Hire Hospitality Staff Melbourne to Enjoy Your Party Even More

Preparing for an event or a special occasion is a daunting task. This is the case if you are going to do all the work yourself, aside from all the planning. It will take time to plan out as well as take a lot of effort in your part. If you want to enjoy your special event more, then you should hire hospitality staff Melbourne.

A hospitality staff will take care of all the things needed in the event. They will of course, coordinate with you in the planning process, but at the event itself, they will do all the necessary work. It is as if you are at a restaurant even when you hold the event at your place.

Hospitality staffs can take care of every occasion you may have. You can hire them for anniversaries, 18th or 21st birthdays, regular birthdays, fundraisers, weddings, product launches, and much more. All you need to do is contact them and tell them what you need. Teams of hospitality staffs are usually associated with catering service companies.

Therefore, you can inquire about them through calling companies that provide catering services. Keep in mind though, that not all catering service providers can provider you with the hospitality staff that you need. It is also best to select companies that are known to provide quality service so that you will get your money's worth in hiring them.

Companies that can provide hospitality staffs can also help out people who have food outlet businesses. Therefore, if you have a food outlet, and you are short in terms of manpower, you can contact certain hospitality staffs providers for this. Reputable companies can provide you with the number of personnel you need even in short notice.

This is because they want to maintain certain high standard service they can provide to their clients. Most of these companies include qualified chefs in their teams of hospitality staffs. Therefore, you will be assured that they are competent, and that they know what they are doing.

Whether you need them for a special event or for your food outlet, you will need to find them first before you can hire them. In finding these companies, you can start by asking your friends or family for recommendations. This is the fastest way you can obtain their contact information. Aside from that, you will also be able to get their insights regarding the quality of service provided to them by the said company.

If you need another way of locating them, you can actually search for them through the internet. Most reputable companies have their own websites uploaded on the web. Accessing their websites would be a good way of checking out the kinds of services they can offer to you.

You can also get the contact information of the company to provide you with hospitality staff Melbourne through this. Browse the internet soon, so that you can have your personnel ready for the event you are planning...

Charity events in any form are always popular, but increasingly, many organisations are choosing to recruit their fundraisers through more interactive events such as walks and runs. A charity walk or run is not only a healthy way for your participants to raise money for a good cause, but also a very visible way of publicizing your charitable cause to the community.

If a charity run or walk seems like a good fit for your organisation, here is an overview of some things you may want to keep in mind when planning the event.

THE PLANNING PHASE

Choosing a Route

When planning a mass participation event such as a walk or run it is important that you first take some time to carefully consider the route your participants will be following. Your choice of route will play a central roll in other decisions you make concerning resources, staff size, security, transportation, volunteers, signage, and ultimately the satisfaction of your participants.

When mapping out the course, first determine the type of event you would like to hold. Most fundraising events try to be as inclusive as possible because, simply put, more fundraisers translates into more donations for your cause! If your goal is to be as inclusive as possible that means you want people of all ages and physical abilities to be able to participate in your event. That said, when choosing your route it is a good idea to not only look at a map but get out there and actually walk the course yourself.

When surveying the road, pay attention to elevation gain, traffic, road conditions, and any other factors that could potentially make participating in your event strenuous for the less physically able. You may also benefit from contacting a local running or walking club for suggestions of routes that may fit your participant's ability levels. Some common route distances for charity events are 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon.


Resources and Staff

The number of participants and spectators you expect on event day as well as length of course are the two main factors that will determine the size of your volunteer staff and resources needed. Here is a list of items commonly used by event walking and running events:

* Two way radios

* Rope, tape and cones for course marking

* Signage for start and finish areas

* Signage for services and support areas

* Portable toilets

* Trash cans

* Food

* Water

* Tents

* Tables

* Stage for awards ceremony

* PA system

* Generator

Looking at your course map, you will be able to strategically position your water stops, trash cans, portable toilets, concessions stands and so on. When placing these resources, keep in mind that many people will want to gather around in the finish/celebration area after the event so you may need additional resources in that area. When planning for food and water for your participants, you may want to ask a local market to sponsor the event in the way of donated oranges, bananas and water that you can position along the course.

For your spectator concession stands, you will need to determine what types of food you will sell and if you will need to prepare or cook food on site. There are many companies that you can hire to staff and prepare food at your concession stands or you could use your volunteers. In either case you should check to see if you need a special permit to sell or prepare food for the public.

Legalities of a Charity Walk or Run

Speaking of special permits, there are several legalities to consider when planning a charity walk or run. Now that you have chosen your route, have you looked to see if you need permission to use this planned route? You may need to speak with the local council or the person who owns the land. Have you checked to make sure there are no other events planned on your route come event day? Have you obtained liability insurance for your event? Ideally, your insurance should cover any medical problems that occur during the event as well as damage to the land and surrounding property. With the size of event you are expecting, are you required to schedule police presence or request road closures? Do you have permission from the organisation you are raising money for to use their logo and name?

Considering every city, town, or district have their own set of regulations, how you address them will depend on local law and requirements. What we highlighted above are only some of the larger items you should investigate. We would suggest contacting your local council for more information.

FINDING PARTICIPANTS

Marketing

Now that you picked an event location and have all of the necessary approvals and permits, its time to start spreading the word! Traditional event marketing consists of mail, tv, radio, newspaper advertisements and signs posted up about town. These methods can be effective, reach large audiences, and should be looked into but they can come at a high cost. Don't let that get you down though - the internet has spawned many highly targeted, low-cost, and sometimes free marketing channels that are ideal for creating a buzz about your charity event. Here is a list of some web marketing options that you may want to consider:

Build a website - This is a must. Nowadays, any successful event has an official website where they can direct the public, media and interested sponsors for more information.

Facebook, Twitter, Social Media - There are countless online communities and fan pages out there that are filled with people passionate about the same cause you are raising money for. Get involved with these people and immerse yourself in the online conversation. Build a Facebook Fan Page or Twitter page for your event, invite your new online friends and encourage them to recruit their friends to get involved for the cause.

Submit Your Event to an Online Events Calendar - There are many websites that will give you a free event listing on their online calendar. Submit your event profile to as many of these as possible and make sure to include a link back to your website in the description.

Email Advertising - Does your organisation already have a list of members who subscribe to your monthly newsletter or email announcements? Send your contact list an attractive HTML email with information about your event and a link to your. Make sure to include "share" buttons in your emails to make it easy for the recipient to pass it on to a friend. Also, on your website, Facebook page and Twitter page, include a feature where the visitor can join your mailing list.

Participant Registration

Something important to consider from the start of the planning phase is how you will collect contact information, entry fees, and fundraising commitments from people who want to participate. Until recently, most events collected participant data and entry fees in person in the event office with a paper registration form. To streamline the staff workload that comes along with paper-based registration, you may want to find a technology provider that specialises in event management software and online event registration.

An integrated online event management system will allow you to build a custom online registration form, link to that form from your website, and collect your participant contact data online. We would suggest that the technology you choose include a merchant gateway integrated with the registration form so that you can seamlessly and securely collect payment online during the registration process. Depending on your technology provider, the data collected on an online registration form should be captured and stored in a database that you can log into, manage the data, run reports, email participants and process cancellation refunds if needed.

If you hope to grow the size of your email database, it is very important that you make the Email question compulsory so that every online registration has an email address associated with it in your database. You will be able to use this email to send out reminder emails about changes to the event schedule or important notices about fundraising. Any fully integrated online event management system will also need the email address to send out an automatic confirmation email letting the registrant know that their payment has been accepted and spot saved for event admission.

Fundraising Tools

Some more advanced event management systems include an online fundraising platform that you can integrate with your online registration form. What's great about this is that every person who registers online will automatically have an online fundraising website created for them. The fundraiser can customise their website, ad images, set a fundraising goal, blog about their progress and training for the event, and communicate with their donors.

The donor can visit the fundraising site and make an online donation with their credit card at which point the donation amount is added to the fundraisers goal total and money is sent to the charitable organisation. Many organisations are moving their fundraising efforts completely online because the general consensus is that people are likely to donate more if they are able to do it online from the comfort of their own home...

Hire Hospitality Staff Melbourne to Enjoy Your Party Even More

Preparing for an event or a special occasion is a daunting task. This is the case if you are going to do all the work yourself, aside from all the planning. It will take time to plan out as well as take a lot of effort in your part. If you want to enjoy your special event more, then you should hire hospitality staff Melbourne.

A hospitality staff will take care of all the things needed in the event. They will of course, coordinate with you in the planning process, but at the event itself, they will do all the necessary work. It is as if you are at a restaurant even when you hold the event at your place.

Hospitality staffs can take care of every occasion you may have. You can hire them for anniversaries, 18th or 21st birthdays, regular birthdays, fundraisers, weddings, product launches, and much more. All you need to do is contact them and tell them what you need. Teams of hospitality staffs are usually associated with catering service companies.

Therefore, you can inquire about them through calling companies that provide catering services. Keep in mind though, that not all catering service providers can provider you with the hospitality staff that you need. It is also best to select companies that are known to provide quality service so that you will get your money's worth in hiring them.

Companies that can provide hospitality staffs can also help out people who have food outlet businesses. Therefore, if you have a food outlet, and you are short in terms of manpower, you can contact certain hospitality staffs providers for this. Reputable companies can provide you with the number of personnel you need even in short notice.

This is because they want to maintain certain high standard service they can provide to their clients. Most of these companies include qualified chefs in their teams of hospitality staffs. Therefore, you will be assured that they are competent, and that they know what they are doing.

Whether you need them for a special event or for your food outlet, you will need to find them first before you can hire them. In finding these companies, you can start by asking your friends or family for recommendations. This is the fastest way you can obtain their contact information. Aside from that, you will also be able to get their insights regarding the quality of service provided to them by the said company.

If you need another way of locating them, you can actually search for them through the internet. Most reputable companies have their own websites uploaded on the web. Accessing their websites would be a good way of checking out the kinds of services they can offer to you.

You can also get the contact information of the company to provide you with hospitality staff Melbourne through this. Browse the internet soon, so that you can have your personnel ready for the event you are planning...

Charity events in any form are always popular, but increasingly, many organisations are choosing to recruit their fundraisers through more interactive events such as walks and runs. A charity walk or run is not only a healthy way for your participants to raise money for a good cause, but also a very visible way of publicizing your charitable cause to the community.

If a charity run or walk seems like a good fit for your organisation, here is an overview of some things you may want to keep in mind when planning the event.

THE PLANNING PHASE

Choosing a Route

When planning a mass participation event such as a walk or run it is important that you first take some time to carefully consider the route your participants will be following. Your choice of route will play a central roll in other decisions you make concerning resources, staff size, security, transportation, volunteers, signage, and ultimately the satisfaction of your participants.

When mapping out the course, first determine the type of event you would like to hold. Most fundraising events try to be as inclusive as possible because, simply put, more fundraisers translates into more donations for your cause! If your goal is to be as inclusive as possible that means you want people of all ages and physical abilities to be able to participate in your event. That said, when choosing your route it is a good idea to not only look at a map but get out there and actually walk the course yourself.

When surveying the road, pay attention to elevation gain, traffic, road conditions, and any other factors that could potentially make participating in your event strenuous for the less physically able. You may also benefit from contacting a local running or walking club for suggestions of routes that may fit your participant's ability levels. Some common route distances for charity events are 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon.


Resources and Staff

The number of participants and spectators you expect on event day as well as length of course are the two main factors that will determine the size of your volunteer staff and resources needed. Here is a list of items commonly used by event walking and running events:

* Two way radios

* Rope, tape and cones for course marking

* Signage for start and finish areas

* Signage for services and support areas

* Portable toilets

* Trash cans

* Food

* Water

* Tents

* Tables

* Stage for awards ceremony

* PA system

* Generator

Looking at your course map, you will be able to strategically position your water stops, trash cans, portable toilets, concessions stands and so on. When placing these resources, keep in mind that many people will want to gather around in the finish/celebration area after the event so you may need additional resources in that area. When planning for food and water for your participants, you may want to ask a local market to sponsor the event in the way of donated oranges, bananas and water that you can position along the course.

For your spectator concession stands, you will need to determine what types of food you will sell and if you will need to prepare or cook food on site. There are many companies that you can hire to staff and prepare food at your concession stands or you could use your volunteers. In either case you should check to see if you need a special permit to sell or prepare food for the public.

Legalities of a Charity Walk or Run

Speaking of special permits, there are several legalities to consider when planning a charity walk or run. Now that you have chosen your route, have you looked to see if you need permission to use this planned route? You may need to speak with the local council or the person who owns the land. Have you checked to make sure there are no other events planned on your route come event day? Have you obtained liability insurance for your event? Ideally, your insurance should cover any medical problems that occur during the event as well as damage to the land and surrounding property. With the size of event you are expecting, are you required to schedule police presence or request road closures? Do you have permission from the organisation you are raising money for to use their logo and name?

Considering every city, town, or district have their own set of regulations, how you address them will depend on local law and requirements. What we highlighted above are only some of the larger items you should investigate. We would suggest contacting your local council for more information.

FINDING PARTICIPANTS

Marketing

Now that you picked an event location and have all of the necessary approvals and permits, its time to start spreading the word! Traditional event marketing consists of mail, tv, radio, newspaper advertisements and signs posted up about town. These methods can be effective, reach large audiences, and should be looked into but they can come at a high cost. Don't let that get you down though - the internet has spawned many highly targeted, low-cost, and sometimes free marketing channels that are ideal for creating a buzz about your charity event. Here is a list of some web marketing options that you may want to consider:

Build a website - This is a must. Nowadays, any successful event has an official website where they can direct the public, media and interested sponsors for more information.

Facebook, Twitter, Social Media - There are countless online communities and fan pages out there that are filled with people passionate about the same cause you are raising money for. Get involved with these people and immerse yourself in the online conversation. Build a Facebook Fan Page or Twitter page for your event, invite your new online friends and encourage them to recruit their friends to get involved for the cause.

Submit Your Event to an Online Events Calendar - There are many websites that will give you a free event listing on their online calendar. Submit your event profile to as many of these as possible and make sure to include a link back to your website in the description.

Email Advertising - Does your organisation already have a list of members who subscribe to your monthly newsletter or email announcements? Send your contact list an attractive HTML email with information about your event and a link to your. Make sure to include "share" buttons in your emails to make it easy for the recipient to pass it on to a friend. Also, on your website, Facebook page and Twitter page, include a feature where the visitor can join your mailing list.

Participant Registration

Something important to consider from the start of the planning phase is how you will collect contact information, entry fees, and fundraising commitments from people who want to participate. Until recently, most events collected participant data and entry fees in person in the event office with a paper registration form. To streamline the staff workload that comes along with paper-based registration, you may want to find a technology provider that specialises in event management software and online event registration.

An integrated online event management system will allow you to build a custom online registration form, link to that form from your website, and collect your participant contact data online. We would suggest that the technology you choose include a merchant gateway integrated with the registration form so that you can seamlessly and securely collect payment online during the registration process. Depending on your technology provider, the data collected on an online registration form should be captured and stored in a database that you can log into, manage the data, run reports, email participants and process cancellation refunds if needed.

If you hope to grow the size of your email database, it is very important that you make the Email question compulsory so that every online registration has an email address associated with it in your database. You will be able to use this email to send out reminder emails about changes to the event schedule or important notices about fundraising. Any fully integrated online event management system will also need the email address to send out an automatic confirmation email letting the registrant know that their payment has been accepted and spot saved for event admission.

Fundraising Tools

Some more advanced event management systems include an online fundraising platform that you can integrate with your online registration form. What's great about this is that every person who registers online will automatically have an online fundraising website created for them. The fundraiser can customise their website, ad images, set a fundraising goal, blog about their progress and training for the event, and communicate with their donors.

The donor can visit the fundraising site and make an online donation with their credit card at which point the donation amount is added to the fundraisers goal total and money is sent to the charitable organisation. Many organisations are moving their fundraising efforts completely online because the general consensus is that people are likely to donate more if they are able to do it online from the comfort of their own home...

Charity events in any form are always popular, but increasingly, many organisations are choosing to recruit their fundraisers through more interactive events such as walks and runs. A charity walk or run is not only a healthy way for your participants to raise money for a good cause, but also a very visible way of publicizing your charitable cause to the community.

If a charity run or walk seems like a good fit for your organisation, here is an overview of some things you may want to keep in mind when planning the event.

THE PLANNING PHASE

Choosing a Route

When planning a mass participation event such as a walk or run it is important that you first take some time to carefully consider the route your participants will be following. Your choice of route will play a central roll in other decisions you make concerning resources, staff size, security, transportation, volunteers, signage, and ultimately the satisfaction of your participants.

When mapping out the course, first determine the type of event you would like to hold. Most fundraising events try to be as inclusive as possible because, simply put, more fundraisers translates into more donations for your cause! If your goal is to be as inclusive as possible that means you want people of all ages and physical abilities to be able to participate in your event. That said, when choosing your route it is a good idea to not only look at a map but get out there and actually walk the course yourself.

When surveying the road, pay attention to elevation gain, traffic, road conditions, and any other factors that could potentially make participating in your event strenuous for the less physically able. You may also benefit from contacting a local running or walking club for suggestions of routes that may fit your participant's ability levels. Some common route distances for charity events are 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon.


Resources and Staff

The number of participants and spectators you expect on event day as well as length of course are the two main factors that will determine the size of your volunteer staff and resources needed. Here is a list of items commonly used by event walking and running events:

* Two way radios

* Rope, tape and cones for course marking

* Signage for start and finish areas

* Signage for services and support areas

* Portable toilets

* Trash cans

* Food

* Water

* Tents

* Tables

* Stage for awards ceremony

* PA system

* Generator

Looking at your course map, you will be able to strategically position your water stops, trash cans, portable toilets, concessions stands and so on. When placing these resources, keep in mind that many people will want to gather around in the finish/celebration area after the event so you may need additional resources in that area. When planning for food and water for your participants, you may want to ask a local market to sponsor the event in the way of donated oranges, bananas and water that you can position along the course.

For your spectator concession stands, you will need to determine what types of food you will sell and if you will need to prepare or cook food on site. There are many companies that you can hire to staff and prepare food at your concession stands or you could use your volunteers. In either case you should check to see if you need a special permit to sell or prepare food for the public.

Legalities of a Charity Walk or Run

Speaking of special permits, there are several legalities to consider when planning a charity walk or run. Now that you have chosen your route, have you looked to see if you need permission to use this planned route? You may need to speak with the local council or the person who owns the land. Have you checked to make sure there are no other events planned on your route come event day? Have you obtained liability insurance for your event? Ideally, your insurance should cover any medical problems that occur during the event as well as damage to the land and surrounding property. With the size of event you are expecting, are you required to schedule police presence or request road closures? Do you have permission from the organisation you are raising money for to use their logo and name?

Considering every city, town, or district have their own set of regulations, how you address them will depend on local law and requirements. What we highlighted above are only some of the larger items you should investigate. We would suggest contacting your local council for more information.

FINDING PARTICIPANTS

Marketing

Now that you picked an event location and have all of the necessary approvals and permits, its time to start spreading the word! Traditional event marketing consists of mail, tv, radio, newspaper advertisements and signs posted up about town. These methods can be effective, reach large audiences, and should be looked into but they can come at a high cost. Don't let that get you down though - the internet has spawned many highly targeted, low-cost, and sometimes free marketing channels that are ideal for creating a buzz about your charity event. Here is a list of some web marketing options that you may want to consider:

Build a website - This is a must. Nowadays, any successful event has an official website where they can direct the public, media and interested sponsors for more information.

Facebook, Twitter, Social Media - There are countless online communities and fan pages out there that are filled with people passionate about the same cause you are raising money for. Get involved with these people and immerse yourself in the online conversation. Build a Facebook Fan Page or Twitter page for your event, invite your new online friends and encourage them to recruit their friends to get involved for the cause.

Submit Your Event to an Online Events Calendar - There are many websites that will give you a free event listing on their online calendar. Submit your event profile to as many of these as possible and make sure to include a link back to your website in the description.

Email Advertising - Does your organisation already have a list of members who subscribe to your monthly newsletter or email announcements? Send your contact list an attractive HTML email with information about your event and a link to your. Make sure to include "share" buttons in your emails to make it easy for the recipient to pass it on to a friend. Also, on your website, Facebook page and Twitter page, include a feature where the visitor can join your mailing list.

Participant Registration

Something important to consider from the start of the planning phase is how you will collect contact information, entry fees, and fundraising commitments from people who want to participate. Until recently, most events collected participant data and entry fees in person in the event office with a paper registration form. To streamline the staff workload that comes along with paper-based registration, you may want to find a technology provider that specialises in event management software and online event registration.

An integrated online event management system will allow you to build a custom online registration form, link to that form from your website, and collect your participant contact data online. We would suggest that the technology you choose include a merchant gateway integrated with the registration form so that you can seamlessly and securely collect payment online during the registration process. Depending on your technology provider, the data collected on an online registration form should be captured and stored in a database that you can log into, manage the data, run reports, email participants and process cancellation refunds if needed.

If you hope to grow the size of your email database, it is very important that you make the Email question compulsory so that every online registration has an email address associated with it in your database. You will be able to use this email to send out reminder emails about changes to the event schedule or important notices about fundraising. Any fully integrated online event management system will also need the email address to send out an automatic confirmation email letting the registrant know that their payment has been accepted and spot saved for event admission.

Fundraising Tools

Some more advanced event management systems include an online fundraising platform that you can integrate with your online registration form. What's great about this is that every person who registers online will automatically have an online fundraising website created for them. The fundraiser can customise their website, ad images, set a fundraising goal, blog about their progress and training for the event, and communicate with their donors.

The donor can visit the fundraising site and make an online donation with their credit card at which point the donation amount is added to the fundraisers goal total and money is sent to the charitable organisation. Many organisations are moving their fundraising efforts completely online because the general consensus is that people are likely to donate more if they are able to do it online from the comfort of their own home...

Hire Hospitality Staff Melbourne to Enjoy Your Party Even More

Preparing for an event or a special occasion is a daunting task. This is the case if you are going to do all the work yourself, aside from all the planning. It will take time to plan out as well as take a lot of effort in your part. If you want to enjoy your special event more, then you should hire hospitality staff Melbourne.

A hospitality staff will take care of all the things needed in the event. They will of course, coordinate with you in the planning process, but at the event itself, they will do all the necessary work. It is as if you are at a restaurant even when you hold the event at your place.

Hospitality staffs can take care of every occasion you may have. You can hire them for anniversaries, 18th or 21st birthdays, regular birthdays, fundraisers, weddings, product launches, and much more. All you need to do is contact them and tell them what you need. Teams of hospitality staffs are usually associated with catering service companies.

Therefore, you can inquire about them through calling companies that provide catering services. Keep in mind though, that not all catering service providers can provider you with the hospitality staff that you need. It is also best to select companies that are known to provide quality service so that you will get your money's worth in hiring them.

Companies that can provide hospitality staffs can also help out people who have food outlet businesses. Therefore, if you have a food outlet, and you are short in terms of manpower, you can contact certain hospitality staffs providers for this. Reputable companies can provide you with the number of personnel you need even in short notice.

This is because they want to maintain certain high standard service they can provide to their clients. Most of these companies include qualified chefs in their teams of hospitality staffs. Therefore, you will be assured that they are competent, and that they know what they are doing.

Whether you need them for a special event or for your food outlet, you will need to find them first before you can hire them. In finding these companies, you can start by asking your friends or family for recommendations. This is the fastest way you can obtain their contact information. Aside from that, you will also be able to get their insights regarding the quality of service provided to them by the said company.

If you need another way of locating them, you can actually search for them through the internet. Most reputable companies have their own websites uploaded on the web. Accessing their websites would be a good way of checking out the kinds of services they can offer to you.

You can also get the contact information of the company to provide you with hospitality staff Melbourne through this. Browse the internet soon, so that you can have your personnel ready for the event you are planning...

Charity events in any form are always popular, but increasingly, many organisations are choosing to recruit their fundraisers through more interactive events such as walks and runs. A charity walk or run is not only a healthy way for your participants to raise money for a good cause, but also a very visible way of publicizing your charitable cause to the community.

If a charity run or walk seems like a good fit for your organisation, here is an overview of some things you may want to keep in mind when planning the event.

THE PLANNING PHASE

Choosing a Route

When planning a mass participation event such as a walk or run it is important that you first take some time to carefully consider the route your participants will be following. Your choice of route will play a central roll in other decisions you make concerning resources, staff size, security, transportation, volunteers, signage, and ultimately the satisfaction of your participants.

When mapping out the course, first determine the type of event you would like to hold. Most fundraising events try to be as inclusive as possible because, simply put, more fundraisers translates into more donations for your cause! If your goal is to be as inclusive as possible that means you want people of all ages and physical abilities to be able to participate in your event. That said, when choosing your route it is a good idea to not only look at a map but get out there and actually walk the course yourself.

When surveying the road, pay attention to elevation gain, traffic, road conditions, and any other factors that could potentially make participating in your event strenuous for the less physically able. You may also benefit from contacting a local running or walking club for suggestions of routes that may fit your participant's ability levels. Some common route distances for charity events are 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon.


Resources and Staff

The number of participants and spectators you expect on event day as well as length of course are the two main factors that will determine the size of your volunteer staff and resources needed. Here is a list of items commonly used by event walking and running events:

* Two way radios

* Rope, tape and cones for course marking

* Signage for start and finish areas

* Signage for services and support areas

* Portable toilets

* Trash cans

* Food

* Water

* Tents

* Tables

* Stage for awards ceremony

* PA system

* Generator

Looking at your course map, you will be able to strategically position your water stops, trash cans, portable toilets, concessions stands and so on. When placing these resources, keep in mind that many people will want to gather around in the finish/celebration area after the event so you may need additional resources in that area. When planning for food and water for your participants, you may want to ask a local market to sponsor the event in the way of donated oranges, bananas and water that you can position along the course.

For your spectator concession stands, you will need to determine what types of food you will sell and if you will need to prepare or cook food on site. There are many companies that you can hire to staff and prepare food at your concession stands or you could use your volunteers. In either case you should check to see if you need a special permit to sell or prepare food for the public.

Legalities of a Charity Walk or Run

Speaking of special permits, there are several legalities to consider when planning a charity walk or run. Now that you have chosen your route, have you looked to see if you need permission to use this planned route? You may need to speak with the local council or the person who owns the land. Have you checked to make sure there are no other events planned on your route come event day? Have you obtained liability insurance for your event? Ideally, your insurance should cover any medical problems that occur during the event as well as damage to the land and surrounding property. With the size of event you are expecting, are you required to schedule police presence or request road closures? Do you have permission from the organisation you are raising money for to use their logo and name?

Considering every city, town, or district have their own set of regulations, how you address them will depend on local law and requirements. What we highlighted above are only some of the larger items you should investigate. We would suggest contacting your local council for more information.

FINDING PARTICIPANTS

Marketing

Now that you picked an event location and have all of the necessary approvals and permits, its time to start spreading the word! Traditional event marketing consists of mail, tv, radio, newspaper advertisements and signs posted up about town. These methods can be effective, reach large audiences, and should be looked into but they can come at a high cost. Don't let that get you down though - the internet has spawned many highly targeted, low-cost, and sometimes free marketing channels that are ideal for creating a buzz about your charity event. Here is a list of some web marketing options that you may want to consider:

Build a website - This is a must. Nowadays, any successful event has an official website where they can direct the public, media and interested sponsors for more information.

Facebook, Twitter, Social Media - There are countless online communities and fan pages out there that are filled with people passionate about the same cause you are raising money for. Get involved with these people and immerse yourself in the online conversation. Build a Facebook Fan Page or Twitter page for your event, invite your new online friends and encourage them to recruit their friends to get involved for the cause.

Submit Your Event to an Online Events Calendar - There are many websites that will give you a free event listing on their online calendar. Submit your event profile to as many of these as possible and make sure to include a link back to your website in the description.

Email Advertising - Does your organisation already have a list of members who subscribe to your monthly newsletter or email announcements? Send your contact list an attractive HTML email with information about your event and a link to your. Make sure to include "share" buttons in your emails to make it easy for the recipient to pass it on to a friend. Also, on your website, Facebook page and Twitter page, include a feature where the visitor can join your mailing list.

Participant Registration

Something important to consider from the start of the planning phase is how you will collect contact information, entry fees, and fundraising commitments from people who want to participate. Until recently, most events collected participant data and entry fees in person in the event office with a paper registration form. To streamline the staff workload that comes along with paper-based registration, you may want to find a technology provider that specialises in event management software and online event registration.

An integrated online event management system will allow you to build a custom online registration form, link to that form from your website, and collect your participant contact data online. We would suggest that the technology you choose include a merchant gateway integrated with the registration form so that you can seamlessly and securely collect payment online during the registration process. Depending on your technology provider, the data collected on an online registration form should be captured and stored in a database that you can log into, manage the data, run reports, email participants and process cancellation refunds if needed.

If you hope to grow the size of your email database, it is very important that you make the Email question compulsory so that every online registration has an email address associated with it in your database. You will be able to use this email to send out reminder emails about changes to the event schedule or important notices about fundraising. Any fully integrated online event management system will also need the email address to send out an automatic confirmation email letting the registrant know that their payment has been accepted and spot saved for event admission.

Fundraising Tools

Some more advanced event management systems include an online fundraising platform that you can integrate with your online registration form. What's great about this is that every person who registers online will automatically have an online fundraising website created for them. The fundraiser can customise their website, ad images, set a fundraising goal, blog about their progress and training for the event, and communicate with their donors.

The donor can visit the fundraising site and make an online donation with their credit card at which point the donation amount is added to the fundraisers goal total and money is sent to the charitable organisation. Many organisations are moving their fundraising efforts completely online because the general consensus is that people are likely to donate more if they are able to do it online from the comfort of their own home...

Hire Hospitality Staff Melbourne to Enjoy Your Party Even More

Preparing for an event or a special occasion is a daunting task. This is the case if you are going to do all the work yourself, aside from all the planning. It will take time to plan out as well as take a lot of effort in your part. If you want to enjoy your special event more, then you should hire hospitality staff Melbourne.

A hospitality staff will take care of all the things needed in the event. They will of course, coordinate with you in the planning process, but at the event itself, they will do all the necessary work. It is as if you are at a restaurant even when you hold the event at your place.

Hospitality staffs can take care of every occasion you may have. You can hire them for anniversaries, 18th or 21st birthdays, regular birthdays, fundraisers, weddings, product launches, and much more. All you need to do is contact them and tell them what you need. Teams of hospitality staffs are usually associated with catering service companies.

Therefore, you can inquire about them through calling companies that provide catering services. Keep in mind though, that not all catering service providers can provider you with the hospitality staff that you need. It is also best to select companies that are known to provide quality service so that you will get your money's worth in hiring them.

Companies that can provide hospitality staffs can also help out people who have food outlet businesses. Therefore, if you have a food outlet, and you are short in terms of manpower, you can contact certain hospitality staffs providers for this. Reputable companies can provide you with the number of personnel you need even in short notice.

This is because they want to maintain certain high standard service they can provide to their clients. Most of these companies include qualified chefs in their teams of hospitality staffs. Therefore, you will be assured that they are competent, and that they know what they are doing.

Whether you need them for a special event or for your food outlet, you will need to find them first before you can hire them. In finding these companies, you can start by asking your friends or family for recommendations. This is the fastest way you can obtain their contact information. Aside from that, you will also be able to get their insights regarding the quality of service provided to them by the said company.

If you need another way of locating them, you can actually search for them through the internet. Most reputable companies have their own websites uploaded on the web. Accessing their websites would be a good way of checking out the kinds of services they can offer to you.

You can also get the contact information of the company to provide you with hospitality staff Melbourne through this. Browse the internet soon, so that you can have your personnel ready for the event you are planning...

Online fundraising is quickly overtaking direct mail as the preferred method of collecting donations for charity events and non-profit organisations. As the younger “wired” generation grows up, we can safely assume that they will prefer to donate online almost exclusively. Are you doing enough to offer your donors and fundraisers the latest in online giving tools?


Here are some of the benefits to online fundraising:

• Immediacy - The donor can learn about the cause and is enabled to make a contribution immediately while the thought is fresh in their mind.

• Administrative Efficiency - The non-profit organization receives the funds immediately along with donor contact information.

• Instant Gratification for the Donor - An acknowledgement is instantly sent to the donor by way of automatic confirmation email.

• Analytics - The key to successful fundraising is knowing who your donors are and what interests them. Collecting donations online allow you to observe their behavior in navigation of your website, track what they are reading prior to making the donation and what type of call-to-action resonates the most with them. Using this information to parse your contact lists will enable you to optimise your fundraising campaign by tailoring your message and call-to-action to different types of donors.


Here are some tips if you are just getting started with an online fundraising campaign:

• Consider All Marketing Channels- Reference your online giving option in newsletters, brochures, your website, signage and radio/TV advertisements.

• Leverage Social Media - Sites like Facebook are cheap and effective ways to cultivate a word-of-mouth marketing campaign and grow your fan base.

• Your Website - Include your mission statement, goals, objectives and what work your organisation has accomplished to further your cause. Explain how you will use the funds you raise and include photos and testimonials from your fundraisers, donors and beneficiaries.

• Provide lots of ways to Donate…but focus on pushing the online channel. Collecting as many donations online as possible will automate your workload and minimise volunteer staff time and resources needed. Make your ‘Donate Online' button large and above the fold (top half of the page). You have the attention of your audience and they are looking for a way to contribute as quickly as possible - don't make them hunt for a way to give.

• Reward Your Donors - Offer a gift or incentive in return for a donation. Consider something as simple as a subscription to your organisation's monthly newsletter or an invitation to a gala dinner for those who donate over a certain amount.

• Find a Robust Online Giving Platform - Choose an online donation service that allows your fundraisers to build a personalised fundraising web page. Enabling your fundraisers to build a personalised space online where they can add photos, their own personal story and blog about their experiences raising money for the cause will really get them excited to share with all their friends and family.

• Encourage Your Fundraisers - Offer prizes to fundraisers who collect the most donations. Many online donation services offer a way to track the total amount each fundraiser has gathered on their personal page from friends and family.


Make it fun and get creative! With all of the relatively cheap (many times, free) online tools and marketing opportunities available nowadays, any organization can optimize their fundraising campaign...

Event Management Systems Help Administrative and Event Planning Professionals

For anyone who has had to deal with the hassles of registration and scheduling for a variety of events, an investment in event management systems can easily streamline this process.

There are many aspects to planning an event and making sure it goes smoothly. Whether you are planning a conference, competition, trade show, seminar or any other event, there are certain aspects that are common to their management and maintenance. These include not only scheduling of the location, guest registration, and working with a budget, but dealing with changes in location, cancelations, and updates.

Event management systems make this whole process easier. Many of them provide a way to integrate your own best practices as far as registration and scheduling. They also provide content management systems that you can use to add your own content.

Many of the processes involved in event management are automated by these systems, including scheduling at a glance, change notifications, and payment systems. Users can use this software for space planning for these events as well, and the reservation of the resources needed for each event. They can use the event management software to arrange for services for the event as well, such as catering. This software frequently includes web calendars that can be published for ease of scheduling. Event management software can also print online tickets for attendees.

All of these benefits offered by this software can reduce the headaches involved in keeping track of these important details. Anyone who is responsible for event scheduling will appreciate the way this software helps them prevent double booking any facility and all of the time and inconvenience that such a situation can cause.

Whenever an event is held, most event planning and administrative professionals know that reporting needs to be done on the event. Event management systems provide a way to provide reports in a variety of standard formats, including HTML, MS Excel, and CSV. They also provide for the approval of funds for these events. This software is also coded to provide tools for auditing to ensure compliance with established processes.

If you are in the event planning business or you perform event planning as part of your job duties, event management systems can reduce the time and resources required to manage and plan your important events. The ease with which you will be able to manage your events with event management systems makes them a worthy investment...

Online fundraising is quickly overtaking direct mail as the preferred method of collecting donations for charity events and non-profit organisations. As the younger “wired” generation grows up, we can safely assume that they will prefer to donate online almost exclusively. Are you doing enough to offer your donors and fundraisers the latest in online giving tools?


Here are some of the benefits to online fundraising:

• Immediacy - The donor can learn about the cause and is enabled to make a contribution immediately while the thought is fresh in their mind.

• Administrative Efficiency - The non-profit organization receives the funds immediately along with donor contact information.

• Instant Gratification for the Donor - An acknowledgement is instantly sent to the donor by way of automatic confirmation email.

• Analytics - The key to successful fundraising is knowing who your donors are and what interests them. Collecting donations online allow you to observe their behavior in navigation of your website, track what they are reading prior to making the donation and what type of call-to-action resonates the most with them. Using this information to parse your contact lists will enable you to optimise your fundraising campaign by tailoring your message and call-to-action to different types of donors.


Here are some tips if you are just getting started with an online fundraising campaign:

• Consider All Marketing Channels- Reference your online giving option in newsletters, brochures, your website, signage and radio/TV advertisements.

• Leverage Social Media - Sites like Facebook are cheap and effective ways to cultivate a word-of-mouth marketing campaign and grow your fan base.

• Your Website - Include your mission statement, goals, objectives and what work your organisation has accomplished to further your cause. Explain how you will use the funds you raise and include photos and testimonials from your fundraisers, donors and beneficiaries.

• Provide lots of ways to Donate…but focus on pushing the online channel. Collecting as many donations online as possible will automate your workload and minimise volunteer staff time and resources needed. Make your ‘Donate Online' button large and above the fold (top half of the page). You have the attention of your audience and they are looking for a way to contribute as quickly as possible - don't make them hunt for a way to give.

• Reward Your Donors - Offer a gift or incentive in return for a donation. Consider something as simple as a subscription to your organisation's monthly newsletter or an invitation to a gala dinner for those who donate over a certain amount.

• Find a Robust Online Giving Platform - Choose an online donation service that allows your fundraisers to build a personalised fundraising web page. Enabling your fundraisers to build a personalised space online where they can add photos, their own personal story and blog about their experiences raising money for the cause will really get them excited to share with all their friends and family.

• Encourage Your Fundraisers - Offer prizes to fundraisers who collect the most donations. Many online donation services offer a way to track the total amount each fundraiser has gathered on their personal page from friends and family.


Make it fun and get creative! With all of the relatively cheap (many times, free) online tools and marketing opportunities available nowadays, any organization can optimize their fundraising campaign...

Event Management Systems Help Administrative and Event Planning Professionals

For anyone who has had to deal with the hassles of registration and scheduling for a variety of events, an investment in event management systems can easily streamline this process.

There are many aspects to planning an event and making sure it goes smoothly. Whether you are planning a conference, competition, trade show, seminar or any other event, there are certain aspects that are common to their management and maintenance. These include not only scheduling of the location, guest registration, and working with a budget, but dealing with changes in location, cancelations, and updates.

Event management systems make this whole process easier. Many of them provide a way to integrate your own best practices as far as registration and scheduling. They also provide content management systems that you can use to add your own content.

Many of the processes involved in event management are automated by these systems, including scheduling at a glance, change notifications, and payment systems. Users can use this software for space planning for these events as well, and the reservation of the resources needed for each event. They can use the event management software to arrange for services for the event as well, such as catering. This software frequently includes web calendars that can be published for ease of scheduling. Event management software can also print online tickets for attendees.

All of these benefits offered by this software can reduce the headaches involved in keeping track of these important details. Anyone who is responsible for event scheduling will appreciate the way this software helps them prevent double booking any facility and all of the time and inconvenience that such a situation can cause.

Whenever an event is held, most event planning and administrative professionals know that reporting needs to be done on the event. Event management systems provide a way to provide reports in a variety of standard formats, including HTML, MS Excel, and CSV. They also provide for the approval of funds for these events. This software is also coded to provide tools for auditing to ensure compliance with established processes.

If you are in the event planning business or you perform event planning as part of your job duties, event management systems can reduce the time and resources required to manage and plan your important events. The ease with which you will be able to manage your events with event management systems makes them a worthy investment...

Event Management Systems Help Administrative and Event Planning Professionals

For anyone who has had to deal with the hassles of registration and scheduling for a variety of events, an investment in event management systems can easily streamline this process.

There are many aspects to planning an event and making sure it goes smoothly. Whether you are planning a conference, competition, trade show, seminar or any other event, there are certain aspects that are common to their management and maintenance. These include not only scheduling of the location, guest registration, and working with a budget, but dealing with changes in location, cancelations, and updates.

Event management systems make this whole process easier. Many of them provide a way to integrate your own best practices as far as registration and scheduling. They also provide content management systems that you can use to add your own content.

Many of the processes involved in event management are automated by these systems, including scheduling at a glance, change notifications, and payment systems. Users can use this software for space planning for these events as well, and the reservation of the resources needed for each event. They can use the event management software to arrange for services for the event as well, such as catering. This software frequently includes web calendars that can be published for ease of scheduling. Event management software can also print online tickets for attendees.

All of these benefits offered by this software can reduce the headaches involved in keeping track of these important details. Anyone who is responsible for event scheduling will appreciate the way this software helps them prevent double booking any facility and all of the time and inconvenience that such a situation can cause.

Whenever an event is held, most event planning and administrative professionals know that reporting needs to be done on the event. Event management systems provide a way to provide reports in a variety of standard formats, including HTML, MS Excel, and CSV. They also provide for the approval of funds for these events. This software is also coded to provide tools for auditing to ensure compliance with established processes.

If you are in the event planning business or you perform event planning as part of your job duties, event management systems can reduce the time and resources required to manage and plan your important events. The ease with which you will be able to manage your events with event management systems makes them a worthy investment...

Online fundraising is quickly overtaking direct mail as the preferred method of collecting donations for charity events and non-profit organisations. As the younger “wired” generation grows up, we can safely assume that they will prefer to donate online almost exclusively. Are you doing enough to offer your donors and fundraisers the latest in online giving tools?


Here are some of the benefits to online fundraising:

• Immediacy - The donor can learn about the cause and is enabled to make a contribution immediately while the thought is fresh in their mind.

• Administrative Efficiency - The non-profit organization receives the funds immediately along with donor contact information.

• Instant Gratification for the Donor - An acknowledgement is instantly sent to the donor by way of automatic confirmation email.

• Analytics - The key to successful fundraising is knowing who your donors are and what interests them. Collecting donations online allow you to observe their behavior in navigation of your website, track what they are reading prior to making the donation and what type of call-to-action resonates the most with them. Using this information to parse your contact lists will enable you to optimise your fundraising campaign by tailoring your message and call-to-action to different types of donors.


Here are some tips if you are just getting started with an online fundraising campaign:

• Consider All Marketing Channels- Reference your online giving option in newsletters, brochures, your website, signage and radio/TV advertisements.

• Leverage Social Media - Sites like Facebook are cheap and effective ways to cultivate a word-of-mouth marketing campaign and grow your fan base.

• Your Website - Include your mission statement, goals, objectives and what work your organisation has accomplished to further your cause. Explain how you will use the funds you raise and include photos and testimonials from your fundraisers, donors and beneficiaries.

• Provide lots of ways to Donate…but focus on pushing the online channel. Collecting as many donations online as possible will automate your workload and minimise volunteer staff time and resources needed. Make your ‘Donate Online' button large and above the fold (top half of the page). You have the attention of your audience and they are looking for a way to contribute as quickly as possible - don't make them hunt for a way to give.

• Reward Your Donors - Offer a gift or incentive in return for a donation. Consider something as simple as a subscription to your organisation's monthly newsletter or an invitation to a gala dinner for those who donate over a certain amount.

• Find a Robust Online Giving Platform - Choose an online donation service that allows your fundraisers to build a personalised fundraising web page. Enabling your fundraisers to build a personalised space online where they can add photos, their own personal story and blog about their experiences raising money for the cause will really get them excited to share with all their friends and family.

• Encourage Your Fundraisers - Offer prizes to fundraisers who collect the most donations. Many online donation services offer a way to track the total amount each fundraiser has gathered on their personal page from friends and family.


Make it fun and get creative! With all of the relatively cheap (many times, free) online tools and marketing opportunities available nowadays, any organization can optimize their fundraising campaign...

Event Management Systems Help Administrative and Event Planning Professionals

For anyone who has had to deal with the hassles of registration and scheduling for a variety of events, an investment in event management systems can easily streamline this process.

There are many aspects to planning an event and making sure it goes smoothly. Whether you are planning a conference, competition, trade show, seminar or any other event, there are certain aspects that are common to their management and maintenance. These include not only scheduling of the location, guest registration, and working with a budget, but dealing with changes in location, cancelations, and updates.

Event management systems make this whole process easier. Many of them provide a way to integrate your own best practices as far as registration and scheduling. They also provide content management systems that you can use to add your own content.

Many of the processes involved in event management are automated by these systems, including scheduling at a glance, change notifications, and payment systems. Users can use this software for space planning for these events as well, and the reservation of the resources needed for each event. They can use the event management software to arrange for services for the event as well, such as catering. This software frequently includes web calendars that can be published for ease of scheduling. Event management software can also print online tickets for attendees.

All of these benefits offered by this software can reduce the headaches involved in keeping track of these important details. Anyone who is responsible for event scheduling will appreciate the way this software helps them prevent double booking any facility and all of the time and inconvenience that such a situation can cause.

Whenever an event is held, most event planning and administrative professionals know that reporting needs to be done on the event. Event management systems provide a way to provide reports in a variety of standard formats, including HTML, MS Excel, and CSV. They also provide for the approval of funds for these events. This software is also coded to provide tools for auditing to ensure compliance with established processes.

If you are in the event planning business or you perform event planning as part of your job duties, event management systems can reduce the time and resources required to manage and plan your important events. The ease with which you will be able to manage your events with event management systems makes them a worthy investment...

Online fundraising is quickly overtaking direct mail as the preferred method of collecting donations for charity events and non-profit organisations. As the younger “wired” generation grows up, we can safely assume that they will prefer to donate online almost exclusively. Are you doing enough to offer your donors and fundraisers the latest in online giving tools?


Here are some of the benefits to online fundraising:

• Immediacy - The donor can learn about the cause and is enabled to make a contribution immediately while the thought is fresh in their mind.

• Administrative Efficiency - The non-profit organization receives the funds immediately along with donor contact information.

• Instant Gratification for the Donor - An acknowledgement is instantly sent to the donor by way of automatic confirmation email.

• Analytics - The key to successful fundraising is knowing who your donors are and what interests them. Collecting donations online allow you to observe their behavior in navigation of your website, track what they are reading prior to making the donation and what type of call-to-action resonates the most with them. Using this information to parse your contact lists will enable you to optimise your fundraising campaign by tailoring your message and call-to-action to different types of donors.


Here are some tips if you are just getting started with an online fundraising campaign:

• Consider All Marketing Channels- Reference your online giving option in newsletters, brochures, your website, signage and radio/TV advertisements.

• Leverage Social Media - Sites like Facebook are cheap and effective ways to cultivate a word-of-mouth marketing campaign and grow your fan base.

• Your Website - Include your mission statement, goals, objectives and what work your organisation has accomplished to further your cause. Explain how you will use the funds you raise and include photos and testimonials from your fundraisers, donors and beneficiaries.

• Provide lots of ways to Donate…but focus on pushing the online channel. Collecting as many donations online as possible will automate your workload and minimise volunteer staff time and resources needed. Make your ‘Donate Online' button large and above the fold (top half of the page). You have the attention of your audience and they are looking for a way to contribute as quickly as possible - don't make them hunt for a way to give.

• Reward Your Donors - Offer a gift or incentive in return for a donation. Consider something as simple as a subscription to your organisation's monthly newsletter or an invitation to a gala dinner for those who donate over a certain amount.

• Find a Robust Online Giving Platform - Choose an online donation service that allows your fundraisers to build a personalised fundraising web page. Enabling your fundraisers to build a personalised space online where they can add photos, their own personal story and blog about their experiences raising money for the cause will really get them excited to share with all their friends and family.

• Encourage Your Fundraisers - Offer prizes to fundraisers who collect the most donations. Many online donation services offer a way to track the total amount each fundraiser has gathered on their personal page from friends and family.


Make it fun and get creative! With all of the relatively cheap (many times, free) online tools and marketing opportunities available nowadays, any organization can optimize their fundraising campaign...

How to Promote Events

Organising a big event can be incredibly stressful, as there is so much to organise; seating, licensing, entertainment, catering, the list never ends. Whatever you do, make sure you don't forget about promotion. If nobody knows about your event then how do you expect them to come? This article details some suggestions for ways of promoting an event.

One of the most obvious ways of promoting an event is by placing posters up. You could try to place them on the venue where the event is taking place, on community notice boards or even in supermarket windows. Think about where your most-likely attendees are most-likely to see a poster advert for the event, and try to keep poster communications clear and simple. Cluttered posters full of information are often ignored while simple posters which advertise an event in a clear and concise manner often produce better results.

Advertising in local newspapers, magazines or community newsletters can be a good way of informing people about an upcoming event. Think carefully about when to advertise, and how much notice people will need to clear their calendar and attend your event.

A cheaper and potentially more effective way of promoting an event will be to get the publication to write editorial content about it. You could write a press release detailing information about the event, send it to the editor or journalists, and hopefully they will rewrite it into a story and support the promotion of your event.

Alternatively you could look to the internet to promote your event. If website designing and building isn't your thing then perhaps you could consider using social networks like MySpace, Facebook, Bebo or even LinkedIn to advertise the event. Facebook even has specific event controls, allowing you to invite people to RSVP, as well as comment or add photos to an event. The most important part is to ensure that you are reaching people who are in your local area, as telling someone on the other side of the world about your tombola and raffle will be unlikely to yield impressive results.

Whatever method you use, be it posters, emails, text messages or press releases, ensure that your event is well promoted, and thus well attended. In some ways ensuring attendance is the most important part of organising an event. Make sure that all your hard work doesn't go to waste by effectively promoting your advent...

Online fundraising is quickly overtaking direct mail as the preferred method of collecting donations for charity events and non-profit organisations. As the younger “wired” generation grows up, we can safely assume that they will prefer to donate online almost exclusively. Are you doing enough to offer your donors and fundraisers the latest in online giving tools?


Here are some of the benefits to online fundraising:

• Immediacy - The donor can learn about the cause and is enabled to make a contribution immediately while the thought is fresh in their mind.

• Administrative Efficiency - The non-profit organization receives the funds immediately along with donor contact information.

• Instant Gratification for the Donor - An acknowledgement is instantly sent to the donor by way of automatic confirmation email.

• Analytics - The key to successful fundraising is knowing who your donors are and what interests them. Collecting donations online allow you to observe their behavior in navigation of your website, track what they are reading prior to making the donation and what type of call-to-action resonates the most with them. Using this information to parse your contact lists will enable you to optimise your fundraising campaign by tailoring your message and call-to-action to different types of donors.


Here are some tips if you are just getting started with an online fundraising campaign:

• Consider All Marketing Channels- Reference your online giving option in newsletters, brochures, your website, signage and radio/TV advertisements.

• Leverage Social Media - Sites like Facebook are cheap and effective ways to cultivate a word-of-mouth marketing campaign and grow your fan base.

• Your Website - Include your mission statement, goals, objectives and what work your organisation has accomplished to further your cause. Explain how you will use the funds you raise and include photos and testimonials from your fundraisers, donors and beneficiaries.

• Provide lots of ways to Donate…but focus on pushing the online channel. Collecting as many donations online as possible will automate your workload and minimise volunteer staff time and resources needed. Make your ‘Donate Online' button large and above the fold (top half of the page). You have the attention of your audience and they are looking for a way to contribute as quickly as possible - don't make them hunt for a way to give.

• Reward Your Donors - Offer a gift or incentive in return for a donation. Consider something as simple as a subscription to your organisation's monthly newsletter or an invitation to a gala dinner for those who donate over a certain amount.

• Find a Robust Online Giving Platform - Choose an online donation service that allows your fundraisers to build a personalised fundraising web page. Enabling your fundraisers to build a personalised space online where they can add photos, their own personal story and blog about their experiences raising money for the cause will really get them excited to share with all their friends and family.

• Encourage Your Fundraisers - Offer prizes to fundraisers who collect the most donations. Many online donation services offer a way to track the total amount each fundraiser has gathered on their personal page from friends and family.


Make it fun and get creative! With all of the relatively cheap (many times, free) online tools and marketing opportunities available nowadays, any organization can optimize their fundraising campaign...

How to Promote Events

Organising a big event can be incredibly stressful, as there is so much to organise; seating, licensing, entertainment, catering, the list never ends. Whatever you do, make sure you don't forget about promotion. If nobody knows about your event then how do you expect them to come? This article details some suggestions for ways of promoting an event.

One of the most obvious ways of promoting an event is by placing posters up. You could try to place them on the venue where the event is taking place, on community notice boards or even in supermarket windows. Think about where your most-likely attendees are most-likely to see a poster advert for the event, and try to keep poster communications clear and simple. Cluttered posters full of information are often ignored while simple posters which advertise an event in a clear and concise manner often produce better results.

Advertising in local newspapers, magazines or community newsletters can be a good way of informing people about an upcoming event. Think carefully about when to advertise, and how much notice people will need to clear their calendar and attend your event.

A cheaper and potentially more effective way of promoting an event will be to get the publication to write editorial content about it. You could write a press release detailing information about the event, send it to the editor or journalists, and hopefully they will rewrite it into a story and support the promotion of your event.

Alternatively you could look to the internet to promote your event. If website designing and building isn't your thing then perhaps you could consider using social networks like MySpace, Facebook, Bebo or even LinkedIn to advertise the event. Facebook even has specific event controls, allowing you to invite people to RSVP, as well as comment or add photos to an event. The most important part is to ensure that you are reaching people who are in your local area, as telling someone on the other side of the world about your tombola and raffle will be unlikely to yield impressive results.

Whatever method you use, be it posters, emails, text messages or press releases, ensure that your event is well promoted, and thus well attended. In some ways ensuring attendance is the most important part of organising an event. Make sure that all your hard work doesn't go to waste by effectively promoting your advent...

Online fundraising is quickly overtaking direct mail as the preferred method of collecting donations for charity events and non-profit organisations. As the younger “wired” generation grows up, we can safely assume that they will prefer to donate online almost exclusively. Are you doing enough to offer your donors and fundraisers the latest in online giving tools?


Here are some of the benefits to online fundraising:

• Immediacy - The donor can learn about the cause and is enabled to make a contribution immediately while the thought is fresh in their mind.

• Administrative Efficiency - The non-profit organization receives the funds immediately along with donor contact information.

• Instant Gratification for the Donor - An acknowledgement is instantly sent to the donor by way of automatic confirmation email.

• Analytics - The key to successful fundraising is knowing who your donors are and what interests them. Collecting donations online allow you to observe their behavior in navigation of your website, track what they are reading prior to making the donation and what type of call-to-action resonates the most with them. Using this information to parse your contact lists will enable you to optimise your fundraising campaign by tailoring your message and call-to-action to different types of donors.


Here are some tips if you are just getting started with an online fundraising campaign:

• Consider All Marketing Channels- Reference your online giving option in newsletters, brochures, your website, signage and radio/TV advertisements.

• Leverage Social Media - Sites like Facebook are cheap and effective ways to cultivate a word-of-mouth marketing campaign and grow your fan base.

• Your Website - Include your mission statement, goals, objectives and what work your organisation has accomplished to further your cause. Explain how you will use the funds you raise and include photos and testimonials from your fundraisers, donors and beneficiaries.

• Provide lots of ways to Donate…but focus on pushing the online channel. Collecting as many donations online as possible will automate your workload and minimise volunteer staff time and resources needed. Make your ‘Donate Online' button large and above the fold (top half of the page). You have the attention of your audience and they are looking for a way to contribute as quickly as possible - don't make them hunt for a way to give.

• Reward Your Donors - Offer a gift or incentive in return for a donation. Consider something as simple as a subscription to your organisation's monthly newsletter or an invitation to a gala dinner for those who donate over a certain amount.

• Find a Robust Online Giving Platform - Choose an online donation service that allows your fundraisers to build a personalised fundraising web page. Enabling your fundraisers to build a personalised space online where they can add photos, their own personal story and blog about their experiences raising money for the cause will really get them excited to share with all their friends and family.

• Encourage Your Fundraisers - Offer prizes to fundraisers who collect the most donations. Many online donation services offer a way to track the total amount each fundraiser has gathered on their personal page from friends and family.


Make it fun and get creative! With all of the relatively cheap (many times, free) online tools and marketing opportunities available nowadays, any organization can optimize their fundraising campaign...

Online fundraising is quickly overtaking direct mail as the preferred method of collecting donations for charity events and non-profit organisations. As the younger “wired” generation grows up, we can safely assume that they will prefer to donate online almost exclusively. Are you doing enough to offer your donors and fundraisers the latest in online giving tools?


Here are some of the benefits to online fundraising:

• Immediacy - The donor can learn about the cause and is enabled to make a contribution immediately while the thought is fresh in their mind.

• Administrative Efficiency - The non-profit organization receives the funds immediately along with donor contact information.

• Instant Gratification for the Donor - An acknowledgement is instantly sent to the donor by way of automatic confirmation email.

• Analytics - The key to successful fundraising is knowing who your donors are and what interests them. Collecting donations online allow you to observe their behavior in navigation of your website, track what they are reading prior to making the donation and what type of call-to-action resonates the most with them. Using this information to parse your contact lists will enable you to optimise your fundraising campaign by tailoring your message and call-to-action to different types of donors.


Here are some tips if you are just getting started with an online fundraising campaign:

• Consider All Marketing Channels- Reference your online giving option in newsletters, brochures, your website, signage and radio/TV advertisements.

• Leverage Social Media - Sites like Facebook are cheap and effective ways to cultivate a word-of-mouth marketing campaign and grow your fan base.

• Your Website - Include your mission statement, goals, objectives and what work your organisation has accomplished to further your cause. Explain how you will use the funds you raise and include photos and testimonials from your fundraisers, donors and beneficiaries.

• Provide lots of ways to Donate…but focus on pushing the online channel. Collecting as many donations online as possible will automate your workload and minimise volunteer staff time and resources needed. Make your ‘Donate Online' button large and above the fold (top half of the page). You have the attention of your audience and they are looking for a way to contribute as quickly as possible - don't make them hunt for a way to give.

• Reward Your Donors - Offer a gift or incentive in return for a donation. Consider something as simple as a subscription to your organisation's monthly newsletter or an invitation to a gala dinner for those who donate over a certain amount.

• Find a Robust Online Giving Platform - Choose an online donation service that allows your fundraisers to build a personalised fundraising web page. Enabling your fundraisers to build a personalised space online where they can add photos, their own personal story and blog about their experiences raising money for the cause will really get them excited to share with all their friends and family.

• Encourage Your Fundraisers - Offer prizes to fundraisers who collect the most donations. Many online donation services offer a way to track the total amount each fundraiser has gathered on their personal page from friends and family.


Make it fun and get creative! With all of the relatively cheap (many times, free) online tools and marketing opportunities available nowadays, any organization can optimize their fundraising campaign...

How to Promote Events

Organising a big event can be incredibly stressful, as there is so much to organise; seating, licensing, entertainment, catering, the list never ends. Whatever you do, make sure you don't forget about promotion. If nobody knows about your event then how do you expect them to come? This article details some suggestions for ways of promoting an event.

One of the most obvious ways of promoting an event is by placing posters up. You could try to place them on the venue where the event is taking place, on community notice boards or even in supermarket windows. Think about where your most-likely attendees are most-likely to see a poster advert for the event, and try to keep poster communications clear and simple. Cluttered posters full of information are often ignored while simple posters which advertise an event in a clear and concise manner often produce better results.

Advertising in local newspapers, magazines or community newsletters can be a good way of informing people about an upcoming event. Think carefully about when to advertise, and how much notice people will need to clear their calendar and attend your event.

A cheaper and potentially more effective way of promoting an event will be to get the publication to write editorial content about it. You could write a press release detailing information about the event, send it to the editor or journalists, and hopefully they will rewrite it into a story and support the promotion of your event.

Alternatively you could look to the internet to promote your event. If website designing and building isn't your thing then perhaps you could consider using social networks like MySpace, Facebook, Bebo or even LinkedIn to advertise the event. Facebook even has specific event controls, allowing you to invite people to RSVP, as well as comment or add photos to an event. The most important part is to ensure that you are reaching people who are in your local area, as telling someone on the other side of the world about your tombola and raffle will be unlikely to yield impressive results.

Whatever method you use, be it posters, emails, text messages or press releases, ensure that your event is well promoted, and thus well attended. In some ways ensuring attendance is the most important part of organising an event. Make sure that all your hard work doesn't go to waste by effectively promoting your advent...

Online fundraising is quickly overtaking direct mail as the preferred method of collecting donations for charity events and non-profit organisations. As the younger “wired” generation grows up, we can safely assume that they will prefer to donate online almost exclusively. Are you doing enough to offer your donors and fundraisers the latest in online giving tools?


Here are some of the benefits to online fundraising:

• Immediacy - The donor can learn about the cause and is enabled to make a contribution immediately while the thought is fresh in their mind.

• Administrative Efficiency - The non-profit organization receives the funds immediately along with donor contact information.

• Instant Gratification for the Donor - An acknowledgement is instantly sent to the donor by way of automatic confirmation email.

• Analytics - The key to successful fundraising is knowing who your donors are and what interests them. Collecting donations online allow you to observe their behavior in navigation of your website, track what they are reading prior to making the donation and what type of call-to-action resonates the most with them. Using this information to parse your contact lists will enable you to optimise your fundraising campaign by tailoring your message and call-to-action to different types of donors.


Here are some tips if you are just getting started with an online fundraising campaign:

• Consider All Marketing Channels- Reference your online giving option in newsletters, brochures, your website, signage and radio/TV advertisements.

• Leverage Social Media - Sites like Facebook are cheap and effective ways to cultivate a word-of-mouth marketing campaign and grow your fan base.

• Your Website - Include your mission statement, goals, objectives and what work your organisation has accomplished to further your cause. Explain how you will use the funds you raise and include photos and testimonials from your fundraisers, donors and beneficiaries.

• Provide lots of ways to Donate…but focus on pushing the online channel. Collecting as many donations online as possible will automate your workload and minimise volunteer staff time and resources needed. Make your ‘Donate Online' button large and above the fold (top half of the page). You have the attention of your audience and they are looking for a way to contribute as quickly as possible - don't make them hunt for a way to give.

• Reward Your Donors - Offer a gift or incentive in return for a donation. Consider something as simple as a subscription to your organisation's monthly newsletter or an invitation to a gala dinner for those who donate over a certain amount.

• Find a Robust Online Giving Platform - Choose an online donation service that allows your fundraisers to build a personalised fundraising web page. Enabling your fundraisers to build a personalised space online where they can add photos, their own personal story and blog about their experiences raising money for the cause will really get them excited to share with all their friends and family.

• Encourage Your Fundraisers - Offer prizes to fundraisers who collect the most donations. Many online donation services offer a way to track the total amount each fundraiser has gathered on their personal page from friends and family.


Make it fun and get creative! With all of the relatively cheap (many times, free) online tools and marketing opportunities available nowadays, any organization can optimize their fundraising campaign...