Running a small events business often requires the owner to do the majority of the work. As one would know, the stress that comes with it can be monumental, so to make your life easier and your business run smoother we have put together a digital toolkit made up of some of the best events apps, web portals and websites specific to the events industry. All of which will help you increase efficiency so you can focus on what is important, growing your business.
ClockWork
Category: On-demand hiring
Type: iOS, Android
Cost: 13% of wage
ClockWork is an app-based solution for hiring local, vetted and reliable workers across various industries, including the events industry. Owners of events companies are able to log onto the app, post a job, and then see how prospective jobseekers have performed in previous jobs that were solicited through the ClockWork Employer app, meaning that jobseekers who perform, get rewarded with more jobs – and you, as the employer can rest assured that the job will be done with the utmost quality and professionalism. There’s also no need to worry about having cash on hand to pay the jobseeker as payments are made securely through the app once the job has been completed. So if you find yourself short-staffed or you’ve taken on a big client and need extra staff, don’t fret because ClockWork has you covered.
Further reading: 7 Pain Points for Events Companies that ClockWork can solve
Social Tables
Category: Venue Visualisation
Type: Web Portal
Cost: Available on request
Social Tables uses interactive content to help event planners visualize their venue, collaborate with attendees and staff, store and share documents internally and externally, and optimize sales with a built-in lead capture feature. Then comes the power: creating a diagram. You can create your own architectural plan from scratch, but in most cases, you’ll probably start with one of the provided templates. For example, if your event needs a theater-style layout, you can simply choose the theater template and adjust to your liking. From there, you can dive into the hundreds of pre-made objects and drag and drop them into your floor plan to start building the visuals. Think dinner tables, stages, projectors, bars, and everything in between, all of which can be added in bulk and then individually edited to reflect differences like VIP areas and break-out spaces. Plus, their event planning visualisation tool is free to use!
Trello
Category: Organisation/Planning
Type: Web Portal, iOS, Android
Cost: Free
Trello is a project management tool that lets you work more collaboratively and get more done. Trello’s boards, lists, and cards enable you to organize and prioritize your projects in a fun, flexible, and rewarding way. If you’re into the “to-do”, “doing” and “done” task management approach, you’ll love this! It has a strong visual interface, simple usability, and collaboration features. Trello will allow you to visually map out what needs to be done before your big event, and being able to share it with others in your team means that you’ll all be on the same page. Plus, who doesn’t love smashing their “to-do” list?
Eventbrite
Category: Ticket Platform/Event Management
Type: Web Portal, iOS, Android
Cost: % of ticket sales
Eventbrite is a platform that helps event-goers discover popular local events, find upcoming events and events that their friends are planning to attend. They also provide a software solution to event planners called Eventbrite Organizer. Eventbrite Organizer powers ticketing and registration for millions of events each year, which is used by hundreds of thousands of event organisers. An event organiser can create mobile-optimised event pages and start selling tickets almost immediately. The app also gives you 24/7 access to data, reports, and check-in tools on any device, meaning you can work smarter (this includes tracking sales in real time). Furthermore, you can make guests’ lives easier with a simple ticket purchase flow, drive additional sales through Eventbrite’s marketplace and promote your event with free tools like custom email invitations, built-in social sharing, and targeted event recommendations. The best part? You pay only when you make a sale.
Wave Apps
Category: Accounting
Type: Web Portal, iOS, Android
Cost: Free
Wave Apps provides over 2 million small business owners with free accounting software to help them manage cashflow, invoicing and receipts. They can help take the stress (and pain) out of having to do your books through their simple and easy to use interface. This means that, as an events company owner, you can sleep well at night and instead of worrying about your accounting, dream about all the fantastic event ideas you have. Plus, with Wave, you can manage your accounting, payroll, and invoicing—for free, and it comes with a receipt scanner. There’s more…Wave will also hook you up with a local accountant if you’re having any issues. Wave runs on your phone as well as your computer, so you can account on the go.
Event Manager Blog
Category: Reference/Inspiration
Type: Blog
Cost: Free
Event Manager Blog has become the go-to online resource for Trends, Technology, Innovation and Education for the event industry. Thousands of event professionals from around the globe read EventMB daily for tips and inspiration. What’s more is that they are also a reference for the event startup community, giving space to initiatives to advocate and support innovation in the event industry.
A valuable resource that EventMB releases every year is their annual report on ‘10 Event Trends.’ It gives a research-backed outlook on the trends happening and thriving in the year to come, meaning that event organisers can stay ahead of the curb and throw even bigger, and better events in the future. It’s also consistently the most viewed presentation ever in the event industry- quite an achievement! They also provide a number of other free resources covering everything from social media to the best events apps too!
