In the contemporary digital sphere, Instagram stands as a potent medium for event promotion. Harnessing the power of this visually-oriented platform can unlock a world of opportunities, thanks to its whopping 1 billion monthly active users.
This blog will focus on the trendy topic from the event marketing guide – Instagram Event Promotion! With an effective five-step strategy to promote your event on Instagram, you can transform potential interest into actual attendees.
Importance of Instagram for Event Promotion
More than just a photo-sharing app, Instagram has morphed into a marketer’s dream.
Sprout Social highlights, “Instagram isn’t just a place for pretty pictures. You can achieve real business results using Instagram if you have a palpable brand and a well-defined target audience.”
The platform’s assortment of immersive storytelling features – Stories, Reels, IGTV – and its high engagement rates make it a premier choice for event marketers. Moreover, Instagram Business reports that 90% of Instagram users follow at least one business, further emphasizing Instagram’s potential to reach a targeted and engaged audience.
Before starting with the five steps, Include the event RSVP link in your bio!
5 steps of Instagram Event Promotion
This guide is your ultimate roadmap to successful event promotion on Instagram. It will walk you through setting a sturdy foundation, crafting an irresistible content strategy, leveraging Instagram features for maximum impact, building buzz for your event, and measuring your Instagram event promotion campaign’s success.
Want help in promoting your event? Let AllEvents’ expert marketing team help you. Contact us today, and let’s make your event a resounding success!
Here are 5 steps to promote your event on Instagram!
1. Setting the Foundation for Event Promotion on Instagram
Defining Event Goals and Target Audience
The journey to successful event promotion on Instagram starts by defining your event’s goals and target audience. Are you aiming to increase brand awareness, boost engagement, or drive ticket sales? An AdEspresso report found that 70% of marketers define their social media goals before starting campaigns, establishing a clear pathway to success.
Additionally, understanding your audience’s preferences, behaviours, and needs can help you effectively tailor your Instagram event promotion strategy.
For instance, while promoting a conference, you might target professionals in a specific industry; for a music festival promotion, you must target younger demographics.
Creating a Budget
Budgeting is an essential component of event promotion on Instagram. This should cover content creation, advertising, influencer marketing, and more. A report by Hootsuite suggests that the average cost per click for Instagram ads in Q3 2020 was around $0.50 to $1.00.
By creating a budget, you can ensure that your promotional activities are financially sustainable and deliver a return on investment.
Choosing the Right Event Hashtags
Using appropriate hashtags can significantly extend your reach on Instagram. According to Simply Measured, posts with at least one Instagram hashtag average 12.6% more engagement than those without.
Use a mix of branded (e.g., #AllEventsConference2023), trending, and industry-specific hashtags to reach a wider audience and increase visibility.
Optimizing Instagram Profile for Event Promotion
Sprout Social advises, “Your Instagram bio is like your website homepage”. It’s the first impression potential attendees have of your event.
A well-optimized profile should include a clear bio that outlines your event’s USP, a link to your event page, and a professional, recognizable profile picture. This one is a must for event promotion on Instagram.
2. Creating a Compelling Content Strategy for Event Promotion
Types of Content to Create for Event Promotion
Instagram offers an array of content types, from posts, stories, and reels, to IGTV. A study by Socialbakers reveals that video posts on Instagram receive more average engagement than images. Consider incorporating captivating video content into your strategy. For example, if you’re hosting a culinary event, sharing tantalizing recipe videos from the chefs attending can pique interest.
Planning a Content Calendar
As per CoSchedule’s Best Time to Post on the Instagram report, posts published on Monday between 2 PM and 3 PM perform the best. Use a social media management tool to schedule your posts during peak engagement times. This keeps your posting consistent and ensures that your content reaches your audience when they are most active.
Integrating User-Generated Content (UGC)
UGC is a goldmine for authenticity. AdWeek reported that UGC is 20% more influential than any other type of media when it comes to influencing Millennial purchases. Encourage attendees to share their event experiences and highlight them on your profile. For example, you could create a unique event hashtag and ask attendees to use it when posting about your event.
Creating Visual Content
Instagram is a visual platform; therefore, the content you share must be visually appealing. Venngage reports that posts with high negative space generate 29% more likes. Focus on creating clean, uncluttered visuals with a consistent colour scheme that aligns with your event’s branding.
3. Maximizing Instagram Features for Event Promotion
Instagram’s features provide a variety of ways to promote your event and engage your audience.
| Instagram Feature | How to Use |
| Stories | Share behind-the-scenes content, create countdowns, and interact with your audience. |
| Live | Host Q&A sessions, conduct virtual tours, and share live updates. |
| Reels | Share short clips about your event, like sneak peeks. |
| Shoppable Posts | Make it easy for users to purchase tickets or merchandise directly from your posts. |
Instagram Stories
With 500 million users accessing Stories daily, as per Instagram’s data, this feature offers a perfect opportunity to promote your event in real time. Share behind-the-scenes content, create countdowns to major event milestones, and utilize polls and quizzes to interact with your audience. For instance, you could use the question sticker to gather questions for a Q&A session at your event.
Instagram Live
Live videos see 3x higher engagement than pre-recorded ones, according to Social Media Today. Use Instagram Live to host Q&A sessions with your event speakers, conduct virtual tours of your event venue, or share live updates from the event itself.
Instagram Reels
Reels is Instagram’s newest video feature, offering users a way to create and share short, engaging videos. Since its introduction, Reels has quickly gained popularity, with Instagram reporting that 50% of its users have watched Reels content. Use Reels to share short clips about your event, like sneak peeks of what attendees can expect.
Instagram’s Shoppable Posts Feature
If your event includes merchandise or tickets for sale, utilize Instagram’s shoppable posts feature. This feature allows users to purchase directly from your posts, creating a seamless shopping experience.
4. Building Buzz for Your Event on Instagram
Here are some of the best ways to advertise on Instagram:
Run Instagram Contests
Contests are an exciting way to create buzz and encourage engagement. Iconosquare’s study reveals that Instagram contests generate 64x more comments and 3.5x more likes than regular posts. Consider hosting a giveaway where participants could win free tickets or exclusive perks for your event.
Collaborate with Influencers
Influencer marketing can significantly boost your event’s visibility. A study by MediaKix revealed that 89% of marketers say the ROI from influencer marketing is comparable to or better than other marketing channels. Connect with influencers that align with your event’s theme and audience, and have them share content related to your event.
Partner with Other Brands
Cross-promotion with other brands can extend your event’s reach. For instance, if you’re hosting a music festival, you could partner with local businesses like restaurants, cafes, or hotels for special offers for your attendees.
Use Paid Advertising
Instagram’s paid advertising offers detailed targeting options that help you reach potential attendees outside your existing network. Instagram Business reports that 83% of users discover new products and services on the platform, reinforcing the impact of paid ads.
5. Measuring Your Success on Instagram
Set Metrics
Define what success looks like for your campaign. If you aim for brand awareness, track metrics like reach and impressions. If your goal drives ticket sales, monitor the number of clicks on your event page link.
Analyze Instagram Insights
Instagram Insights provides valuable data about your followers and how they interact with your content. Hootsuite reports that posts published on Thursday between 5 AM and 11 AM generally see the highest engagement. Utilize these insights to refine your strategy and make data-driven decisions for future event promotions.
Wrapping Up
Promoting an event on Instagram can be a game-changer when done right. Each step plays a crucial role in the overall process, from setting a sturdy foundation to building buzz and measuring your success. Remember, consistency is key, and experimenting with different types of content and promotional strategies can lead to surprising results. With this guide, you’re well-equipped to ace your Instagram event promotion. Best of luck for your next event!
Key Takeaways
- Define your event goals and target audience.
- Create a budget and choose the right hashtags for your event.
- Create a compelling content strategy using different content types.
- Leverage Instagram features like Stories, Live, Reels, and shoppable posts.
- Build buzz through contests, influencer collaborations, brand partnerships, and paid advertising.
- Measure success by setting metrics and analyzing Instagram Insights.
Instagram Event Promotion FAQs:
What are the best times to post about my event on Instagram?
According to sources, The best times to post on Instagram are between 9 am to 11 am EST. However, it’s best to experiment with different posting times and analyze your Instagram Insights to understand when your audience is most active.
How can I increase engagement with my event promotion posts?
Using features like Instagram Stories, polls, and questions can encourage engagement. User-generated content and collaborations with influencers can also boost engagement.
What are some creative ways to use Instagram to promote an event?
You can use Instagram Live to host Q&A sessions with your event speakers, create a unique event hashtag, or run an Instagram contest where participants could win free tickets or exclusive perks.
How do I measure the success of my event promotion efforts on Instagram?
Instagram Insights provides valuable data about your followers and how they interact with your content. Set clear objectives and metrics for your campaign, and monitor these regularly to measure success.
What kind of content should I post on Instagram to promote my event?
You should post visually appealing content related to your event, such as event graphics, speaker profiles, behind-the-scenes photos, and videos that showcase the highlights of your previous events. You can also use Instagram Stories and Reels to give your audience a sneak peek into what they can expect at your event.
What kind of hashtags should I use to promote my event on Instagram?
You should use a specific hashtag for all of your event posts, along with popular and relevant hashtags related to your industry. This will help your event to reach a wider audience.
