Conference managers have many resources available to streamline their planning and execution processes, ranging from free to paid options. These resources encompass various aspects of conference management, including organization, promotion, registration, attendee engagement, and feedback analysis. Here's a summary of some of these resources:
Free Conference Resources:
- Social Media Platforms: Utilize platforms like Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook for promotional purposes, engaging with potential attendees and speakers, and creating event buzz.
- Google Suite: Google Docs, Sheets, and Forms can be used for collaborative planning, budget tracking, and creating surveys respectively.
- Canva: A graphic design platform offering free templates for creating visually appealing event banners, flyers, and social media posts.
- Mailchimp: For email marketing needs, Mailchimp provides a free plan for sending event updates, newsletters, and promotional emails.
Paid Conference Resources:
- Mailchimp: Paid plans of Mailchimp offer advanced survey creation and analysis tools, helpful for gathering attendee feedback post-event.
- Marketing Automation Tools: Platforms like HubSpot, Marketo, and Salesforce Marketing Cloud provide paid marketing automation solutions for targeted promotional campaigns, lead nurturing, and attendee engagement.
- Venue Booking Services: For physical conferences, paid venue booking services like VenueScanner and EventUp offer a wide range of venue options and assistance in securing suitable spaces.
By leveraging a combination of these free and paid resources, conference managers can effectively plan, promote, and execute successful events while optimizing their budget and resources.