Tips on How to Maximise Guest Attendance at Your Events
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A successful event needs a room full of people, and today the demand for our attention and for our time is unprecedented. Whatever type of event you are going to arrange, you will need to ensure that you attract a high level of interest and that your invitation and your event are elevated in people’s consciousness.
When generating interest in attending an event, we must be on the invitees’ agenda; ‘What is in it for them?’
Once we have formulated a compelling case, and given people a reason to show up, we must recognise that there are many different ways of delivering our invitation and of attracting and retaining invitees’ attention leading up to the event. Today, the best plans for this utilise several different types of media, to cast a wide net. It is all about linking back to your customer base and communicating with them in a way that acknowledges this evolution in communication.
Creating hash tags for events enables event organisers to see who is talking about their events on Twitter, whilst Google Alerts and various other more complex social media monitoring tools are available to event organisers to see who is taking about your event in the wider online world, where you may previously have been unaware your event was being mentioned.
When engaging with your suppliers, it is now time to start asking about how conversant they are with online tools, what online intelligence they can provide for you and about the number of followers they are engaged with.
Mashable, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, YouTube, Pinterest, company blogs, special interest blogs and various other social media platforms, networks and communities need to be blended in with the traditional forms of communication. There is no one, new, shiny, silver bullet that supersedes everything else. I am not advocating that you stop doing ‘that’ and just do ‘this.’ Rather, that these social media channels add to what you have always done in the past and offer a wider opportunity to deliver your message, retain interest and to engage your potential guests than ever before. Where appropriate, multiple avenues should be utilised to their fullest and it makes sense to research and use the social networking sites or communities that your client base frequents.
Social media platforms and tools can not only inform them about your event, and your corporate activities, but can also ensure you receive substantial, additional, free marketing and exposure. Savvy Planners are increasingly leveraging their events with smart social media marketing
Another useful tip is to consider sending out a list of invitees with the invitations. Something as simple as: ‘We are pleased to inform that delegates/guests from the following companies have been invited.’ Those looking to meet and network amongst people from specific companies will more likely accept.
By thinking about how to maximise and retain your guests’ interest prior to the event, you do the best you can to guarantee a full room.
This is another key element of consideration for an Impeccable Planner.
Mark Perl – Author, speaker, trainer, event MC and expert in the skills of Planning and Hosting events professionally
www.impeccablehost.co.uk @markperl
- impeccablehost
Detailed info on event management can be found on the main website.
