Event planning can be very stressful when you’re working with very little time, several moving parts, and limited resources to get the job done. To create an experience that your guests will remember and talk about later, it’s important to know some event planning basics that are sure to make your event one they won’t forget. Here are three ways to create a memorable event experience that your guests will keep in mind long after the last guest has left the party.

Identify Your Audience

All great experiences start with an understanding of your audience. With that knowledge, you can work on what will be expected from you and how you can make them remember your event for years to come. The key is to understand why people attend, what they want, and what is important about attending a conference or event. Then, use these insights to make sure that everything about your event experience matches their expectations for an event of that type. This could include features of your venue, budgeting for meals and drinks, or making sure that someone from your organization is available to answer questions from those attending for work or personal reasons.

Consider the Basics

It’s essential to identify your audience for any event you plan. Alternatively, you may wish to speak directly to a specific group of people at an event or produce an experience that works for everybody in attendance. With either approach, it’s important to recognize who will be there and what they’ll need from you. How you tailor your offering will depend on whom it is aimed at, their individual needs, and how best you can ensure their participation and enjoyment. Once you know your audience, try speaking with a number of attendees individually to better understand what they’re looking for from an event so that you can tailor your offering accordingly.

Build Anticipation

Develop excitement and anticipation in your event by sending out invites a few weeks before to build up interest. Include any fun details you can’t wait to share with your attendees, so they feel like insiders! It’s important to be authentic and transparent with your audience—this way, they trust you as an event host and will want to attend your next event.

Create Relevant and Shareable Content

First and foremost, you need to create relevant and sharable content. There’s no point in asking your audience to share something if they can’t see what value it will give them. Make sure you’re giving away freebies such as ebooks or information that is genuinely valuable to your target market. If you can create a number of assets, including webinars, podcasts, videos, and white papers, you’ll be able to encourage a deeper level of engagement over time. And when it comes to creating a memorable event experience, consider adding some tangible value that attendees can take home with them, such as branded merchandise and special offers on products or services they will use post-event.

Foster Connection

Business networking events can be a huge opportunity to network and create connections that may prove valuable in your business down the line. However, it’s important not to go with pre-conceived notions of who you might want to talk to. Rather than focusing on people you know you should meet, give yourself space and time to get comfortable chatting with people you don’t know at all – and make sure you take advantage of being in an open environment where asking questions is encouraged! It’s much easier for business connections to develop if there’s already an element of mutual trust present, which is why approaching strangers can seem intimidating – but trust us, it works.