Why Omnichannel Promotion Is More Effective Than Event Listing

Why Omnichannel Promotion Is More Effective Than Event Listing

There are copious amounts of websites that will offer to list your event and help your event reach a larger audience. So, in theory, boosting sales for your event. Unfortunately, too often, organisers are left feeling that the time taken in creating the event listing was not worth it due to lack of increased sales.  

 Whilst event listing is one way of approaching event promotion, to see any measurable increase in sales takes a range of tools and strategies. 

OMNICHANNEL PROMOTION

For many years ‘multichannel promotion’ or marketing has been the favoured method of interacting with potential attendees. By communicating with them on various platforms, it enabled companies to reach wider and more diverse audiences. Whether it was a print ad, word of mouth, or social media, a multichannel strategy has been the tried and tested method of promotion for many years. 

However, consumers are now looking for a more connected and seamless experience for promotion and marketing. Omnichannel refers to the multichannel sales approach that will also provide the attendees with a more integrated experience. The attendee needs to switch from desktop to a mobile device, to the event itself, with the experience being completely consistent. 

Keep the message and promotion of your event unified using the following marketing techniques: 

Email Marketing:

Plan and develop your communications with your potential attendees well in advance. As well as planning for different audiences, different audiences will call for different types of email. 

Reconnect via email with those already booked into your event. This will help build excitement for the event and help develop a relationship with the attendee and reinforce that you are building a brand/event experience.  

Having a plan and getting everything set up and organised in advance may seem time-consuming, but the payout will be worth it in the long run. 

Social Media:

Setting up a dedicated hashtag for your event that will be used throughout your social media promotion is an effective way of creating a cohesive message. 

Creating engaging visuals and videos to draw attention to your posts about your event is another great form of promotion. Make sure again that all your posts are visually consistent, as this will help build your omnichannel approach to promotion, which will help make your attendees feel valued.  

Social media is amazing for highlighting announcements and generating hype surrounding your event. Promote things such as new speakers for conferences or updates in your event’s timetable or special features. 

Paid social media ads are another great way to expand reach and engagement for your event., We would recommend this approach if you have a definite audience you know you are targeting. This will focus your advertising on those who are more likely to be interested in your event generally but may not know that your event is running. 

PR:

It is far too easy to get wrapped up in the digital side of event promotion and then forget to put time into more tested methods such as PR. 

Sending out a press release to various media outlets and listing your event in relevant business journals and newsletters is still worth the time it takes to create them. It creates a more well-rounded promotional campaign. 

Direct Mail:

As we all know, we live in an increasingly digital world, yet this only adds to the power of physical, tangible marketing techniques like direct mail. 

Target VIP potential attendees by sending out a physical invite to the event or a promotional box encouraging attendance to your event. 

Website:

Having a great website is an incredibly compelling component of event marketing. 

It is a base for them to come to when looking for all essential information regarding the event to potential attendees. Whether the event is hosted on your existing website using something like our embeddable widget or you wish to build something new just for your event, the goal needs to remain the same. 

The website should be where you drive all your promotional materials, so all the important information must assist in driving ticket sales. 

An issue with some event listing sites is that they can drive traffic away from your site and feature events like yours that may appeal to a segment of your demographic. This means you could potentially lose sales to your competitors! 


 

At Helm Tickets, our goal is for our organisers to succeed. Our features can help you create an omnichannel promotional campaign that can help draw in new attendees and increase attendee retention. To learn more about promotional strategies, keep an eye out for our blogs on marketing and promotional techniques. 

Create your omnichannel promotional campaign with Helm Tickets! 

10 affordable T-shirt printing websites – US

10 affordable T-shirt printing websites – US

T-shirts are becoming increasingly popular for marketing various products and services. You can use this to increase a brand’s reach among its target audience. They will then serve as walking billboards for your company.

With its versatility and comfort, the t-shirt is the only piece of clothing that will never go out of style. You can pair it with jeans and sneakers and still look stylish.

How do you find the best T-shirt printing company for your custom apparel plan? Find the one that meets all of your requirements, and you’ll have found the best T-shirt printing company for you.

 

1.    Broken Arrow Custom T-Shirt Printing

They have been producing custom T-shirts, polos, hats, bags, athletic wear, and other items for their valued customers. They understand that the custom apparel they create for you represents your company, school, cause, family, team, or event, and they take that responsibility very seriously. They deliver premium custom decorated apparel anywhere in the contiguous United States in just six business days—one of the quickest turnaround times in the industry! They are enthusiastic about what they do and are proud to be rated as one of the best T custom T-shirt printing and embroidery companies in the United States.

Colors available: Black, Gray, Blue, and White
Sizes: XS-2XL
Types of print: All over and Screen

 

2.    UberPrints

UberPrints has set out to revolutionize the way custom t-shirts are made. They aim to make it easier, faster, and more convenient to get high-quality custom apparel printed and delivered directly to their customers. Since then, they’ve shipped millions of t-shirts all over the country, each one designed by one of their customers. They give individuals and organizations complete creative control, whether they are businesses building a brand, girls going on a group vacation, or trendsetting teenagers.

Colors available: Black, Gray, Blue, and White
Sizes: S-2XL
Types of print: Screen

 

3.    Discount Mugs

It is one of the largest promotional product suppliers in the United States. Since 1995, its mission has been to help you share your message and leave a lasting impression on your brand or special event. Their cutting-edge products include a wide range of apparel, drinkware, glassware, office supplies, and more! Their personalized items, which are all available at minimal prices, make inexpensive giveaways and memorable gifts that elevate the art of giving. They remain updated on industry trends to provide high-quality promotional items. Finally, they make sure that your order arrives on time.

Colors available: Black, Gray, Blue, and White
Sizes: S-3XL
Types of print: With Logo, full color, Screen

 

4.    Custom Ink

Custom Ink is about more than just t-shirts. They’re all about you and what you care about. The enthusiasm you have for your group, club, or team; the excitement for your event or cause; and the drive that distinguishes your company from the competition. Custom t-shirts, they believe, do more than make you look good; they also make you feel good and inspire you to do good. They are passionate about custom gear, but what they love even more is assisting you in making your dreams a reality.

Colors available: Black, Yellow, Green, Red, and White
Sizes: S- 3XL
Types of print:  Screen

 

5.    Café Press

CafePress is a company that collaborates with designers to bring millions of designs to the world on hundreds of different products. Its mission is to unite people by encouraging them to express themselves. You do the dreaming, and they do the printing. They believe that a T-shirt can start a movement. They continue to make the world a more connected and engaged place where everyone’s unique identity and passions are supported and celebrated. They sought to inspire people to express themselves with the best selection of engaging products.

Colors available: Black, Pink, Gray, Red, and White
Sizes: XS-XL
Types of print:  Front centre and Front pocket

 

6.    Spreadshirt

They are the go-to place for anyone looking to realize their creative ideas on high-quality fabrics, as they are a global platform for personalized clothing and accessories. They value freedom of expression, expressed through your designs or those shared by their community. T-shirts, sweaters, bags, aprons, and various other items can be easily personalized with images and custom text. Furthermore, Spreadshirt is an ideal custom merchandise partner: Emerging YouTube stars and many large companies and brands are among their esteemed customers. Their high-quality prints, custom t-shirts, and services will ensure that your company succeeds.

Colors available: Black, Pink, Gray, Red, and White
Sizes: XS-3XL
Types of print:  Front centre, Back, Right sleeve, and left sleeve

 

7.    Rush Order Tees

RushOrderTees provides the high-quality custom apparel you require within the timeframe you specify. They have a large selection of products that can be personalized with logos or artwork, such as t-shirts, polo shirts, hats, and hoodies. They are proud to be the official partner of the Philadelphia 76ers and have over 500,000 satisfied customers ranging from Fortune 500 corporations to small-town businesses. They deliver high-quality prints in record time, whether the order is for one t-shirt or 10,000. As a result, the company grew into a leader in custom apparel products, becoming known for providing the fastest turnaround times and exceptional customer service.

Colors available: Black, Pink, Gray, Red, and White
Sizes:  S- 5XL
Types of print:   Front centre, Back, Right sleeve, and left sleeve

 

8.    Design A Shirt

DesignAShirt understands the importance of operating in an environmentally responsible manner. They believe they have a corporate responsibility to be environmentally conscious and practice sound environmental management because of their position as a leading t-shirt printing company. Their goal is to be a leader in environmentally responsible practices. They place a high value on environmental standards. They want to do their part to make the world a better place to live while also providing you with the products you require at the low prices you deserve.

Colors available: Black, Pink, Gray, Red, Yellow, and White
Sizes:  YXS- 4XL
Types of print:  Screen

 

9.    Vistaprint

VistaPrint, a Cimpress company, assists small business owners in creating expertly designed, up-to-date custom marketing – the assortment of products they require to appear and feel professional, prepared and connected. There is a diverse selection of customizable small business marketing products; real-time access to expert ideas and assistance for those in need; and a simple, straightforward experience for those who know exactly what they want.

They provide small business owners with the right mix of products and options. They don’t overpower, but they also don’t fall short. And it’s all at a reasonable price. They assist small business owners in quickly and effectively creating the products they require – with tips, inspiration, and experts readily available.

Colors available: Black, Pink, Gray, and Blue
Sizes:  XS- 4XL
Types of print:  Screen, Front pocket

 

10.    PrintShop

PrintShop by Designhill is a unique print-on-demand marketplace in which you can discover and buy 50+ one-of-a-kind products, gifts, and artwork created by artists from around the world. With their custom clothing designs, you can stay on top of the latest trends. Look for a thoughtful gift or a seasonal item that highlights popular topics. Whether you’re into funny memes or artistic design, there are many options in every category you choose. For every buyer they have products designed by independent artists worldwide. SEARCH, SHOP, AND SAVE!

Colors available: Black, Pink, Gray, White, and Nude
Sizes:  S- 3XL
Types of print:  Screen

 

Making matching t-shirts for you and your friends is as simple as slapping an emoji and a slogan on your design. However, when it comes to projects that need to make an impact, you should think outside the box when selecting the best online services for the job.

Learn a thing or two from existing styles, whether it’s the cut of the clothing or specific colors and patterns. Take notes and photos as a reference when designing the perfect t-shirt.

Startup tools and software to grow your business

Startup tools and software to grow your business

Whether you’re just starting or scaling, you need software to support your ambitions as a founder or entrepreneur. With so many different platforms to choose from, it can be an incredible challenge to find the software you need, let alone what’s beneficial for your company; we’ve shortlisted 4 platforms in this post to help you run lean while focusing on growing your company.

We’ll expand on each in separate posts to give you a more in-depth review, but for now, we’ve kept it simple and focused on what we’ve seen as the most critical to get right from day one. In this post, we’ll be looking at Sales, Support and Accounting software for startups.

Sales

1. Pipedrive

When it comes to CRMs we’ve had a love-hate relationship with trying to find a near-perfect solution for Helm. The platforms we’ve used have either been outdated, over-complicated or simply not geared to the deal structure or processes that we use internally. In the end, we went back to using a custom spreadsheet and our support desk software (Help Scout – listed below). As we started scaling back out though this just became unmanageable and absurd…it was a complete pain to update and track; we’d avoid trying!

Pipedrive at its heart is a CRM and enablement tool. It allows you to create custom sales pipelines that look easy on the eye and suit your company. The platform is super intuitive, easy to use and the automated tasks help you focus on the important work. You can create custom reports and public stats dashboards (helpful if you want to share your performance in an office or to shareholders). Within Pipedrive you can:

  • Create custom emails and automation to help deals move through the funnel
  • Use one-click contact data collection (a super useful feature that finds relevant public details about your prospects)
  • Create custom views
  • Add all different activities such as calls/meetings/tasks/email follow-ups
  • Create templated emails and cadences
  • Create revenue projections and custom sales dashboards
  • Use the caller function – allows you to call and record calls directly from the prospect dashboard
  • Integrate with third-party platforms like Help Scout (see more below)

If you’re selling products as part of your workflow you can create custom assets that can be added to each deal quickly, creating custom quotes and invoices that can be sent straight to your client. If you’re looking for a little more then you can easily enable the call feature and live chat, which helps make your interactions with prospects a little more personal. On top of all the great features, the one thing our sales team have found most helpful is the mobile app. The App allows you to access info anywhere, take and add notes to deals, make calls, schedule activities and even plan your day.

Pricing for Pipedrive starts super low at only £15 per month and includes:

  • lead, deal, calendar and pipeline management
  • simple data imports
  • A whole load of other features. View online

If you’re looking for a little more then Advanced is £29 and comes with full email sync, templates and scheduling, plus group emailing, open and click tracking; workflow builder and automation. Professional is £59 per month, comes with all of the above and one-click calling, eSign docs and contracts, plus revenue projections and forecasting.

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2. Hubspot

As a startup, you should be all too familiar with Hubspot; their helpful articles, templates and posts are everywhere, guiding you on every topic, from marketing software to creating sales and support plans or even hiring executives. Here at Helm, we’ve been fans of Hubspot for many years. The Hubspot platform was one of the first third-party integrations we chose to build as we could sync attendee data straight into your CRM. You can see more on how Helm integrates with Hubspot here.

We’ve included Hubspot on our shortlist of the top software for your startup, not because we integrate with the platform, but because of the tools they provide…oh, and have I said that their basic plan is FREE! That’s right; you can get started for nothing, and included in the free plan is:

  • Contact management
  • Contact website activity
  • Company database
  • Drag and drop deal board
  • Task and activity tracker

If you’re looking for a little more, their paid plans start from $50 p/m (or £42 p/m if you’re in the UK). This gives you up to 2 users in the account and all of the core sales functions you need to close more deals faster. The Starter plan is excellent for a small team that needs more valuable features, such as:

  • Removal of Hubspot branding on your live chat, meetings and documents
  • B2B payments (U.S. only at the moment but fingers crossed it’s rolling out worldwide)
  • Custom conversion routing based on your own processes
  • Schedule repeat tasks to save time!
  • Quote and bill in multiple currencies; perfect if you are growing internationally!
  • Stripe integration ?

If you’re a more established team with more “butts on seats”, then you’ll be looking at their Professional plan starting at $500 p/m, including 5 paid seats. Included in the Professional plan is:

  • Everything in Starter
  • In-depth sales analytics
  • Team management
  • Automation tools for your sales workflow
  • Custom records
  • Create required fields for your team to complete
  • Create custom reporting and sales forecasting
  • Custom outreach sequences (or cadences depending on what you’re already used to)
  • 1:1 video messaging
  • Configurable products, pricing and esignatures for quotes and invoices

With all plans, you can save more if you’re looking to commit to an annual plan, opting to pay upfront for a yearly commitment.

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Support

1. Help Scout

Bringing the sales in is all well and good but if you’re any type of service company, online shop or software platform you’ll always have to handle support.  Many people scoff at the mere word support and have a strong want to ignore incoming customer issues. Here at Helm we built our platform around support and believe support should be prioritised above almost everything else. Support is the beating heart of win/loss and impacts everything from your reputation with new customers, your existing user retention rate and even helps craft your sales and marketing.

We’ve been using Help Scout since July 2018 and cannot help sign its praises. The support desk is simply amazing. It’s quick to get set up, simple to use and full of useful features to make life as simple as possible for you as a solopreneur through to an established team. One of the biggest positives with Help Scout is its intuitiveness – the team have delivered a product that’s so well thought through you’ll barely need to reach out to support.

Regardless of your use case, you’ll find exactly what you need with Help Scout, and pricing starts at $20 per user per month. For that you get all of the following:

  • 2 mailboxes
  • 1 docs site (to host all your FAQs)
  • Live chat
  • Beacon help widget
  • Custom reports
  • Automated workflows – a real timesaver!
  • Custom customer properties
  • API access

For only $15 more per month ($35 per user, per month), you get even more oomph to power your company, such as:

  • 5 mailboxes
  • 2 doc sites
  • Custom fields – a great use for this is setting a snooze reminder which changes the status of a message back to live on a certain date or sending a follow-up message to a customer automatically.
  • Create custom teams with advanced permissions
  • Unlimited reporting history
  • Advanced API access
  • Integration with leading 3rd party apps such as Hubspot, Salesforce and Jia

For bigger or more power-hungry teams you can go all out with the Company plan for $60 per user, per month which simply gives you unlimited access to the entire platform.

Although Help Scout is a dedicated support platform to manage customer queries, you can integrate with a host of other platforms like Pipedrive or Jira, which allows you to create custom trackable properties across platforms. Where integrating Pipedrive you’ll be able to add a customer within Help Scout to Pipedrive, and any new deal that’s created against that customer within Pipedrive automatically pulls through against their Help Scout profile so you’ve always got the latest information to hand. If you’re also integrating Jira you can assign new bugs or development tasks relating to a specific customer, which is perfect if you want to keep your customers updated as soon as your dev team have resolved a pesky bug! ?

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Accounting

1. Quickbooks

There are a few easy to start accounting platforms, most notably Xero or Quickbooks. Both platforms have their pros and cons, but Quickbooks is a great choice for a number of reasons:

  1. It’s for everyone – quite literally – with tools for any type of business
  2. The platform is feature-packed – from bookkeeping, reporting and even payroll or tax submission
  3. It integrates with payment gateways to automate invoice capture

You can get started almost instantly with Quickbooks, with three prices available – Simple, Essentials and Plus. Simple starts at £12 per month plus tax and includes:

  • VAT submissions
  • Income tax estimates
  • Send invoices straight from the app
  • Manage all of your income and expenses
  • Phone support

For £22 per month plus tax, you get all of the above features, plus:

  • Accept invoice payments online
  • up to 3 users
  • Track employee time

The plus plan comes in at £32 per month plus tax, but brings a little more functionality should you need it, which we’d highly recommend given its usefulness:

  • Manage stock inventory
  • Oversight of profitability on each job or project
  • Set smart budgets
  • 5 user max

One annoying thing about Quickbooks is that you have to pay extra if you want to add payroll to your plan, which is either £4 per month for Standard, or £8 for advance. The core difference between the two payroll add-ons is that advanced allows you to pay employees using any pay frequency, submit pension information to 5 separate providers, includes a HR and employee portal and has a timesheets functionality.

We always recommend using a registered bookkeeper and accountant, but the great thing about Quickbooks is that there are specialists available across the world that can help give you guidance on setup and ongoing usage.

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Disclaimer: Helm has created this content based on our internal experience, reviews, or comparisons using the specified software. We may, at times, make referral income when you subscribe to a paid plan with third-party software providers. Although we may earn a small commission, we always provide unbiased content and provide honest reviews of software providers to help you make an informed decision about what is suitable for your company.

8 free or low-cost venues in Melbourne, AUS

8 free or low-cost venues in Melbourne, AUS

Event planning can take a lot of time and patience; however, getting the perfect venue can instantly make the process less stressful and more exciting. A perfect venue can do all of the work for you – all you have to do is show up and enjoy! We’ve compiled a list of 9 low-cost venues in Melbourne, Australia.

1.    Private Function Gallery at Smitten Kitten Cocktails & Kitchen

The Private Function Gallery is a unique and adaptable space. An intimate room with street art, couches, versatility, and the option to add your decoration. The Smitten Kitten Cocktail Bar & Kitchen also offers a variety of other spaces for intimate gatherings, birthday parties, small and large groups, private dining areas, chef’s tables, a private bar, and cocktail masterclass sessions. Adding up to an experience unlike any other.

Location: Chapel Street, 113, Melbourne, 3181
Capacity: 20-100 people
Price: Price starts at $25-$35 per hour
Travel: Bus

 

2.    Studio Two at Toffee Studios

Toffee Studios have two studios available for podcasters, photoshoots, small intimate events, a working shoot kitchen and other business facilities. When renting the spaces, you have access to their communal kitchen where you can help yourself to tea, coffee, water or a snack. They also have a full time set builder available to help set the space up the way you need it.

Location: Thistlethwaite Street, 115, Melbourne, 3205
Capacity: 12 people
Price: $44 per hour
Travel: Bus, Train

 

3.    Function Room at South Warrandyte Function Centre

It is a light-filled space in the heart of South Warrandyte, with access to a large private balcony overlooking Warrandyte’s natural wonders and the Yarra River basin. There are new restrooms, a bar with a beer tap, a kitchen, and wheelchair access. With no nearby neighbours and surrounded by nature and spectacular views, it is an excellent location for an event that goes late into the evening. Plus, it’s only 35 minutes from the city.

Location: Croydon Road, 64-76, Melbourne, 3134
Capacity: 80-120 people
Price: $50 per hour
Travel: Bus

 

4.    Office Space at Toffee Studios

Toffee does its best to create a welcoming space for all of your crew members. Their office space is ideal for research, meetings, planning your next shoot, unwinding, etc. In addition, they include a flat-screen TV, a whiteboard, air conditioning, a printer, fully equipped kitchen facilities, and all the things possibly required for a relaxing and productive stay.

Location: Thistlethwaite Street, 115, Melbourne, 3205
Capacity: 12 people
Price: $44 per hour
Travel: Bus, Train

 

5.    The Headspace at The Headspace

Plan your next meeting, conference, or training in Headspace, a space designed to put you in the right mindset and increase your productivity. The Headspace has a large kitchen area with a sink, refrigerator/freezer, and utensils. The Headspace is a space dedicated to stimulating one’s mind. The conference room can also be used for training, learning, communicating, and brainstorming. This space is intentionally kept clean and uncluttered – a blank slate – to allow you to think creatively and productively without distractions.

Location: Johnston Street, 222, Melbourne, 3066
Capacity: 10-15 people
Price: $44 per hour
Travel: Bus, Train

 

6.    Indiana Allen Meeting Room

The meeting space is an irregular shape with an architectural award-winning cupola roof. The ambience of the room encourages creativity and reflection. The room is exceptionally adaptable, ranging from entirely open for lecture-style or working tables. It also includes excellent WiFi and a balcony with sliding doors. There are numerous cafes and restaurants in the surrounding area, some of which can provide catering for a small fee.

Location: William Street, 484, Melbourne, 3003
Capacity: 50 people
Price: $34 per hour
Travel: Bus, Train, Tram

 

7.    Mars Meeting Room at Victory Offices Sunshine

The Sunshine offices are close to the river and give you a central business district style without commuting. This brand-new structure features spectacular light-filled spaces and breathtaking views. This small room includes a flat-screen TV and is ideal for meetings and presentations. Located in Sunshine’s best new building, surrounded by eateries, retail amenities, and public transportation.

Location: Clarke Street, Level 5, 12, Melbourne, 3020
Capacity: 8 people
Price: $52 per hour
Travel: Bus, Train

 

8.    The Bees & Honey

Host your next presentation, pitch, meeting, or big brainstorming session at The Bees & Honey. They have breathed new life into this 1930s gem, which was once home to Brunswick’s first produce market, transforming it into a space for small businesses, community events, and skill-sharing. Coffee, tea, and sparkling water are provided in their rooms, including a TV, whiteboard, air-conditioning, and heating.

Location: Tripovich Street, 1, Melbourne, 3056
Capacity: 6 people
Price: $33 per hour
Travel: Bus, Train

 

The city is brimming with fantastic party venues, impressive corporate venues in the Central Business District, versatile function rooms, and true hidden gems. You can choose from any of the low-cost options we’ve provided.

How to use influencers to grow event attendance

How to use influencers to grow event attendance

At one time, influencer marketing may have been limited to celebrities a decade ago, but that has since changed, and social media influencers are rising. If you are looking into influencer marketing for the first time, you may find conflicting information about getting influencers for events or brand promotion. While there are cases where getting an influencer may be harmful, this is only when you choose the wrong person to promote for you. That’s why we’ve created a comprehensive guide on the secrets to influencer marketing for your event below.

What is Influencer Marketing?

Influence marketing is considered a type of social media marketing. Here, endorsements and promotions of products, brands, and events are made by influencers, which are the people who have a dedicated social media following. Also, they are viewed as experts in their niche.

This type of marketing works because social influencers have built up trust within their following, and their recommendations are seen as a form of social proof. As a result, influencer marketing ROI is also 89% better than other marketing channels.

How To Find The Right Influencers To Promote Your Event

Like all types of marketing, you need the right strategy with influencer marketing. So the first step is to find the right influencer.

You’ll firstly need to choose a platform, although you can expand to other platforms later. Find the platform that your audience spends their most time on, and you can select your influencer there. Or, you can also choose a platform depending on your strategy, such as Instagram or Youtube for events with visual attributes, or Facebook if you want to promote to a larger audience.

Then, you’ll need to do some research to find suitable candidates. And one of the most important things you need NOT do is to look solely at the number of followers. What you need to consider, instead, is if the influencer’s target audience and your target event attendees coincide with yours.

There are different tiers of influencers:

  • Mega-Influencers or Celebrities (1M+ followers)
  • Mid-Tier Influencers (50k to 1 M followers)
  • Micro-Influencers (10k to 50k followers)
  • Nano-Influencers (1k to 10k followers)

Micro-influencers are also as effective as macro-influencers. This is because their engagement rate with their followers can be higher. So, are you interested in someone with less than 2000 followers or around the 5,000 to 10,000 range? Remember that this decision will also determine your budget.

It will be challenging to find the right influencer. So, the help of an influencer agency will be helpful. However, some platforms have made it easier for brands to find and reach out to influencers such as Grin, CreatorIQ, Influence.co and others. Check out Influence.co: https://influence.co/go/rates for possible rates.

How To Have Influencers To Grow Event Attendance

If you’ve finally found the right influencer, here are your next steps to have them promote your event and grow your event attendance.

1.    Plan An Influencer Strategy

This step will usually require a contract that clearly states what you need from the influencer as ROI (return on investment). Contracts will also be a good point to discuss any disagreements or objections.

Make sure not to overwhelm them with information and requirements, and be as flexible as possible. Influencers have their ways of doing things to stay true to their image and values. So, as long as you are clear on the deliverables, the changes in the contract will likely be minimal and your partnership more productive.

2.    Be Authentic and Clearly Outline Compensation

During your exchange, be sure to be clear about the nature of your arrangement, including both your target audience. Be authentic with your approach to the influencer and provide fair compensation. Generally, influencer agencies have their own set of rates for their talents.

However, suppose you have chosen a micro-influencer not affiliated with any agencies but has the right target audience, which you think can help you grow your event attendance. In that case, coming up with a mutually agreeable compensation will be helpful. For instance, some are amenable to free products or services other than project-based payments. In this case, you can give them free VIP event passes.

3.    Determine How You Can Measure The Results

You need tools to measure their results to track your influencer marketing strategy. There are three ways you can choose from:

  • Reach or the number of people who see information about your event
  • Engagement or the number of likes, shares, comments and replies
  • Conversion or the number of people who take action, such as registering for your event

Set your campaign objective – in this case, growing your event attendance. Then you can analyse the results from the marketing campaigns through referral traffic, unique coupon codes, affiliate links, and social media engagement. You can take account of the latter by checking the number of likes, comments, mentions, and shares of the influencer’s post about your event. You can save all this data into a spreadsheet or automate the process with software such as Bit.ly that tracks clicks and the course of those clicks. Find out more here: Top Influencer Marketing Tools in 2020.

4.    Ask Them To Promote Pre-Event Hype

You’ll want promotion before your event begins to get people to start talking about it. This is called pre-event hype, where you raise awareness and generate high engagement with your audience. The best and fastest way to do this is to ask your chosen influencer to help you reach your target audience and start promoting pre-event hype.

5.    Host A Small Pre-Event Show With Your Influencers

In addition to having influencers create pre-event posts, you may also invite them to participate in a pre-event show on your social media accounts. They can ask their audience and followers to head over to your social media accounts because they’ll be there. A good example is a live event hosted by your brand’s/event’s Instagram account with influencers as the guests.

6.    Don’t Forget To Request a Post-Event Post

This step helps increase event attendance during your subsequent events. Having influencers post about your event and their experience will also serve as a credibility booster for other big names and influencers to attend your future events and likely promote your next event. You can further utilise influencers to ensure you have post-event engagement with your audience by posting content to enjoy the event.

 

Don’t forget to thank influencers for supporting your event. Influencer marketing is effective, but influencers end up more like a partner since you’ll be dealing with people instead of the usual digital marketing tools. So, to establish a connection with them, you both need to have the same values when it comes to providing what your shared target audience needs.