EVENT TEAM – Presenters, sponsors, partners and suppliers
YOUR LIST – Email the people on your list
PAST ATTENDEES – Ask people who attended last year to save the date and invite their friends.
PEOPLE YOU CORRESPOND WITH – Add to your signature
SOCIAL MEDIA FRIENDS & FANS — Create event pages where ideal guests socializes or network for business
ENGAGE YOUR EVENT TEAM
Ask presenters, sponsors, partners and suppliers to invite people, providing swipe file and media they can use to make it easy.
Mention and tag presenters, sponsors, partners and suppliers on brand and event pages.
Invite presenters, sponsors, partners and suppliers to be Facebook Event Hosts so that the event can also be on their Facebook page.
Add presenters to the LinkedIn event page and ask them to share and invite people, providing directions, sample media, and text to make it easy.
Provide swipe file and media that makes sharing easy.
FOLLOW-UP ON INVITES
Follow up with guests so they don’t miss out.
Adding content to the event page you’ve invited them to on Facebook will bring that page up in their feed again.
Focus on peaking their interest in the value, and always include the registration link.
Consider paid advertising and other ways to ensure the guest sees and registers for the event, as most people don’t buy the first time they learn of an event.
CALENDAR – Make it easy for guests to register and prompt them to get the event on their calendar.
CREATE SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ – Drip content to encourage guests to register, share with their friends and engage in other ways. Most people won’t buy something the first time, so ensure your plan ensures they see it many times. Highlight and tag your event team – especially your sponsors. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Save the date
Announce the date and time.
Practice Sessions make for a better event and often catch tech and branding issues. They also give a behind-the-scenes look at your event in the planning. Be sure to mention or tag attendees and leverage media, of course.
Behind the scenes
Highlight the reel from the last event.
Highlight and tag event partners tied to value, or it doesn’t appear as an ‘ad’ on their social media page.
Agenda
Teaser videos of upcoming presentations
Presenter(s) photos / interviews / promo reel(s) along with their sponsor
CONTEST – Allow people to enter a friend’s name who needs the event but can’t afford to go
FOOD — Provide links to guests to make it easy for them to order food fast.
HOT SEATS — Allow attendees to sign up for hot seats or laser coaching sessions and announce who won
HIGHLIGHT NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES – Incorporate online networking sessions before and after the event to allow attendees to connect.
HYDRATE — Remind guests to hydrate.
PRICING – Create different price tiers to increase the audience size
SURVEYS & QUIZZES — Involve your audience early and gauge guest knowledge.
Thank sponsors when you highlight the presenters with their photos/videos.
Facts, stories, and visuals that are interesting.
Welcome videos to greet potential attendees.
Countdown posts create a sense of anticipation.
Testimonials from previous attendees build credibility.
MEASURE Engagement & OTHER KEY METRICS — before the event
MOBILE APPS – make event engagement easy, providing helpful notifications, maps, and interactions with virtual guests
PERSONALIZE AGENDAS — Allowing guests to personalize their agenda based on their interests increases the chances they’ll be able to attend the sessions they’re most interested in.
PRACTICE SESSION – Prepare speakers and moderators by providing them with directions, event schedules, and points of contact.
The diverse experience Sue Sutcliffe has gained as one of Canada’s digital marketing pioneers, will help your business or brand dominate the digital.
WORK WITH SUE