It is undeniable that events are great tools for marketing and sales. It is a well-known fact that events are the finest approach to building relationships on an individual basis with the target audience as well as prospective partners, sponsors, and other business associates.
Any firm can increase revenue by taking advantage of an event. You have the ideal opportunity to leverage these unique events as an essential sales and marketing tool, whether you are throwing a party or conference to announce a new good or service, establishing a new store, or presenting at a trade show.
Businesses may establish trust, develop a personal connection, and eventually have an opportunity to differentiate from their many rivals by using events. With the help of this article, you can effectively use event marketing to drive sales.
Table Of Contents
What is Event Marketing?
Event marketing is a sort of marketing that include organizing or attending events to promote a business, product, or service. Event marketing aids in educating clients about your product and fostering deeper ties with them.
Organizing or participating in events is an effective component of a solid lead generation plan. Online or offline both events are possible. You can participate in, fund, or organise an event by yourself. Attendees at large business gatherings are often interested in your industry, product, or new prospects.
Events are a great way to increase consumer loyalty. People attend conferences and seminars to network, learn new information, and enjoy themselves. Such satisfying encounters foster a deep emotional bond with a brand. Therefore, hosting events might be a successful relationship marketing tactic.
Why Should an Organization Care About Event Marketing?
The reason is rather straightforward: a good event marketing plan gives you the publicity and attendance you must attract people to your events. Any business may stand out in a competitive market with an event marketing strategy. Using event marketing effectively, you may develop a deeper connection with the customers.
The proper intended audience can be reached effectively, the ideal technique to achieve success is understood, and most significantly, informing the public of the event is the chief cause of why event marketing efforts are successful.
1. Customer Engagement
Events for marketing may aid a company in interacting with its customers and fostering brand loyalty. These events are a successful approach to giving event guests a special experience.
Customers that have a good experience with the company tell their friends and relatives about it. This “word of mouth” technique increases brand recognition and attracts possible new clients to the company.
2. Create Brand Awareness
Establishing and developing a company’s brand name and identity are among the primary motivations for participating in or hosting an event. Setting oneself apart from the competition is essential, given how tough it is across nearly all industries.
Increasing brand recognition may also support your customers’ trust in your company’s merchandise. Customers are more inclined to repeat purchases when they believe in the goods and services.
3. Upselling Customers
Upselling often follows naturally from engaging your clients. Use webinars or presentations to soft-sell new product offer.
Whether in person or through a live webinar, showcasing that your business is aware of your consumers’ requirements and spending the time to explain how your product or service may alleviate certain pain points builds trust. Your upsell will come out as less pushy and more beneficial.
4. Lead Generation
Lead generation is gathering potential customers’ contact information so that you may engage with them and make a transaction. On the other hand, organizing an event for any business’s goods and services is a certain approach to attracting interest and gathering leads.
The booking process can attract a sizable number of individuals currently interested in your service, sector, or at the very minimum, your customer base. If you participate in or support an event, you may gather prospects by initiating a contest, building a mailing list, or providing a demo.
9 Types of Events That Drive Sales
Event marketing is among the most effective outreach strategies available to companies today for generating questions, leads, and ultimately increased sales. However, not all events will be equally advantageous for your brand. Let’s examine the events that marketers believe to be the most useful. Both sales and marketing departments should benefit from the following event kinds.
1. Trade Shows
Trade fairs are effective marketing events that may boost sales. You may get new business through in-person discussions, unique trade show bargains, and discounts. In addition to making significant deals, you may reduce the price of older items to reduce inventory.
A single item or a set of items from competing companies is often the focus of trade shows. A trade show gathers people from the same business to showcase, demonstrate, and discuss the newest goods and services. Trade exhibitions typically center on specialized businesses, such as IT, fitness, or natural foods.
You may advertise your company at the trade exhibition while showcasing your most recent goods and services. The benefits of trade fairs extend to both business-to-customer and business-to-business businesses.
2. Guest Speakers
Using special guests for promotional strategies is another kind of advertising. You may save significant money and time by inviting a few well-known presenters to your conference. The business will get some authority as a result.
If you’re new to the business, consider inviting a prominent guest lecturer. The objective should be to book an expert who might benefit your prospective clients. Such gatherings allow for socializing before the actual event.
The formation of leading experts and roundtable discussions are options. You may engage with the participants and serve food at your event. It would help if you planned a breakfast or supper because it might be challenging to pull employees out of their workplaces during the day.
3. Sales Fundraisers
Sales fundraising is a type of charitable giving that takes place when a company, no matter how big or small, raises money for a cause and contributes a share of the proceeds from selling a good or service.
Recent research published in the Journal of Consumer Research claims that customers tend to perceive a company’s products are of higher quality when they are aware of its social responsibility. Consequently, doing good can lead to success.
The business aims to build a community and culture beyond just selling a product. A great method to engage with your consumers more personally and generate awareness for a worthwhile cause is to host combined fundraising with a non-profit or a cause that resonates well with your brands, such as a gala, auction, or an active event (such as a sporting event, walk, or run).
4. Award Ceremonies
Businesses in both the business-to-business and business-to-customer sectors use awards. By showcasing them, the organizing firm shows itself as a global market, assisting in developing a professional reputation and selling its goods or services.
What is a potential consumer’s first question before purchasing your good or service? They want to know if your business is reputable, dependable, and trustworthy. Customer retention refers to projecting a positive image in the industry. Customers’ confidence and trust in your company will grow due to awards.
In addition to maintaining a positive reputation, earning the respect of those in your field is critical. Gaining respect and recognition from your peers is easy when you win awards. They may assist you in fostering stronger connections with your clients, shareholders, suppliers, collaborators, and the media.
5. Product Launches
A launch event is a fantastic way to get noticed when introducing a new business or product. The inauguration celebration might be exclusive or accessible to everyone in the community.
Do contact some important individuals, such as other entrepreneurs, local media, etc., to help spread the news about your company. Keep the launch celebration from becoming too stuffy or official since people expect to have a good time at any event.
Take time to explain the occasion’s significance to the audience, and then allow the celebration to begin. Launch celebrations are marketing opportunities. Therefore you must encourage socializing.
6. VIP Event
A VIP function is directly aimed at the decision-makers of a corporation. It all comes down to offering a unique event that encourages individuals to feel recognized and valued for their efforts.
These high-ranking executives are more inclined to attend something exclusive since exclusivity has an intriguing character. Additionally, they can socialize with their colleagues and “hobnob” with other top-tier experts.
Vice presidents and CMOs would like to understand that whatever training component you give will match their expertise level. This kind of effective promotional needs to deliver on the “VIP” experience to be effective.
7. Webinars
A webinar is a virtual gathering that uses the internet to link participants from all over the world. Webinars are to host lectures, seminars, or presentations. Web conferences are another name for webinars.
Webinars offer a significant chance to boost revenue for a business. Additionally, webinars strengthen the company’s relationship with its clients. Most of the time, people haven’t attempted this consumer contact.
Webinars allow businesses to bring their clients to them rather than requiring them to travel. Telling the audience that you produced a book on the same subject is a smart idea if you’re doing a webinar about marketing networking, for instance. The goal is to establish oneself, not to market your goods, so use this technique sparingly.
8. Festival Parties
Providing an interesting time for your consumers and the intended audience is the main goal of festivals and gatherings. The crowd at a B2B event is limited; you might invite colleagues, clients, and important candidates.
Carnivals and other B2C events frequently extend to a significantly larger number of people to increase brand exposure. Although, brand exposure is doubly useful if participation is fee-based. There are many motives for which individuals throw parties. What else have you accomplished that you wish to commemorate?
You could bring clients, future clients, and collaborators to the party you’re throwing to celebrate your firm’s profitability. It increases public knowledge of your business and allows consumers to participate in your success.
9. Networking Event Sessions
Every businessman is aware of the value of networking. It could boost your confidence in general or your continued employment. No presenters are needed for a socializing session. Attending events in your industry increases your chances of meeting potential customers or influencers who should be familiar with your company and brand.
You should share information about your company and your hobbies with other businesspeople through networking since you never know who could be interested. You never know how you may benefit or work together. Therefore it’s common for like-minded industry professionals to want to educate you on what they are doing.
Conclusion
Event marketing is one of the most effective outreach strategies available to companies today for generating questions, leads, and ultimately increased sales. When planning an event, keep in mind to leverage customer behavior and events to spot lucrative business prospects.
Effective marketing before, during, and after events may considerably increase the outreach, exposure, and engagement chances for your business. You may ensure your message is pertinent and appropriate by focusing on prospective clients depending on particular occasions or triggers. You’ll experience an increase in sales if you keep these suggestions in mind!