When it comes to event planning, whether it’s online or in-person, one thing is clear: creating excitement is key to ensuring your event’s success.
Sure, you’ve got your agenda, venue, and speakers lined up, but if your audience isn’t engaged or excited beforehand, your event might not get the attention it deserves.
Building buzz around your event before, during, and after the big day is essential for attracting the right people and ensuring your event leaves a lasting impression.
In this article, we’ll dive into some strategies you can use to create a buzz from the moment you start planning until long after the event wraps up.
From choosing the right event space in Chicago to leveraging social media, here’s how you can generate excitement and keep the momentum going.
1. Start Early with a Strong Pre-Event Strategy
The excitement for your event should begin as soon as the planning starts. Building buzz before the event allows you to get your audience excited, build anticipation, and encourage early engagement.
The goal here is to make people feel like they can’t miss out on what’s coming.
If you’re hosting your event at an event space in Chicago, make sure to showcase the venue early on. Post sneak peeks of the location, behind-the-scenes images, and teasers about the experience.
If your venue is known for its modern architecture or vibrant atmosphere, highlight those unique features to spark curiosity.
Sharing the venue on social media not only gives attendees something to look forward to but also builds a sense of place.
Also, creating a solid content plan is a must. Share engaging posts across your social media channels, create countdowns, and consider running contests or giveaways.
People love the chance to win free tickets, VIP access, or exclusive swag, so use this to your advantage.
Don’t forget to send out regular email updates to your mailing list, giving them a taste of what’s to come and why they should be part of your event.
2. Engage Attendees During the Event with Interactive Experiences
The day of the event is when all your hard work comes together, and it’s crucial to maintain the excitement throughout the day.
People don’t want to just sit back and watch – they want to participate and be part of the experience. This is where engagement strategies during the event play a huge role in sustaining the buzz you’ve built.
For in-person events, think about incorporating interactive elements that encourage attendees to engage directly.
Whether it’s through live polling, Q&A sessions with speakers, or hands-on activities, giving people a chance to contribute to the event will keep their energy high.
If you’re hosting a conference, consider hosting workshops or breakout sessions where people can network and learn in a more intimate setting. A personal connection to the event will make it even more memorable.
For online events, create opportunities for virtual attendees to participate. Use live chats, polls, and breakout rooms to keep them engaged.
Hosting live social media events, like Instagram live sessions or Twitter chats, is another great way to get people talking in real-time.
Creating a hashtag specific to your event can also generate real-time buzz on social platforms, allowing attendees to share their thoughts, photos, and experiences as the event unfolds.
3. Don’t Let the Buzz Die – Keep the Momentum Going After the Event
The excitement shouldn’t stop when the event is over. In fact, some of the most important buzz happens after the event.
By keeping the conversation going, you can turn one-time attendees into loyal followers and advocates for your brand.
First, take the time to send personalized thank-you notes or emails to all your attendees. This simple gesture goes a long way in making people feel appreciated and valued.
It’s also a great opportunity to share links to event highlights like recorded sessions, photos, or video snippets.
Another powerful post-event strategy is to leverage user-generated content. Encourage your attendees to share their experiences through social media, using your event hashtag.
Feature some of their posts on your own social channels to show appreciation and keep the buzz alive.
You could even run a post-event contest, asking attendees to share their best moments or experiences for a chance to win a prize. This keeps people talking about your event long after it’s over.
Additionally, consider gathering feedback from attendees. This is essential for not only improving future events but also for showing your audience that you value their input.
Send out surveys or feedback forms and ask for their thoughts on what they enjoyed, what could be better, and any suggestions they have for future events.
Sharing this feedback with your audience also demonstrates your commitment to growth and improvement.
4. Make Your Event Part of a Larger Narrative
One key to keeping the buzz alive is to make your event feel like part of a larger story. Instead of seeing your event as a standalone occasion, consider integrating it into your ongoing brand narrative.
Share the progress leading up to the event, behind-the-scenes glimpses of the planning process, and any noteworthy moments that happened during the event.
You can also repurpose event content for blog posts, videos, or case studies. A post-event recap blog can highlight key takeaways, quotes from speakers, and memorable moments.
If your event was successful in generating leads or growing your brand’s visibility, be sure to showcase those results in your marketing materials moving forward.
This helps extend the life of your event and solidifies your brand’s identity in your audience’s minds.
5. Leverage Partnerships to Extend Your Reach
Don’t forget to include your event partners in your post-event strategy. If you worked with sponsors, vendors, or speakers, be sure to continue the conversation with them after the event.
Share the impact the event had on your audience, and encourage partners to amplify the buzz through their own channels.
For example, if you had a keynote speaker at your event, ask if they would be willing to share their presentation or insights on their blog or social media.
This can help broaden the reach of your event and keep it in the public eye long after the physical event has concluded.
By nurturing these partnerships, you create a network of advocates who will continue to promote your event and help you build buzz for future ones.
In Conclusion
Building buzz around your event is not a one-time effort – it’s a continuous process that requires strategic planning, creativity, and engagement.
By focusing on pre-event marketing, interactive experiences during the event, and post-event engagement, you can ensure your event generates excitement and leaves a lasting impact.
Whether you’re hosting in-person or online, your event is a unique opportunity to connect with your audience, showcase your brand, and build a community that extends far beyond the event itself.
So, next time you’re planning an event, remember that the buzz doesn’t just happen on the day of the event – it’s built long before and kept alive long after.
