Are you ready to make your upcoming conference the talk of the town? With the right conference promotion strategy, you can attract a wider audience, boost your ticket sales, and create a memorable experience for your attendees.
There are several factors to be considered, such as timing, location, and attracting potential attendees while hosting a conference. Consider using → event promotion guide ← for valuable insights and tips on promoting your events, including conferences.
Unlike other events, conferences require careful planning and execution to generate excitement and engagement among attendees. Every step of the way, from initial promotion to the event’s execution, is crucial in sparking enthusiasm and avoiding disinterest.
But don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. This article is here to help you build the perfect strategy for promoting your conference. From creative ideas to tried-and-true methods, we’ll provide the tools you need to make your conference successful. So let’s get started and make your conference one to remember!
How to Strategize Your Conference Promotion?
So, You’ve done your research and lined up keynote speakers for your conference. But have you considered how your topic can inspire and engage your audience? This can be the most crucial element of the conference promotion strategy!
Think about what element of your conference topic can be the source of inspiration that captures people’s attention.
Focus on what your conference “can offer to people” rather than “what information you have”.
Next is to decide what you want to achieve from your conference. Obtain a clear vision of your objective. To do so, brainstorm on the following questions:
- Who is the target audience for your conference?
- Why would they want to attend your conference?
- Where would you find your target audience?
- When will you target them?
Knowing your target audience will put you at ease while executing ideas for your conference promotion. It will help you determine the right social media platforms for your conference promotion, targeting ads, and many more.
Linkedin and Twitter are the ideal social media platforms for your conference promotion.
Using ticks such as early bird discounts for the audience can help you increase ticket sales.
Last but not least, keep your conference registration process easy.
Let’s move towards how you can promote your conference in most creative ways!
Top 8 Ideas for conference promotion
Here are top 8 conference promotion ideas to attract more people to your conference:
1. Listing your conference on the event discovery websites
Listing your conference on various event listing websites can help you in many ways, the two main things are:
1) Event discovery from Google
2) Targeting local eventgoers
Event listing websites offer opportunities to connect with other event organizers, attendees, and industry experts. It also offers promotional tools and conference marketing strategies through which you can reach out to a large audience.
AllEvents is an event discovery platform with 20M+ monthly active users, Get more registration by listing your conference on AllEvents.
2. Pre-event engagement with networking and warm-up sessions
Give attendees a sneak peek of what they can expect at the conference and encourage them to register.
For virtual networking events choose a platform that allows for virtual networking such as zoom. Make sure the platform has features such as breakout rooms, chat, and screen sharing.
Plan the agenda for your “pre-events” that can increace the registrations at the end. Include icebreakers and interactive activities that enable attendees to connect with each other.
Use these events as an opportunity to promote your conference.
Follow up with attendees showing gratitude after the networking event and encourage them to spread the word about the conference.
3. Merging content marketing and email marketing
Content marketing and email marketing are powerful tools to engage with your conference attendees. And it all starts with creating content that resonates with them. From blogs, infographics, and videos to social media posts, crafting content that aligns with your conference theme can help you stand out from the crowd.
Next is to reach your target audience! For that, you need to build an email list of people interested in your conference. Offering free downloads or resources is one way to do it. You can also use social media to promote your conference content and encourage sign-ups for your email list.
But having an email list is not enough! You need to segment it according to interests and demographics. This ensures that you send targeted emails that are more likely to be opened and engaged with.
To promote your conference event content, use event email marketing strategies, such as sending newsletters and sharing videos and infographics. And to get people excited about your conference, create create compelling content emails are personalized, visually appealing, easy to read, and include a clear call to action.
By implementing these tips, you can make the most of your conference marketing efforts and keep your attendees engaged and informed.
4. Invest in Advertising your Conference
Promoting your conference through event advertising can be a game-changer for your conference, but it requires a thoughtful and strategic approach to get the most out of your investment.
There are two approaches to conference advertising, each with its own benefits:
1. DIY
If you have the time, resources, and expertise, you can create your own advertising campaigns, design eye-catching creatives, and target the right audience. AB testing your ideas is also essential to refine your ads and get the most out of your ad spend.
Setting a budget for your advertising campaign is crucial, so you don’t overspend. You may want to consider using a cost-per-click or cost-per-impression model to ensure you’re getting the most value for your investment.
2. Opt for event marketing plans
It’s better to hire industry experts to take your event promotion to the next level. These marketing plans include a variety of strategies such as social media advertising, email campaigns, and search engine optimization for maximum exposure to your event.
Let event marketing experts handle all the heavy-duty work for you.
Want to reach a large audience with a cost-effective marketing strategy? connect to AllEvent’s event marketing experts.
5. Social media marketing
When it comes to online promoting your conference spcial media paltforms comes first in mind! There are many ways of social media event promotion! But three things are main in promoting your conference on social media platforms i.e. content creation, using hashtags, and collaborating with influencers.
The more value your content will provide to your viewers, the more you will get recognized. But don’t forget the “engagement factor” when you make any social media post.
Engage with your audience on social media by responding to comments, answering questions, and starting conversations. Build genuine connections with your potential conference attendees and this will increase the chance of them attending your event.
Run contests and giveaways on social media to promote your conference and increase engagement.
Example: You can ask people to share a post about your conference for a chance to win a free ticket.
Use hashtags for your conference post. Create a unique hashtag for your conference event and use that in your posts. Additionally, tell your followers and viewers to use the hashtag for anything they post or repost about your conference event.
Dont forgot your exisitng customers! Market your event to your existing customers: Offer an early-bird discount on registration. Provide exclusive VIP access to long-time clients.
Next is to leverage influencer event marketing for your conference promotion. Find the right people to collaborate with and create posts and videos with them. Offer them incentives to promote your conference and ask them to be your affiliate.
6. Leverage sponsors and keynote speakers to increase your conference’s reach
Communicate with your keynote speaker and sponsors to inform them about the conference and its goals. Over time, they have built trust with their network, and this can take your promotion in a positive direction.
Ask them to promote the conference to their networks, including their social media followers, email lists, and professional associations. This can help increase attendance and attract a diverse audience.
Encourage your keynote speakers to promote the conference on social media platforms using the conference hashtag and any other promotional material. Retweet or share their posts to increase the reach of the promotion.
7. Partner with local businesses
Identify potential partners who share a similar target audience as your conference.
Example: If you’re hosting a technology conference, you could reach out to local tech companies, co-working spaces, or even coffee shops frequented by tech professionals.
Craft a win-win proposition highlighting the benefits they will get from partnering with your conference.
These benefits could include more exposure to a relevant audience, free or discounted conference tickets, or the opportunity to network with other businesses.
Provide them with social media posts, email templates, PowerPoint templates and flyers they can display on their storefronts.
8. Create a podcast series
On the basis of your target audience create a podcast that will appeal to them.
Example: If your conference is aimed at marketing professionals, your podcast series could focus on the latest trends in marketing, case studies, and interviews with industry experts.
Plan out a series of episodes that will build up interest in your conference. You could also include interviews with keynote speakers and other experts who will be presenting at your conference.
Here is an example of how the Dreamforce conference creates episodes by highlighting their topics and keynote speakers.
By creating podcasts you can build a lifetime source for your audience plus this will also give your audience more value.
Pro tip: Weather it is listing your event on a platform or creating a peice content, make it Search Engine Optimisation friendly. As SEO plays a major role in promoting your conference.
Conclusion
Promoting a conference requires a well-thought-out strategy, event planning, and creative ideas that can capture the attention and interest of potential attendees.
From social media campaigns and creating a marketing plan to partnerships and sponsorships, there are numerous ways to reach out to your target audience and promote your conference effectively.
By utilizing these strategies and ideas, you can create a buzz around your next conference, attract more attendees, and make their conference a resounding success.
So, whether you’re organizing a small local conference or a large international event, with the right promotion strategy and a touch of creativity, your conference can be the talk of the town and an unforgettable experience for your conference attendees.
Conference Promotion FAQs:
What are some effective ideas for promoting a conference?
Some effective ideas you can use for your upcoming conference are social media promotions, email marketing, content marketing, listing your conference on the event listing websites, and advertising to reach your desired audience.
How to use social media to promote a conference?
You can use and create hashtags for the event, share relevant content, create engaging posts, use paid advertising, and encourage attendees and keynote speakers to share the event on their social media platforms.
Building a social media strategy has become essential for event promotion!
How to use email marketing to promote a conference?
Email marketing can be used to promote a conference by sending out regular newsletters to subscribers, providing updates on keynote speakers and sessions, and encouraging attendees to share the event with their networks.
Are there any other ways to promote a conference?
Other ways to promote a conference include partnering with other events or organizations, offering referral incentives, creating promotional materials such as flyers and posters, and leveraging public relations to generate media coverage of the event.
What is influencer marketing, and how can it be used to promote a conference?
Influencer marketing collaborates with famous social media personalities to promote a product or service. It can be used to promote a conference by partnering with industry experts and thought leaders to share the event with their followers and network.
How to mae people excited about your conference?
To make people excited about your conference, you can:
Create a compelling theme or topic that resonates with your target audience.
Offer engaging and informative speakers or panel discussions.
Utilize social media and online marketing to generate buzz.
