5 creative event promotion ideas

Tue 1 Dec 2020

Planning a large event or conference takes a huge amount of time, money, and effort and the worst nightmare for an event planner is for all that work to go to waste because no one shows up. Here’s how to maximise your ticket sales with some creative promotional tactics.

  1. Join a podcast

Once viewed as a niche trend, podcasts are becoming increasingly popular, especially among young adults. In the UK, the number of weekly podcast listeners has almost doubled over the past five years (from 3.2 million in 2013 to 5.9 million in 2018). Becoming a guest speaker or sponsor for a popular podcast that fits your target audience is a great way to promote your event without spending a fortune on advertising.

  1. Set up a social media giveaway

Social media contests are an effective way to increase awareness of your event, build excitement, and most importantly, boost ticket sales. Encouraging followers to like and share posts or tag a friend in exchange for a chance to win VIP event tickets (or a high-value prize related to your event) can organically generate social media buzz that translates into ticket sales.

  1. Promote on event discovery sites

Most people looking for things to do in their neighbourhood rely on discovery sites such as Facebook Events, Spotify, and Eventful to find out what’s happening near them. Make sure you reach the maximum possible audience by promoting your event on the site that best fits the event type and target audience.

  1. Work with a local influencer or ambassador

Social influencer marketing is on the rise – you can read more about influencer marketing trends in 2019 here. Finding a local influencer who appeals to your target audience and whose image aligns with your brand can be an effective way of boosting ticket sales as potential attendees pay attention to advocates who they view as authentic and trustworthy. Tools such as SocialLadder can help to identify potential ambassadors for your event; offering them VIP tickets, behind-the-scenes access, or another perk via a private social media message is a good way of enlisting their help.

  1. Consider a PR stunt

Depending on the size and scope of your event, a one-off publicity stunt that gets people talking may be an effective technique for boosting ticket sales. This needn’t be as spectacular as the 25-foot statue of Jeff Goldblum that NowTV placed in front of Tower Bridge to promote the 25th anniversary of Jurassic Park, just noteworthy enough to attract the attention of passers-by and generate some local media coverage. Consider attempting a world record attempt related to your event, asking event performers to put on a preview performance in a public area, or partnering with a local animal shelter to market your event alongside an adoption booth.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in event management, an MA in Creative Events Management from Falmouth Flexible can help you develop the skills you need to accelerate your career. 

Discover more

5 ways to make your event more eco-friendly

5 ways to measure event success

 

Creative Events Management, Blog

Get in touch today