Does organising an event seem like a scary prospect? Do you think it’s too much hassle? Or maybe you just can’t see the point?

Live events are big business and there’s a reason why – there is no more effective way to showcase products and services, share skills and knowledge, thank clients and build teams.

So, if you have made any of the objections below (or your boss or colleagues have made them to you), stop making excuses and start planning!

1. It costs too much

Of course, the cost of your event depends on the type of event it is, but there are plenty of events you can run on a very small budget. Your first event doesn’t have to be a lavish affair with hundreds of attendees and dozens of speakers. You can always start with a small crowd with as few as 20 people.

You can keep costs down by holding the event in your place of business and timing it so you will only need to provide minimum refreshments.

Where you do need outside services, don’t overlook the power of bartering. For example, if you’re a photography business wanting to stage a showcase evening and you need some catering, perhaps you could find a caterer that wants professional shots of their food and would be happy with a trade off?

Also consider teaming up with other complementary but not competing businesses to pool funds and broaden the appeal of your event. In the above example, the photography business might be targeting brides-to-be that the caterer would also be interested in accessing.

 Related: How to get your event budget planning right

It is also possible to monetise your event by selling tickets, or look for a sponsor to help with costs. Think about the profile of the people coming to your event and what brands/companies might engage with them. For example, if you’re running a cooking workshop, you local kitchenware shop might want to sponsor the aprons. You can find the right sponsor for your event through Sponsormonster, a free to use service which matches potential corporate sponsors with sponsorship opportunities that meet their marketing criteria.

A bonus reason for charging even a small fee to attend your event is that it will have a lower drop-out rate, so you’ll have more people turn up on the day/evening.

 Related: The beginner’s guide to selling event tickets online

2. It takes too much time

Any thing worth doing takes a little bit of time and effort; after all, Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say. However using technology and online resources, such as Eventbrite’s registration and ticketing system, can make your work as efficient as possible, so you don’t have to wrestle with excel spreadsheet or long paper checklists.

Don’t leave it until the last minute to plan your event; if you leave plenty of time for preparations you won’t get stressed about meeting other deadlines.

Be sure to delegate to other team members, allocating jobs which best suit their skill set. They can help with everything from preparing schedules and budgets, to making invites and posters, to welcoming in guests and doing the dirty work of cleaning up afterward. In other words, they can help you get things done!

3. It won’t provide ROI

Return on investment from live events can be hard to quantify. By using event technology and gathering data it is possible to analyse the hard numbers. But what must also be taken into account is the potential ‘Customer Lifetime Value’ (CLTV) – not immediate sales, but a prediction of the net profit attributed to the entire future relationship with a customer.

Eventbrite can be connected directly with popular CRM tools like Salesforce, so that you can track all your attendees and assign a CLVT to them, helping to show an immediate ROI.

Face-to-face interactions with potential customers are valuable, giving you the opportunity to both showcase your offering and learn more about them. By running an event you can establish a relationship with customers on a more personal level. They get to see, touch, smell, or taste your products, and see the face behind the business. In the long run this will pay off. Harvard Business School offers a useful tool to help businesses calculate CLTV.

4. I’ve never run an event before

Don’t worry! We’re here to hold your hand. Eventbrite offers so many resources to help you organise your first event – from our useful blogs and ‘how to’ Britepaper guides, to templates for a one-page event plan and budgeting.

And, when you’re ready to start marketing your event, Eventbrite really comes into its own.

You can create your event page, choose your ticket options and add questions to get to know your attendees. Next, invite people to your event using our free tools. You can send invitations and emails from your Eventbrite account and let attendees spread the word with built-in sharing tools on your event page.

Related: How to Use Eventbrite’s Promotional Tools

For paid events, taking payment is easy with Eventbrite’s secure payment processor. You can track sales / attendance in real-time from your dashboard and generate reports to help you stay organised. On the day of the event, check in your attendees or scan tickets using the free Eventbrite app.

If you encounter difficulties at any time, Eventbrite provides 24/7 support for you and your guests.

5. We’re digital only

If you’re an online business, with no physical presence or product, it is even more important to reach out to your customer in person. Holding a live event makes your brand into something tangible.

It is also an opportunity to demo or explain exactly what your offering is, which can be a challenge for digital innovations. Holding a specialist workshop is particularly suitable for businesses of this nature, and ensures your audience will be relevant and engaged.

Don’t forget to make the most of your live event by capturing it in photos and videos. These documents can come in handy as proof that you are involved with the community, that you are a real business interacting with real people/customers. Post them on your website or social media accounts to build a stronger brand reputation.

Related: 10 steps to growing your business through events

In conclusion

Events are for businesses of all shapes and sizes and should form a part of your annual marketing strategy. Don’t be put off by the task of organising; start small and make the most of the tools and resources available to help you.

Are you planning your next event?

Why not sell your tickets online with Eventbrite? Sign-up today, it’s free!