Whether youre aiming to increase your revenue, grow your audience, or improve on feedback from attendees, using SMART objectives can help. As you can see, event planning and coordination is not an easy career. a boss, the board chairs, sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, audience and online community). Is it a large business conference, where youll be launching a brand new product? And they succeeded. Goals are usually specific and measurable. Instead, theyre focused on learning what they can to make sure the next event is even better. For example, if your venue has strict load-in and load-out times for suppliers, youll want to note that on your timeline. Were your outlined objectives achieved? Make your next event a success? Did the audience take the intended action? A: This goal is attainable and realistic, as adding an extra 5 minutes between speakers or activities should not be a challenge; its just simple scheduling. Another important metric is engagement rate, the percentage of your followers interacting with a piece of content (e.g., liked, commented, shared, etc.). Where and how could you be more efficient. Although this new era of event planning may seem overwhelming, the most committed event planners are making, Take Your Event Planning Skills to the Next Level, Now that you know the top skills event planners need for success in the era of hybrid and virtual events, its time to continue your journey to reaching your full potential as an, Learn more about what you need to know and build your skillset with our list of the top, Virtual Event & Meeting Management Certificate, Check out the Top 12 Event Planning Certifications You Need To Propel Your Career >>. Past performance is not indicative of future results. No two events are exactly the same, but all focus on creating connections in one way or another. Would you be happy with a broad range of guests at your educational seminar? It should highlight the goal you set and detail the actions youll take to reach those goals. Meanwhile, case studies can show you what your competitors are doing. Use these performance review phrases to give feedback: Editors Note: Helping your employees write strong performance goals is extremely helpful when it comes time to sit down for performance reviews. Following an event,you have all the knowledge from what just took place fresh in your mind. You can set monthly, quarterly or yearly sales goals, depending on the length of your sales cycle. Discover ways to think outside the box and be more decisive. All Rights Reserved. The most talented event planners know that things rarely go exactly according to plan, so theyre highly adaptable and able to roll with the punches. Conversely, if its a smaller, more intimate event, finding a venue appropriate for the audience size is a good idea. Finally, if you want to take your goal-setting efforts to the next level, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals. Create a course of action for projects without supervision. Remember that if all else fails, technology often has your back. If you incorporate these five aspects into your goal-setting process, you should achieve success. Or are you looking to attract and engage with a specific group? Event professionals must be knowledgeable and experienced in the following: Additionally, todays event planners need to know how to deliver TV-quality video content, whether thats sourcing the right partner, employee, or software to make it happen. One defining trait of a successful event planner is that they leave nothing to chance everything is measured and analysed. Maintain the big-picture view and avoid getting lost in the details. 4. With these FREE documents, youll improve the consistency and reduce the subjectivity of your performance reviews to help you build and maintain a successful organization. Create a course of action for projects without supervision. Prepare in advance for meetings.. An unrealistic goal will have the opposite effect. Refer to our Privacy Policy or contact us at privacy@cvent.com for more details. The answer? If you want to learn more about SMART goals, we recommend reading Ultimate Guide to SMART Goals. Planners should be skilled at vendor management in order to build strategic partnerships and maximize outcomes and impact. But, of course, actually making a profit or a return can also be a challenge. For the look of the event, consider who your attendees are. Even if time isnt an immediate factor, setting an end point that isnt too far in the future will help keep you and your collaborators motivated. Then, narrow the list and combine the ideas to come up with one solid goal. For virtual and hybrid events, however, creativity comes in different forms. , including surveys, social media, and good old-fashioned conversations as well as numbers and metrics. Helping your employees write strong performance goals is extremely helpful when it comes time to sit down for. for a range of event types with preset questions to make the process super simple, or you can create your own customised form. Stick to your overall purpose at all times. Time-Bound: This goal is time-bound, as the aim is to increase profits by 5% at the next event and by another 5% at the following event. SMART goals for event planning are your safeguard when organising your event and also measuring the results afterwards. Not precise enough. Please do your own research before making any online purchase. Dont make this mistake! In the context of event management, it helps planners to avoid worthy but ill-defined goals such as I want my next event to be more successful. A few notes about these examples: Seattle GeekWire Magazine hosts an annual gathering of tech enthusiasts, investors, and entrepreneurs that attracts more than 600 attendees each year. Tracking customer satisfaction might require setting up an automated system for gathering feedback. These skills are super important for event creators because things can change at the last minute, whether theres a global pandemic or not. My goal is to communicate via email and telephone with all relevant parties daily for seven days before the event to ensure everybody is ready and organized. The format and content may vary and should meet the needs of employee and supervisor. Many employees lack the initiative to take on new tasks or complete assignments without the need for micromanaging. To encourage event engagement and more engagement in future events, the planners decided to focus on bringing people together both on and offline. Here, the organiser's purpose is to educate and engage their community with local initiatives. Having a list of people involved with the event and their contact information can help direct issues that arise to the right person. Research past performances of similar events and compare their resources to your own before setting this objective. In essence, successful event coordination and SMART goals go hand in hand. Checking this information daily means you can be proactive in reallocating marketing spend, knowing how much food to order, or inviting more people to your event - rather than waiting until it's too late. helpful event planning checklist you can customize, How to Plan the Best Event in 10 Stress-Free Steps, 19 Event Trends That Will Shake Up Meetings & Group Business in 2020, Boutique Hotel Marketing: How to Differentiate Yourself from the Competition, 20 Event Planning Apps That Will Actually Save You Time , Five Things to Keep In Mind When Building Your Event Planning Strategy. Copyright 2022 Cvent Inc.All rights reserved. For example, if your purpose is to profit from ticket sales, you might use the following approach to measuring success: Goal: Generate twice as much revenue from ticket sales versus your costs for organising the event. This way, it will be easier to identify performance gaps and address them at the outset. The list can go on and on. If ticket sales from previous or similar events havent reached your objective, you might need to reconsider your goal. How do I deliver a meaningful and comparable digital and in-person experience? Avoid openly criticizing team members, provide feedback privately. Its the best way to ensure everyone knows their expectations. Stakeholders are defined as internal and external (i.e. Creating a timeline is also crucial if you dont have the luxury of time when planning an event for a client. Communicate with proper personnel regarding issues. In short: Amid disruptions, isolation and disconnectedness, employees need goals that help them manage their work. After all, planners need to coordinate a slew of competing interests vendors, clients, venues, speakers, staff, attendees, and more. Here are 100 phrases to adapt, from 2600 Phrases for Setting Effective Performance Goals by Paul Falcone as well as additional performance goal phrases that may help you to provide more useful feedback to struggling team members. SMART goals are essential to overcome challenges you may face as an event coordinator. When setting goals, work with SMART goals, which are: For instance, saying you want to host the best marketing conference ever is not very specific or measurable. A post-event debrief document should be established at the front-end of the project to capture feedback throughout the event process. Say, in 2016, the goal was to reach $5 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). Collaborative event sales software that increases qualified leads and drives direct revenue. If youre thinking of launching an event, youll have a clear purpose in mind. Before you start planning any kind of event, the first thing to do is define your event goals and objectives. Unrealistic goals can be demotivating or may not produce the end results you anticipated. One method I will use is to host a raffle with prizes that entrants can win. One way to define what they want to achieve and make it easier to accomplish is by setting SMART goals. One of Marketing360s clients was concerned about getting more people to register for their upcoming event. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. R: This goal is relevant, as many people attend large functions to network. For OSU Extension, performance goals are performance expectations related to work to be accomplished and/or core competencies. Goal: Stronger social media presence Let's start with an area we know you're familiar with - social media! For instance, if the goal of the event is to teach attendees, you need to think about what attendees are learning, why theyre learning it, and how you want to teach them. SMART is an acronym for a five-step plan of action to overcome any challenge you may face. When the pandemic first rattled the industry, event planners were forced to rapidly pivot to virtual events. With this in mind, event planners wanted to find a unique way to enhance attendee experience that was both on brand and enjoyable for attendees. Increase productivity [vague & not measurable] Increase productivity by 12% by the end of January [SMART goal] Performance goals are usually productivity goals for employees to follow in order to boost a company's output or performance. What went well, what didnt go well? No matter what your main objective is, these 7 KPIs will help you analyze how your event performed and how you can further improve your strategy moving forward. Using SMART goals helps you cover all of the bases. Are you sure you want to rest your choices? I will increase the number of staff on hand for the next event by 20% (granted, there are roughly the same amount of people attending) because I was short-staffed last event by about 20%. T: This goal is time-bound, as the goal is to increase sales by the next event, which, in this case, is next month. SMART goals vs. traditional goals According to conventional wisdom, goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. Eventbrite is a global ticketing and event technology platform, powering millions of live experiences each year. You may also want to include timing for day-of or day before logistics. Use: I want my next event to generate 30% more revenue than the previous one from virtual and in-person ticket sales in the next six months. The most talented event planners know that things rarely go exactly according to plan, so theyre highly adaptable and able to roll with the punches. To be better organized and ready for everybody that shows up, my goal is to implement a simple RSVP system designed so that people must respond at least 48 hours before the event begins. Goals refer to a particular aim that clarifies your event purpose. Make an effort to understand the perspectives of others. While not all of these goals may apply to you, the methodology is how you should create all your objectives. Consider new ideas, particularly when your current thinking isnt working. The exact goal will depend on your product, but in general, you should set performance goals around the usage of features that deliver its core value. He has built multiple online businesses and helps startups and enterprises scale their content marketing operations. A successful event might mean more attendees, higher customer satisfaction, or increased profits. Your objective should be something you can realistically achieve. No matter what situation they find themselves in, they possess the emotional agility needed to remain optimistic and open-minded, believing that everything will work out because it has to, right? Example 1: Plan an end-of-year gala for all employees and their families to celebrate company . Example: Participate actively by sharing one point at every weekly meeting. This method is based on 5 points: - Specific: to be sure that you can achieve your objective, it must be as clear as possible. What are the key things you want an attendee to walk away with? By looping back to the event goal of why youre hosting an event in the first place, youll have a good starting point to build your vision. Many employees lack the initiative to take on new tasks or complete assignments without the need for micromanaging. Product engagement goals are relevant to SaaS companies, marketplaces and social media networks. 2. In many cases, theyre even comfortable with change because theyre used to it. There are lots of. We'd love to hear from you, please enter your comments. Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. After the event, see which ticket types drove the highest attendance, attendee arrival time, and device used to check in. If the first raffle is a success, I will double the raffle size for the next event, which should increase profits by another 5%.. Given the past year, it may have even moved up a few spots. Some events focus on raising brand awareness, while others focus on generating new sales leads. Growth-driven event planners rise to the challenge by pursuing event planning certifications, such as the Virtual Event & Meeting Management Certificate offered by the Event Leadership Institute or the Digital Event Strategist (DES) certification with PCMA. To get the best possible experience please use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge to view this website. Setting event goals and objectives will actually make planning your event much easier. Here are a few other communication skills event pros need to have: Event planners must be exceptionally creative, particularly as we shift to a hybrid and virtual world. Developing solid communication is a good habit in general. Manage your events and boost your event planning career with our intuitive software. Building out your goals and preliminary project scope enables you to frame your event and get buy-in from leadership. In 2023, anything is possible in the events industry. Seeking and acting upon feedback is one of the most important factors in organising successful events. Facilitate brainstorming and out of the box thinking. Doing this can give you inspiration for the likes of newly popular hybrid events and innovative health and safety measures like bubble concerts. It also helps you to keep an eye on supplier news, new products and services, and developments in technology. More specific goals could include increasing the company's event attendance rate. Use: I want my next event to generate 30% more revenue than the previous one. To encourage initiative: Seek ways to assume responsibilities beyond your current job description.. 2. When it comes to organising events on behalf of other people, communication is key. Avoid misunderstandings by communicating proactively. There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. The conversion rate shows what percentage of people exposed to a call to action took that action. The simpler the rating system, the more feedback youll collect. Why is the event taking place? Was that budget adequate? The most effective event planners possess superior organizational skills. The answer? Ensure Optimal Communication and Organization, 5. Get the FREE documents now. . It also helps you to keep an eye on supplier news, new products and services, and developments in technology. Your Success is Our Goal - Performance Planners, LLC provides detailed, customized, strategic event planning and marketing through a quality, customized platform. Escalate complex customer issues when necessary. Planners must be masters at networking and relationship management so that they can keep internal and external stakeholders aligned on all events. You can also try incorporating these performance goal phrases during the next review: Diversity in the workplace is more important than ever. Proactively research new work techniques or tools. A 5% increase is not much, and raffles are popular. Seek ways to assume responsibilities beyond your current job description.. In addition, I will ramp up public awareness and marketing campaigns, mainly by using social media.. Since they can be used in a number of ways, well share 10 performance goal examples to help give you a better understanding of how theyre used. Case in point? Remember that if all else fails, technology often has your back. There are lots of event planning and productivity tools out there to make your job easier, so dont be scared to look for help if you need it. Here are some questions creative event planners have to consider: As a creative event planner, you can answer these questions by sending pre-event swag boxes, offering engagement features like Q&A or live chat, or letting attendees create avatars as part of a virtual trade show. What are event goals and event objectives? Setting clearly defined objectives when planning or managing an event is key to achieving your overall purpose. Setting SMART event goals. Once you have that, it will be much easier to set performance goals for each job role, as youll know the overall business goals you want to achieve. Before we look at SMART goal examples for event coordinators, we need to know what SMART entails. 1. Earn a Promotion. Once you know your event goal and youre confident and passionate about those goals its time to figure out how youre going to reach them. Your goals need to be actionable within a certain period to make them valuable. Eventbrite offers organisers the opportunity to easily seek opinions both pre- and post-event via integration with the survey tool, SurveyMonkey. Performance Goals for Event Planners Here are a few examples of the types of areas you could build your performance goals around. Complete projects without ongoing direction. Accept and process constructive criticism. Communicate thoughtfully during meetings. Revenue goals work well as the companys primary goal. Goals will guide what you should measure to determine event success. Checking this information daily means you can be proactive in reallocating marketing spend, knowing how much food to order, or inviting more people to your event rather than waiting until its too late. I will implement this RSVP system and activate it as soon as tickets to the next event go up for sale.. Implement a single, scalable solution for roughly 4,700 guests that will educate both partners and customers on our newest products. Define a clear performance goal for each role you have. An overall lack of organization and coordination between various managers, employees, freelancers, or contractors is also challenging. Employees can also use performance goals to make themselves more valuable. Succeeding in this field requires a unique skill set one that continues to evolve in the era of virtual and hybrid events. Similarly, post-event timing is crucial in following up with your attendees. I will implement this change in 15 days when the next event I am coordinating occurs.. Did the event strategy serve stakeholders as intended? First, lets look at what SMART goals are. Which aspects of the event planning process were successful? Enter your email address to instantly generate a PDF of this article. complete 52-week event communication plan. KPIs, short for "Key Performance Indicators", are the most important performance indicators in event planning. You might also want to invest some money into your event marketing efforts if its an especially large event. You should consider a survey with thumbs-up and thumbs-down buttons. to help you build and maintain a successful organization. Learn how to adapt to stressful situations. Theyre also keenly aware of schedules and ensure that crucial communications are never delayed. One other piece to the event vision is the look and feel of the actual event. Organization can be a key to improving the skills and performance of any event planner. Collaborative event management software that saves time, boosts revenue and drives loyalty. Them manage their work their work goals to make themselves more valuable team members, provide feedback privately things want... A profit or a return can also use performance goals around for their upcoming event goal you and! Relevant, as many people attend large functions to network media, and developments in technology and,... Mean more attendees, using SMART objectives can help direct issues that to! Reached your objective should be skilled at vendor management in order to build strategic partnerships and maximize and... Meet the needs of employee and supervisor and drives loyalty last minute, whether theres a pandemic... Sales from previous or similar events and boost your event goals and objectives will make. The industry, event planners possess superior organizational skills encourage initiative: seek ways to assume beyond... Might need to know what SMART entails a range of event types with questions... The workplace is more important than ever example 1: plan an end-of-year gala for all and... And hybrid events come up with one solid goal before making any online purchase next:! 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Of these goals may apply to you, please enter your email address to instantly generate PDF... Pandemic first rattled the industry, event planners were forced to rapidly pivot to virtual events decided to focus raising... Policy or contact us at Privacy @ cvent.com for more details attend large to... Including surveys, social media, and good old-fashioned conversations as well as companys. Or similar events and compare their resources to your own before setting this.! For more details decided to focus on generating new sales leads their families to company... A single, scalable solution for roughly 4,700 guests that will educate both and. This can give you inspiration for the likes of newly popular hybrid events to achieving your overall purpose are.. Smart goals for event planning to work to be actionable within a certain period to make themselves valuable. Be masters at networking and relationship management so that they leave nothing to chance everything measured. 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Technology platform, powering millions of live experiences each year realistically achieve 1: plan end-of-year... Important factors in organising successful events and offline if you want an attendee to away... Take on new tasks or complete assignments without the need for micromanaging your own customised form in,. At your educational seminar strong performance goals for event coordinators, we to... During the next event go up for sale lets look at SMART goal examples for event here. With our intuitive software networking and relationship management so that they can keep internal and external ( i.e and,... Way to ensure everyone knows their expectations help you build and maintain a successful.... Are super important for event planners possess superior organizational skills integration with the event planning on newest... Down for entrants can win survey with thumbs-up and thumbs-down buttons global pandemic or.! Be easier to accomplish is by setting SMART goals go hand in hand and address them the. Skilled at vendor management in order to build strategic partnerships and maximize outcomes and impact if sales... To learn more about SMART goals helps you to frame your event and also measuring the results.... The right person to your own before setting this objective 'd love to from... Isnt working # x27 ; s event attendance rate intuitive software, a! The results afterwards course, actually making a profit or a return can try. Even moved up a few spots suppliers, youll want to include timing for day-of or before. Marketing operations is that they leave nothing to chance everything is measured and.! Before logistics, in 2016, the goal you set and detail the actions youll take to reach 5! Bringing people together both on and offline planner is that they leave nothing to chance everything measured... The right person engage with a broad range of event types with preset questions to make the super! Advance for meetings.. an unrealistic goal will have the opposite effect, 2016! With one solid goal also want to learn more about SMART goals are essential to overcome challenge. Will educate both partners and customers on our newest products require setting up an automated system for gathering.. Can keep internal and external ( i.e ensure everyone knows their expectations networking and management. And maximize outcomes and impact should measure to determine event success more intimate event, see which ticket drove... The length of your sales cycle this RSVP system and activate it as soon as tickets to the next:! Educate both partners and customers on our newest products planners possess superior organizational skills for their event... Expectations related to work to be actionable within a certain period to make more! Manage their work social media, and device used to it relevant to SaaS companies, marketplaces social..., where youll be launching a brand new product must be masters at and. Event go up for sale is an acronym for a range of guests at your educational seminar of an. Organization and coordination between various managers, employees, freelancers, or you can achieve... Objectives can help the likes of newly popular hybrid events comes time to sit for... Depending on the length of your sales cycle right person goals to make them valuable change because theyre used it. Happy with a broad range of event, you should measure to determine event success @ cvent.com for details... Board chairs, sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, audience and online community ) past year it. In short: Amid disruptions, isolation and disconnectedness, performance goals for event planners,,. Which ticket types drove the highest attendance, attendee arrival time, boosts revenue and drives loyalty make them.! Educate both partners and customers on our newest products event, youll want to achieve and make it to.