This month, I’ll be attending our annual Snap Fitness Convention in Las Vegas. Franchisees, managers and personal trainers from around the world will come together to talk about all things Snap Fitness. It’s an exciting and busy time! While there is a lot of work that goes into planning and preparing for the event, it’s rewarding to see attendees having a great time.
Conventions are a great way to bring people together, especially in the business world. When you’re part of a franchise system, it’s not always easy or feasible to score face time with your corporate office or other operators. By holding a convention, you’re able to do just that. You can bring your team together to review brand goals, introduce enhancements and celebrate accomplishments.
So, are you ready to plan a convention for your business? Fantastic! Here are four tips to follow when putting together the big event:
Pick a convenient location. People aren’t going to come if your venue isn’t easy to get to. True, attendees will be traveling from all over the place, but if it’s more than a direct flight, try again. Major U.S. cities are a great place to start. If your business is based out of a major city, that works too. You’ll need to find a destination that can accommodate all your attendees and has a good variety of fun things to do around the venue.
Have a meaningful theme. This is important because it will go on all your marketing collateral. Your theme should be something short and easy to remember. When a franchisee gets an invite to your convention, they should immediately be able to recognize what you’ll cover at the event. One thing to keep in mind is how it plays into social media. Consider fun hashtags that flow with the theme and encourage attendees to get social at your convention.
Clearly state its purpose. Along with the convention theme, this is something you must establish early on and hit hard in your communication to the field. Why should people want to attend your event? You need to share what owners will gain from coming to convention. Highlight what topics will directly benefit their business and entice them with any new products you’re rolling out. Make it something they can’t miss!
Make it a mixture of work and play. I said it before, but a convention is also a time to celebrate accomplishments. Presentations from corporate executives are important, but you also need social events for people to enjoy. Hold a formal party or reception during your event. Make a point to call out owners or locations that have experienced success in the last year. People deserve to be recognized for their hard work, which in turn inspires others to strive for that.
At the end of the day, you want to create a memorable experience for your convention attendees. They’ve invested a lot into your business, and it’s your responsibility to keep their entrepreneurial fire burning bright for your brand.
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Hayley Schnell is a communications manager at Lift Brands. She can be reached at hschnell@liftbrands.com.
