Here's how you can establish yourself as a trusted and reliable professional in event planning.

Knowledge is power, and no two days are the same when planning an event. Whether its a familiarisation venue site visit, the latest event app or accreditations. These factors along with learning from event peers, assist you along the way so that you're equipped for understanding the clients brief & able to make suggestions. Why? Everyday is a school day and when you enjoy what you do, its never a chore when delivering events.

Planning and building an event strategy from scratch is a crucial step for every org. It’s critical to understand your target audience, get deeper insights from the market on how things work at a user level , and then create a strategy to deliver better ROI, Branding, and business. No event goes same, and planning an event takes loads of hard work and prep time. Staying connected with industry leaders, active groups, and improvising always helps in building event expertise.

As with everything, your learning has to be in line with what your clients are asking for. Being involved with your peers whether it is a community group, association or local network is vital. Ensure you are engaging with those where you can increase your knowledge bank. There are many events/opportunities to visit venues and engage with industry suppliers - I have been in business for 30 years, I love what I do and I know I am fortunate to be approached to attend many events... my ethos is 'only except those invites you can make a positive return to' As your client portfolio changes, so does your learning. You will always learn more from your clients needs than attending events that you don't yet have the need to be involved with.

It takes years to build a reliable network in the events industry, and you need to get started before you need it. Network with destinations, other planners, venues, and all the suppliers you might need for your events. I would also recommend networking within other industries for inspiration. It's important to keep in touch with your network to stay on top of industry trends and news and to see where people move next. Some starting points for growing your network include attending regional and international industry events, speaking at events, joining associations, and networking online.

Networking helps in not only building strong connects but also helps in fostering relationships with peers working in different industries. Attending events, networking mixers, cohorts, etc and interacting with people helps in enriching one’s knowledge, understand your customers pain points, build strong relationships with vendors, counterparts, and industry leaders, and also helps in building personality (soft skills).

Going out of your way as an event planner spells passion and love for one's work. Doing the basic minimum or subpar has a negative impact on your reputation. Anyone who hires an event planner has a vision of how the event will turn out, it is the planner's work to create that experience. This needs to be detailed out from costing and budgeting to ensure that the resources match the outcome desired. The planner's creativity should also allow for ingenuity such that the customer experience is not outrightly shouting 'low budget'. It can be minimalist yet still profound and elegant.

Understanding and leveraging data can be a game-changer in event planning. Utilize analytics to measure the success of your events and gather feedback. This data-driven approach helps you make informed decisions, improve future events, and demonstrate the value you bring to clients.

Also, incorporating sustainable practices in your events can set you apart. Clients increasingly value eco-friendly solutions, and demonstrating a commitment to sustainability can enhance your reputation and attract environmentally conscious clients.