What would happen if you plan a perfect Christmas party and forget to tell people about it?
Just like a dinner party, a business event may be successful, when people appear and later on spread the word about the value they received.
And here comes in the event marketing.
When you organize an event, personal or business, it requires immense planning and attention to detail. While hosting an event, online or offline, make sure to have a specific goal, which could range from promoting your business, product sales, networking, work-shopping ideas, etc.
Once the event idea is born, start creating a plan, using this simple guide to event marketing:
1. Set your goal
Why are you hosting the event? What is your motive and objective? What is the goal of the event? These are the first questions that need to be answered before you continue.
For example, if your goal is sales, the content you build to market the event needs to drive towards sales. Similarly, the way you attract people should focus on sales.
2. Set your Budget
Naturally you would want it all, and want the best of everything, but that often leads to a hole in your pocket. Set a budget for your event, and stick to it. It’s easy to overspend, but it’s extremely difficult to make up for the extra money spent.
3. Market your Event
There are many ways to market an event. 40% of businesses use social media to market an event, however, email marketing, at 76%, is the most popular.
You will need a content marketing plan to create a buzz around the event, making people excited to register or RSVP. Your event marketing registration efforts should get the word out and boost your attendance.
4. Automate
If you don’t have someone that can share the content you’ve created according to your content management plan, then you can use email automation. This lets you share and manage content by yourself, but with the efficiency of having a delegated resource.
5. Promote
When you have your content and medium set, it’s time to send your campaign and raise awareness by reaching out to as many potential customers as possible.
6. Engage
When future attendees are excited and see the value in your event, you create a buzz that draws more attention. Promote social sharing, social comments, audience interactions, and other discussions.
A cool hashtag, or a tweet that creates a sense of urgency may compel people to attend the event.
7. Evaluate
Measure and evaluate how campaign was performing against pre-set goals and objectives by analyzing the data and the results. This can help you make stronger plans and tweak the strategy along the way to make the most of your efforts.
