8 Event Management Skills You Must Know in 2024
Event management goes beyond organizing a birthday party, wedding, conference, or product launch. It requires a high level of competency, spanning from creativity to client relations and logistics.
You need certain skills to advance in the events industry and become a successful event manager in 2024.
To help you stay on top of your game, we’ll discuss the top eight event management skills you must know. These skills will help you grow and stay relevant in this dynamic industry.
1. Proficiency in Tech Integration
In 2024, the events industry will become even more sophisticated. Immersive technologies like virtual reality and augmented reality are now integrated into events, allowing people to choose between physical and virtual modes of attendance.
As a result, mastering tech is a non-negotiable event management skill. Event managers should become familiar with event management software, such as Eventbrite, Cvent, and Whova.
Event managers should also be familiar with video conferencing platforms where you can hold virtual events. Aside from Zoom, you can also consider any of its alternatives listed in this post by Attrock. For instance, GoToMeeting and Microsoft Teams can be highly suggested options for robust video conferencing.
In the image below, you can find more tools for managing live and virtual events.
Image via CRM.org
These tools can customize event registration and tickets, track events, and automatically add event dates to your preferred digital calendar.As events are now hosted on online platforms, you should learn to leverage event analytics.
Integrate helpdesk ticketing system and AI chatbot into the event landing page on your website to manage attendees queries effectively. This will help you optimize future events and create a personalized experience for attendees.
When tech proficiency is one of the event management skills in your arsenal, you’ll be able to reach a wider audience, execute events more efficiently, and generate data-based results.
2. Excellent Networking Skills
Building relationships is one of the most crucial event management skills. The industry thrives on people. Whether they’re partners, clients, or friends, the bigger your network, the more opportunities at your disposal.
A strong network grants you access to resources and expertise, valuable referrals, job offers, and more.
However, if you aim to attract more clients, you should also embed Google reviews on your website. This allows your network to look up your business online and attest to its genuineness.
It’s time to stop ignoring industry events. Use those meetups to engage with your peers, participate in professional groups, and create a positive cycle of business growth.
3. Managing Stakeholders
Successful events hinge on collaboration with stakeholders. You should possess the necessary event management skills to manage these key entities.
Effective stakeholder management ensures that clients’ needs are met and even exceeded. It leads to satisfaction and opens doors for future partnerships.
To achieve this, an event manager should be able to:
- Promptly address client concerns
- Convey information with clarity
- Keep stakeholders informed throughout the planning and execution process
4. Efficient Vendor Management
Vendors cover various aspects of an event, from decor to catering and technical support. Work with a vendor that takes the necessary steps to hire well, so you know your event is in the right hands.
Successful vendor management includes the following:
- Ensuring that services meet the event’s standard before onboarding vendors
- Defining deliverables and making sure that vendors fulfill their responsibilities
- Swift conflict resolution
- Maximizing resources
- Managing risks
- Monitoring performance
Event managers who foster a high level of vendor management skills can ensure quality service delivery.
5. Budgeting Prowess
One of the key event management skills necessary to creating memorable events is meticulous financial planning. As you progress in your event management career, you’ll meet clients of varying financial status.
As a result, you should be able to analyze costs and allocate resources to create a comprehensive budget based on your client’s spending power.
Ample budgeting skills will help you track expenses and identify potential cost-saving avenues to ensure the financial sustainability of events.
More importantly, your budget should make provision for unforeseen expenses. This will serve as your safety net when handling unexpected costs.
It’s advisable to learn basic budgeting concepts through books or workshops. You can also check out platforms that sell online courses at affordable prices, still providing a lot of value.
Also, you can team up with an accountant to ensure you stay within your budget. This is particularly useful for larger or more complex events.
6. Negotiation Skills
Managing events entails crafting contracts and client agreements and managing relationships, which calls for negotiation skills.
These skills come in handy when securing contract terms and vendor services at favorable rates. Effective negotiation ensures not only favorable pricing but also favorable terms, especially when it comes to payment schedules, cancellation policies, and delivery specifics.
When you meet clients with budget constraints, effective negotiation skills will help you manage their expectations. You’ll be able to organize a successful event that meets your goals without going over the budget.
7. Inclusive Event Designing
The events industry now places more emphasis on integrating diversity and equity into event planning. Therefore, one of the top event management skills in 2024 is knowing how to design events with inclusivity in mind.
Here are some common inclusivity challenges attendees may encounter at events.
Image via Exponential Talent
Ensure that each attendee feels valued and has equal access to participate. Below are some tips for designing an inclusive event.
- Research your target audience to understand their demographics, including socioeconomic, cultural, and accessibility factors.
- Make sure the venue has accessibility features, such as ramps. Mention this information on the event promotion materials.
- If you’re bringing performers, speakers, or panelists, ensure the list includes individuals from various ethnicities, genders, and abilities.
- Respect all cultures and avoid themes that insinuate stereotyping.
- Consider participants with dietary needs when planning meals.
- Include interactive elements like Q&As and group discussions where participants can feel comfortable sharing their opinions.
Event managers who create a pleasant experience for all participants are more likely to attract a broader audience.
8. Marketing and Branding Finesse
Managing an event involves liaising with a lot of people, promoting the event, and influencing public perception of the event’s brand. Hence, the need to master marketing and branding strategies.
These days, digital platforms like social media are pivotal in event promotion. Social media ad spending is expected to reach $219.8 billion in 2024.
Image via Statista
Therefore, event managers should be conversant with social media marketing, content creation, email marketing, and other digital strategies for maximizing reach and engagement.
They might also learn how to leverage ambassador marketing for event promotion and building a solid brand identity. Usually, brand ambassadors are fans who share a deep connection with the events they promote.
This enthusiasm enables them to speak passionately about your event on their online platforms and during physical interactions.
Successful events transcend a one-time experience into building communities. Event managers who possess strong marketing skills can foster community engagement even after the event, thereby creating a loyal audience base.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the events industry evolves constantly. Successful event managers should be able to adapt and keep abreast of recent developments.
You also need to possess key event management skills, such as networking, budgeting, negotiation, and stakeholder and vendor management. Additionally, to excel in event management in 2024, you’ll need to be proficient in immersive technologies, inclusivity, and digital marketing.
Mastering these event management skills isn’t only an advantage but also an opportunity to create unforgettable memories in 2024 and beyond.
The author Gaurav Sharma is the founder and CEO of Attrock, a results-driven digital marketing company. Grew an agency from 5-figure to 7-figure revenue in just two years | 10X leads | 2.8X conversions | 300K organic monthly traffic. He also contributes to top publications like HuffPost, Adweek, Business 2 Community, TechCrunch, and more.
About the Author / Ana Almeida
