conference-management

[conference-management]

Now is the time to get into numbers-crunching mode. You can make your conference budget less overwhelming by being both creative and critical.

[conference-management]

How Effective is Conference Management and Promotion

No matter what conference format you choose, much of the promotion will be done online. Given the many touchpoints involved, this can make it more complicated than it appears at first glance. It is important to seek the help of professionals who are skilled in digital marketing campaigns. These are six strategies you should consider:

1.   Invite people directly to attend.

2.   Social media network.

3.   Send direct mails.

4.   Start an email campaign.

5.   Optimize your event site.

6.   Learn about content marketing.

1. Invite people directly to attend

Planning a conference is a daunting task. You must decide who to invite and how to send them out. Send invitations directly to past attendees and people who are involved in the conference planning or organization. These people could include your general chair or program committee chair, or the finance chair.

Send invitations to people who might be interested in attending your conference, but do not yet have a relationship with you. With a personal invitation, your upcoming event is a great way to spark their interest and encourage them to get involved.

These individuals might be new members you were introduced to by one of your members. They might be a member of your organization’s social media network and like posts about your conference, but they have not yet registered.

2. Social media networking

Social media networking is about meaningful interactions and having open conversations with others. Social media can be a powerful tool to help you build genuine, strong relationships with your community. Event ambassadors and members of your audience can share the promotional posts from your conference or create their own posts to increase your reach.

·         Facebook -FB is the most popular social media platform with over 2 billion users each day. It is one of the best channels to reach your target audience. Facebook Groups allow you to interact with your followers, start discussions and receive regular event updates. A Facebook Event can highlight logistical information for your conference.

·         Insta - Insta has seen a huge rise in popularity, particularly among younger audiences. You can use Instagram to promote your conference with visuals such as photos and videos. You can capture the attention of potential attendees with features such as Instagram Stories and polls.

·         Tweet - tweet is all about quick updates. You can use 280 characters to share succinct descriptions of your conference or point your followers to the online registration page. To provide additional information, you can share graphics like your conference flyer.

·         Twitter - Twitter is a social networking site for business professionals. This is the most likely target audience for your conference promotion. LinkedIn allows you to send personal invitations and create engaging posts using the polling feature.

3. Direct mail

Direct mail, which is more effective than digital messages in breaking through digital clutter, can be sent by people who will take the time to write letters. People keep information more easily on paper pages than on screens. Direct mailings offer the opportunity to get in touch with your potential attendees, much like sending an invitation.

You want your conference planners and event coordinators to easily access the information they need. Direct mail is a great way to communicate information. The recipients can save the materials so they can be referred later.

4. Start an email campaign.

Email campaigns are a series of marketing messages that reach multiple recipients at the same time.

Email is a powerful promotional tool as it allows you to reach your audience directly through their inboxes, and then send more personal messages.

It is not enough to just send a few emails about the conference and call it an evening. You can reach more people if you have a specific email promotion strategy.

A few months prior to the event, you can start promoting your conference by email. Your emails can be used to promote the registration page, information page, or speaker schedule.

5. Optimize your event website

Once you’ve organized an event, it is important to spread the word to as many people as possible. Optimizing your website can help it rank higher in search engine results. Search engine optimization (SEO) is the name of this process.

SEO strategies make it easier for users to find your website when they search using search engines like Google. Online tools like Google Keyword Planner can help you identify relevant, popular keywords. Your event will be more visible the higher your website ranks.

6. Learn more about content marketing

Content marketing refers to the creation and sharing of online marketing materials, such as blogs, social media posts, and videos, in order to spark interest among your target audience. Content marketing can be explored by creating content that promotes your company as a thought-leader in your industry. This will increase engagement and give attendees a glimpse into the conference’s benefits.

You have many options for content to promote your conference. Blogs are a popular method of content marketing. Short news articles, or longer articles that provide more detail about past conferences or interviews with speakers at the event can be created.