How To Promote A Event
Posted on 19. Jan, 2010 by Debra Thompson Roedl in Seminars
Promoting your seminar is all about spreading the word. Unless you have the cash you can forget about hitting the local TV stations asking for a spot on their packed schedule to promote your seminar. A diverse range of promotion strategies and methods always makes good publicity.
You can promote your seminar individually or hire a PR (public relations) expert or company. These people do now how to create huge buzz, though they come with a relatively high price. If you decide to hire a PR person, work out a deal that best suits both parties. Pay them based on the success for their promotion, split the revenue from the registration fees, this way you pay your PR person according to their capability.
It is encouraged though that you do your own promotion. This way you can save hundreds of dollars on agents and keep the revenues all to yourself. The easiest way to promote your seminar is by telling your friends and family first. They can spread the word to their other relatives and friends and this creates a chain reaction which equals to buzz. Bring it to the next level by offering discounts or waivers to your friends or relatives.
Advertising your seminar in the newspaper can be costly but the rewards are, well, rewarding. If you have a limited budget a small space on the daily classifieds will do nicely. Use unique captions and pops to catch readers’ attention. Ensure you list all the full details of your seminar including contact numbers.
Pass out flyers in public areas such as train stations and supermarkets as well as nearby neighborhoods through their mailboxes. Design your flyer in a way that those who receive them are not tempted to throwing it straight into the dumpster. Use striking colors and graphics to captivate them.
The World Wide Web has opened a new dimension in advertising. Spreading the word has never been easier with online chat rooms and community columns. Post details of your seminar on forums for free and some websites which actually advertise such events. Create a blog for your seminar to boost its profile.
Joint venture email marketing is arguably the best way to promote seminars nowadays. Look for people who have email lists that you believe would be responsive to your seminar. Then ask the owner of the list to email them about your promotion or simply links to your website promoting your seminar. Do this by searching sites that have a lot of traffic and whose visitors share something in common with your seminar’s theme. Split the revenue from registration fees with them in return for their help to create buzz.
Always try asking for help when trying to promote your seminar. You have to accept that if you want to create a good amount of buzz you are bound to lose a few chunks from revenues. Having said that, it is normal in this business to lose in one area and win in another.
