Social Media Marketing: Does It Work for Events?

Social media marketing stands out as a remarkably effective marketing approach in the digital age. As per a report, 86% of marketers disclosed that their social media efforts have substantially increased exposure for their businesses. Meanwhile, 55% observed an improvement in sales. Like business marketers, event professionals also recognize the advantages of social media marketing. Interestingly, the majority (58%) of marketers use social media for marketing during live events, and 52% of events engage with social media multiple times during the day. 

If you are preparing to use social media for event promotion and increasing event visibility, make sure to stick around and learn all about social media event marketing in this post. 

Why You Should Consider Social Media Marketing for Your Event

Social media marketing has emerged as a practical strategy for event organizers worldwide for several reasons. Below, we discuss these reasons one by one. 

1. Increased Reach and Visibility

Each year, social media platforms gain a vast multitude of new users. In 2024, more than half of the global population of 8 billion people, around 5.17 billion individuals, are already engaged on social media platforms. Given this significant engagement, it becomes clear how social media can be an affective channel to extend your event's visibility to broader audiences, including potential attendees, sponsors, and stakeholders.

2. Enhanced Engagement and Interaction

Social media enables direct messaging, providing two-way communication and allowing direct engagement with your audience in real time. It also allows posting content where your target audience can freely comment and interact. These features of social media make it an excellent avenue to foster conversations, respond to queries, solicit feedback, and ultimately cultivate a sense of community around your event.

3. Targeted Advertising

Social media platforms provide sophisticated targeting options, allowing you to tailor your event promotions to specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. This strategic method guarantees that your message is delivered to the most appropriate audience, enhancing both interaction and the likelihood of successful conversions. 

4. Cost-Effective

Unlike traditional advertising channels such as television commercials and billboard advertisements, leveraging social media marketing for an event is a generally cost-effective marketing solution. This is primarily because posting on social media is free, eliminating the need for expenses like television airtime costs or billboard rental fees. Ultimately, with a well-planned strategy and appealing content, you can achieve significant outcomes with minimal investment, making it ideal for events with limited budgets.

How to Market an Event on Social Media

Now that you understand the importance of social media marketing for events, let’s explore how to market your event on social media effectively. 

1. Define Your Objectives

To enhance the effectiveness of your campaign, it's crucial to first pinpoint your primary objectives, be it boosting event sign-ups, escalating website visitors, or creating significant buzz. Recognizing these goals upfront allows for strategic planning and the implementation of targeted actions.

2. Create Compelling Content

The core of your social media marketing campaign lies in your content; hence, it's crucial to make it captivating and appealing to your target audience. You may utilize striking visuals, video content, and interactive components to grab attention and ignite curiosity about your event. Employing storytelling tactics can also effectively communicate your event's value and its distinctive features.

3. Choose the Right Platforms 

Select social media networks that align with your intended audience's demographics and your event's objectives. For instance, if you aim to increase brand visibility to young audiences, consider promoting your event on platforms with a younger demographics, such as Snapchat and TikTok. In addition to selecting the right platform, make sure to adapt your content strategy to leverage each platform’s unique features and cater to the preferences of its users. 

4. Utilize Hashtags and Geotags

Hashtags are a tool used on social media platforms, identified by the ‘#’ symbol followed by a word or unspaced phrase. Meanwhile, geotags are digital markers that pinpoint the geographic location information of content shared on the internet, such as photos, videos, or social media posts. Including hashtags and geotags in your social media marketing posts makes it simpler for users interested in related topics or locations to find your content. Furthermore, by motivating participants to utilize them while sharing about your event on social media, you can broaden your impact and increase interaction. 

Social Media Marketing for Event Strategies

Looking for inspiration to elevate your social media event marketing efforts? Here are some innovative ideas and examples to spark your creativity.

1. User-Generated Content Competitions

User-generated content competitions involve encouraging the audience to produce and submit their own content, such as photos, videos, or reviews, related to your event, as part of a contest. This strategy not only enhances engagement but also leverages the creativity and networks of the participants, leading to authentic content that can resonate with your target audience and more.

2. Countdown Campaign

Build enthusiasm and anticipation for your event by starting a countdown campaign on your social media platforms. This can involve regular updates, either daily or weekly, along with sneak peeks and exclusive behind-the-scenes looks to keep your audience engaged and eager for the event.

3. Teasers

Post sneak peeks filled with thrilling aspects of your soon-to-be-unveiled event to stir up anticipation and get people talking. This strategy can also help boost the visibility of your event and encourage shares and discussions, further expanding your reach.

4. Live Streaming 

Embrace the power of live streaming to broadcast key moments, sessions, or interviews from your event in real time. Through this, you can extend the reach of your event beyond physical boundaries, increase event visibility, and interact with your audiences in real time.

5. Unique Event Hashtags

Event hashtags unique to your event are an essential tool in amplifying your event's reach on social media. By developing a unique and catchy hashtag, you can motivate participants to post their insights, photos, and reactions, thereby enhancing the online presence of your event. In addition, a unique event hashtag can help you track conversations around your event and connect with participants, creating a sense of community. 

6. Polls

Polls are not just a means of finding out about what your audiences expect or need, it’s also a way to show your audiences that you care about their opinions. By letting them engage in polls, you are essentially giving them a voice in your decision-making process. This engagement can also help in amplifying your social media presence and building a stronger connection with your audience.

7. Landing Page

One frequent oversight among marketers who are using event social media marketing is the absence of a dedicated landing page. A landing page serves as a specialized webpage aimed at capturing and converting visitors from an online promotional campaign. By utilizing a landing page, you have the ability to guide visitors precisely to your desired action, such as signing up for additional details, registering for the event, or making a related purchase. 

8. Giveaways

Offering giveaways is a proven method to attract attention and encourage participation from your audience. People love the excitement of winning something, which in turn can increase loyalty and strengthen your community. Just a quick reminder, remember to clearly define the terms of the giveaway and keep it relevant to your brand to ensure a successful outcome. 

Level Up Your Event Marketing With StaffConnect

Gearing up to amplify your social media event marketing? StaffConnect is a software worth exploring. 

StaffConnect is an event management software that significantly enhances event marketing efforts by centralizing and simplifying the event planning process, automating tasks, facilitating targeted communication, and providing valuable insights through real-time analytics. With StaffConnect, you can increase efficiency, reduce the event management workload, and save time so you can concentrate more on crucial areas of event planning, like social media marketing.

Interested in seeing how StaffConnect can transform your event marketing strategy? Book your free demo now and get a chance to explore our app’s features firsthand.