Organizing an event requires careful planning to ensure maximum ROI. Marketing your event requires an understanding of your target audience, including a deep knowledge of their pain points and preferences. The goal of an event is not necessarily attendance or registration numbers. It should be something more measurable like sales pipeline or revenue. Therefore, event marketers should consider incorporating a theme into their communications and incorporate interactive tools such as surveys, social media, and online calendars. Here are some tips for planning your next event:
Know what content to market before you can plan the event. Establish the event’s name, theme, brand, purpose, and location. Determine its timing and duration. You need to decide if you’d like to hold the event on a specific date or over a long period of time. Then determine who the attendees will be, how they will interact, and what will be the marketing strategy. Then, create an outline of your event’s budget.
Use a combination of channels to promote your event. Consider using social media and an event website, but don’t forget to reach out to local events as well. Print ads and event listing websites can also be beneficial. Email marketing is a proven method of promotion, as 39% of marketers cite email as their greatest event marketing contributor. After all, attendees check their email accounts regularly to receive updates. A Facebook event page will allow you to send out messages about updates to attendees.
Social media is turning into live video. Using live video can engage attendees in a unique way. More event attendees are reaching for their mobile phones and hitting the ‘live’ button on their favorite social media platforms. They’re streaming to connect with their audience and network. Many tools are available that allow attendees to create private live streaming channels. Then, if you’re launching a new product or service, consider using the latest technology to make it more accessible to attendees.
Events are classified by their size, type, and context. Some are private, others are corporate, and still others are charity events. There are many different types of events, but these three categories are the most common. However, there are other categories that you may want to consider. For example, an event can be defined as an assembly, party, a wedding, or a fundraising gala. For example, an event can take place in a church, a university, or a sports team.
Digital badges are an example of event tech. The digital badges enable marketers to engage attendees through a variety of means. These badges can track attendees’ activities and record interactions with vendors. The badges can even help in networking matchmaking and wayfinding. But digital badges have some caveats. They require the consent of event participants, and the data collected should be compliant with GDPR. Even more importantly, it is crucial to keep your data private.