Looking to level up the success of your virtual or hybrid events? That’s where good event promotion should never be underestimated. The success of every event hinges on what happens before the event begins. Good promotion sells tickets, gets people through the door, and makes people feel excited about what they’re going to experience.
Canapii’s all-inclusive event platform can help you execute many aspects of your event promotion. It doubles as an event registration platform and an event execution software, allowing you to manage entire events from a single interface.
If you’re looking to take your event promotion to the next level, we’ve got a few creative ideas you can explore.
1. Offer early bird registration
Early bird registration usually comes with a special offer or discount. When you offer early bird registration for events, you can expect a few things to happen. First, you’ll likely see an increase in attendance as people are more likely to register early if there is a discount involved.
Additionally, you’ll find that those who do take advantage of the early bird pricing are more likely to attend the event than those who don’t. This is because they’ve already made a commitment to attend. They’ve paid for their ticket and acted on your offer early in the sign-up process.
Also, by offering early bird registration, you’re able to get a better sense of how many people plan to attend your event. This allows you to make any necessary preparations well in advance so that everything runs smoothly on the day of the event.
2. Announce your event via email marketing
A recent study showed that email marketing is the most effective digital marketing channel for promoting events. In fact, 45% of event ticket sales come from email!
Email marketing is an effective way to promote your event to your target audience. By sending a promotional email to your list of subscribers, you can reach a large number of people who are already likely to be interested in what you have to offer.
Promoting your event through email is a cost-effective way to reach your target audience and generate attendance or ticket sales. You can personalize the message you send to each recipient, which can also help to increase the response rate.
When creating your promotional email, be sure to include all the important details about the event, such as the date, time, and location.
3. Include your event in newsletters
Newsletters are a great way to promote your event because they go out to a large number of people. Your event will be seen by many people who may not have heard about it otherwise.
This could be a company newsletter, a local community newsletter, or even an industry-specific newsletter. It’s a great way to keep people updated on your event, generate some hype, and let people know how they can sign up.
4. Invest in content marketing
Content is king, and it’s a great opportunity to get your event in front of more people. By creating interesting and engaging content, you can attract people’s attention and encourage them to learn more about your event.
Content can take many different forms, such as blog posts, videos, infographics, or social media posts. You can experiment with different content formats to see what resonates with your audience.
When creating content, be sure to focus on the benefits of attending your event. Answer questions like, Why should people attend? What will they learn or experience? Who will be speaking or providing entertainment? What will people walk away with?
Some best practices for creating and using content marketing for event promotion:
- Make sure your content is high quality and relevant to your target audience.
- Be sure to proofread it carefully before publishing it online.
- Promote your content through social media and other channels.
- Share your content with your friends and followers, and ask them to share it with their networks as well.
- Pay to promote your content via ads to grow your reach even more.
- Keep the messaging simple by letting potential attendees know what’s in it for them.
No matter what type of content you create, be it a blog post, landing page, or social media post, make sure you make it easy on your prospects to take advantage. Link directly to a sign-up page or share the URL where they can register.
5. Spread the word on podcasts
One overlooked way of getting the word out about your event is promoting it on podcasts. Podcasts can be a great way to reach a large audience with your message. They’re perfect for promoting events because they allow you to share information about the event in an audio format.
Plus, podcast listeners are typically engaged and interested in the content they’re listening to, so they’re likely to be interested in your event too. You can share more details about your event than what you could include in a flyer or ad. Talk about your event, what makes it special, and why people should attend. Let them hear your excitement so they can get excited, too!
To promote your event on podcasts, start by finding podcasts that are relevant to your niche. Once you’ve found some podcasts that would be a good fit, reach out to the hosts and see if they’d be interested in having you come on as a guest.
6. Host competitions
Competitions can be a lot of fun for attendees and can help generate interest in your event. It gets them engaged early in the process, plus they may be able to score free event admissions or other prizes.
They can also be a great way to highlight your organization or business. For instance, you might get a partner to sponsor a prize or even add their branding to the competition.
There are all sorts of competitions you can host, from trivia contests to bake-offs. Brainstorm some ideas and choose the ones that will work best for your event.
7. Share your event via Live Streaming
Another often overlooked option for event promotion is live streaming. There are a number of reasons why this approach can be beneficial.
First, live streaming allows people who can’t attend the event in person to still see what’s happening. This can be especially useful for events that are taking place in another city or country.
Additionally, live streaming can help to create a sense of urgency among potential attendees. Seeing things unfold in real time may make them more likely to want to participate.
Finally, live streaming can also be used to generate interest in future events. By providing a sneak peek of what’s to come, organizers can generate excitement and anticipation for future gatherings.
8. Partner with influencers
When you’re planning an event, it’s important to think about how you can reach the widest possible audience. One way to do this is by using influencers to promote your event.
Influencers are people with a large following on social media or other channels. They can help get the word out about your event and attract more attendees.
There are several benefits of using influencers to promote your event. First, they can help you reach a larger audience. Their followers will likely be interested in your event and may even want to attend.
Additionally, influencers often have a strong connection with their followers. They may be more likely to trust their recommendation and attend your event.
Another advantage of using influencers is that they can help generate excitement for your event. They know the best ways to connect with their audience and drive genuine interest in what you’re offering.
9. Give out pre-event gifts
Giving away free gifts is a great way to draw more attention to your event. Not only does it show your guests that you appreciate their attendance, but it also helps to get them excited about the upcoming festivities. It also incentivizes them to sign up early while the free gifts are still available.
Because who doesn’t like free stuff? Gifts are a powerful marketing tool because your audience will keep their gift long after your event is over. They have staying power and will keep your event top of mind for days, weeks, even months or longer.
Free gifts help to create a sense of anticipation among guests. By giving away promotional items prior to the event, you can help to increase excitement levels among attendees.
They’re also a great way to show your appreciation for guests’ attendance. When people feel appreciated, they are more likely to return in the future.
Last but not least, free gifts can help to create brand awareness among guests. If you choose wisely, the promotional items you give away can help to promote your company or organization throughout the event.
10. Promote in conjunction with partners & sponsors
Sponsorship is a form of marketing in which a company or organization pays a third party to promote their product or service. In the context of event promotion, sponsorship is an arrangement in which a company or organization provides financial support in exchange for advertising and/or marketing rights. There are several reasons why promoting your event with sponsors can be beneficial.
First, sponsorship can help you reach a larger audience. When companies or organizations sponsor events, they often do so with the intention of reaching new customers. As such, they will often advertise the event to their followers and customers. This can result in more people learning about your event and, as a result, attending it.
Also, sponsorship can help you generate more revenue. In many cases, companies will provide financial support in exchange for certain marketing rights. This is a great way to get more funding for your event while also increasing sign-ups.
11. Advertise on social media
When conducting virtual events, hybrid events, or even in-person events, social media is usually a given in your promotion strategy. It’s one of the easiest ways to market your event at scale in a way that’s also cost-effective.
Start by creating a dedicated social media event page. This allows you to provide potential attendees with all the information they need about the event, such as the date, time, location, and a description of what to expect. You can also include a direct link to the sign-up page, as well as other promotional content.
You can also use social media to create a buzz about your event and generate excitement among potential attendees. Posts about your event on social media can help you reach new audiences who may not have otherwise heard about it. You also benefit from built-in social analytics that can tell you how many people are viewing and engaging with your posts.
Additionally, social media platforms provide opportunities for users to interact with each other and share their experiences about events they have attended. This can help persuade others to attend your event and create a community around it.
12. Leverage retargeting ads on social media
Retargeting allows you to target individuals who have already expressed interest in your event. This involves placing ads in front of individuals who have visited your website or clicked on a link related to your event but didn’t convert.
This ensures that you are targeting individuals who have already expressed interest in your event and are more likely to attend.
Additionally, retargeting is a cost-effective way to reach potential attendees, as it allows you to target those who are most likely to attend at a lower cost than traditional advertising methods.
13. Publish and distribute press releases
Press releases get the word out to local media outlets while building excitement among your attendees. Get highly sought-after media coverage while putting in very little effort.
When writing a press release, be sure to include all the important details about your event, such as the date, time, and location. You should also highlight any special guests or speakers who will be in attendance. If you have any press quotes or testimonials from past events, be sure to include them in your release. And lastly, make sure to provide contact information for anyone who wants more information about your event.
At Canapii, we designed our event management software to make light work for event organizers. Get a demo today and take your event promotion to new heights!
