Online events have become the norm over the last six months and with their success, we are sure to see a lot more of them. While many of the tactics used to promote these events will be the same as traditional events, the messaging will be a bit different. Rather than traditional event promotion that hypes up the venue, vendors and experience, online event marketers need to treat these events like a webinar by fully propping up the content and speakers that will present. Here we take a look at several tactics to help promote your next online event.

Timely News Releases

The first piece of content you should produce is a news release that announces your event and the topics your attendees will learn about. You’ll want to let people know who your speakers are and the value they will provide to your ideal persona. Entertainment and accommodations are of particular interest to event goers and should be promoted heavily. You’ll want to have several different press releases prepared to go out as the event draws closer.

A Variety Of Videos

Video has become an essential tool in event promotion. There are several different avenues you can take with your videos and it’s best to use a variety of tactics. You can use snippets from past events to show a few highlights, interview the speakers and entertainers for the upcoming event to give a teaser on what they’ll be talking about or simply make a hype video that communicates the itinerary.

Educational Blogs

As your most forward facing content your company blog plays a key role in the success of your event. You’ll want to write about different pain points and challenges your ideal attendee has and then include a call to action that directs them to your event registration page.

Social Media Marketing Campaigns

Social media marketing is one of the best avenues to promote your event. You’ll want to make sure you use images instead of just posting a link, as they tend to attract the most clicks. You’ll also want to tag the people that will be speaking at the event so they can respond and increase the reach of your posts.

Email Blasts

Segment your contact lists to ensure you are focusing on your ideal audience. You’ll want to have a short but catchy subject line. Within the body of the email describe the value the person will get from attending the event and provide clear direction on how to sign up. A visually stimulating CTA that guides them to your registration page is essential.

Reach Out To Influencers

Reaching out to the influential people in your industry to help promote your event can help boost the credibility of your event. Offering free tickets to future events is a great way to entice influencers into promoting your event. Encourage those that are attending and presenting to link to the registration page when announcing their attendance through their own channels.

Telephone Outreach

There is still no replacing a live conversation in today’s marketing world. Contracting a reputable telemarketing firm for an event registration campaign will help you reach your most highly targeted attendees. Phone conversations generate stronger confirmations and in many cases the prospect will register while on the call.

Paid Online Advertising

There are a variety of different paid networks you can use to promote your event. If you have the budget, paid advertising can be a very effective tool. Paid social media and Google Ads campaigns will help increase your reach and target a refined audience.

Informational Registration Page

While you don’t want to clutter your sign up page with too much information, it’s important that your potential attendees have a clear idea of what your event offers. A great way to do this is to develop an FAQ page dedicated to the event. Provide contact information so attendees can ask any questions they may have.

Confirmation and Reminder Emails

This may be your first direct communication with an attendee. It’s important that your confirmation email contains all relevant information to prepare your attendee for the event. Additionally, one or more reminder emails and/or teleprospecting calls will help to ensure those that sign up, show up.

Leverage Winn’s 30 years of experience to help promote your next online event!