Event Professionals love organizing events and have the skills to make it happen, so there’s no reason why they can’t turn those skills into an online business.
If you’re an event professional, you know how difficult it can be to find work. The industry is changing, and many companies are increasingly turning to freelancers and independent contractors rather than hiring full-time employees.
This means that event pros who want to make a career out of their skills need to think about the future in a different way. If you’re looking for ways to turn your skills into an online business, here are a few tips:
Do you have a passion for events that you want to share with the world?
If so, then online event planning is likely the perfect fit for you.
You need to be able to connect with people and make them feel like they’re your best friend. You also must be able to teach them how to plan their own events or instruct them in how to better organize their next event by using your tips, tricks, and skills as a professional.
But it doesn’t stop there! You’ll need a creative mind that’s constantly thinking about new ideas that will inspire others to think outside of the box when it comes time for their next event planning adventure.
Turn your skills into a business.
One of the best methods for event profs to build an online business is by offering their skills. If you have a skill-set that others value, you can turn it into an online business.
Use your event expertise to your advantage. For example, you can use your knowledge of event planning—from venue selection to catering to guest management—to help other people plan events. You can offer services as an event planner or even sell your own products like books and guides on how to plan events.
I think the best way for an event pro to start an online business is by making sure that their client base is already established. It can be intimidating at first, especially if this is your first time running an online business, but once you have clients, you’ll know exactly what works for them and what doesn’t. Start with what you already have. Are there any clients that come back repeatedly? Think about how you might expand on these relationships and offer more services as time goes on.
Consider building your own app or website for other event professionals. If there’s something that makes your company stand out from the crowd, consider sharing it! You’ll get new clients while also creating something useful for others in the industry.
Think about offering training sessions related to what you do best—whether it’s lighting design or catering services, there might be a market for training courses aimed at helping people learn how to do what they do better!
Meet your audience where they want to meet with you.
The first thing you need to do is decide where your audience is, and then meet them there. If you’re planning a wedding expo in Orlando but your target market is based in New York City, then the best way for you to reach them is by having an online presence—a blog or podcast (or both).
This is your gateway to becoming an expert or authority figure in your skillset. They’ll want to see how much information you put out there in order to believe that you’re the person they want to pay to learn anything from.
If you already have a blog or podcast that serves as the foundation of your business, great! But if not, then consider starting one. If this isn’t an option for some reason—it might be too much work or just not feasible for your time—then at least make sure that there are other ways for people to find out about your company and offers through social media and email marketing campaigns.
Have a clear goal for your coaching business.
You need to know what you want to achieve, how you will measure your progress, and the best way to adjust your strategy if it’s not working. You can’t just say “I want more clients.”
What does that look like? Do you want more bookings or a larger average check? A better reputation for your brand or an increase in sales?
A goal should be measurable so you can track its progress, but also broad enough that it allows for different approaches depending on the state of your business (or even personal life). If someone asks why they should pay for your services, what answer would convince them? Why do they need help with events at all?
Answering these questions is essential because any good coach will know what he/she wants out of coaching—but you must also be able to articulate that vision clearly and concisely in order for others who may not have your skillset understand what you can offer them.
Be transparent about what people can expect from you.
Event professionals are the lifeblood of their industry. They’re the ones who make sure that every event goes off without a hitch, and they’re responsible for providing an experience that is unique, memorable, and enjoyable for all participants. But what happens when you want to turn your skills into an online business? People want you to be transparent about what they can expect to learn from you.
There are plenty of ways to do this—you can start with (as mentioned above) a podcast, a YouTube channel, a blog or website. Then work your way up to more complex projects like e-books and courses. You can also offer your services directly through your website or social media channels. Whatever you choose, it’s important to keep in mind that you have some unique advantages as an event professional:
- You have expertise in how events should be run—and this is invaluable when it comes to running an online business!
- You understand how to work with clients on their projects, which means you’ll be able to provide excellent customer service for your customers as well.
- The connections you made while working in events will give you access to new contacts and clients who may not otherwise know about your business or services available for hire (or even exist).
Create an event-friendly website that explains what you do and provides samples of your work.
You can create a website that shows off your skills, offers samples of your work (video recordings of you in action work best for this) and provides an easy way for clients to contact you. You should include testimonials from previous or existing clients because testimonials are one of the most effective ways to prove that your business is legitimate and trustworthy.
In addition to these basic elements, it’s important to have pages that explain why you’re unique—what makes your business stand out from the crowd? What services do you offer that other event professionals don’t offer? What benefits does buying into your offers provide for potential clients?
Make sure that you include content on your website that helps potential clients understand why they need you. You want to explain what you do in a way that’s relevant to their needs, and then show them how you can help them.
Offer customers who book on the spot a discount.
If they buy into your service or offers on the spot, you can offer a discount. That way, your customers know that they are getting something off their bill if they act now.
You might be thinking: “But I don’t want to offer discounts! I’m trying to make money here!” But think about it this way: if a person buys from you on the spot, that means they’re confident in your ability to deliver what they want—and if they’re committed enough to pay for it right away, then there’s no reason not to at least show some appreciation with a discount.
Plus, offering up some kind of instant savings will help build trust and credibility with potential clients who aren’t sure yet whether or not working with you is worth their time and money (plus all the other benefits we’ve already discussed).
Build an email list as soon as possible, so people can hear from you directly.
If you’re like most people, you don’t want to build your email list just for the sake of building it. You want to use your email list to promote your coaching business, and you want the people who join your list to be people who are already interested in what you have to offer.
So how do you get those people? You write an eBook! An eBook gives you the opportunity to share your expertise with people who might not otherwise know about it, or who only have a passing interest in what you do—and that’s OK! The more people who hear about your coaching business and have access to it, the more likely they are going to become clients.
Why is an eBook such a great tool for this purpose? There is no better form of lead magnet than a free download. It’s a freebie that you can give away in exchange for your audience’s email address. Giving away something valuable is a great way to build your list since people appreciate it and want more!
Here are some ideas for your lead magnet:
- A checklist or worksheet that helps them do the thing they’re trying to do (like planning their next corporate event)
- A report on all the things they need to know about [topic] before they can get started (like designing their dream event)
- An eBook version of an article that talks about [topic].
Keep their attention by adding new content regularly, responding to emails promptly, and posting helpful updates on social media.
So how can you keep your audience engaged? The short answer is: by adding new content regularly, responding to emails promptly, and posting helpful updates on social media.
Post regularly. Whether it’s a blog post or an image that you share on Instagram, make sure there is always something new for people looking at your account. You should also update whenever you have an event coming up or other news worth sharing (like a new service).
This will help keep members of your audience interested in what comes next from your company while also providing them with useful information about what it does. Respond promptly to emails from potential clients and customers so they are confident in using your services when needed!
Use social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter as well as Instagram to share photos of past courses, trainings, live streams, etc. These all serve as great marketing tools for attracting new business!
Starting an online coaching business can be easy if you plan accordingly.
Starting an online coaching business can be easy if you have a clear goal and a plan for how you will reach your audience. Be consistent in your message, transparent about what you do and how you do it, and always have a website that explains what you do.
Conclusion
You’re already an expert at events, so there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Just follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to building a successful coaching business that meets your goals.
Discover how you can showcase your business to influential decision makers at The Event Planner Expo 2022 by clicking here!
