It is important that you maintain a certain level of engagement with your customers all year round to ensure a large turnout when you actually invite them for an event. Most event holders and brands tend to forget this and only reach out to guests when they know and realize that their event is around the corner. In this article we will be exploring some of the strategies to achieve this and be in constant communication with your audience build on your brand and promote it before your hold your first event.

1. Increase event registration and ticket sales

It has been recommended that the best way to achieve this is through your own event app. Event apps as we saw earlier are an upcoming trend in event branding this year <link to post about 6 trends in event branding we should be adopting this year>Alternatively you could design a landing page on your website specifically for event registration and drive traffic to that webpage either through ads on search engines or from social media advertising. Email marketing could as well come in handy when reminding some of your loyal and subscribed customers to register and attend your event.

2. Get sponsors for your event

Sponsors are a great way to promote your event. What happens is that when sponsors agree to come on board and be part of your event, they will as well promote your event, which is a win win for you as the news about your event tends to travel far and wide and reach a greater audience.

3. Mention and promote your guests of honors and keynote speakers

Letting people know who you have lined up as important presenters and speakers of your event tends to drive excitement through the hearts of your prospective guests and this in turn usually pushes them to register for that event and buy tickets because they want to attend and see some of these people being advertised.

4. Think outside the box: Surprise your audience

Seth Godin says that “in a crowded market trying to fit in is a failure. And he goes on to say that as well in a busy market place, not standing out is just as the same as being invisible”. Therefore in an era where social media platforms are constantly being plagued by ads, it would be strategic to think differently as opposed to also using ads for example to promote your event. Be innovative, surprise your audience and through his you will be able to cut through the noise and stand out.

5. Promote your event offline

As much as you will find yourself promoting your event online, in a pre-marketing strategy, it would be as equally important to promote your event offline using traditional marketing methods. Use methods such as outdoor displays (billboards), print out and distribute flyers, and spread the news of the event through word of mouth.