excited about hiring you for their events.
If you’ve never heard of a stylized photoshoot, it’s essentially an unpaid collaboration between multiple industry professionals. Think a photographer, a decorator, an event planner, etc. The compensation is that everyone benefits from each other’s services (e.g. you getting to use the high-quality images in your portfolio and marketing materials). For the shoot, models and props are set up to showcase everyone’s services in an attractive and creative way.
As a corporate event planner, you can participate in a styled shoot in a number of ways. For instance, you could provide the event planning services and help coordinate everything. You could also bring in props like centerpieces, table settings, or other decor items to make it look even more amazing.
The possibilities are endless!
PRO TIP: Learn more about how stylized photoshoots can lead to event planner jobs!
Tip 14: Put Some Money into Paid Advertising
Paid advertising is also worth considering, too. This can help your business get in front of potential clients who are actively searching for a corporate event planner. Furthermore, it can also extend your reach to people who may not have heard about you before.
The best way to get started with paid advertising is by creating an ad on Google Ads or Facebook Ads. You can also use LinkedIn Ads to specifically target corporate clients. You’ll want to make sure that you create an effective ad, as well as track your results in order to see if the ads are actually worth your money.
Ultimately, paid advertising is a great way to get in front of potential corporate event planning clients and put your services in front of them quickly.
Tip #15: Write a Corporate Event Planning Blog
Another excellent tip for finding clients as a corporate event planner is to write and share blog posts about corporate events! Writing useful content can help attract potential clients who are actively looking for solutions to their problems.
For instance, you could share tips on how to plan a successful corporate event or even discuss the latest trends in the corporate events industry. You could also write about common mistakes to avoid when planning a corporate event.
Writing blog posts can help build your credibility, improve your website’s SEO, and demonstrate that you’re an expert in the field of corporate event planning. Not to mention, it’s a great way to connect with potential clients and help them understand why you’re the best person for the job.
So, if you’re looking to get more corporate event planning clients, writing a blog can definitely help!
Tip #16: Make Sure You’re Using the Right Language in Your Content
This particular tip is relevant to your:
- Website
- Social media posts
- Content used in paid ads
- Email marketing
- Blog posts, etc.
It’s important to make sure that you’re using the right language when it comes to your content. And by that, we mean that your language should be clear, easy-to-understand, and written in an active voice. After all, you want potential clients to understand what you can offer them as a corporate event planner quickly and easily.
You’ll also want to make sure that the reading level of your content is appropriate for your target audience. In this particular case, we recommend aiming for an 8th grade reading level. That way, you know that everyone who reads your content will be able to understand it!
Lastly, it’s key that the language you’re using in all content is consistent with your business’s brand identity. This includes the tone and style of your words, as well as any other elements such as jargon, abbreviations, and so on. This way, potential clients get a better understanding of who you are as a business and what you can offer them.
Tip #17: Offer Incentives to First-Time Clients
Fun fact: everyone – and we mean EVERYONE – likes a good deal. When you can offer people discounts or freebies, you make it easier for them to choose your services over other people’s. So, perhaps one of the ways you choose to attract first-time customers is by providing them with discounts or freebies if they decide to use your services.
This could be anything from a discounted rate for their first corporate event, to a free consultation, or even a free gift basket. You could also host giveaways or offer loyalty programs where customers get rewards for being repeat customers.
Whatever you decide to offer, make sure that it’s something that will entice potential clients and make them decide to use your services. The key is to make sure that your incentives are attractive enough for people to choose you over other corporate event planners. Plus, this is a great way to show potential clients that you value their business and are willing to go the extra mile for them.
You should also make sure that you advertise your incentives in all of the content mentioned above so potential clients are aware of them. It’s all about getting the word out and making sure that potential clients know that you exist!
Tip #18: Attend Corporate Event Planning Conferences and Tradeshows
Easily, one of the best ways to get more corporate event planning clients is by attending tradeshows and conferences. That way, you can network with other professionals in the industry and establish relationships that can turn into potential business opportunities down the line.
Not only that, but it also gives you a chance to showcase your skillset and show potential clients why your services are the best. You can also use these events to send out press releases or even give interviews if there’s media present.
Plus, conferences and tradeshows are great ways to stay up-to-date on industry trends, learn new skills, and make connections with like-minded professionals. All of these things will not only help you stay competitive in the industry; they’ll also help you find potential corporate event planning clients.
PRO TIP: Learn how to network like a pro at event planning conferences!
Tip #19: Partner with an Influencer
You can also find corporate event planning clients by partnering up with a macro or micro influencer in the industry. Influencers are people who have a large following on social media. As such, they can help you reach potential customers quickly and easily.
Plus, if they have personal experience in the event planning industry, then they’ll be able to provide valuable insight that can help you attract the right target audience. Moreover, they can also provide authentic reviews of your services which will make potential customers feel secure in their decision to use your services.
Tip #20: Use Digital Advertising
As another option, you can always resort to digital advertising to help get the word out about your corporate event planning business. This includes anything from search engine optimization (SEO) to pay-per-click campaigns and more.
Digital advertising can be a great way to reach potential customers quickly, as well as target specific demographics with the right messaging. Plus, digital advertising is cost efficient and you can track how effective your campaigns are in real time.
So, this could be a great way to get more corporate event planning clients, as long as you do your research and target the right audience!
Tip #21: Turn to Your Inner Circle
There’s something to be said about the power of word-of-mouth. So, one of the best ways to find corporate event planning clients is by turning to your inner circle and letting everyone know that you’re available for hire.
You can do this by reaching out to friends, family members, and even acquaintances that may have a need for corporate event planning services. Plus, if you offer your inner circle a discounted rate (or better yet, a referral bonus), then they may be more inclined to spread the word and help you find new customers.
Tip #22: Use Traditional Marketing Methods
Finally, you can also resort to traditional marketing methods like direct mail, radio advertisements, and other forms of outbound marketing. While this may be an older form of advertising, it can still be effective in certain scenarios.
For example, if your target audience consists mostly of Baby Boomers or those who are less tech savvy than the average consumer, then they may be more receptive to traditional forms of advertising.
So, if you want to get more corporate event planning clients, don’t discount the power of outbound marketing!
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s wrap things up by answering some of the most common questions about how to find corporate event planning clients…
Q: Is networking a good way to find clients for corporate event planning?
A: Absolutely! As we discussed earlier, networking is one of the best ways to find corporate event planning clients. You can meet potential clients, build relationships, and learn about industry trends all in one place.
Q: How can I make sure my corporate event planning business stands out from the competition?
A: One of the best ways to make sure your corporate event planning business stands out is by offering unique services or packages that the competition doesn’t offer. You can also stand out by providing superior customer service, going above and beyond for your clients, and offering the best prices in town.
Q: Should I have a niche as a corporate event planner?
A: Depending on the type of clientele you’re looking to serve, you may want to consider specializing in a certain type of event planning. For example, since you’re looking to specialize in corporate events, then one potential niche would be to focus on corporate retreats, conferences, and other types of meetings.
Q: How often should I be advertising my corporate event planning services?
A: It ultimately depends on your target audience and how quickly you want to grow your business. However, it’s typically recommended to advertise your services on at least a monthly basis in order to stay top of mind with potential customers.
Q: How much of my budget will go towards client acquisition?
A: Again, it depends on the type of clients you’re targeting and how much you’re willing to spend. However, most businesses will typically allocate around 10-20% of their budget towards client acquisition.
Q: How much of my budget will go towards client retention?
A: Client retention is just as important as client acquisition. So, it’s recommended to allocate around 10-20% of your budget towards retention efforts! High-quality customer service, loyalty programs, and other types of incentives are all great ways to keep your clients coming back.
Q: How can I grow as a corporate event planner?
A: To grow as a corporate event planner, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends and technology. You can also continue to network and build relationships with potential clients, take courses or workshops to hone your skills, and seek out mentorship opportunities in the field.
Q: How can I stand out from the competition as a corporate event planner?
A: The key to standing out from your competitors is to provide something of value that everyone else doesn’t currently provide. So, that may be:
- Offering unique services or packages that the competition doesn’t have
- Providing superior customer service
- Offering your services at a competitive rate
- Providing both virtual and in-person corporate event planning services
- Going above and beyond for your clients
- Staying up to date on the latest industry trends and technologies, etc.
How to Get Corporate Event Planner Clients: Conclusion
Finding clients as a corporate event planner can be challenging, but with the right strategies in place, it’s absolutely doable. Networking and outbound marketing are two of the most effective ways to get more corporate event planning clients.
However, it’s also important to stand out from the competition by offering unique services or packages that your competitors don’t have. Finally, make sure you’re allocating enough of your budget towards both client acquisition and retention in order to ensure long-term success as a corporate event planner.
So long as you keep the 22 tips in this article in mind, you should have no problem finding and retaining corporate event clients.
Good luck – and happy planning!
