A seminar can be both informational and motivational for attendees.
Most seminar organizers measure the success of the seminar by the number of people they reach with the information they sought to disseminate. While seminar organizers know the subject matter of the seminar, they may know less about events promotions. Seminar promotions is a campaign to have targeted attendees show up for the seminar at a certain place and time, and, often, to pay an attendance fee. It primarily involves relaying the seminar information in traditional publications and new media. It also includes delivering the message directly to the targeted seminar attendees by mail, over radio or television, or by billboard. This is a good start-up business for those who have education or experience in events promotions, public relations, publicity, marketing or sales.
Instructions
1. Conduct a feasibility study. Learn about the industry and the state of the seminar market. Make an accounting of the start-up entrepreneur's skills and resources for this type of business. While the entrepreneur may have skills in providing promotions and publicity services, to start this type of business, you should conduct a financial feasibility study to consider the associated start-up costs, such as marketing materials, advertising, and an office lease unless you develop it as a home-based business.
2. Write a business plan. If the entrepreneur considers the business idea feasible, start drafting a business plan. The start-up business plan details all of the capital needs of the new company. This includes the physical facilities, human resources, equipment and supplies. The plan also articulates the business goals and considers the target market (customer/client). The U.S. Small Business Administration provides valuable guidance on drafting a business plan on its website.
3. Perform the start-up administrative tasks. These tasks include registering the new business with the county or parish government business registration agency. If not a sole proprietorship entity, the business should also register at the state level with the Secretary of State. Obtain a tax identification number (TIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. Open up a business bank account. Set up a business office with the basics of a desk, computer, printer, copier, postal equipment, telephone, and filing cabinets.
4. Create a business identify for the firm. What type of business image do you want the firm to have? The company's target market shapes its image. An assortment of innovative books can help seminar promotions entrepreneurs, such as "Develop and Promote Successful Seminars and Workshops," by Howard L. Shenson (1990).
5. Advertise and promote the business to organizations that develop seminars. Contact commercial property management offices at business convention halls and other public venues to find out about upcoming seminars they have booked. Stay abreast of industry news and identify advertising opportunities through publications such as "Retreat & Seminar: The Online Magazine for Meeting Professionals." Create a professional business brochure that outlines services and mail out introduction letters to organizations.
Tags: business plan, type business, business should, drafting business, drafting business plan, events promotions