I was tagged in a Facebook post that spoke of unity and supporting one another in my local community. This dialogue instantly lit a fire under some people! Some began to share about the non-support they have experienced by the community for events their business and/or organization has hosted. This is a struggle for all event organizers and the folks who shared are definitely not alone.

I’ve been organizing and hosting events since the late 90’s! Let’s just say I’ve learned a thing or two about events and planning over the years. I’ve had both successes and failures that we’re great lessons that sharpened my skills. After reviewing some of the individuals that voiced non-support marketing campaigns, I had some valuable advice to offer them.

There are many components to an event design. From identifying event objective/purpose to getting post event feedback and everything in between. One thing that unsuccessful event planners miss the mark on is marketing! Trust me, I know the struggle firsthand as a solopreneur. What’s the benefit of having a superb event setup if no one is there? Here’s a few tips on how to get folks to your next event.

Know Your Target Audience

This is the first thing you need to identify for your event. Who your audience is will shape your entire event design and it’s especially critical for your marketing to ensure you reach the right people. A digital marketing strategy is essential for a successful event.

So, how do you identify your audience? Your social media “indicators” is an event planners best friend! Social media platforms collect this information for you. Click insights to learn how to find your Facebook Business Page data. If you need additional information about your audience outside your Facebook Page Insights simply ask your business page followers with a poll.

Create Scroll Stopping Graphics

Create promotions for your event using graphics. This is a great way to let your audience know about your event. I use Canva to create my event promotions. I’m technology challenged, so keeping things simple and easy works best for me. Canva is user friendly and also has a free plan option. Click Canva to learn more.

Make sure the information on your graphic is clear and direct. Simply answer when, where, time, and cost of your event. Also include a link on graphic where tickets can be purchased. Don’t go to overboard with fonts and photos; you don’t want your ad to be too busy. It’s best to keep things nice and simple.

Create Facebook Event Page

Facebook Event Pages are a great way to engage with your event guest prior to your event. Under “About” on your event page be sure to give a brief description about your event and answer when, where, time and cost. Here you can also include a ticket link for your event. Eventbrite is a great tool to use if you’re hosting a ticketed event. It’s user friendly and has a free option plan. Click Eventbrite to learn more.

You can communicate with guest under “Discussion” on your event page. Here is where you can share with your event guests about your event agenda, speakers, and vendors. Be sure to make your event public so it can be shared by others. The more eyes that get on your event the better! Click Doing It For The Book to view my YouTube tutorial about maximizing Facebook Event Pages.

Create A Promo Campaign

A great promotion campaign contains mixed media which includes graphics, photos, and videos. Ripl is a great app that I’ve used to create promotional videos. It’s user friendly and have a free option plan. Have you noticed that I love “free options”? Click Ripl to learn more.

People have short attention spans, so it’s very important that you consistently rotate your promotions and remind your audience about your event. If you plan to have vendors and/or speakers at your event, be sure to include them in the promo rotation too! I ask vendors and speakers for short bios, headshots, logos, social media/website links and photos of their products. If you have an email list, I also recommend that you inform your list about your event.

Do you have any additional tips on how to get folks to an event? Please share and post your advice in comments below.

Do you have an event coming up? If so, be sure to grab my event checklist to make sure you’re prepared for a successful event!

Tonya – Visionary of The Vine Events

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