“The Show’s Over, Now What” Part 2: A Post-Event Checklist

 

Post-Event Checklist:

Overall Event Goals-Did we reach, exceed or miss our goals?

Sales

Yes-final numbers:

What contributed to the success?

What else can we do to further improve our numbers at future events?

No-final numbers:

What contributed to the shortcoming*?

How will we make improvements before our next event?

Marketing

Yes-outcome:

What contributed to the success?

Are there any new opportunities as a result of our efforts?

What action is required, by whom and by when?

No-outcome:

What contributed to the shortcoming*?

How will we make improvements before our next event?

What action is required, by whom and by when?

 

PR

Yes-outcome:

What contributed to the success?

Are there any follow-up items that need to happen?

What action is required, by whom and by when?

Are there any new opportunities as a result of our efforts?

If so, what are they and what action is required, by whom and by when?

No-outcome:

What contributed to the shortcoming*?

What can we do better next time?

What action is required, by whom and by when?

 

Networking

Yes-outcome:

What contributed to our networking success?

Are there any follow-up items that need to happen?

What action is required, by whom and by when?

Are there any new opportunities as a result of our efforts?

If so, what are they and what action is required, by whom and by when?

No-outcome:

What contributed to the shortcoming*?

What can we do better next time?

What action is required, by whom and by when?

*This is not the time for the “blame game,” simply a chance to focus on what didn’t work well this time and make changes to enable better results next time. No fixing blame, only fixing problems!


The Event-how did we do?

Booth Set-up

What worked?

What didn’t?

What changes need to be made before the next event?

Who’s responsible for the changes, and what’s the deadline?

Who will communicate the changes to the staff and add it to the event checklist for future events? By when?

 

Booth Tear-down

What worked?

What didn’t?

What changes need to be made before the next event?

Who’s responsible for the changes, and what’s the deadline?

Who will communicate the changes to the staff and add it to the event checklist for future events? By when?

 

Traffic Flow (in the booth)

What worked?

What didn’t?

What changes need to be made before the next event?

Who’s responsible for the changes, and what’s the deadline?

Who will communicate the changes to the staff and make changes to the event plans for future events? By when?

What were the busiest times? Slowest times? (Make a note of these so staffing can be adjusted accordingly for future events)

 

Customer Participation Demos

What worked?

What didn’t?

What changes need to be made before the next event?

Who’s responsible for the changes, and what’s the deadline?

Who will communicate the changes to the staff and make changes to the event plans for future events? By when?

Are there any staff training needs as a result of the performance of staff at this event?

If so, who will provide the training and by when?

What were the busiest times? Slowest times? (Make a note of these so staffing can be adjusted accordingly for future events)

Did we have enough supplies? If not, how many more of which items do we need?

Do we need to replenish supplies prior to our next event? If so, what needs to be added, and by when? By whom?

Did we have enough spaces/seats? If not, what changes will we make for future events?

 

Demos

What worked?

What didn’t?

What changes need to be made before the next event?

Who’s responsible for the changes, and what’s the deadline?

Who will communicate the changes to the staff and make changes to the event plans for future events? By when?

Are there any staff training needs as a result of the performance of staff at this event?

If so, who will provide the training and by when?

What were the busiest times? Slowest times? (Make a note of these so staffing can be adjusted accordingly for future events)

Did we have enough spaces/seats? If not, what changes will we make for future events?

 

Contests

What worked?

What didn’t?

What changes need to be made before the next event?

Who’s responsible for the changes, and what’s the deadline?

Who will communicate the changes to the staff and make changes to the event plans for future events? By when?

Do we need to replenish contest supplies prior to our next event? If so, what needs to be added, and by when? By whom?

 

Staffing

What worked?

What didn’t?

What changes need to be made before the next event?

Who’s responsible for the changes, and what’s the deadline?

Who will communicate the changes to the staff and make changes to the event plans for future events? By when?

Are there any staff training needs as a result of the performance of staff at this event?

If so, who will provide the training and by when?

 

Processes

What worked?

What didn’t?

What changes need to be made before the next event?

Who’s responsible for the changes, and what’s the deadline?

Who will communicate the changes to the staff and make changes to the event plans for future events? By when?

Which other documents need to be updated as a result? Who will update them? By what date?

 

Collateral

Did we have enough? Way too much? (Take note so numbers can be adjusted for future events)

Who’s responsible for making any necessary changes? By when?

Do we need to replenish collateral prior to our next event? If so, what needs to be added, and by when? By whom?

Did we receive any feedback on our collateral pieces?

If so, are the changes going to be made? By whom and by when?

Are any other actions required? Who’s responsible for the actions? What are the deadlines?

 

Supplies

Were we in need of anything we didn’t have along?

If so, what items do we need to procure? Who will procure the items and by when?

Who will add the item(s) to our supply list and the supply bin, and by when?

Do we need to purchase any other new items?

If so, what and how many? Who will make the purchase(s) and by when?

Who will add the item(s) to our supply list and the supply bin, and by when?

Do we need to replenish supplies from our existing supply list prior to our next event?

If so, what needs to be replenished, by whom and by when?

Who will add the item(s) to our supply list and the supply bin, and by when?

 

Feedback-what did we hear and learn?

Compliments

Did we receive compliments?

Have we communicated the praise to everyone responsible for our receiving the compliment(s)?

Have we examined the compliment to see where else we might apply what worked?

 

Complaints

Did we receive any complaints?

Have we communicated the complaint(s) to everyone responsible for making changes?

Have we come up with a solution?

When will changes be made, and who’s responsible for making them?

 

Questions

Have we provided answers to everyone who asked questions at the booth (this pertains to questions for which there might not have been an answer available at the time the event took place)?

If not, who’s responsible for researching an answer and communicating it to the person(s) above? By when must this be done

 

Additional Follow-Up

Samples

Is any follow-up required for samples that were handed out at/sent prior to the event?

If so, what action needs to take place?

Who’s responsible for the action, and by when?

 

Sales

Is any follow-up required for orders that were placed at the event?

If so, what action needs to take place?

Who’s responsible for the action, and by when?

Are there opportunities for follow-on sales/cross-selling?

Who will be responsible for following up on the opportunities, and by when?

 

Partners

Is any follow-up required for partnering contacts made at the event?

If so, what action needs to take place?

Who’s responsible for the action, and by when?

 

Press

Is any follow-up required for press contacts made at the event?

If so, what action needs to take place?

Who’s responsible for the action, and by when?

 

Meetings/Introductions

Is any follow-up required for commitments made to anyone else with whom we met at the event?

If so, for whom and what action needs to take place?

Who’s responsible for the action, and by when?

 

Competition

Did we learn anything new about our competition?

If so, what did we learn?

How will we leverage what we learned to better market and sell our offering?

Is any follow-up required on the competitive intelligence gathered at the event?

If so, what action needs to take place?

Who’s responsible for the action, and by when?

 

Opportunities

Did we discover any unmet needs or other opportunities while at the event?

If so, what were the opportunities?

Have they been communicated to those who can take advantage of them?

If so, what action was taken and by whom?

If not, when will this take place; what action is required; who will take the action; and, by when?

 

Staffing

Are any staffing changes necessary as a result of anyone’s performance (or non-performance) at the event?

What changes need to be made and who do the changes affect?

Who’s responsible for making the changes, and by when?

 

Knowledge

What did we learn at this event?

Have we communicated this newfound knowledge to those who could benefit from it?

If so, what actions were taken as a result, and by whom?

If not, when will this take place; what action is required; who will take the action; and, by when?

 

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