Business Meeting & Event Planning For Dummies

Hold productive meetings and events with help from Dummies

It’s a whole new world out there. With so many companies, big and small, electing to move to virtual or hybrid operating models, meetings have arguably become more important than ever as the primary way teams communicate day-to-day. But how do you maximize engagement when a screen sits between you and your coworkers? In Business Meeting & Event Planning For Dummies, expert author Susan Friedmann shares her tips and insider tricks for navigating virtual and hybrid gatherings without missing a beat. Armed with top-notch guidance and insider tips from Dummies, you’ll be able to streamline meetings to maximize efficiency and save money – on or offline.

• Create effective and exciting business events and presentations
• Keep on time and on budget, maintain group engagement, and use social media to your advantage
• Discover best practices, proven tips, and technical advice

If you’re a professional who wants to make the most of business meetings, this is the Dummies guide for you. It’s also a valuable resource for anyone who needs to plan a large-scale event (seminar, convention, etc.).

Introduction 1

Part 1: Been to Any Good Meetings or Events Lately? 5

Chapter 1: Gearing Up for Meetings and Events 7

Chapter 2: Strictly Business: Defining Meetings 17

Chapter 3: The ABCs of Meeting Preparation 25

Chapter 4: Mixing Business with Pleasure: Events 45

Chapter 5: Bringing an Event to Life 57

Part 2: It’s All Show Business 79

Chapter 6: Get Me to the Meeting on Time 81

Chapter 7: Food for Thought 93

Chapter 8: Selecting Great Speakers 109

Chapter 9: It’s the Extras That Count 123

Chapter 10: Lights, Camera, Action! 129

Part 3: No Guts, No Story 145

Chapter 11: Nuts and Bolts: Negotiating, Contracting, and Ensuring Safety 147

Chapter 12: Working with Vendors 161

Chapter 13: Drinking Champagne on a Beer Budget 171

Part 4: Building Bridges with Technology 185

Chapter 14: Making Meeting Technology Work for You 187

Chapter 15: This Phone’s for You: Conference Calling 197

Chapter 16: Holding Meetings Online 207

Chapter 17: Expanding Your Reach with Virtual Events 223

Part 5: Exhibiting at Trade Shows 231

Chapter 18: Planning for Gold: Exhibiting 101 233

Chapter 19: Strutting Your Stuff: Exhibiting 201 251

Chapter 20: Presenting the Floor Show: Exhibiting 301 263

Part 6: The Part of Tens 271

Chapter 21: Ten Creative Ways to Meet 273

Chapter 22: Ten Common Meeting Mistakes to Avoid 277

Chapter 23: Ten Top Negotiating Tactics 281

Chapter 24: Ten Strategies For Exhibiting Overseas 285

Appendix: Checklist Heaven 291

Index 307

Susan Friedmann, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), is a well-respected niche marketer on a mission to wipe out sameness and add vitality and differentiation to entrepreneurial marketing and meetings. Well-executed events, in person and online, is her top tool for captivating a market. She’s an international bestselling author of 18 books, and has trained and coached over 10,000 people on 4 continents.

Engaging live, virtual, or hybrid meetings

Imagine your next business meeting being wildly successful! Business Meeting & Event Planning For Dummies shows you how to plan and execute virtual or in-person meetings for the entire company or just a few key people. You’ll learn how to run successful conferences, trade shows, and virtual or hybrid meetings. You’ll understand how to keep participants engaged and productive, even if you’re meeting remotely. This fun and comprehensive guide will make sure your business events pack a punch.

Inside…

• Determining the value of meetings
• Deciding how and where to meet
• Running virtual meetings effectively
• Planning great hybrid events
• Hiring the right vendors
• Bringing your events to life