With marketing budgets shrinking, many companies are electing to hold off on events. However, you can have a fun and effective event and keep it within your budget. Here are just a few suggestions:

1- Use social networking. By utilizing your Twitter, Facebook and other media to promote your event, it gives the recipients an opportunity to pass along the invite. Kind of like that old Clairol commercial, “I told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on, and so on…”

2- Grab your partner – Using your connections, invite your suppliers or dealers to help with the cost of food/drinks in exchange for a booth space to promote their product.

3- Use a Cause – This is great PR for any company! By showing that your company supports a local charity, the word will get out quickly. Offer space for the group and be sure to have any items they seek included in your event information. (Be sure to keep it economical)

4- A Theme is just a theme – NOT! People want to have fun now so why not promote your event with a theme. Look at the calendar or what local events are coming up and tie into those. People usually remember the fun ones for a long time!

5- Smile! – While people don’t really like have a candid camera in their face while scarfing down on an appetizer, be sure to get plenty of group shots and post them to your social networking sites. When people see the fun event their friends went to, they’ll be sure to try and make the next event you have!