V Events - Events. Marketing. Design.

Schedule this...

2011-11-15T16:39:00.000-08:00

There's a common misconception that people who start their own businesses do so to have complete control over their day's activities. In other words, we leave the grind of the 9 to 5 to set our own schedules so we can work 3 to 4 hour days and play golf the rest of the day (or whatever we love to do). That, ladies and gentlemen is not completely true. My fellow entrepreneurs will tell you that our schedules are often controlled by our clients, vendors and partners. In most cases, that entails working 10 hour days, weekends, and believe it or not holidays and vacations. Ask any entrepreneur what they will be taking with them on vacation...a laptop. We love to say it's "just in case" the need arises. We all know that we will need the laptop, smartphone and any other device that keeps us in touch with our businesses and daily routines.

The truth of the matter is, entrepreneurs start their own businesses to implement their own ideas, set standards, become trendsetters and be the kings and queens of their own destinies. If that means 70 hour work weeks and late nights, we're good with that. Schedule or no schedule, we love what we do.

V Events Marketing Challenge – Eliminating Ineffective Marketing One Brand at a Time

2011-04-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

V Events will evaluate your current brand to see how effectively you’re reaching your audience. We will analyze your brand identity as it relates to your logo, website design and content, marketing collateral, advertising, social media and communication efforts. Cohesion is the key to an effective marketing campaign.

We’ll work with you to determine how clear and concise your message is. We’ll ask the following questions. Have you identified your target audience? Have you identified their specific wants and needs? If so, what methods are you using to address those wants and needs?

Challenge us! We can help you strengthen your brand. Our conglomeration of products and services will aid you in developing a cohesive and distinct brand.

Our Marketing Challenge: We will sit with you for 2 hours to evaluate all of your marketing collateral. From there, we will develop a report addressing each area and give you some recommendations on how to improve you marketing efforts. There’s no obligation to use our products or services. All of this for one low price of $150.00, a $400 value.

Upon our recommendations, if you choose to use our products and services the consultation will be free.

Schedule your consultation today. Contact us at 972.302.9150 or via email at info@veventsonline.com, Subject: Marketing Challenge.

Are you not in Dallas? We can conduct a phone consultation or you may send us your work via email and we can develop a report for you.

Visit us online at www.veventsonline.com!

Welcome Home

2011-03-15T16:37:00.000-07:00

“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” When analyzing the effectiveness of your website, you have to consider your ability to persuade visitors to browse your site or in other words “drink”. Leading them to your website is only the first step. Encouraging visitors to surf your site begins at Home. Your Home page is one of the key components of your website that determines whether or not visitors will want to learn more about your organization. Here are a few suggestions for creating a user-friendly Home page.

1. Less is more. It is a common misconception that every product and service your company offers should be highlighted on the Home page. If there is too much information on your Home page, visitors may feel too overwhelmed to continue throughout the site. For example, several components on one page may send mixed messages as it relates to your brand and product offerings. Visitors may not know where to go or have a clear understanding of what you offer. Instead of including snippets of your entire website on the Home page, highlight the areas of your website that you want visitors to engage in the most. Use the rest of the website to expand on various topics. For example, use side banners to highlight diverse topics.

2. Too little, too late. Too much information is not good, but too little may be worse. If your Home page does not give visitors adequate information they may leave the site, because they can not find what they are seeking. Your Home page should be a glimpse into the greatness that is your website. Give visitors a sample that will make them want to browse the entire site. Use compelling graphics and links interchangeably to tell a brief story.

3. Lights, Camera, Action? An exciting website can draw attention and create buzz. However too many bells and whistles can reduce the value and even validity of the information. This is not a stage production or the latest blockbuster. This is your website. When determining design elements, functionality and appropriate technology for the Home page, make sure each supports the content rather than overshadows it. Content on the Home page should tell who you are, what you do, how the visitor can interact with you and how you benefit the visitor. Remember, bells and whistles ignite the visitor’s interest, but adequate content keeps the visitor’s interest.

Blog what you preach!

2011-03-01T15:16:00.000-08:00

I advise my clients, “If you are going to have a blog, make sure that you manage it regularly.” This entails frequent posts with relevant information that inspire action. As you scroll down my blog, it will become obvious that I have not been blogging what I preach. With only a few posts, (extremely helpful information none the less), I have yet to become the avid blogger for my own company. So in honor of the new year, I am vowing to blog more!

Inspired by Ross Oscar Knight, an amazing photographer based in Atlanta, Georgia, I am keeping myself honest by sharing my 2011 goals with you. Most people who know me will tell you that I am a private person. For me, to let the world know what I plan to accomplish in 2011 edges me out of the realm of my comfort zone. Here goes!

Goals

Sponsor at least 1 missionary.

Implement a new service plan that will make scheduling projects easier for my clients.

Expand V Events to include more out of state clients.

Take guitar lessons.

Blog more! Notice my non-committal approach. Hey, I have to start somewhere.

Reach 500 fans on Facebook.

Reach 500 followers on Twitter.

Go on a romantic weekend getaway with my hubby.

Book 2 additional fundraising events for local non-profit organizations.

Run in at least one 5k race.

Launch a promotional campaign that will benefit my clients and give back to the community.

Host 1 event that focuses on women's health and beauty.

Continue working on my book.

Check back with me in 2012 to see if I have reached my goals! Set goals of your own and share them with me. Let's keep each other honest while setting our standards higher.

Get out your hammer.

2010-03-31T13:20:00.000-07:00

     There is a popular quote that says, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” What is the advice when something is broken? How does one detect malfunctions and what specific methods and strategies can be used to repair them? Many companies have challenges answering these questions when evaluating their current marketing strategies and tactics. Companies become comfortable with strategies that have worked in the past, resulting in a potential reduction in proficiency. The marketing approach that worked yesterday may be ineffective today due to changes in industry trends, customer aptitude, government regulations and evolving technology. A thorough analysis of your organization’s marketing approach will position you to identify an eventual breakdown in your marketing mix. Evaluate these key points to determine if your organization’s marketing tactics could use a little “fixin.”
     Decide if your company is implementing a market-driven strategy. Market driven organizations are defined by their capacity to sense and respond effectively to movements in their industry or market. They are able to answers questions related to customer aptitude, buyer trends and consumer propensity to respond to specific marketing campaigns. The focus is to increase customer value through adequate information acquisition, information distribution and thorough diagnosis. After information is collected, disseminated and assessed, the organization must coordinate a plan that responds to consumer behavior.
     Assess the external competitive environment as it relates to future marketing turbulence. The turbulence of the external environment (developments outside the company) must be identified and scaled in an effort to determine if your company’s marketing approach matches current industry trends. Turbulence defines how aggressively and promptly competition is responding to consumer needs and movement in a particular market segment. Conduct a Google search to classify competitor activities related to product offerings and marketing tactics.

     To gain competitive advantage, a company must understand its customer base better than competitors in that market segment.

Vonna Matthews is the President and Director of Events at V Events. You may contact her at vmatthews@veventsonline.com. Visit V Events at www.veventsonline.com.

Keep 'Em Comin...

2009-09-15T15:32:00.000-07:00

One of the most relevant business rules states, in order to grow a business you must satisfy and retain the customers you currently have. At V Events, we operate according to the principle, "Build it, and they will come. Build it to their satisfaction, and they will stay." Any effective marketing campaign will address the specific needs of the potential customers. Too often, organizations design marketing campaigns based on the corporate perspective of consumer needs.

Marketing can be defined as identifying the wants and needs of your potential customers and marrying them with valuable products and services to satisfy those wants and needs. A marketer must determine the effectiveness of their marketing efforts through communication and follow-up with consumers. How familiar are your customers, associates and vendors with your products and services? Do they truly understand the benefits of doing business with your company as opposed to a competitor? Below are 6 marketing principles that will aid you in ensuring a successful merger between what your company offers to what the customer wants and needs. Meeting the consumers explicit needs will keep them coming back for more.

1. Identify the explicit needs and interests of potential customers. Do not get caught in the rut of developing a marketing campaign that is strictly trend based. What is popular today may not be popular tomorrow. Longevity goes beyond the "here and now" concept.

2. Provide a venue or source for customer feedback and company interaction. What better way to identify the consumers needs than by providing an opportunity for them to speak directly to your organization.

3. Develop a marketing campaign that is flexible in nature. Do not be afraid to determine that your current marketing efforts may not be working. It may not be necessary to change all components, but adjust those that are not reaping benefits. In other words, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water."

4. Develop a marketing mix that combines public relations, communications and advertising. In years past, these industries were separate in nature. Now, in most cases, they depend on each other for survival and effectiveness.

5. Be innovative in your marketing approach. Create marketing pieces that showcase the individuality of your organization.

6. Give the customer what they want!

Vonna Matthews is the President and Director of Events at V Events. You may contact her at vmatthews@veventsonline.com. Visit V Events at www.veventsonline.com.

Go Marketing

2009-07-03T14:15:00.000-07:00

Your Corporate Event as a Brand - Build it and they will come; Brand it effectively, and they will stay

Any successfully managed corporate event will accomplish three major objectives; enhance your brand identity, increase your return on investment, and create long-term relationships between you, your consumers and partners. In the business arena, events are used as vehicles to communicate a message to current customers, future clients, and partners. The content of that message is illustrated through effective branding. Savvy event managers understand the potential an event has to revolutionize the way a company interacts with its client base. From the use of an event logo, to the selection of the keynote speaker, your event is the stage on which your corporate brand performs.

Implementing effective branding strategies involves clear understanding of the objectives and goals of the event. What message is your company attempting to convey? Who is your audience? What is the purpose of your event? Who are the key players in the construction of the event? Who will or should be impacted the most by your event? Answering these questions will allow the event managers to design an event that will justify event investments and add value to the company brand. Below are the 4 major components of effective event branding.

1. Give your event a name. Attendees will remember your event by what you choose to call it. When potential clients and consumers are less familiar with your company and brand your event can serve as an excellent introduction. Sell your products by selling your event. Your event name should accomplish 3 major goals, include the name of your company or the product you are attempting to sell, give the attendee an idea of what the event is about, and be an extension of your company brand.

2. Develop an event slogan or motto. The slogan or tagline acts as a description of the event. The tagline should be concise, memorable, and possess an emotional appeal. It is the glue that connects the event name to the event logo.

3. Create an event logo. The logo acts as a window into your company’s mission, services and culture. Like the event name and slogan the logo should be reflective of your company brand. Implementing a similar color scheme, design and layout will create a familiar connection between your event and your organization. If your event is an annual affair, it is important to design a logo that can be used interchangeably with different themes.

4. Implement interactive activities for your audience. One of the best ways to reach an audience is to make them feel a part of your company. Think of the message you want to send to your audience. What impression is your company striving to make? Some interactive activities can include games, give-a-ways, demonstrations, and more. Determine what activity best suits the purpose of your event.

Vonna Matthews is the President and Director of Events at V Events. You may contact her at vmatthews@veventsonline.com. Visit V Events at www.veventsonline.com.