Spread the Word: Tips on Using Social Media to Promote an Event
The goal of any event or social affair is to have attendees connect, interact, and share their experience with others. Likewise, social media allows users to network, engage, and share with their peers instantaneously. So, why not market an event on a platform where all that engagement is already happening?
Whether you’re planning a local fundraiser or a national conference, you want to publicize your event in a compelling and effective way. Here are five tips to maximize your exposure and market an event on social media.
Create a Facebook Event Page
Those with a regular social media presence check Facebook at least once a day. So, one of the first steps to advertising your event should be to create a Facebook event page. An event page makes it easy for Facebook users to receive event updates and network with other users.
Prospective guests can like your page, share the event with their contact list, and interact with one another on the event page wall.
Share User-Generated Content
Spotlight the media, discussions, and thoughts people are generating about your event on your social media accounts. Capitalize on attendees’ excitement by sharing their event photos, tweets, or videos in a status update. Encourage people to comment and talk about the event by making them feel more connected and engaged. When you tag specific users in your updates, your event information spreads even wider, reaching those beyond your own contact list.
Monitoring user-generated content also alerts you to opportunities to improve your event or social media campaign. You can immediately address attendees’ concerns by replying directly to their comments.
Produce a Highlight Reel
For reoccurring events, you want to show all prospective attendees what they missed out on in the past and what they can expect in the future. Create a highlight reel of pictures, videos, and other sharable material that captures the energy and significance of your event. Utilize striking visuals and catchy audio to generate excitement. Influence participation by conveying the value of your event, giving specific benefits of attending.
Display your highlight reel everywhere, especially on YouTube. With more than a billion visitors, YouTube is the most-used video platform on the Internet and the second largest search engine in the world. Gain access to these users by establishing a strong YouTube presence.
Brand Your Event with a Hashtag
An integral tool of social media marketing is the event-specific hashtag. Created on Twitter, the hashtag categorizes users’ messages. But, hashtags are now showing up across many different social media platforms, including:
Hashtags allow users to easily organize and unify their content across multiple social media channels. Branding all posts about your event with the same hashtag makes it easy for people to find the event-specific content you’re sharing on any platform.
Be sure to include your hashtag on every piece of digital property you create. Add it to the About or Bio sections on each of your social accounts. Attach it to your email signature. Edit all pictures and graphics with a hashtag overlay. Encourage attendees to use your hashtag, too, whenever they mention your event in their own social media updates. Anywhere you can think of to share your hashtag, do!
Thanks to social media, online event promotion is easy and affordable, but having a reliable event planner is invaluable as well. Event planners take the work out of coordinating venues, menus, and vendors. Planners are thorough in covering every detail, such as correct seating arrangements and gluten-free menu options.
Focus your efforts on advertising while McHale’s Catering takes care of the particulars. By leveraging all tools available, you can be sure to make your next event a successful one.
