With so many distractions these days, finding creative ways to market your brand is difficult – but it can be easier with these 6 event marketing ideas.
Marketing an event, whether you are hosting it or participating in it, will require you to be creative. Of course, how creative you get may depend on your industry. Some are much larger and more competitive than others.
No matter what, though, if you are working to make your brand known, then you need some skills.
When it comes to event marketing ideas to elevate your brand, you are going to need to call in back up. Good thing – we’ve got you covered. Literally. (yes, that pun was intended). Here are 6 ideas to get your name out there.
1. Create Friends, Not Presentations
People get nervous when it comes to first-time business and networking interactions. After all, you have to be friendly, shake hands, and make that awkward small talk with strangers.
Do this over and over again throughout an event, the chances of anyone actually remembering someone is quite slim.
So, what can you do to make yourself – as the representative of your brand – known and remembered by everyone you come in contact with?
Make friends.
Be genuine, kind, and comfortable. Talk to the people you meet as if they were your new friend. Mention your brand and talk about it, but do so as if you were talking to a friend.
Don’t make it awkward. Don’t state memorized facts and numbers. And, by all means, don’t follow a script.
In our world full of social media, hashtags are a must when marketing your event. When you have an event on the horizon, creating – and heavily using – a hashtag can increase your presence.
It is a great way to get your brand in the forefront of event-goers minds. And, well, anyone who stumbles upon the hashtag.
If you are privy to email lists, send out an email regarding the event and include the chosen hashtag to follow. Let your audience know that you will keep them up to date with what is happening before, during, and after the event.
When you market your event on your social media accounts, be sure to keep the posts engaging.
For instance, create reveals showing the event unfold. Or, continual pieces of something that they can try to guess what it is – that won’t be revealed until the event. Talk about giveaways and various contests, etc.
You get the idea.
3. Custom-Branded Event Tents
If you truly want to elevate the awareness of your brand, then you need to visibly make yourself known and your events. You need to be present with a heavy presence.
Luckily, you can do this with a custom-branded event tent.
An event tent is completely customizable. This means you can have your own logos, colors, hashtags, and so forth printed directly on the tent. It is one of the most memorable event marketing ideas to help people recognize your brand.
The more they see you at events, the sooner they will recognize you.
Invest in signage that will match the event tent with your catch-phrase, name, logo, and more. Place the signs in various formats throughout the event.
- Host events.
- Visit tradeshows.
- Pop up your customized tent whenever and wherever seems logical.
Get yourself out there – and let your tent speak for you.
4. Announce a Giveaway – and Make It Known
People love free stuff. It is that simple. Whether you are giving away pens or tropical vacations, you will get interaction. But, how can you make a giveaway elevate your brand awareness?
Announce it and make it known.
Now, this is not going to work with something such as pens. It is going to require something bigger – something that will entice people and get them talking.
Here are a few ideas for event giveaways, but you’ve got an infinite amount of possibilities to choose from.
- The latest iPad or MacBook.
- Gift cards.
- A weekend getaway.
- Free expert advice with an extended, personalized consultation.
- Something worthwhile relative to your industry.
For event marketing, choose something you think your event attendees would appreciate and desire. Otherwise, you may find that you are wasting time and effort.
Once you choose your idea, create a giveaway specific website. Get people talking about the giveaway and get them excited to attend and sign up.
5. Make Yourself Stand Out
Blending in with the crowd will never get you anywhere. You’ve got to make yourself stand out with your event marketing!
Wear goofy costumes or brightly-colored shirts with funny sayings.
Wear loud, stand-out hats.
Have yourself and your team take on the role of different characters in the most popular series, i.e. think Stranger Things.
When attendees run into you, they should be able to know who you are and who you are with. Don’t allow yourself to fit in with everyone else.
Be bold.
6. Go Big with a Small Crowd
Imagine, if you will, that you take your kids and all their friends to the water park outside of Disneyland.
They can see the castle. They can see everything around them is Disney-related. But, they will hang out with all their friends outside the parks.
Why?
Because you brought more people, your budget wouldn’t allow for you to go to the big parks. So, instead, you all will enjoy the little water park.
Now, what if you chose not to bring all those friends? What if you only took your kids? Your budget would allow you to take to Disneyland to have one of the most memorable vacations of their lifetime.
That is how you should make guests feel at events.
It is better to spend money to create a magnificent impression on a smaller crowd than to give a mediocre impression to a larger crowd.
People remember the things that you do for them. And, they remember how they were treated and the experiences they have. If you can take an event and make it personal and memorable, you will elevate your brand and you will create lasting followers.
Quality over quantity.
Utilizing Event Marketing Ideas to Succeed
Elevating your brand in today’s world can be tricky.
But, by using these event marketing ideas such as custom-branded event tents, giveaways, and hashtags, you can make yourself recognizable within the bigger picture.
And, that is what it is all about, isn’t it?
