Digital Marketing for Events – How to Market an Event Online

 

 

In a fast-moving world, whether you are an events company, restaurant, bar, or pub business – you need effective digital marketing for events to stay competitive.

As businesses in the hospitality sector gain traction, the demand for them to boost their marketing efforts takes center stage.

Among various initiatives, digital marketing for events seems the most effective yet tricky.

If you are an established brand, promoting your event online may be a piece of cake. However, for a relatively smaller or mid-sized business or someone setting out on their maiden journey to market an event, things could appear daunting.

In this article, we discuss some quick and truly remarkable ways to market an event online that will help you sail smoothly while achieving the desired results.

Let’s get started.

 

6 creative ideas for your next event

 

1. Use social media effectively
2. Leverage local influencers
3. Creating a unique website page
4. Boost your content marketing
5. Use email lists
6. Run targeted ads for events
7. Quick tips

 

1. Use social media effectively

 

In the digital age, social media presence is a norm for every business to follow.

Most of your customers, prospects, and followers find you easily on these platforms.

While you certainly boost your brand by regularly interacting through engaging posts, captivating visuals, and more, there are other little-known ways to leverage social media.

Facebook events page, for example, lets you create a dedicated page showcasing your event’s features and highlights.

Thanks to technology that offers so many add-ons, including enthralling videos, eye-catching visuals, and interesting images, you can also keep track of who is attending the event, set reminders, and so on.

 

 

Yet another example is Instagram, where you can post pictures or snapshots of events, encouraging and attracting a greater audience.

Incorporating a visual element, such as how your venue visitors should be dressed up for the event, is the key aspect in driving the crowd.

Additionally, leverage other social media tools like filters and event hashtags to expand your outreach on the specific event.

Another effective digital marketing technique for events is conducting contests and hosting giveaways on these platforms to keep your target audience engaged.

 

2. Leverage local influencers

 

Digital marketing for events is incomplete without active promotion from various local influencers.

Depending on your budget and the target audience for the event, reach out to relevant yet popular local influencers, artists, or celebrities whose endorsements will add flavor to your brand.

 

 

Collaboration is always key in setting up wider outreach, even during events.

Talk to companies in this regard and establish brand partnerships, encouraging them to promote your event in your locality.

 

3. Creating a unique website page

 

Despite the growing popularity of social media, many people prefer visiting websites.

This makes it imperative for you to keep your website updated with any changes or additions to your menu, locations, or other content.

That said, websites are a great way to boost your brand, especially to market an event online.

 

 

Craft a unique event page focused solely on the upcoming event, describing its prime highlights and specialties, a sneak peek into the menu, and more.

This will serve as a robust tool in garnering the attention of those customers and leads who are ardent connoisseurs of websites.

Make sure to include all details like special guests, a brief list of games or other entertainments, a food and drink menu, or any teasers.

That way, you don’t miss out on grabbing the attention of that proportion of the audience who may not be active on social media.

 

4. Boost your content marketing

 

Another indirect yet worthwhile strategy to market your event online is to focus more on content marketing before the event.

Leverage all your channels—YouTube, blogs, videos, and such—to post engaging content relevant to the event.

 

 

Include some fascinating photos, sneak peeks, or similar content on the upcoming event to sustain the audience’s interest.

This is a compelling means of digital marketing for events that can spread the word about your events or programs to a larger audience.

 

5. Use email lists

 

An underestimated yet resourceful way of digital marketing for events is your email lists.

The rule of thumb is email marketing works best when there’s something to offer for free.

For example, a free coupon may serve as a gateway to signing up new leads to your email list or newsletter.

This same technique lets you effectively promote an upcoming event in your restaurant or pub.

 

 

 

In this case, ideally, invite the guests well in advance, covering all info on the event.

Use well-designed yet attractive templates with vibrant colors aligned to your brand to craft the emails.

A point worth noting is that you should not forget to include your email signature.

Always ensure that your customers or prospects are confirmed of the email’s authenticity, and do not mistake you for a spammer.

 

6. Run targeted ads for events

 

Targeted sponsored social media or search engine ads let you attract a specific audience.

Create captivating yet engaging adverts to entice the audience to the designated event and increase your brand’s popularity.

 

 

 

The best part of using these paid ads is observing how each ad works in terms of analytics like clicks, impressions and views.

By embracing this data-driven approach, your digital marketing for events will let you go the extra mile in bringing in more visitors, turning your event into a major success.

 

7. Quick tips

 

• Send out reminders at regular intervals before the event to let your audience stay focused.
• Post pre-event behind-the-scenes as brief videos.
• Always send a thank you email or message on social media – post the event.
• Leverage analytics to track and monitor the success.
• Retargeting ads also help increase the event’s popularity.

 

Wrapping up

 

Whether you are a pub, bar, or restaurant – you will make the most of it by organizing events at your venue.

In the internet age, promoting your events online is the obvious yet effective technique, invariably.

Social media tools, retargeting ads, email marketing, and crafting a unique website page highlighting your event are some of the proven techniques of digital marketing for events.

Additionally, do follow the general points outlined in the article to derive the best outcomes.