It is important to plan a conference meticulously, but it’s also crucial that you market the event effectively. The right marketing strategies will help you attract attendees to your event whether it’s in person, virtual or hybrid. They can also build anticipation and increase engagement. Here are 12 conference marketing ideas that will elevate your event.
1. Leverage Social Media
Social media platforms can be powerful marketing tools. Encourage speakers, sponsors and attendees to utilize a hashtag that is unique. To build excitement, share regular updates, teasers and behind-the scenes content. Engage your audience by hosting live Q&A sessions before the event.
2. Create a Compelling Event Website
A user-friendly, attractive website is crucial for the promotion of your conference. Include important details such as the agenda, speaker biographies, registration info, and highlights of past events. The site should be optimized for mobile devices, and a countdown clock can help create urgency.
3. Email marketing campaigns
Segment your list of email recipients to target attendees according to their interests. Offer exclusive early bird discounts and personalize your emails. Send out regular newsletters with valuable updates and content related to conference themes.
4. Work with Influencers in the Industry
Partnering with influential people who are well-known in your field can help you to increase the visibility of your event. Ask them to be guest speakers, or have them share promotional material. Influencer endorsements give credibility to their work and help them attract followers.
5. Early Bird Discounts
Offer discounted tickets to early registrants. As the event date nears, use a tiered pricing approach to increase ticket prices. These deals can be promoted on social media or through email campaigns.
6. Create Engaging Video Content
Videos are an effective way to grab attention. Create teaser video clips featuring keynote speakers. Highlight past events and show off venue tours. Share them on your website, social media and email newsletters.
7. Create a Virtual Event Hub
Create a central online hub for hybrid or virtual conferences where attendees can find schedules, links to sessions, and opportunities for networking. Include interactive features such as live polls or chat rooms to keep attendees engaged.
8. You can run a contest or giveaway
Promote excitement by holding a contest in which participants can win exclusive merchandise or free tickets. Encourage social sharing to attract new audiences and increase visibility.
9. Post blog posts and guest articles
Blog posts about industry trends and key speakers are great ways to create content that relates to your conference theme. Invite industry leaders to guest post and include a link to your registration page.
10. Utilize Paid Advertising
To reach your target audience, invest in targeted ads through platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Google. You can use data from past events to adjust your strategy and target similar demographics.
11. Engage attendees after the event
Sending thank you emails to attendees and sharing the key takeaways of the event is a great way to follow up. Upload recordings to your website, and ask for feedback via surveys. By creating a community, you can keep the momentum for future events going.
12. Offer group discounts
Discounts for groups or teams can be offered to encourage group attendance. Encourage companies to send multiple representatives by promoting these offers.
Final Thoughts
These conference marketing strategies will help you increase the reach and impact of your event. You can make your conference stand out by leveraging digital platforms and collaborating with influential people. Always start early, be consistent and gather feedback for future events.