What marketing skills are most essential for conference planning?

1 Research and analysis

Before you start planning your conference, you need to conduct thorough research and analysis of your market, competitors, and potential attendees. This will help you define your conference goals, value proposition, and unique selling points. You also need to identify the best channels, platforms, and formats to reach and communicate with your audience. Research and analysis skills will enable you to gather and interpret data, use tools and frameworks, and create actionable insights.

2 Content and copywriting

Content and copywriting are crucial for creating a strong and consistent message for your conference. You need to craft engaging and persuasive content and copy that showcases your conference benefits, features, and speakers. You also need to tailor your content and copy to different stages of the buyer journey, from awareness to decision. Content and copywriting skills will enable you to write clear and compelling headlines, slogans, descriptions, emails, landing pages, and social media posts.

3 Design and branding

Design and branding are essential for creating a memorable and professional image for your conference. You need to design and brand your conference materials, such as logos, flyers, banners, badges, and presentations. You also need to ensure that your design and branding are consistent across all your marketing channels and platforms. Design and branding skills will enable you to use tools and software, follow best practices and guidelines, and create visually appealing and impactful designs.

4 Social media and email marketing

Social media and email marketing are powerful for building awareness, interest, and engagement for your conference. You need to create and execute a social media and email marketing plan that aligns with your conference goals, audience, and budget. You also need to monitor and measure the performance and feedback of your social media and email marketing campaigns. Social media and email marketing skills will enable you to use platforms and tools, create and schedule content, segment and personalize emails, and optimize and test campaigns.

5 Event technology and innovation

Event technology and innovation are vital for enhancing the experience and value of your conference. You need to select and implement the right event technology and innovation solutions for your conference, such as registration systems, mobile apps, live streaming, virtual reality, and gamification. You also need to ensure that your event technology and innovation solutions are user-friendly, reliable, and secure. Event technology and innovation skills will enable you to use tools and software, explore new trends and opportunities, and troubleshoot and solve problems.

6 Communication and collaboration

Communication and collaboration are key for working effectively with your conference team, partners, sponsors, speakers, and attendees. You need to communicate and collaborate clearly, timely, and respectfully with all your stakeholders. You also need to manage expectations, resolve conflicts, and provide feedback. Communication and collaboration skills will enable you to use tools and methods, listen and empathize, negotiate and persuade, and lead and support.