Great events still need people in the room. These event marketing ideas are simple, cheap and work for conferences, workshops, launches and festivals alike. Pick the five that suit your audience and do them well.
Before you launch
1. Write one sentence that sells the event
If you can't say who the event is for and why they should come in one sentence, your marketing will be vague. Use that sentence at the top of the event page, in every post and in every email.
2. Build a page that answers every question
Date, time, venue, programme, speakers, what each ticket includes, parking and the refund policy. A complete page converts more visitors into buyers and ranks better on Google.
3. Tell your past attendees first
People who came before are your warmest audience. Give them a day of early access before the public launch.
Create urgency
4. Use a real early-bird deadline
A lower price that ends on a specific date is still the strongest driver of early sales. Remind people 48 hours before it ends.
5. Show that tickets are going
Limit ticket types to real quantities and let people see when a type sells out. Scarcity is persuasive when it is true.
6. Offer group bookings
Companies often send teams. A group booking option turns one decision-maker into five or ten tickets.
Borrow other people's audiences
7. Give speakers ready-made posts
Speakers want a full room. Send each one a graphic with their photo and a short post with the event link. Speaker profile pages on your event site help too.
8. Give partners their own discount code
Associations, sponsors and media partners share more when their members get a deal. A partner discount code also shows you which partner brought in the most sales.
9. Ask exhibitors and sponsors to invite their clients
Sponsors want their best clients at the event. Give them complimentary or discounted tickets to share.
Use the channels your audience uses
10. WhatsApp
Share the event link in relevant groups and status updates, and use WhatsApp for reminders closer to the day. Keep messages short with one clear link.
11. LinkedIn for business events
Post as your company and as the people organising the event. Behind-the-scenes posts about speakers and the programme work better than repeated "buy tickets" posts.
12. Email, in a sequence
Plan three to five emails: the announcement, the speaker line-up, the early-bird reminder, "last tickets" and the final logistics. Each should have one purpose and one link.
13. Be found on Google
People search for "events near me" or "marketing conference London". A public event page with a clear title, a description, the venue and date helps search engines understand your event and show it in results.
Keep the momentum going
14. Make the day shareable
A photo wall, a hashtag and great speakers produce content your guests share, which markets the next event for you.
15. Follow up within 48 hours
Thank guests, share photos and slides, send certificates and announce the date of the next event with an early-bird offer while the excitement is fresh.
Put it into practice
Event Star gives every event a page built to be shared and found, with ticket types, discount codes and group bookings built in. Read how to sell event tickets online, or book a demo.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start marketing my event?
Start six to eight weeks before a small event and three to six months before a conference or festival, with an early-bird offer at the start.
What is the most effective way to promote an event?
Email to past attendees and partners, a clear early-bird deadline and speakers sharing the event with their own networks usually drive the most ticket sales.
How can I promote an event for free?
Share the event page on WhatsApp and LinkedIn, ask speakers and partners to share it, list it on event directories and email your existing contacts.
