| Having difficulty knowing what to offer people | | | | Tips for promoting and holding an online event. |
| online? Worried that your prospects are too | | | | 1. You can hold online web conferences or other |
| bombarded by sales pitches to pick yours out | | | | events using a system like Voice Café. |
| from the hundreds they get every day? | | | | Voice Café lets you bring people together |
| Try something different - an event! | | | | with audio, video and PowerPoint presentation |
| Events have a number of benefits over standard | | | | capabilities. |
| marketing approaches. Some of these benefits | | | | 2. If you are using a web conferencing system, |
| include: | | | | try to get people to log in early and test the |
| - Events are perceived as informational and are | | | | system. This will ensure they get the best |
| often more accepted than sales pitches. | | | | experience from your event. |
| - Events generate a sense of urgency as they | | | | 3. Find web sites and newsletters that reach your |
| are scheduled on a certain date with a registration | | | | target market and post or advertise your event |
| deadline. | | | | in them. A free place you can advertise events |
| - By sending an event e-mail, you can reach | | | | online is The Ryze Network. The Ryze Network is |
| people's inbox, a place they look at nearly every | | | | an online community of over 20,000 people that |
| day. With a web site, people have to remember | | | | lets you participate in discussion groups, connect |
| to visit. | | | | with others and list events. |
| - Regularly changing events give people a reason | | | | Event ideas |
| to come back to your web site. | | | | Here are a few ideas for your events, whether |
| - Regardless of whether the event is held online | | | | they are online or offline. |
| or offline, an event can offer a better opportunity | | | | - Offer contests and door prizes |
| to build relationships than e-mail, mail, phone or a | | | | - Have a guest speaker or a way that people can |
| web site visit. | | | | connect with experts |
| Building your list | | | | - Offer "how to" demonstrations |
| To market your events well, it is important that | | | | - Open houses and customer appreciation days |
| you regularly build a list of people interested in | | | | - Free food is often a draw. Or unique food - I |
| what you offer and the events you create. | | | | used to go to an ethnic festival primarily to try |
| Make sure your web site invites visitors to sign up | | | | the different foods, even though the food wasn't |
| for your newsletter and event schedule. Ensure | | | | free. |
| each contact with a client or prospect ends with | | | | - Provide information and resources |
| an invitation to join your mailing list. | | | | - Entertain - Include hypnotists, magicians, clowns, |
| You can easily manage your subscriber system, | | | | singers, dancers, etc. |
| send broadcasts and create professional looking | | | | - Inspire - Offer inspiration speakers and stories |
| invitation, event schedules and newsletters using | | | | - Let them network - One unexpected benefit of |
| an affordable service like Constant Contact. | | | | my both my offline and online courses is that my |
| Tips for promoting an offline event | | | | students meet each other and often start doing |
| Here are some tips for promoting your offline | | | | business with each other or form strategic |
| event: | | | | partnerships. |
| 1. Be sure to tell people the benefits of attending. | | | | So add some urgency to your marketing - |
| 2. Offer something interesting to get them to | | | | schedule and promote a memorable event! |
| come out. | | | | Permission to publish this article on your own web |
| 3. Include the address, time, contact info for | | | | site or in your newsletter is granted as long as |
| more information and how to register (if required) | | | | the complete article is used and the final |
| 4. Provide a link to a map so they can easily find | | | | paragraph and link to our site is intact. Our |
| it. | | | | affiliates have permission to change the final web |
| 5. Include a "refer a friend" link so they can pass | | | | site link to their text affiliate link. |
| the invitation on to others. | | | | |