Event Marketing: What Works, What Doesn't and Ideas for the Future

MSAE's Communications Networking Group met to discuss event marketing ideas - what works, what doesn't and ideas for the future.

How we can get our audiences to act immediately? How do you deal with over saturation? How do you make your event branding memorable? Do you how incorporate video?  Marketing is key in getting event attendance.

The top takeaways were:

• Send a marketing email on Saturday.  Who would have thought.  But think about it...we all check our phones at home even if we say we are not going to.  If your audience checks their email and sees an email from you they will see it then and when they get to their inbox on Monday.
• Use graphics, graphics and more graphics.  People digest graphics better than text.  Think Pinterest.  More graphics, less words. Don't give all information of an event in an email, send them to your website for details.
• Ask yourself what emails you read and why.  What subject lines get you to open an email?  When creating email marketing campaigns, ask yourself if you would open it.  You'd be surprised that your subject line might change. 
• Tip: Subject lines should be 5-7 words.  Don't use thank you in the subject.
•  Lists get response.  Are you more apt to read an email that says, "5 reasons to...Top 10 ways to...5 ways to...." Most readers like at a glance information.  Clear, concise and to the point. 
• Hand written notes, a lost art.  Aren't hand written notes the best?  Your audience will appreciate the time and effort you put into a hand written note and remember it.  Use them on past participates, in-active members, prospects or people you would like to reach out to in a special way.

What do you do to get your members to act to your marketing?  What are you doing in your organization that is creating buzz around your events?  Do tell.