Event Marketing 101: 5 Steps to Getting the Word Out
Getting ready to throw a party, annual conference, or charity fundraiser? It’s never too early to start creating hype for your event.
Putting time and energy into marketing your event will help spread the word to a wider pool of potential attendees and boost ticket sales.
Ready to get started? Watch your RSVP list grow with these 5 easy steps.
1. Create an Event page
We suggest getting started with a Facebook event page. You can link it to your business page and invite friends from your personal page, which will help you gain reach fast!
Here’s a few things to keep in mind to create a standout event page:
Use a bold graphic that draws attention and looks great when it’s resized. Facebook recommends using pictures that are 1920 X 1080 pixels in order maintain clarity. Vector illustrations, event logos, or relevant stock images are all strong options.
Come up with a clear and compelling headline to entice people to attend.
Link all your social channels as well as your brand’s page, website, and a link to buy tickets.
Add as many relevant tags that you can think of to improve your SEO and help possible partygoers find your page.
If you don’t want to use Facebook, Eventbrite is a great alternative (or great to use in addition to Facebook... more on that below). You can even sell tickets through Eventbrite and link it to your Facebook event page!
2. Send Invites and Save the Dates
Sidebar: This isn’t the first time we’ve extolled the virtues of Eventbrite! Find our breakdown of the best Eventbrite features here.
Now that your page is published, start sending those invites! If you want to send something more personal than a Facebook invitation, we’d second our recommendation for using Eventbrite.
Choose from numerous email templates and add custom text for a personalized touch. Want something a little more stylish? Eventbrite’s partnership with Event Kingdom offers designer digital invitations. Another plus? Every email invitation can be integrated with MailChimp, making it easier to track things like your open and response rates.
3. Incentivize ticket sales
There’s no point in organizing an event with no guests. Get the ball rolling and start driving ticket sales as soon as possible. Offering special early bird, military, and group promotions can help you build buzz and sell out fast. Friend referral codes are another fantastic way to expand your guest list and spread the news to wider circles.
Sidebar: Keep an eye on your metrics so that you can see which channels are thriving and which ones aren’t showing a strong return on investment.
4. Drive excitement on social
FOMO is real. No one wants to feel left out. Use this to your advantage with creative posts on all your social channels.
Use a clever and consistent hashtag on every post or tweet. Be sure to keep it short and make sure no one else is already using it.
Start a giveaway or contest for a chance to win VIP tickets, gift cards, or event swag.
Post behind the scenes videos or Boomerangs.
Hosting a DIY event? Create a mini poll and invite followers to vote on an activity.
Countdown the event on Twitter as it gets closer.
5. Keep Sharing at the Event
Pro tip: Be sure to screenshot and collect images from people – you can use these to help promote your event next year!
Even when the event begins, the sharing shouldn’t stop. Sharing behind the scenes live videos and sneak peeks can help drum up last minute attendees. Don’t forget to send out another wave of reminder emails for tickets.
When the party starts, keep the excitement going by encouraging your guests to share pictures on social paired with your event hashtag. Another fun touch is creating your own custom Geo filter for Snapchat.
Now that you have some new tools and tips at your disposal, start promoting!
Event Marketing & Graphic Design in Greensboro, NC and Winston Salem
Organizing an event? We’ve got you covered. From event graphics to email campaigns, Hue & Tone can help add style to the tiniest details. Give us a call today to find out more about our creative services.