Updated: 9/23/2022
Meetings come in all shapes and sizes. As for meeting and event planners, we’ve coordinated a full gamut of meetings ranging from clinical to commercial and every meeting in between.
Whether it be a sales meeting for a team of regional staff, an annual conference, or a President’s Club for employee recognition, we know what works. We’ve found that with just a few additional creative measures, you can create a more memorable meeting experience for your attendees, exceed your meeting goals, and foster connectivity among your group that will garner an impressive return.
In our previous post, we explored how themes can enhance the overall meeting experience for your attendees. Today we deep dive into how to best select a winning theme. Gracie Fisher, CMP, Global Conference Director for Miller Tanner, lends her expertise with these 5 suggestions:
1). Align your meeting theme with the greater objective and vision.
Your meeting theme should be directly aligned with the greater objective and vision. If your themes are intentional, purposeful and meaningful, your attendees will embrace the themes and see the program sponsors as also authentic in their objective and purpose.
2). Choose a theme that can grow.
Branding, theme, and objective are fluid and symbiotic. Each translates into multiple products and each depends on the other to drive home a unified program. With this in mind, choose a theme that is elastic and can expand to accommodate for growth.
3). Choose a theme based on more than aesthetics.
When developing a brand or theme, choose a theme based on more than the aesthetic. Themes should have vertical possibility allowing them to tie into presentations, products, programming, etc. This will create an environment that stimulates the attendees to align themselves with the messaging. They’ll be more likely to see the value of the investment of their time and participation.
4). Consider the attendees’ perspectives.
Think about your theme from the perspective of an attendee who has no insider information. Is the theme clear? Is it inviting? Does it inspire confidence, participation, and unity? Would you walk away understanding the objectives of the meeting after the program’s end?
By being mindful of your attendees’ perspective, you can design a more cohesive theme to support your overall goals for the meeting.
5). Have fun and dream big.
Brainstorm! Great collaboration always comes forward from imperfect ideas being shared and refined. You may find a gem.
From an event planner’s perspective, it’s helpful to dream out loud with our clients first without being consumed with logistics and to speak to what’s possible, shape a dream collaboratively and ultimately bring those ideas toward the vision.
We can make your next event memorable in every way. Miller Tanner & Associates will transform your ideas into a winning theme and design a meeting that exceeds all expectations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
In effort to help readers to summarize the information found within this post, we’ve recapitulated the article in question and answer form.
How Does a Theme Impact the Success of a Corporate Event?
We’ve discovered that by taking a few extra creative steps, such as planning around a general theme, you may provide your guests a more memorable meeting experience, surpass your meeting objectives, and build group connection that will pay off handsomely.
How Can I Align a Sales Meeting Theme with My Overall Objective?
The topic of your meeting should be closely related to the overall goal and vision. Your guests will embrace the theme if it is deliberate, purposeful, and significant. Not to mention program sponsors will be seen as more genuine in their goal and purpose.
Does the Theme I Choose Make a Difference?
Themes, branding, and goals are all changeable and interconnected. One converts into a variety of goods, and each is reliant on the other to carry out a coordinated campaign. Keeping this in mind and choose a theme that is adaptable and can develop with you.
Should I Think About More Than Aesthetics When Choosing an Event Theme?
When creating a brand or theme, consider more than just the visual aspect of it. Themes should have vertical integration capabilities, enabling them to be used in presentations, goods, programming, and other areas. This creates an atmosphere in which participants are encouraged to identify themselves with the message. They’ll be more likely to see the worth of their involvement and time commitment.
When Choosing an Event Them, Should I Consider the Attendees’ Perspectives?
Consider your theme’s subject matter from the viewpoint of a first-time visitor with no insider knowledge. Is the theme obvious? Is it appealing? Is it a source of trust, involvement, and unity? Would a first-time attendee leave the meeting with a clear knowledge of the meeting’s goals?
