Self-employed corporate meeting planners must constantly be on the lookout for new, innovative ways to market their meeting planning business. With so many people now using Twitter, this social media outlet is a natural choice for marketing meeting planning businesses large and small.

Whether you are just starting out or have a well-established business, incorporating Twitter into your marketing plan can assist you in staying on contact with previous and current clients, as well as increasing your reach and bringing new prospects into the fold.

A simple way to use Twitter as a marketing tool is to send out tweets that include tips for holding successful, efficient meetings. When sending out regularly scheduled messages that your clients and prospects will find valuable, you will provide them with useful information they can incorporate into their meetings, while encouraging new folks to follow you on Twitter in order to receive this valuable information.

By enticing new people to follow you, you can create an extensive list of contacts that will then be primed to receive other marketing messages as well. Making sure your messages or search engine optimized can also lead to new folks finding you when searching for meeting tips online.

This simple marketing strategy has proven effective for a vast array of businesses already using Twitter to reach out to their current and potential clients.

Corporate meeting planners always have to be on the lookout for attractive, affordable venues to add to their list of possibilities. Few companies want to hold meeting after meeting in the same location, particularly when it is clear that new environments can breathe new life into corporate meetings and can prove highly motivating. Even those companies that do not mind holding regular meetings at the same venue repeatedly will likely want a new location for bigger meetings or corporate events. Knowing that you are at least partially responsible for the success of the meeting, it is your job as a corporate meeting planner to ensure that your meetings take place in venues that provide the required logistics, as well as an environment that is conducive to productivity.

Naturally, you will have local hotels and banquet halls on your list of venue options, but it is also important to seek out unique locations to offer to your clients. For example, you may want to consider contacting local museums, wineries, landmarks, theme parks and zoos to inquire about their meeting facilities. If you are located in a smaller city or town, you should also familiarize yourself with the options available in the closest major city in your region. In order to accommodate your clients that require more unique options, you should also have information on hand regarding cruise ship meetings and venues located in popular corporate travel destinations around the world.

The general public has become much more interested in where companies large and small hold their meetings and events. Whether it is a local retailer or a major corporation, the very public follies of some well-known companies have increased public scrutiny when it comes to the money spent on events and travel, as well as the destinations chosen for corporate meetings and events. Cities known for extravagance and gambling – such as Las Vegas – are no longer an easy choice, even though these cities offer stellar meeting facilities, an array of dining and entertainment options, and well-priced accommodations and transportation.

Many companies continue to hold corporate meetings and events in cities seen as at least a little sinful, but they do so knowing that they will likely receive negative feedback from at least some of their stakeholders. Aside from concerns about public perception, holding meetings at hotels and resorts that have casinos is a great option that offers many benefits. Most of these venues have a variety of restaurants onsite, offer built-in entertainment options, provide great group accommodation discounts and have well-equipped meeting spaces. However, there is still the problem of public perception that must be considered.

Corporate meeting planners know that their participants tend to love casinos and all that comes along with this type of venue. Many of these planners have found an option that provides luxurious accommodations, cuisine for every palate, nightly entertainment, great group rates and the fun of onsite gaming without the negative perception that comes with casino hotels. The answer is a simple one: cruise ships. While most cruise ships have casinos, they have managed to avoid the negative reputation held by venues in Atlantic City, Las Vegas and other gaming towns.

Because cruise ships with casinos are not perceived the same as land-based venues with casinos, they are the perfect option for corporate meeting planners with clients concerned about public perception.