Over the years of planning launch parties, I’ve learned that unless they’re exciting and newsworthy, they often come across as ‘just another party’.

A launch party is a perfect way to highlight your business or your client’s new product or service.

How To Make it Memorable

When you plan a party, it’s more than choosing a venue and hiring a caterer. It’s important to decide what you need to have at your party, what is nice to have, and what you can do without.

10 Tips To Plan a Launch Party

If you’re ready to launch, want to fill the room with the right people, and leave them with a great first impression, follow these 10 tips to plan a launch party.

#1 – Know your (measurable) event objective – often overlooked yet an important part of the planning process, setting your event objective (or outcome) is the crucial first step when planning a launch party. Finding the objective of the event helps you identify the success criteria for the end of your launch party.

For example, your event objective may be: Increase your yearly events by 10% or Increase sales by 25% by the end of the event or Establish an ongoing relationship with three new media outlets who write editorials about your events.

In today’s video, learn 10 tips to plan a launch that has your attendees talking about your launch for months to come…

#2 – Know your event budget – when you plan a launch party, make sure you have a line item for everything in your event budget. To stop yourself from overspending, use these event budget tips.

#3 – Use a unique event venue – consider using a unique event venue for your launch party but make sure it represents who you are and your personality, and make sure it’s easily accessible for your guests. By using a unique event venue, this also makes your event more exclusive.

(Photo Credit: http://www.kalistaweddings.com)

#4 – Know your audience and invest in your relationships – knowing the wants, needs, and buying behaviors of your guests is what sets apart a successful event planning business from a complete failure (which is true for any business).

It’s nice to invite friends and family for moral support, but it’s equally (if not more) important to think long term about who you want to work with (and invite them when you plan a launch party) so you can build a strong relationship with the right type of client.

#5 – Create your launch party invite – create a custom designed launch party invite that sets the mood and includes the date and time of your event and what the event is about (it’s a launch party!). Also, provide a map and contact information to make it easier for your guests to find the event.

#6 – Make your event exclusive – on your invitations, make it clear that guests must arrive with their invite in hand and that security will check their name on the guest list.

By making your event exclusive, your attendance rates will increase because people will be more curious about what you have planned.

#7 – Hire event staff to manage your launch party so you can focus on your guests and drumming up business. Hiring the right team of event staff should reflect your brand, and meet your event needs and company values.

#8 – Don’t forget the giveaway – skip the cheap, kitschy giveaway and instead give your event guests a cool, memorable, and useful item that shows your creativity. In other words, don’t waste money on inexpensive pens, tote bags, or t-shirts. Instead, opt for a small care package, branded skincare products, or even branded wine bottles.

In the past, I have bought a good bottle of wine and attached a well-designed branded sticker to the back of the bottle (no matter what you choose, it must reflect your business, product, or service).

#9 – Invite the press (including bloggers) – when you plan a launch party, you’re going to want to increase awareness. To do this, invite media to your event by sending a one-page media advisory that includes the who, what, where, when, and why of your event.

#10 – Celebrate your team – your event team is your greatest resource (including your event vendors). So, it’s important to celebrate and acknowledge their hard work. If it’s in your event budget, throw them an after-party to say thank you.

If it’s not in the budget, publicly say thank you during your launch party and/or set up a brag board to showcase their unique talents.

A launch party is just one of many events you will need to plan in your career to be a successful event planner.

For help with your events or to build a profitable event planning business, check out our online courses here.

We’d love to hear from you.

In the comments below, share one tip you’d add to this list to plan a launch party.

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As always, thanks for joining us each week and for sharing your thoughts.