Events are a great way to boost the profile of any organisation. But they can be tough to pull off. In this video, we’ll look at six quick and easy ways to make sure the right people hear about your event in advance, boosting your chances of getting enough people along to make it a success.
Before we start, I mention a few resources in the video and I’m going to link to them here, so you know where to click.
How to send good marketing emails.
Getting started with email marketing.
Getting press coverage for your small business.
Ok, with that out of the way here’s the video. And, if you want to, you can see my script at the bottom of this post.
1.
The first one is obvious – update your website. You’ll almost certainly want to create a dedicated page for your event where people can see all the details at a glance.
You might also want to include a sign up form so people can register their interest, and details of how to get tickets if appropriate.
You should also consider updating your homepage. A little popup directing people to the event page is a great way of attracting attention. If you use Website Builder from 123 Reg, you can do this easily through the personalisation menu. If you don’t, you can always ask your web designer to help you out.
2.
The second thing to do is to send out details of your event to everyone on your mailing list.
It’s usually a good idea to keep these things simple. Make sure your email includes all relevant details about the event – including why the event is happening.
Also include relevant links – either to the event page on your site, or to a site where they can obtain tickets, or perhaps even both.
I’ll link to a guide on what makes a good email above this video.
If you haven’t built up an email marketing list then you’re really missing out. Again, I’ll link to a guide above.
3.
The third thing to do is set up a Facebook Event. This is an especially useful tactic if your business or organisation has a highly engaged community of fans on its Facebook page.
But even if you’re just starting out, a Facebook Event is a handy way to spread the word among people who haven’t yet heard of your business.
If you want, you can even try paying to promote your Facebook Event. You’ll be able to target things so only people with relevant interests in a certain area see your event, so you should be able to drum up some extra interest.
4.
The fourth thing I’d suggest is trying to get some local news coverage for your event.
This is easier to do if your event is fundraising for a good cause or is unusual in some way.
Journalists for local papers are always on the lookout for a story, so don’t be shy about suggesting they cover your event.
In fact, most local papers will have an email address you can contact if you’re doing something newsworthy.
The important thing is to start your email with the most interesting thing about your event – that could be the amount of money you’re aiming to raise for a particular event or a celebrity who will be hosting proceeding.
If you need more help on getting press coverage, checkout the relevant link above this video.
5.
Step five is to find social media influencers who can tweet and post about your event.
Social media influencers are people who already have a significant following among the kind of audience that would be interested in your event.
That could be the charity you’re raising funds for, a celebrity who is linked to the cause in some way, or even just a local business association.
As with step four, you’ll need to give these influencers a reason why they should be interested in what you’re doing.
6.
The final thing you need to do is keep promoting your event right up until the last minute.
One tweet or one email won’t get people flocking to your event.
You need to develop a plan so that you consistently draw people’s attention to your event from the moment it’s announced until the day it happens.
I’ll include a link to an event marketing plan you can adapt to your own needs above this video.
So that was ways you can promote your event online. I’ll see you next time.
