Have you ever thought that all business events look the same? That’s because they do look the same, but there is so much more to all the different types of events. If you’re looking for a way to engage employees, clients, or other corporate professionals, you need to align your goals with the type of event you host.
In this post, we have taken the liberty to explain different types of business events and help you understand how they differ from each other. This will make it easier for you to know which corporate event your business needs most.
1. Conferences
Conferences are essentially networking events. If you were to host a conference, you’d invite industry professionals in the same sector to meet, interact, and learn from each other. They’d have an opportunity to discuss the industry, future collaborations, and possible business opportunities.
There is more to conferences than just talking and sharing drinks. Business professionals get an opportunity to connect on a specific topic and a formal level. Usually, conferences begin with an address from a guest speaker, followed by breakout sessions.
Conferences are large scale events that could last days or weeks and hence require complex coordination and a large event space compared to most other business events. You must think about accommodation, catering, coordinating speakers, and the like.
2. Seminars
Seminars, like conferences, bring business professionals together. They provide networking opportunities and learning from each other. The difference lies in how formal seminars are in a more educative effort. There is usually a speaker addressing the rest of the group, and there is less interaction among the attendees. Seminars take one day or a half-day, unlike conferences.
3. Trade Shows or Expos
Trade shows are large scale events with multiple vendors or exhibitors.
Businesses attend trade show events to showcase their products, reach potential customers, and connect with possible suppliers. Most organizations that host trade shows establish themselves as the industry leaders amongst the attendees. Different brands take up show booths where they showcase their products and interact with customers.
4. Executive Retreats
Executive retreats go hand in hand with incentive programs. These business events entail awarding individuals that have performed very well and inviting them to a retreat. These retreats are always held in relaxed and desirable locations such as luxury resorts where people devote themselves to relaxing, exploring, and excursions.
Of course, they do engage in developing their organizational strategies for the following terms. Still, the retreat is almost always about treating the individuals to a good time for a job well done. Executive retreats are usually in-house.
5. Team Building Events
Team building events are also in-house. They are aimed at improving employee communication skills, boosting their morale, and encouraging them to work efficiently as a team. Most team building events are usually super fun. They are geared towards boosting employee confidence and building their strengths.
Team building business events vary significantly as the activities depend on the skills the business is trying to foster in the employees. Beyond that, it depends on their age, shared interests, fitness levels, and specific employees. These events typically last a day and happen during working hours.
6. Corporate Dinners
Corporate or business dinners can be as small or as large as you want depending on your goals. If you want to have an in-house business dinner, then you can organize one at your office boardroom.
If your goal is to woo a potential client, you can have dinner at a formal restaurant or hotel. You could also have a team-building dinner or even a celebratory dinner. It all depends on what you want to achieve.
7. Golf Events
Golf events are exactly what they sound like. Golf goes hand in hand with the corporate world, and plenty of business deals have been made in golf clubs. These events are meant to foster business relationships in a more casual environment.
These are the perfect business events for relationship upkeep or management.
8. Products Launches
Product launch events are also a different type of corporate event that’s held to launch new products into the market. Most of the time, these events place more focus on building a buzz or hype surrounding upcoming products so that customers will anticipate using them.
When it comes to these types of business events, the presence of customers and media houses is especially important. There could be live entertainment, a guest speaker, celebrity speaker, swag bags, and other possible giveaways at the product launch event.
9. Board Meetings
Board or shareholder meetings are important when it comes to the communication of company plans and strategies.
As a company, you have board members that make the decisions. At a board meeting, you get the opportunity to reflect on the company’s performance and make any necessary adjustments to your strategies. Shareholder or board meetings can be an annual or bi-annual event depending on your goals and vision.
10. Recruiting Events
The primary purpose of recruiting events is to source and secure talent for your business. These types of business events are usually more popular among start-ups. However, there are always other major companies looking to expand operations or to get fresh minds with fresh ideas that will help expand their business.
One of the best things about recruiting events is the fact that you would get to interact with potential employees personally. It’s easier to interview them in a casual way and gauge who is better suited at working for your company before holding formal interviews.
11. Internal Company Meetings
Internal company meeting events, also known as periodic business gatherings, are in-house events where a company discusses selected topics. In an internal company meeting, you would assess the business progress, solve specific issues, and facilitate project kickoffs.
Usually, these types of business events are more common in large companies with many employees and departments, but this is not to say that a small business would not benefit.
Such a gathering would include an agenda, coordinating facility bookings, organizing presentation equipment, planning catering, and organizing transport if necessary. The amount of time it would take to prepare for such an event would highly depend on the topics you intend to address and the formality of the occasion.
12. Ceremonies or Gala Events
Ceremonies and galas are pretty much the same thing.
The purpose of these events is to provide a business with an elegant way to present their brand, services, and products into the world. Ceremonies could be anything from back-tie fundraising events or an annual meeting, it’s a sophisticated way to mark special occasions.
The one unique thing about these types of business events is that they can happen anywhere, even in an art museum, as long as they make the occasion special. In a ceremony event, you’d have entertainment that could be anything from celebrities, to live music.
Regardless of your business event agenda, ceremonies or galas are geared towards fun rather than productivity, so you have to offer your attendees a chance to interact and enjoy good food, good music, and lots of drinks.
13. VIP Events
Also known as sales acceleration events, VIP business events focus on the most influential customers and shareholders of the company. The guests are honored with exclusive entertainment with the intention of increasing revenue by maintaining loyal relationships with the guests.
Hosting such an event means you may have to include travel services and complimentary entry for the key figures. It would help if you knew the guests exceptionally well in terms of what they like and their interests so you can provide an unforgettable experience.
14. Field Marketing or Activations
The primary goal of these types of business events is to strengthen the relationships between a brand, and its customers. Your goal as a business would be to appeal to your target audience and form an emotional bond with them. Given that it’s a relationship-building event, you need to know your target audience well so you can plan activities accordingly.
These events are usually held off-site in a location where the target audience is likely to go. Such an event would present you with an opportunity for sales collaboration, marketing, and facilitating sales.
15. Year-End Functions
These business events are annual holiday parties that are an excellent way for businesses to show appreciation to their employees.
Your employees are your most valuable asset, and appreciating them pays off big time. A year-end party can be as lavish as you want depending on how well your business has done throughout the year.
Different Types of Events: Key Takeaways
There are many different types of events, but as you can see, each one differs significantly from the rest. All business events must be aligned with the business goals for them to work. Consider what you want to achieve, what you’ve achieved so far, and what options you have before you settle on one event type.
However, now that you have a better understanding of what each corporate event will help you achieve, it’s easier to make a decision about what kind of event your business really needs.
Are you awed by the different types of events your business may need to organize? Explore our website for more in-depth information.
