Effective Events Marketing
Start the process of promoting your event by writing a news summary document. Include details that inform people and intrigue them. Communicate the impact of the event. What will someone learn? Why does the event matter? Who would benefit from attending?
Think also about graphics and visual materials that can help draw interest for your event, when you use them in posters, social media and other marketing materials.
An effective way to raise awareness of your events is by posting details to:
* Community and campus event calendars.
Most provide free listings, but many require an account to be set up with a user name and password. You can use your basic news story to create a document that will help you – or others working with you – to post your details to community calendars. This calendars listing example can give you ideas.
You also can submit your event for posting to:
* Exchange Online.
This is the College’s online magazine. From the listings on Exchange, the College Office of Communications distributes regular events updates to internal and external audiences. You also can include information on your department, center or program website, and on event calendars on campus. You can create posters for bulletin boards around campus and include information on social media sites.
Picking Your Event Date
You will want to check key calendars and contacts for potential conflicts with other community events before you schedule your public event. You also may wish to check major holidays, including religious observations, that could impact attendance. Some calendars to check:
- Exchange Online events listing
- UNC Charlotte calendars
- Arts & Science Council Charlotte Culture Guide
- WFAE community calendar
- WDAV community calendar
- Charlotte’s Got a Lot
- The Charlotte Observer events
- The Charlotte Post events section
- The Business Journal events
- Qcitymetro
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
- Faith Calendar
Marketing Materials
Marketing collateral can improve the success of your event. Whether you use some of the items or all of them depends upon the event, the time you have to plan it, and the audience you wish to reach.
For printing, approved university printers can be found by logging into 49er Mart, going to contracts and searching for printers. The same is true for design and other creative services.
As with all purchases, be sure and check with your budget officer for appropriate uses of various funds to ensure you are in compliance with university, college and department policy and state law.
Marketing Guidelines and Policies
When developing marketing materials, university branding guidelines and laws apply – such as U.S. Copyright Law, the Americans With Disabilities Act, and laws and guidelines that relate to spamming by mail or electronically.
These links can help you consider some relevant polices and laws. For questions that are not addressed, the College Communications team can help and can refer you to others with expertise if needed.
- Copyright Information (Particularly for photo and illustration usage)
- University Marketing Policy
- University Branding