Have you just concluded the first-ever corporate event you’ve managed? Although it’s a great time to celebrate, there’s still one thing you should prepare, the post-event report. It’s one of the things corporate event planners provide once the event is over. As the key organiser, it’s your responsibility to present whether the event is a success or not. And the best way to do it is by creating a report.
However, since it’s your first time doing all of these, it may be confusing as to what things you should include in your report. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the essential things you should include in your post-event report.
1. Event Overview
Start the report with a brief overview, which includes the name of the event, venue, date, main objective, and the target audience. This information is essential to establish and understand what the event is all about, and its importance.
In addition, this can also guide the reader as to the main considerations they need to account for when evaluating the event. For instance, if the location is in an open area, and there have been problems with the weather, that’s something to keep in mind.
2. Key Highlights
What are the key highlights of the event? Usually, it’s about the flow of the programme, including the speakers, performers, key moments (like the question and answer portion or product launch), quotable quotes from the speakers, and testimonials. In addition, provide specific elements that can help identify the type of event it was.
3. Main and Specific Objectives
Even if you already mentioned the main objectives in the event overview, you should still have a list of the specific goals. This can be the basis on whether the event met the requirements of the company, and if the objectives are achieved at the end of the event.
For instance, if one of the specific objectives is brand awareness, you should include all your plans to make this happen.
4. Budget Analysis
When creating a budget analysis, it’s best to include the budget in comparison with the actual money spent. This allows you to compare the differences, and ensure to make the necessary adjustments if ever you manage the same event again in the future. At the same time, you can identify successful revenue strategies that you can also implement in the following corporate events.
5. Attendance and Online Engagement
Another essential part of a post-event report is the attendance. Aside from the total number of turnouts, you should also include the online engagement such as the number of shares, reactions, and comments. The best way to show this is by using charts or graphs.
Aside from the audience, also highlight the contributions of other stakeholders, such as the sponsors. List all of their roles, and indicate whether they’ve fulfilled their roles accordingly.
6. Challenges and Lessons Learned
From the planning to the execution, what are the challenges you’ve encountered? It’s best to be honest when stating all the things you’ve been through to help improve future events. For instance, if you’ve encountered technical difficulties, you can state the specific problems, and state the lessons you’ve learnt from this challenge. You may include having a backup sound system or laptop and having a test run.
7. Feedback Summary
In every event, gathering feedback or survey is essential. This allows you to know the views and experiences of the audience throughout the event. Once you do, gather all notable comments, questions, and enquiries. Although it’s great to have a lot of positive feedback, you should also take a look at the constructive criticisms for improvement purposes.
8. Action Plan for Future Events
After lying down the positive and negative feedback, it’s time to list the action plan for future events. This may include the best practices you should retain, areas for improvement, and new strategies to implement. Incorporating this part in your report allows room for improvement and appreciation for the successful areas of the event.
9. Visuals and Supporting Materials
Of course, don’t forget to add visuals, such as photos, screenshots, promotional materials, and graphs. It’s easier to create the report if you can include supplementary materials. In addition, if you have links to videos and press coverages.
Providing visuals is like giving more concrete evidence of how the event went through.
10. Conclusion and Recommendations
Lastly, include your conclusion and recommendation. Based on the details you’ve provided, can you confirm that the event is successful? Whether it’s yes or no, provide the specific details that helped you say so. At the same time, provide recommendations for the benefit of future events.
Final Thoughts
A post-event report doesn’t have to be a long one. Instead, it has to be concise, and focusing on the specific details is more important. In addition, don’t forget to use visuals, set the tone of the report (specifically for the target stakeholders), and don’t hesitate to share all the details that can help solidify the report.
By following this guide, you can successfully create your first-ever post-event report. If you want to share your thoughts about this, don’t hesitate to comment below!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aliana Baraquio is a content writer for Pink Caviar Events Sydney, a full-service event management and decorative hire company located in Sydney. When she’s not typing out blog posts, you can find her watching anime series or baking cupcakes.
