As a business, one of the most powerful tools you have at your fingertips is marketing. Having a presence outside of the store is the only way to grow a successful business. Without marketing, consumers, investors, and other businesses will have little (if any) idea as to who you are.
In terms of marketing power, two of the most effective marketing tools you can utilize are social media marketing and event marketing. Both social media and event marketing are effective tools to reach consumers in unique ways and have the ability to create meaningful relationships between your business and your customers.
While social media itself has been proven to be a key player in the modern marketing world, it also has the ability to market other marketing strategies, namely a live event. Whereas businesses once had to spread the word about an event through print marketing, social media is a fast, global way to reach your audience.
Here are four ways you can leverage your event marketing with social media:
1. Idea
Before releasing your event idea to your audience, make sure you have all of your bases covered. For instance, if your business is planning a benefit concert, before releasing any information to your fans and loyal customers, make sure the bands are lined up, the venue is secure, and the equipment and power generator rental has been prearranged. (Generators are perfect for remote sites and locations, ensuring your event runs long into the night, no matter where the location is.)
Or, consider involving your customers in the planning stage by asking what type of event and location they would be most interested in.
2. Share
In order for an event to gain much traction over social media, you must have an idea that is shareable. In order for an event to go viral, the event has to be interesting enough that your social media followers will not only want to attend the event, but will want to share the information to their families, friends, and over their personal social media channels. In order for your idea to be shared, your idea must be engaging enough to warrant a response.
3. Pre-Event Awareness
Once you have your event lined up, promote, promote, promote. Pre-event awareness can offer staggering results. Taking the time to involve your biggest customers, fans, and supporters with event information can lead to a huge payout in the end.
Use social media resources, such as Hootsuite or Buffer, to schedule frequent posts and updates promoting the event throughout the months and weeks leading up to it. With each new post, offer a new, exciting detail. For instance, every couple of weeks, release a new band that will be appearing at the benefit concert. This can help to create excitement and anticipation for the event.
4. Incentives
It’s no secret that customers like incentives. Offering certain incentives will expand your reach for not only your event, but for your business as a whole. One way, for example, to get customers to share your event content is to offer them a chance to be entered into a drawing for a free iPad if they share the information electronically.
Using social media to your advantage can elevate your event exponentially.
Written by: Miguel Salcido Source: www.AllBusiness.com
_______________________________
THE MARK CONSULTING & MARKETING