Qualifications of Corporate Event Planner

Normally, employers want a bachelor’s degree in subjects related to marketing, hospitality management, or public relations. Many corporate event planners begin their careers in hotels. They are often hosts for their events. The event planners’ career progress into corporate event planning. In addition to related experience and a bachelor’s degree, employment opportunities can increase by having certifications. The Convention Industry Council offers credentials like Certified Meeting Professional. Numerous corporate event planners also have membership in the Meeting Professionals International.

Preparation of the Event

Prior to an event, the clients sponsoring the function and the corporate event planners work together to understand the client’s financial budget and needs for the event. The planner suggests timelines, dates, and plans the extent of the event. Corporate planners pick several locations, coordinate travel arrangements, receive bids from vendors, overnight accommodations, and more. Upon the client’s approval, the corporate event planner begins to plan all the accommodations and activities for the event.

The Event

Corporate event planners attend the events they organize. Prior to the start of the event, the planner makes sure space is properly prepared, scheduled vendors arrive, and equipment is tested. The corporate event planner works with the on-site staff to manage how the actual event will run and more details. They also greet attendees, ensure that clients are satisfied with the event, and monitor the scheduled activities. The event planner obtains bills from vendors for space, equipment, food, and other services and then approve payment.

It is important to reach out to someone who can provide these services, so your business doesn’t have to. If you don’t have a committed event planner, choosing a freelance one is ideal. You can use them as you see fit, or whenever necessary and ensure that your work’s events run as smoothly as they possibly can.

I can provide these specific services, as I am experienced in this particular corporate area. Please reach out with questions or comments regarding the work you’d like to have done, so you can get events set up and ready to go.

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This is much easier said than done, of course! Consumers are blasted daily with marketing content and advertisements, so you need to improve your approach to cut through the clutter. Here are three tips for writing headlines your readers can’t resist:

1. Use Uncomplicated but Strong Language

When writing a headline, the first thing you must learn is about making it attractive. The language you choose to include in your headline is what dictates the contents click-worthiness. Using bland, unknown, uninspiring, hard to pronounce words quickly turns the reader off. Consider the blog topics you read. Chances are, you choose ones with easy to read titles, that are short and concise.

On your next writing project, consider staying with language that is uncomplicated, yet powerful.

2. Use Keywords that Have High Search Value

If people are not interested in the topic then there is not much use in creating a video or running an ad. Make sure each headline you write targets a specific keyword if you are writing content with an online search in mind. As the old saying goes, “Work smarter not harder.” Be sure to research which keywords are popular to ensure your catchy headline is optimized to drive traffic.

To find relevant keywords there is numerous tool available. When you search for something on Google, they can be found on the bottom of the page. There are also software and websites such as SEMrush, who find the best keywords for the topic. Simply type in possible keywords and chose the words with the highest volume.

3. Include a Number in Your Catchy Headline

This tip should not go unnoted even though it may seem somewhat horribly obvious. If you are unsure of how to write a headline that is catchy enough to immediately grab the reader’s attention, one of the easiest choices is including numbers.

People are naturally attracted to numbers and lists since writing this way is simpler to digest. For those readers who are looking for a way to accomplish something that they are unsure of how to do, following numbered steps in order are perfect. As a human, we hate uncertainty and enjoy predictability. Research has shown that numbers included in headlines consistently outperform those that do not. It is also important to note that odd numbers perform better than even.

The right content is going to really sell the product, service, or brand. First, you have to hook them in!

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1. Always use a contract

This is one of the most common mistakes that those new to freelancing make. Be sure to use a contract for every client project. However, don’t get caught up searching for the perfect contract. It’s okay, to begin with, a template and improve on it along the way.

Having basic terms in the contract helps to protect you, while also informing the client the way you work.

2. Get a down payment from every client

A big issue heard by freelancers is not getting paid on time or the client stiffing them. To ensure you receive payment, require a down payment upfront of perhaps 50 percent before starting any work. Be sure to make this clear in any preliminary discussions as well as your contract.

It should raise a red flag if a client has an issue with this requirement. While there is a possibility this is the first time, they’ve contracted freelance services, your guard should still be raised. If the potential client refuses again, move on.

3. Do not be scared to say “no”

It can be difficult to say no. This is especially true if you are like some people who are generous and want others you work with to feel happy. You offer to help in any possible way as to not disappoint anyone, but you don’t realize the strenuous load it’ll place on you.

Remember this – you will disappoint someone, no matter what you do.

Whether it be your family because of the long hours you’ve been working, the client as you’re unable to deliver 50 percent through the project, you’re extremely stressed from the extra work you took on.

So, learn to get comfortable with saying “no”.

4. Focus your freelance business

Many freelancers are unable to find enough work and have a difficult time getting their name out there.

Make everything easier on you by focusing on your brand identity and the type of projects you take. From charging higher rates to marketing to actually delivering the work. Choose one or two services only and be sure to only take work that falls in one of the two categories. Everything else, turn down.

After making you’re your decision on what services to specialize in, this needs to translate into your own brand. Everything on your website should be reworded to those phrases and keywords, only display that type of work in your portfolio, and begin producing content around those two services as a testimony to your expertise.

5. Write, Write, Write

This tip is the most important – write. It does not matter if you believe you’re not a good writer; by writing, your name gets out there, and the client finds you.

Good writing comes with practice.

Take a few minutes and watch this video by Sean McCabe to learn why writing is important to your freelancing:

It All Starts with Writing

I’m sure after reading this post and watching the video, you’ll understand why writing is so important to your freelance.

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One of the biggest questions that I get asked is whether or not I am happier as a freelancer. Do I enjoy what I do? Do I get the satisfaction from it that some get from their jobs?

Happiness as a Freelancer

Happiness comes from doing something that you like. You can choose to be happy with any job. No really, you can. You’re ultimately the keeper of your own happiness. However, being able to go to my children’s appointments or the plays that they put on without having to let my boss know I will be missing an hour of work here or an hour there is great. That is the biggest and best thing about being a freelancer and owning my own business.

I have a strong work ethic, I do and even at a 9 to 5 desk job if I missed that hour, I would be working until 6 to make it up, but I just cannot miss out on those times that I won’t have again. I will always have the desk, the work, the job; but my children will not be little forever.

You may not have children but you might have a grandma that you want to spend time with before it is too late or a dog that has to be put to sleep soon so you want to give them the best life they could ever ask for towards the end. Whatever the reason, freelancing has allowed me to be much more flexible with what I can and cannot do, making the things that really matter most to me easily enjoyed.

It is Not All Good

Freelancing is not all good. I don’t get large amounts of taxes back every year that I can spend to fix my house or do my hair. I have to pay for health insurance for my family (which is pretty expensive). Struggling is sometimes necessary when I try to find work when the workforce is slow and clients are deciding on their marketing strategies. I have to MAKE myself work because there is no boss barking behind me to get those papers in! You have to work to grow your freelance career.

I do have the creativity to create beautiful websites for clients. By allowing my creativity and my passion for helping others grow, I am essentially loving what I do, downfalls and all. I love being able to help those small businesses ramp up their production and see money come into their businesses. I love being able to stretch my imagination further than I ever have with their projects they bring to me.

Happiness is what you make it. If you want happiness, just think about what you want from life. Think of those things that make you happiest. These are what your life should revolve around, not something that holds you back.

*If you want tips on how to organize and handle both personal and professional life, check out my post here… it also has pretty awesome extras you can make use of!

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Retainers are harder to get then one-off jobs, so it is important to think about perhaps offering this service to clients that you speak with. They can really save you in the long run. This agreement brings employment and freelancing together to hold hands and make the freelancer happier with the outcome.

What is a Retainer?

Many freelancers might not even know what a retainer is. However, with the right information, being a freelancer is going to get much easier for you overall. A retainer is much like an agreement. The freelancer submits a specific set amount of work every month and the employer pays a specific amount for the work.

Retainers Do Not Come Right Away

Hoping it is easy to get a retainer is something that can be easy to do. You have stars in your eyes and hopes and dreams to reach. You might have to work with the client on one-off projects until you feel comfortable enough to pitch a retainer idea. This is especially helpful if they continue to use you for these one-off projects.

However, it is also important to note that not all clients are the “retainer” types. They need to be a long-term client that needs steady work throughout the year for this to work out. Plus, you have to feel comfortable enough to trust them and for them to trust you.

Offer All Services They Might Need

You don’t have to run out and learn to code right away, but knowing how to build a simple website to go with your content writing, or marketing or whatever you do is helpful. Getting an employer to work with you on retainer is ideal in many ways, but not having more than the one thing to offer them might make them think harder about this agreement than they really need too when you pitch the idea to them.

Writing Up Your Retainer 

Your retainer is going to work much like a contract, so you need to write one up so that everyone is in agreement on the terms. Just make sure to add these important tidbits so that everyone has what they need from the deal.

• How much work is being delivered every month
• The amount it will cost, as well as your payment information
• Include any expenses or other things the client has to cover
• The length of time the retainer is good for, usually, it is a year to two years
• Revisions and if they are included, if they are, how many?
• A sign off stating that the client owns the content once it is completed
• Having an under or over usage of the content – when a client skips a month, they still need to pay and some freelancers provide a credit to recoup some articles missed during the next month, though not all
• Cancellation policies of the retainer, which usually means the client needs to give 30 days notice of their intent to do so

Making a retainer last a while is important. When the working relationship is a strong one, then retainers can work smoothly between the client and the freelancer. They can even provide a strong recommendation for others that they know looking for the same type of services. A retainer is thandeal way to work as a freelancer and it provides more stability in times of need.

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So do I, but it is not really realistic. This is especially true for those of us that are not only managing our businesses but those of us that also have families.

By being able to manage your life and separate work from the personal aspects, not only will you be happier, but so will your family, and your business might just prosper because of this happiness. You will become MORE productive, you will actually get MORE done.

Here are some pretty awesome tips for helping you stay on track and keep the personal away from the work aspects of life, as difficult as it might be.

Resist the Temptation to Work! 

I admit it, I am totally a workaholic. You can usually find me clicking away in my bedroom, at my office, while I watch a show on the television. Even if I am not in front of those things, I am on social media, making my presence known there. It is horrible, I know. It is something that we all have to break away from!

Resisting the urge to constantly work, even if you feel like you have ‘down-time’ is the best thing you can do for your soul.

Give Yourself Office Hours!

And stick with them! I mean it! If you say you are going to work on work from 9am to 4pm, then that is all you have to work with. If 4pm comes and you have accomplished one thing – that’s it! You will learn to get on this schedule and be productive with those hours because you’re training your body and brain to know that this is all the time you have to work with. You need to make the most of it.

Schedule, Plan, Organize!

Even if I didn’t do what I do, I would probably still plan, schedule and organize because that is who I am. That is who my sister is, that is who my mom is. It is a part of my blood. If you are not much of a scheduler, or if you like to plan things but do not know where to start or if you’re like the bazillion of people out there that just want to feel like they have their stuff together, then I got you, my friend.

I use these awesome organizer tools that I am listing below…

• Content Marketing Calendars
• Ultimate Blog Planner Printables
• Small Biz Social Media Planner

In addition to these things that I print out, I also make sure to keep my planners. I literally use 3, though I could do it all in one I am afraid it might get chaotic. You can use one and keep all of your to-dos in it, and plan, schedule, and stay on top of things.

Here are some other great resources, plus some prettttty awesome agendas you might want to take a look at… Christmas is coming up!

• Goal Achiever Planner
• Professional Planner
• Bloom Planner
• One Year Planner
• Conquer Your Year
• Business Planner for Women

The post Tips for Managing Your Work/Personal Life Balance for Entrepreneurs – Plus, Special Bonuses! appeared first on Web Design & Marketing Services.

Make sure that you’re ready to grow these skills, because come 2019, you’re going to need them to hang onto. You’re going to want to wish you built them up before the big boom comes. While this sounds scary, it’s really not. I am just being theatrical and trying to get my point across.

Moving onto the skills needed, here are the four biggest and best skills to have that can actually help you grow your freelance career.

1. Have a Diverse Portfolio

While one particular area might suit you best, which it does for many, there are many benefits to having a large, all-inclusive portfolio that lists many of your strong suits. You might be great at writing landing pages or sales emails, but you’re also good at putting together decent websites – show these skills off! There is no right or wrong way to showcase yourself, even if you do more than one thing!

2. Have a Personal Website for Your Freelance Career

Having a personal website means you mean business. However, you have to keep it up-to-date. If you have old news on there, no one is going to look at it. If it looks like it was made 20 years ago, again, no one will be impressed. Change with the times, just like they are going to want to change with the times. Impress!

3. Always Deliver More Than Whats Expected

Delivering more than what is expected to the client is always going to go over well. If you impress them, they’re going to send more people your way. Not only that, but they’re going to want to keep using you for all of the work that they have. You will become a regular and have a strong working relationship. Hey, you might even get a bit of a raise out of it! Do well, do more, and impress!

4. Maintain and Use Social Media

Having social media means a lot for those that have internet-related jobs. If this is your profession, then you need social media. This allows you to network, get your name out there, get seen, get known and then get hired! Without the World Wide Web behind you, you might find that reaching those goals of actually making a living is harder than you originally thought.

It is important to do what is best for your freelance career. If you’re able to do this, you won’t have to worry about what comes next. You will make a name for yourself and allow yourself to have a comfortable profession doing something that is rewarding and enriching. The best part is that as a freelancer, you choose who to work for!

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Are you thinking about doing some Freelance work? 

If you are, here are some good points that you just may want to consider. This will help before making that huge step in your life. Freelance work has a lot of pros and cons that come with it. Not only that, but it also means you need to find out if this is something that is going to work with you and your lifestyle in the long run. 

Flexibility of Freelance Work

Pro

Those who work as a Freelancer generally do have a more flexible schedule than those who have that 9 to 5 job.  More flexibility in your schedule means that you will be able to set the hours that you actually work. You can choose what assignments that you want to do. You also work around family commitments and your social life.  Keep in mind that you still will have those deadlines, but as long as you make then you can even take the day off if needed.

Con

Now, do not be fooled you will not be spending your whole day playing with your children.  If you do not have a structured schedule that work can pile up.  If a deadline suddenly sneaks up on you, you will have to cancel that family outing or work through the night in order to meet it.

Also, if you take the day off – you don’t get paid for this work. There is no salary, you work for yourself.

Office Politics Within Freelance Work

Pro

If you choose to go the route of Freelance work, you will not have to deal with what is known as office politics.  You will not be tied to a single organization, in fact, most freelancers have several clients from different organizations.  Most of the time you will actually be working remotely, you complete your assignment by the deadline and hand it in.

Con

Depending on what type of freelance work you are planning on doing, you just may have to deal with your clients’ office politics.  This may or may not effect you, depending on what you feel about their point of view. (However, another PRO to this is, you don’t have to work with a client if you don’t want too, you can actually pass on their work)

Benefits of Freelance Work

Pro

You get to choose when you want to work, when to take a vacation, and what you want to go too. This might add up to something in the long run, of course, it does come with its downfall.

Con

When you are a Freelancer this generally means that you own your own company and are on your own.  You will have to arrange for your own health insurance.  When you need a day off you will not get paid for it.  In other words, there is no sick days, personal days, or even holiday pay.

Be in Control

Pro

Since you are the owner of your company you have total control over what you do.  You will be choosing what you work on and when you will be working on it.  If a particular job does not meet your standards you will have the authority to reject it.

Con

With most things not everything can be peaches and cream, you still have to pay those bills so unless you have a stash of cash you will have to take on some of those not so interesting jobs.

The other issue is that you will, of course, have many bosses, one comes with each and every assignment that is taken on.  Each of them will have their very own set of instructions that you will have to follow.

These are just a few points in which you will want to consider when thinking about freelance work.  So, take your time and do your research before you find that you jumped into something that is above your head.

It is something that not everyone is cut out to do, but it is definitely something that a lot of people are leaning towards now, especially with a loaded workforce and jobs being hard to come by.

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With more and more people looking to make money in easier than a 9-5 type of job way, it is no wonder the content world is becoming increasingly saturated with writers. However, how good are these writers? How much do they charge? What value or services do they bring to the table?

Those That Have Been in Content Writing a Long Time

If you’re like me and have been in the content writing business a long time, then you know it is important to have some sort of specialty and credentials to back you up against the grueling workforce that has become our life.

With me, it is my marketing degree and specialized areas that bring the most attention.

Not everyone is able to provide these skills and I am sure other long-time writers have their own niches that they practice in.

These new writers do not have much going for them but a newly found freelance writing freedom and the ability to work for pennies. Should companies hire them to save a buck?

Whether or Not Companies Should Hire Newbies 

Being new to the freelance writing world is not a bad thing. It means you can get your feet wet, learn a bit and create a specialty all your own. By no means does this mean that you should give up or stop taking on jobs.

However, businesses that want custom-tailored, SEO rich, quality content should probably search for an expert in the industry. Those businesses that want to just throw up a website and create something just to have a presence there to show their clients, give the newbie a shot, why not?

Great content is what is going to drive traffic to your website. It is what is going to back you up when it comes to finding diversity in the niche that you work in. This can be something that newbies learn, but you might not have the time for them to take the time to learn on their own.

Welcome to all newbies in the freelance writing world and welcome to all businesses that want to work with experts and newbies alike in the field. With that being said, here is a guide to helping newbies get off to a great start in this content building industry.

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