Practical guides for event teams.

Why These Guides Exist

Event planning is a discipline that spans marketing, operations, logistics, and relationship management. Whether you are organizing a 50-person workshop or a 5,000-attendee conference, the fundamentals remain the same: clear goals, realistic timelines, the right tools, and dependable partners. These guides exist to give you a head start on each of those elements, so you can focus on what makes your event unique rather than reinventing the wheel.

Every guide on this page is built from real-world experience: interviews with event professionals, analysis of successful programs, and practical testing of the tools and services that power modern events. We avoid generic advice and instead focus on specific, actionable recommendations you can implement immediately. When we mention a platform, we link to our honest review. When we describe a process, we explain the tradeoffs and common failure points.

What You Will Find Here

Our guides cover the full lifecycle of event planning. For those just starting out, we offer foundational content on setting event goals, building budgets, and selecting venues. For experienced teams, we dive into advanced topics like hybrid event technology stacks, sponsor activation strategies, and post-event analytics that prove ROI.

Event Planning Fundamentals: Learn how to scope an event, set realistic budgets, and create timelines that account for real-world delays. These guides help you avoid the most common mistakes that derail events before they start.

Technology Selection: Choosing the right event software is one of the most consequential decisions you will make. Our guides walk you through registration platforms, mobile event apps, and virtual event tools, helping you match features to your actual needs rather than marketing claims.

Vendor and Partner Management: Working with event service providers requires clear communication and realistic expectations. Our vendor guides cover everything from writing effective RFPs to evaluating proposals and managing relationships during the event.

Marketing and Promotion: Even the best event fails if nobody attends. Our marketing guides cover email campaigns, social media strategies, paid acquisition, and referral programs that actually move registration numbers.

How We Structure Each Guide

Every guide follows a consistent format designed for busy professionals. We start with the problem or decision you face, then provide specific recommendations with clear reasoning. Each guide includes links to relevant tools and comparisons so you can evaluate options side by side.

We also recognize that events are location-dependent. If you are planning an event in a specific market, our global provider directory covers service partners across 30 countries. Major markets like United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Germany include city-level listings with local partner recommendations.

For Different Event Types

Not all events are the same, and neither are the strategies that make them successful. A B2B conference has different KPIs than a consumer festival. A paid webinar requires different technology than an internal sales kickoff. Our guides address these differences directly:

• Conferences and Summits: Multi-track agendas, sponsor management, and networking optimization
• Corporate Events: Internal meetings, training sessions, and executive retreats
• Webinars and Virtual Events: Platform selection, engagement tactics, and conversion strategies
• Hybrid Events: Technology stacks, production requirements, and audience equity considerations
• Galas and Social Events: Hospitality, entertainment, and guest experience design
• Trade Shows and Expos: Exhibitor management, lead capture, and sponsor ROI measurement

Using These Guides With Our Other Resources

These guides work best when combined with our other resources. After reading a guide on registration strategy, compare registration platforms to find the right fit for your budget and requirements. Once you have selected a tool, use our provider directory to find implementation partners or onsite support in your event location.

For major purchasing decisions, our tool reviews and comparisons provide the detailed analysis you need. We cover platforms like Eventbrite, Cvent, Hopin, Whova, Bizzabo, and dozens of others across categories including event management software, webinar platforms, and marketing automation tools.