Celebrating a company anniversary? Check out these 10 tips

Your company has been around for 5, 10, 15, or more years, and you want to share that happiness with all your business (and personal) relationships. An anniversary invites you to take a snapshot of your company: what have you and your team achieved in the past, where do you stand now, and most importantly: where do you want to go in the future? Before you throw a big party, it's useful to note this in an overview.

How do you make that anniversary a successful event, by the way? With these 10 tips for organizing your company anniversary, this will be a breeze.

1. Determine your target audience

When you clearly know who you will invite – a guest list is not a luxury – you immediately know which locations you can target. Give a special place on that guest list to your employees. Without them, you wouldn't be where you are now.

2. What do you want to achieve?

For events like a company anniversary, it's important to have a clear goal in mind. Refer back to the overview you made during the snapshot of your business. Determine whether you want to focus on acquiring new customers, thanking your employees, customers, and suppliers, having a pleasant moment with your loved ones and other important people in your business and life, drawing extra attention to your company… based on that, you set the objectives for the anniversary.

3. Appoint a responsible person or outsource?

You need someone with a helicopter view who follows up on all objectives. Otherwise, you risk exceeding the budget or having a completely different anniversary than you originally envisioned. Dare to place the responsibility entirely in the hands of your employee, and ensure occasional contact moments where he or she provides you with a solid update.

If you have the budget for it and want everyone to enjoy the company anniversary, consider outsourcing the entire event to an event agency.

4. One evening or a year of celebration with your company anniversary?

Organizing a company anniversary is a good reason for a party, but do you want that? One evening and then back to the daily routine? If you prefer to give more publicity to your anniversary, make it an anniversary year with a small activity or (marketing) stunt every month, for example.

5. Provide a keepsake of your company anniversary

Whether you go for one evening or several small actions spread over the anniversary year: a keepsake is always nice! Choose fun gadgets that you can give to your guests based on photos taken on-site, provide cool and grand entertainment like a Mosaic Wall or opt for a simple photobooth where your guests can take a nice photo home.

6. Company Anniversary with a Theme

A clear and memorable theme is already half the party! Moreover, it's excellent marketing under the guise of a fun moment. The ideal way to bind employees, customers, and suppliers (even more) to your company.

7. Start Organizing Early

When you create the overview with objectives, immediately set dates on the calendar by which certain objectives must be achieved. Do this early enough: starting a year in advance is not a luxury!

8. Film and Photograph Everything

Company anniversaries are FODDER for hungry socials! Therefore: film and photograph everything – absolutely everything – related to the preparation, the day itself, and the post-processing of your company event. Every video and photo can be used for social media. It's better to have too much than too little. Would you rather not film and photograph during the celebration yourself? Then choose, for example, our digital caricature photographer, a greenscreen photo studio, Do It SelfieBox Mobile, or a classy photo mirror. These are all extra opportunities not only to fill your own socials but also those of your guests… who will spontaneously link to your company. Marketing stunt? No, sir! Company anniversary!

9. Measuring is Knowing

Okay, you don't have to gain an advantage from a company anniversary, but why not set measurable goals alongside the objectives if you're putting in the effort anyway? Think of brand awareness, number of followers/movements on socials, new customers… all things you can measure when organizing a company anniversary. Once the event is over, you can draw your conclusions and help your company move forward.

10. Enjoy It

It takes quite a bit, such an organization of a company anniversary, but this last tip is also our best. Whatever happens: enjoy it. Enjoy the path you've paved to reach this festive point, enjoy the collaboration between you and your team… in short: don't let this pleasant event pass by under stress and pressure, but be proud and enjoy the moment!