Fleetmatics recently hosted its first customer event for Boston-area customers to talk about our GPS tracking system and how they are using it. Customer events are a great way to keep in touch, gather feedback, and stay in front of your customers. Before you spend time putting this event together, make sure that your event has an objective. Gathering together with people for some cocktails is nice, but what makes this event different than any other happy hour? Introduce a new product or have a forum about a groundbreaking technology in the industry. Basically, have a point.
Here are 5 more tips for hosting a customer event:
- Advertise. Email and spread the word on social media. Make it clear where the event is, when it is, what will be happening at the event, and why it’s happening. No one is going to RSVP for something they don’t know about. They also won’t blindly sign up for an event if they have no idea what it’s for!
- Shop around for best prices. You don’t want to waste the whole of your budget on signage or overpriced chotchkies for the gift bags. Many companies offer budget-friendly, quality and customizable items that you can use in your goodie bags. Shopping around and doing your research is the only way to guarantee you aren’t missing out on anything.
- Check out the location before the event. Obviously, you will see the place on your initial search for a venue, but going back the week of the event can be helpful. It will allow you to plan better and make sure that the event flows well.
- Print the name badges before the event. The badges should have both name and company name on them. Leaving this task to the attendees can result in illegible names, forgotten badges, and first-name-only badges. Make it easy for you and everyone else and do this beforehand.
- If you are serving food, make sure you plan a menu that takes everyone’s dietary restrictions into account. Many people have adopted vegetarian and gluten-free diets for both health and personal reasons. Don’t let these people go hungry- have a few options for meals.
Have you thrown a customer event? What tips do you have?
