Any time you're planning an event, whether it's a meeting of reps at a restaurant or a huge conference, event planning software can be a very useful tool. But what about all of the language that goes along with using critical resources like software for event planning?

Busy managers can find solutions for getting up to speed on the lingo of event planning software online, from vendors and others who create easy to use online pages. Managers and business leaders can browse products, use extended glossaries, or find out about key terms in new trends for the sector. Look for:

1. Sites that mix terms and language on event planning software with product descriptions and options for your use.

2. Explanations of the alphabet soup descriptions of various types of event or conference planning software for online or organizational use.

3. Glossaries of terms for knowing a lot more about detailed aspects of event planner software.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find event planning software terms lists from event planning software companies

Companies offering software or tools for event planning solutions will sometimes include some great pages for learning about how their reps talk about the event planning experience.

I recommend: Get a range of event planning key terms from Event Solutions online and use them in relation to all of the fields and factors that need filled in when using your event or meeting planning software, or find a breakdown on types of event planning software available at MarketingPilot Software.

Find more on online event planning and web-based event planning software

Other terms and phrases in event planning systems are geared toward the role of web operations in event planning. Look at the language around web-based products to get a fuller understanding of what terms are used for online planning.

I recommend: Check out some of the ideas like the web console and online registration at WingateWeb. Find more online event registration information at EventBrite.

Get general event planning software glossaries

Other companies offer extended glossaries meant to familiarize managers with the terms of event planning. These can have specific relation to aspects of the software you will use. For example, in terms of entering your selected contractors or event features into your event planning software program's database.

I recommend: National CineMedia event planning glossary has a lot of terms for identifying aspects of your event. A very detailed list is presented at CVent for more on breaking the lingo of arranging a large meeting or conference with software and other tools.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When it comes to event or conference management software, words are great, but you'll also want to pay attention to what is generally considered effective within the industry. That way, when you start using your own event planning software program, you'll be better informed about your choice.

Planning a marketing event, meeting or conference can turn even the most cool-headed business owner into a nervous wreck. There's so much to consider: date, theme, location, guest list, invitations and replies, food, setup, social time and thank-you notes, not to mention staying within budget.

Can you rely on a committee to keep track of it all? Yes — but you can streamline even further by using event-planning software as your right-hand assistant. Here's why:

1. The software works like a roomful of assistants. It helps you locate vendors, store data about them, check out music and numerous other Web-related tasks at the touch of a keyboard. It also tracks registrations, creates badges, generates letters and gives you an event-end report on attendance and budget.
2. It eliminates the need for hard-to-track printouts and bulky binders.
3. Most planning software includes a journaling feature that lets you pour out your thoughts on the event the way you might not be able to do with a committee — what you want to accomplish, how you want the event to look, sound and feel, and what you want attendees to remember most about it.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know your needs

There are dozens of event-planning software choices on the market. A comparison of features will help you pick the product right for your company.

I recommend: Corbin Ball Associates offers frequently asked questions about event-planning software, plus links to articles describing vendors and their programs and discussing the tasks that software can do.

Make a choice

If you have doubts, start with a low-cost program and move up to something more sophisticated.

I recommend: VIP Organizer costs less than $100 and is good for uncomplicated events. ServiceCEO can handle larger companies and more complex events. Wingate Web wins praise from mid-size companies.

Go for the Web

Wary of software? Not sure whether it's worth the investment? Some experts characterize online tools as the next generation in event planning, predicting that many software producers will soon be offering Web-based tools.

I recommend: EnnectEvent, an award-winning Web-based program, lets you manage registration and contacts, customize event items with your logo, even create a URL for the event. Corbin Ball Associates provides links to other Web-based event-planning tools.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Simple software costs less than $100. For high-end, enterprise applications, software involving company-wide data flow and accounting can cost from a few thousand dollars to more than $100,000.
• •  Choose a vendor offering a help desk or other support to handle your questions as you install and use your software.
• •  Insist on trying a demonstration version before buying.

For everything from restaurant regional meetings to big conferences, busy managers are using event planning software to help put events together. With the many new features of today's software packages, there's no reason a responsible planner can't rely on their computer for a big hand in getting big days together.

It's also easy to find news about the recent product roll-outs in conference management software and other event planner software. Online news sources offer up reviews of new packages and a lot more, including tips on how other businesses have put these software packages to work. Find:

1. Case studies and testimonials on conference planning software packages and other products for figuring out which one you want to use.

2. The latest on what's happening within the industry and how event planning software is helping out.

3. Reviews of event planning software systems and products including details on all of the features that can relieve the stress of handling an event.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get event planning software news from diversified sources

Some of the bigger tech news sites that mix business and technology routinely offer articles about event planning software and how it is assisting managers everywhere.

I recommend: At Frogware, a supplier of wedding and event planning software, ongoing press releases and other news updates industry readers on a continual basis. Get analyst reviews, press releases and more at MarketingPilot Software, another company specializing in event planning software.

Find more event planning software news from specialized blogs

Some online pages are focused on the event planning software sector and provide ongoing information about different meeting planning software packages and how to use them.

I recommend: Find out about various new applications on this Event Planning Software blog. Get more from the blog at Certain Software event planning technology about the costs and uses of event planning software solutions.

Get newsletters for ongoing event planning software information

Other business sites offer a consistent newsletter for managers who want periodic updates on the tools available to them. Newsletters are a dependable resource for an ever-changing business world.

I recommend: Subscribe to the Shelltoys newsletter to get articles about software for event planning and much more. Find more with a newsletter from Business Know-How, where managers can see a diverse set of articles on how to administrate events for companies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When shopping for event planning systems like convention planning software, web based event planning software or other similar products, think about how you will specifically use them to order your own events. Knowing which specific areas you want help with (contact details, logistics, transport, etc.) will help you find the right package for you.