A Step-by-Step Launch Plan for Announcing Your Event

A Step-by-Step Launch Plan for Announcing Your Event

The manner in which you prepare to announce your event has the potential to prove just as important as event execution. 

Once you have properly prepared the announcement of the big day, the challenge becomes making the announcement in an artful manner to generate a meaningful level of interest. Approach this challenge with care and you will sell that many more tickets. 

Let’s take a look at how to properly prepare for your event’s big announcement.

Step 1: Press release or media announcement

A simple press release might not seem like a meaningful marketing strategy, yet it really can make the difference between obtaining critically important exposure and your event going unnoticed. 

If you do not feel comfortable writing a press release, hire a freelance writer to create one on your behalf.  

Publish the press release to your:

• Website
• Share/connect with local media
• Email/newsletters
• Blog
• Social media accounts
  
  

It will also help to transmit the press release to local media outlets or even make a media announcement to garner interest in your upcoming event.

Step 2: Social announcement and/or a giveaway

A social announcement made on social media will maximize exposure for your event. 

If you have not yet established profiles on the following social media platforms, do so immediately on as many platforms as relevant to your brand:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Snapchat
• Flickr
• Pinterest
• TikTok

Use these platforms to announce your event well ahead of the big day. Ideally, you will include a giveaway as a component of the social announcement to ramp up interest even more.

Giveaways are a great way to talk about your event and get people interested and engaged online. Winners will be given a prize or tickets, invite their friends along and most likely share your event to others.

Step 3: Blogs and content creation

Though creating a blog for your event might seem like unnecessary work, it has the potential to create a considerable amount of interest and subsequent ticket sales. 

If you are not a talented writer, outsource your blogging efforts to a professional.

Strategic blog content does the following:

• Informs the audience of the event’s value
• Makes you more discoverable online
• Shows you as an educator and leader in your industry 
• Builds a loyal fan base and following
• Provides more content to share on social media
• Educates the audience about the subject matter to be discussed at the event 
• Inspires readers to share blog posts with those in their social and professional circles
  
  

Consider posting guest blog posts to other relevant blogs, featuring links to your website/blog to bolster interest in your upcoming event.

Step 4: Announcement from talent, speakers and hosts

If your event will feature any notable talent, host or speaker, tout that individual’s merits well ahead of the big day. 

Consider creating an announcement video or other marketing material featuring the event headliner(s). 

Such an announcement has the potential to go viral with social media shares, ultimately helping your event build essential momentum that catalyzes ticket sales.

Also, make sure to cross-promote with your talent and their platforms to maximize your audience reach.

Step 5: Landing page with tickets

Your event website should be centered on a carefully crafted landing page that provides interested parties with the opportunity to purchase tickets. 

Link to this landing page from:

• Featured guest blog posts
• Banner ads
• Social media
• Paid advertisement 
• Blog posts
• Email/newsletters/signature
  
  

Make sure the option to buy tickets is “above the fold”, meaning it is strategically positioned on the upper half of the webpage for optimal visibility. 

Step 6: Backlinking, swapping links and guest posts

Wouldn’t it be nice if other websites and online directories linked directly to your event website? 

Invest the time and effort necessary to establish backlinks and you will enjoy a meaningful uptick in traffic to your event website. 

It is advisable to reach out to other website owners and even bloggers to add links to your event website. In return, you can link to their website/blog in your online content. 

However, it is not prudent to seek backlinks on any old website.  Seek out sites, blogs and directories relevant to your event and/or industry.

This way, those who demonstrate an interest in the subject matter pertaining to your event will learn about it through backlinks on an array of relevant sites, blogs, etc. 

Backlinking tips:

• Connect with influencers in the industry to backlink to their blog
• Create infographics that can be used for other bloggers
• Research top industry blogs and reach out via email
• Submit guest posts and backlink to your landing page
• Connect with local press to highlight your story and link back

A diverse link profile is especially important for gaining essential exposure to cast your “net” as wide as possible, maximizing website visits from all potentially interested parties. 

The quality of your backlinks is just as important as the quantity of backlinks as explained in this informative write-up from SEO guru Neil Patel.