Organising and planning an event is tedious. There are so many moving parts and fine details that need to be taken care of. But once everything starts coming together, the most important part of the pre-event process rears its head. Getting people to attend. This bit is probably the most anxiety-inducing because it’s difficult to predict whether or not you’re going to be able to reach out to the numbers you’re expecting in the time left before the event. This is where digital marketing can come in handy if done right, in a planned and organised manner. That being said, here are 5 tips to keep in mind that will ensure you fill your next venue.
Create a solid social media plan
First and most importantly, you’ll want to identify your key social media channels. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, they all have their strengths, weaknesses, and key demographics. A combination of all three could be pretty powerful if done right. Start with a detailed event page on Facebook. Use it to keep users updated about the event. Twitter is also a great platform for updates, but make sure you have a truly unique hashtag that goes out in all communication. This is especially relevant for Instagram as well. Remember, Instagram is a very visual medium, so use it to post pics of the venue or your stunning event flyers. You can really set the tone of your event on this platform.
Set the mood
Once you have your social media pages up and running, use them to set the mood for your event. Content is king, and by creating stunning visuals of what can be expected, you can get people really excited about your event. This starts with unique and inviting cover images and extends to videos of artists or speakers, shorts on the performers, interviews or bites of your acts inviting people to be a part of the event. A little goes a long way.
Exclusivity sells tickets
You know how people clamour to get their hands on anything that’s a limited edition? You can use that technique to sell tickets. If this is a once in a lifetime event, you’ll need to make people feel that they do not want to miss this opportunity. Let people know that tickets are limited in various categories, and also that they are selling out fast. Create exclusive packages or early bird specials to get attendees to register early.
Give away a couple of freebies, sort of
Because nothing in life is actually free, you’ll need to be smart about giving away free tickets to your event. Create social media competitions that encourage your target audience to promote your event using all the relevant hashtags, in exchange for a chance to win free passes. You could have them share the event page on their social media, tag friends on the event poster, or Tweet about what they’re looking forward to. Pick a winner daily or weekly, and make a noise about it. After all, everybody loves a freebie!
Sponsorships and ads
These two concepts are two sides of the same coin. With sponsorships, you’ll want to look at brands that can contribute monetarily or in kind, but most importantly, synergises with your target audience. Sponsor brands need to appeal to your target audience, and if done right, can exponentially increase your advertising reach. On the other side, consider keeping aside a little bit of your budget for targeted advertising. This is particularly helpful if you’re operating in a new location, or you’re trying to attract attendees from outside your geographic areas. On social media, you can drill down your target ads to cater to gender, age, location, and so much more.
Digital marketing is a very powerful medium that has become extremely relevant in the success of events regardless of size. Keep these tips in mind the next time you’re organising an event, and you’re guaranteed to fill the house. Do you have any tips that have worked for your event? Let us know what they are in the comments below, we’d love to hear them!
