How To Build Anticipation For Virtual Fundraising Events

We’ve managed $100k+ ad budgets promoting online and in-person events and here’s what we’ve learned: 1. Timing matters. The majority of ticket sales or registrations happen in the weeks leading up to the event. We account for this by allocating the majority of the spend closer to the day of the event. 2. Social proof converts. For one client, we searched LinkedIn for anyone who posted about the event after the fact and ranked them by engagement. We then promoted those posts as thought leader ads in anticipation of the next event. 3. Promote transparency. If you are at liberty to do so, why not give away the attendee list? If you have a high value audience and have your targeting dialed in, try a campaign where you gate the attendee list. We’ve seen this tactic promote great conversations that directly lead to ticket sales. 4. Ads that feature as many speakers as possible tend to perform the best. Generally we see ads with faces perform well, so try combining all the speakers into one post. You can then split those ads up into individual speaker ads, use them in carousels, etc. Above all, we’ve learned that preparation is key to promoting these events. For one client, we put together a schedule of ads that would go out as we got closer to the day of the event. This included “countdown” ads where we’d say “the event is 1 month out!” etc. as we built a sense of urgency. Because we put together this plan we were able to get creative requests to our designers early. We had all the creatives ready to go months out from the event and had all the campaigns built and scheduled so that they would pause and activate as the countdown got closer. We’re always testing new strategies to promote these events and it’s impossible to fit all of our experiments into one post. For example, LinkedIn has built in event ads which allow people to register for a LinkedIn event directly from the ad. The key to improving performance for that ad unit is to build up as many organic registrations as possible. Since you can see how many people registered directly on the ad, we’ve seen that a higher number of organic registrations directly impacts the conversion rate on the paid side. Interested in hearing more about how we promote events via ads? Feel free to reach out. We have a ton more ideas we’re looking to test. 🧑🔬

How I raised engagement by 50% at my client’s marketing/corporate events. By the way, this all happened BEFORE THE EVENT 1. Enhanced Communication Channels We streamlined communication by promptly addressing inquiries on social media, sending regular email updates, and offering clear instructions for registrations. 2. Leveraged Social Media Platforms By creating dedicated event pages and sharing engaging content, including behind-the-scenes glimpses and high-quality videos, we sparked conversations and heightened interest among potential attendees. 3. Implemented Countdown Campaigns We built anticipation through countdown campaigns, emphasizing unique event features and exclusive experiences, which motivated prompt registrations. 4. Personalized Invitations Sending personalized video invitations made attendees feel uniquely valued, fostering a sense of connection and commitment to the event. 5. Pre-Event Surveys and Polls We gathered insights into attendee preferences through pre-event surveys, allowing us to tailor content and activities to their interests, enhancing relevance and engagement. By integrating these strategies, we not only increased engagement but also created a more personalized and memorable experience for attendees. Your engagement plan starts BEFORE the event. Set the standard from the start! #EventPlanning #CorporateEvents #EventStrategy #marketingevents #eventmarketing #eventproduction #houstontx #houstontexas #houstonbusiness #executiveassistants

Maximizing event ticket sales starts long before the tickets go live. Too often, event organizers focus solely on the promotion post-ticket release. However, the magic lies in pre-event hype and engagement. Imagine drumming up anticipation so intense that your audience is poised to pounce on tickets the moment they're available. Successful events are a symphony of anticipation, experience, and reflection. To supercharge your next event's ticket sales: 1. Utilize teasers across social platforms to build curiosity. 2. Engage with your audience through interactive content, asking them what they’d love to see. 3. Partner with influencers who resonate with your target demographic for authentic endorsements. By flipping the script from simply selling to creating an immersive journey leading up to the event day, you create a wave of excitement that can significantly lift your ticket sales. Remember: The best marketing doesn’t feel like marketing; it feels like you’re sharing something remarkable. Why push when you can compel? Let's discuss how we can transform potential into attendance for our next big event! How do you plan to elevate your game? 🚀🎟️✨