11. Online Events Marketing Strategies for 2022 |
It's more and more frequent to see virtual events pop on the scene. For example, a virtual murder-mystery party, an online book tour, or even a virtual happy hour, chances are you've experienced it. Virtual occasions are endless!
For instance, Anne Cocquyt, who established The Guild, a paid membership where women leaders and entrepreneurs are able to connect, network, and improve their personal and professional advancement. Anne's main focus was live events. However, she wanted to preserve the excitement and enthusiasm among members prior to and after these in-person meetups which is why she launched an online event series called the SERENDIPITY. It covers a wide range of topics in business and strengthens the bonds among its participants.
The best thing about hosting a virtual event is it's a lot easier to plan than live gatherings, which involve a lot of logistics like the selection of a location. If you have a great concept and are looking to gather a crowd that is similar to Anne did, hosting an event online could be right for you!
However, before you host one, you need to spread the word about it. Nothing would be worse than not having anyone show up for the event you put your sweat and tears into creating. Our goal in this post is to offer you some online event promotion ideas so that you have people who are eager to attend. Consider these online methods for marketing your event at your next get-together!
The article
What to think about prior to launching your event online
How to market your event on the internet: 11 strategies
8. It is easy for speakers to advertise
11. Validity is based on presales
Conclusion: Are you ready to start?
Things to consider prior to launching your event online
In the process of thinking about the marketing of your event online Some of the foundation work begins before you create an event online to begin with.
Find your unique story
The most important thing is to know who you are, either as an individual or an organisation, and also what your background and story bring to the tables. You can certainly host an online event just for the sake of it, but having the motivation for it (we like to call this the Big Purpose) will have so much more impact.
If we go back to the story of Anne, she believed that there should exist a real community for female entrepreneurs because she wanted to see them create things (like awesome companies) and was confident that she could use her experiences and heart to do just that.
Here are a few questions you can ask yourself to discover your own unique story:
- What do I know about the X subject?
- What problems have I solved successfully by myself?
- What are the issues I have been able to solve for other people?
- What can I impart to an individual who's just starting out?
- Why do I want to host an online event?
- What's my unique perspective? Think about your background, identity, story -factors that make YOU a unique host.
If you're able to answer these questions, you're just one step away from creating and marketing your event online.
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What is your ideal member?
Once you've narrowed in on your unique tale, the next step is to identify who your ideal member will be.
There are many aspects to consider when marketing events online and a key factor is understanding who your target audience is and what they want. When we mention Ideal Member, we're speaking about your most enthusiastic participant, that will benefit the most from your knowledge and content today.
If you are aware of the ideal person for your audience, you'll be able to customize your content to match their preferences. Below are some questions that can assist you in determining the person they could be:
- What stage in their lives is it? At the college years? Pivoting careers? Retired?
- What goal are they striving to achieve?
- What is the reason they can't reach their goal independently?
- What's the biggest misconception about this issue?
- What will your Big Purpose provide them with information about this subject?
This will not only assist you in creating an unforgettable online event (tailored to the ideal member), but it will aid in building strong communities (more on that later).
If you're uncertain about what the answers to these questions are The best method to determine the answer is by interviewing people 1:1 for their perspective.
Additionally, you can take this one step further by thinking about something we like to call a Year in the Life. If you're considering hosting an online series of events, this will benefit you in particular. The point of the Year in the Life exercise is to imagine what your participants will look like next year (e.g. at a higher-paying job or in the best shape of their life ).
If you have an idea of what your Ideal Members will accomplish, and then develop a roadmap to your website and the way it will assist them on the road to success, you've done an important amount of work.
How to market your online eventusing 11 ways to market your event
There are a variety of methods to advertise events online and you must remember that it can take time to achieve results. Make sure you give yourself sufficient time prior to the date to conduct enough advertising regarding it.
1. Email marketing
Making an email list is a great way to market an online event. Marketing via email is inexpensive if not free and easy! The ability to introduce new users to the awesome content you've created and also remind your previous acquaintances of the things you've contributed to.
If you already have an email marketing list, awesome! If not, you don't have to worry. Begin to build your list using ways to connect with people in networking gatherings, inviting your existing social media followers, creating your own "lead magnet" where you give away an important piece of material in exchange for an email address and an opt-in bar to your site.
Be aware that a lot of us have inboxes overflowing with messages. You don't want your emails to get hidden in the chaos.
Don't be afraid to send periodic reminder emails about your special event. Start a few weeks or months in advance, and slowly send emails about your forthcoming occasion. If you're using an effective software for marketing via email, you can even program the emails.
Make sure that your emails are interesting and provide worth. Let's say the event you are hosting is focused on making money from art. Every email might provide a glimpse into the kind of event you're planning (e.g. the speaker, workshop or networking event ).
At the end of your emails make sure you include a call to action (CTA) such as "Register Today" and a hyperlink back to a landing page on which your contacts can sign up to attend the occasion. In terms of providing the most value to your customers, it is possible to provide an important tip at the beginning of your email, after which you can provide additional information regarding your event, and include an CTA.
If you're thinking of hosting more online events, make sure to collect attendees' emails so they're informed about future events!
2. Leverage social media
If you're selling a program either an ebook or in this case an event, if your customers like you and your perspective will be more inclined to trust the product you're offering and buy it. A lot of people think you require a large social media following in order to promote your products or even events. However, this isn't the case.
In reality, lots of our creators perform fine, even without huge followings on social media.
Keep things easy make use of your social networks to benefit. You already built up an following on these platforms. Develop engaging content that gives viewers a sense of what the occasion will focus on and the person you represent.
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3. Create content
Content creation is a great method to create your own online presence so that potential customers become familiar with your brand and then buy what that you're offering. It can be done whatever format you want regardless of photos, text or video.
You could start a blog and share your thoughts. The blog could be a visual informational graphic, share testimonials from clients or write engaging posts on social media for your audience. Consider creating a YouTube channel.
Whichever avenue you decide to take make sure you are consistent with your video style, topics and the frequency with which you post to let people get an idea of the person you represent. So, when you want to convince them of something, you've earned their trust, and they'll be more likely to be a buyer of the product you've created (like an awesome online event ).
4. Create a webinar that is free to attend.
When it comes to creating content A different way to build trust and persuade participants to sign up for your event on the internet is by hosting a free webinar. Think about times when you were given a free sample and actually bought the item later due to the quality (e.g. perfume, food delivery service, TV subscription platform, etc. ).
You can do the similar thing with regard to advertising your event on the web with a webinar that is free or even mini-workshop to potential participants.
- You can take a sample of a segment that you will discuss at your event and put it up for free as an online talk.
- Maybe you organize the panel discussion using three participants and they discuss some aspect of the event.
- or, you can develop a webinar that simply introduces yourself, your story, and the event you're hosting.
Do not just use your webinar as a sales pitch about your event online, offer some value (or even some homework) which your viewers will be able to take away. Let them be happy at the content they received but still wanting more.
It is possible to choose either live or recorded webinars the choice is entirely the decision of yours. However, what we can say is that when people run pre-recorded webcasts ... they are displaying. If you are able to do live broadcasts, they're more personable.
If you're not familiar with thiskind of thing, it's difficult to build trust with potential customers. Giving away free content can be a good option to advertise online events because it gives the attendees a glimpse of what they'll be getting at the occasion.
5. Make an online community
Some people think that the creation of communities is too much work when you consider organizing an event online. It's actually the best transition.
It's already brought people together who are like-minded people to discover something new to grow and develop, as well as provide an environment where individuals can tackle challenges and come up with solutions.
Essentially, you're already building an entire community! Therefore, why not create an exclusive space that they can gather prior to, during, and even after the event?
The community space you have must be one where people are excited and feel valued. The people who visit want to feel respected and respected. So, make sure that , at minimum , your community does this. In order to achieve this, you must establish the ground rules. After all, you want everybody to treat everyone with respect.
The overall excitement and enjoyment you would like participants to experience at your online event should also be the way they experience your community online. The online community should be fun and engaging space in which members can connect with each other, your posts, and with you.
When you pick one of these platforms , you can easily build an online community and host virtual events, all in one place (under the brand name of your choice).
with a Mighty Network You get:
- Ability to bill for memberships, courses, community and many more.
- Numerous ways to connect to your members, including polls and direct messages.
- Create engaging content (surveys and Q&As streaming webinars, etc.).
- accessible anywhere via the internet, as well as iOS as well as Android devices.
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6. Testimonials
Another option for marketing your online event is asking customers (if you own a company) or students (if there is a course) and members (if you are part of the option of a community) about their success stories. Such proof can go in the direction of creating trust among your attendees, and people need to trust in order to buy.
If you're thinking about how testimonials will help market your event online Think about it this manner:
- The ability to build relationships by highlighting stories can be a method show your support for the people who are your biggest cheerleaders. If you've got systems like this put in place, you're creating a relationship with your audience and offering them an experience that is unique.
- You've got proof: People aren't likely to take you for your word in the event that they don't even know who you really are. If you've got clients or students promoting your online event, you've got their stamp of approbation. This shows that they trust you and value your work.
The end of the day, If you're providing value, by giving them the tools to solve their challenges some will be more than happy to provide you with a testimonial (that you can use to advertise your services) and they'll be eager to share the news in any capacity they are able to. The power of word-of-mouth is powerful!
7. Build relations
One key for a good marketing strategy is networking. Think about the people you've talked to to find out who you think your Ideal Customer is? If you've already established connections with them, and created an online community that was specifically designed for people like them, they may be interested in signing up!
Approach them with a low-pressure invite, like "Hey! I'd like to let you know about my online event that's happening on (date) in the morning at (time) I'm sure that you'll get something out of it , and the cost is just (price). Let me know if you would like to join me!" The timing might not be right for them. However, don't be too surprised by the possibility of securing a handful of interested participants.
Take it one more step. Networking and relationships are the backbone of any event. That's why building a solid network strategy could create a massive impact.
Here are a few other ways to connect:
- Join networking events (online, hybrid or in-person).
- Participate in events or during conferences.
- Post to appropriate LinkedIn groups on LinkedIn.
- Make genuine 1:1 connections via the social networks.
- Be a guest on a podcast.
- You can be a guest author on someone else's site.
The two previous examples can also be considered cross-promotion (you can subtly plug your event online into your podcast or the blog you're creating). That brings us to our next strategy...
8. Make it easy for speakers to get their message out to the world.
Getting the word out about your online event to as many people as feasible is not an easy task. So why not ask for a bit of help? The best way to accomplish this is by asking the guest speakers you have invited to help promote your event.
This is known as cross-promotion, where you announce your guest speaker at your event, and they promote the fact that they'll speak at your gathering. What's great about this is that you'll be able to reach people would not otherwise have access to previously (like their social media followers), plus it's a win-win for you both.
It is important making it as simple for them to promote your event online. There is also the option of providing graphics or messaging for them.
9. Assign ambassadors
There's no doubt that people love being acknowledged for their efforts. One easy and effective strategy to make sure that people know out about your online event is to let your attendees help you with marketing. In the end, if you've got a strong social media community, or even a community, who better to assign to be your ambassadors than your top fans?
Your ambassadors might know how to advertise an online event using a unique and ingenuous approach that you've not considered previously. It is possible to reward them by offering a percentage of the sales (e.g. for every registration, they get 15% commission of ticket sales) Or, you can offer them your latest online course or ebook.
10. Provide incentives
Just as people like being rewarded for their work and hard work, they also enjoy good deals! Remember times when you had your eye on something like one of the most expensive handbags or electric bicycle and then it finally became available for sale. You get a dopamine hit simply because you know that you got a great deal.
You can use this method to market your event online. The most important thing to do is be to ensure that your event online gives value and solutions for your attendees' pain points. What if you offered them something small extra? Now we're talking.
You could offer discounts for early birds like 10%, for individuals who register early (this could be linked to urgency , too) "today's the last day to save 10 %").
Here are some possible bonus opportunities you might offer:
- Ebook
- Premium subgroup
- A special webinar
- 1:1 coaching call
- Merch
11. Validity is based on presales
Now that you've done all of this work, from narrowing in the ideal member is, and strategically promoting your event, you'll need to see if you can test the waters. That's where the preselling step comes in. Perhaps you're wondering, but what exactly is preselling got to relate to marketing? When you provide a pre-sales for an event, you're expanding the buzz around it, and you're also gauging the level of interest.
It's very easy to think, "That event sounds so intriguing, I'll attend!" and then not attend the event. Having a presale validates the idea and shows that the people will be willing to pay.
Another advantage of the presale process is that it can help fund the online event as well as any other equipment that needed for it. Also, it allows you to change course if need be. You might have prospective attendees seeking clarification because something regarding the event doesn't seem to be evident (like the date and whether they'll get an audio recording in case they didn't attend). It's moment to adjust!
You could even have a target goal in mind like If you're able to get 20 participants to register, you'll sure host the online event. If you don't, go back to scratching the surface.
Conclusion: Ready to start?
The article has discussed 11 web-based event marketing strategies, but none of that will matter if you're not hosting your event on an excellent platform.
If you select this platform, you're receiving much more than just a fantastic virtual event platform. Additionally, you'll get powerful tools to build a beautiful site, interactive tools to interact with your guests, as well as many ways to monetize your brand (paid memberships, online courses, virtual events ).
On top of that, you get access to fantastic tools for hosting your event's virtual presence, including RSVPs and messaging (to remind people). The Mighty Network offers a variety of ways for your members to interact before or after the event has ended (through the use of text chat and polls, questionnaires, discussions boards and even comments). ).
Best of all, you can build a thriving network for the community, which is available at any time. Might Networks lets you publish speaker bios (ahead of the time) and repurpose conferences which you could transform into mastermind or online course groups, and offer replays and recorded videos. It's all done with your own branding.
Create your event community today!