Printed from EventLister.com - Website Phone Support: 570-504-4304 Event Advertising Tips - in 10, 3, 2, and 1 page versions Site Newsletter - Release Date: 6/21 07 I have the larger Event Advertising Summaries done in a 10 page, a 3 page, a 2 page, and a 1 page version. The shorter ones are perfect for Artists and Crafters to send with their applications to any events they apply to. A 5 cent print-out might make you and hundreds of other exhibitors hundreds of dollars more. The power of information! 1 Page Version -  http://www.craftlister.com/craft_experts/articles/read.php?ID=56 2 Page Version -  http://www.craftlister.com/craft_experts/articles/read.php?ID=55 3 Page Version -  http://www.craftlister.com/craft_experts/articles/read.php?ID=54 10 Page Version -  http://www.craftlister.com/craft_experts/articles/read.php?ID=53 The origional 150 pages of responses from 500 people are still online here: http://www.craftlister.com/craft_experts/articles/read.php?ID=47 http://www.craftlister.com/craft_experts/articles/read.php?ID=48 http://www.craftlister.com/craft_experts/articles/read.php?ID=49 A 50 page summary of top points made: http://www.craftlister.com/craft_experts/articles/read.php?ID=50 Comment Received:  We are down about 20 crafters from \\\'06.  Don\\\\\\\'t know if it\\\'s because I emailed many the contracts rather than send them through the PO, even though I emailed the contract twice.  A lot of crafters are retired people and maybe they\\\'re not into computers as much as others, even though they have email. Response: Email is just not as reliable as plain old mail. Statistically 1/3 of all emails go bad each year, so if you had 100 email contacts last year, it\\\'s likely down to only about 70 working email contacts now. Applications really should be mailed out anyway, especially to all repeat exhibitors, it\\\'s a small expense for someone almost guarenteed to come back. Also consider many people do not have printers, and those that do often cant get them to print all document types or always have ink or paper. It\\\'s allot more likely that the same person will apply if they have you app in their hand than if it\\\'s in their in-box and they need to DO something. -Louy ---- Comment Received: Just wanted to say the bulk event add option is great! I was able to actually put a dozen events in without taking the whole day! The site keeps on getting better and better - Good Work! Response: Thanks! Yes, it is easier than ever for promoters to add multiple of their own event, using the listing Copy option, and for exhibitors themselves to add multiple events they just know of or all the ones they are planning to attend. The bulk add option for vendors to add events lets you start by entering the zip codes of up to 5 events, then shows you possible matches we already have, while then letting you complete the basic info one any we do not and letting you select your application status to each, as appropriate. The help text on the bulk add form is improved. Try it today, earn some membership time and help support the site: http://www.craftlister.com/events/applications/associate_to_many_by_crafter.php Promoter Add On: Vendor Add On: P or V Add On: Effective Advertising is Critical to Event and Merchant Success Few events have an unlimited budget. More effective use of the available advertising dollars and available people hours is therefor the only path to improvement. More effective and more successful advertising is a matter of smarts, not money.  Do not \\\'throw money at the problem\\\'. This is the cumulative list of the reported  most effective advertising methods for events: 1. Word of Mouth – Customer telling other customers or bringing other customer with them. 2. Reputation – Customers remembering and attending yearly 3. Handouts – Exhibitors can distribute collectively material at hundreds of other events. 4. Exhibitors sending Press Releases to all area Papers – SOME free articles are bound to result. 5. Community Organizations\\\' Involvement - ... details below ... 6. Mailing List Usage ( Promoter\\\'s and all Exhibitors\\\' ) 7. Street Signs, Banners, & Posters -  plastered around the country 8. order depending on $ spent, coverage, ad size, frequency, etc.: TV / Newspaper / Radio signs -> Signs. -> SIGNS! ==>> S I G N S  !! SIGNS need to be LARGE, with BIG, CLEAR, EASY TO READ PRINT and SIMPLE INFO on a BRIGHT BACKGROUND.  Early and comprehensive coverage and planning is a must.. SIGNS CAN BE LEGALY PLACED IN ALMOST ANY TOWN, JUST NOT ALWAYS ON PUBLIC LAND  -  Private property is a great place for signs, just approach property owners for permission, treat them to free tickets, movie passes,  etc.  Add a huge sign to the event premesis the month before. Try a  MULTIPLE CAR AND LAWN SIGN BLITZ -  Every organization volunteer has a car that can be turned into mobile advertising and a yard that can hold a sign or two! Improve signs the day before, with balloons, ribbons, colored splotches, etc. Reputation - Regardless of the actual advertising, there are some shows that customers just know as good shows and they will seek out each year\\\'s date themselves to attend! - Turn craft shows into events.  Name them and hold them on the same weekend yearly! e.g.  Annual Fall Foliage Craft Fest, The last full weekend in September. - Decide to only accept quality artisans and craftsmen, then make the effort to follow-through without any slip-ups, of slip-in\\\'s.  There are customers who frequent the same shows every year looking for the \\\"dog biscuit lady\\\" or the \\\"wood carver guy\\\", etc. Give Promotional Material Packet to Vendors Remember, the most likely show-goer, is a previous show-goer at your show or another! When you send your vendor packets out, send each vendor: Handouts - to pass out at the events they attend leading up to your event.       Flyers – for bulletin boards, store windows, and any other areas viewed by potential customers. Postcards – for merchants to mail to their self-maintained mailing list. Info Stickers – many have their own postcards. Send event info stickers for their postcards. Entrance Coupons or Free Passes\\\' – for merchants to send/give to their TOP clients. Encourage vendor promotion - Send each handouts, postcards, etc. with a unique number in it. For every one turned in, they can receive a $1.00 or a point towards a prize, etc. Instruction on how to write a press release - Promoters should encourage all vendors to write to all their local and all event local media. Many have reported PHENOMENAL success with this FREE advertising method. A request to use the exhibitors\\\' mailing lists - Ask the size, then send them material to mail to their list, some may even send you mailing labels to use yourself. Send as early as possible so more events are blanketed. ASK how many each vendor thinks they could distribute as the number will vary wildly and they are costly to ship. Posters & Flyers. - Posters in many locations really do work, if put in right places. They MUST pick places for the right people, such as high end clothes stores for cultured craft shows. POSTERS for Events in High-Volume Areas WORK - because they just do!!!!  Be clear and specific with wording. - Ask businesses around town if you can put a poster or flyer if you promise to take it down the same day of the show, immediately after the show ends. Record where you post them for removal and to record friendly, likely repeats for subsequent years! Community & Charity Involvement - Community & Charity involvement will get \\\'word of mouth\\\' advertising flying through the local community. Community or Charity involvement may even help events acquire free advertising on the News, Radio, and Paper! - Create some type of community involvement where there is none.   For example, have kids do a car wash at your event for their club/organization/charity.... Get community organizations to run Food or Drink stands to raise funds, or host their own Group Crafts booth. Sponsorship by a community organization is critical and the organizations don\\\'t want to support imports from China either. - Offer to collect for charities & organizations. With approval from the organizations or charities that are doing so, your show can be a drop off location for Can Food, Toys, Clothing, or Monies. Jars with the charity listed on each placed on a centrally located table. - If event appropriate, offer free spots to religious organizations for bake sales, group craft sales, info booth, member hello-meet, etc. Same for: Scouts, local charities, animal shelters, local authors, Use Local Resources Geared towards Tourism / Travel / Activities - Many municipalities and even large apartment complexes & gated communities can and WILL add info about whats happening in the area and other notes to water bills, trash bills, electric bills, etc. IF ASKED   Also contact local utilities for same with any directly billed customers. - Contacting and working with your local Chambers of Commerce and Tourism will reap benefits. Most have websites with upcoming event lists and some have Tourism Offices where material can be distribuited. All local to-do magazines, tourism booklets, etc. should be contacted. Promoter Mailing List - Postcards to previous customers is essential. Collect attendees\\\' info with a form or entry cards (complete with phone #s, addresses, and e-mails, where they heard of the event), and after the show compile a mail/e-mail/call list for future shows in that area. - Offer to swap mail/e-mail lists with your vendors. One vendor claims a big mailing list that they send cards to before a show and they swear that promoters try to get them into shows just because they are known for pulling clients into the show to shop. Newspaper - Send \\\'Press Releases\\\' to all the local papers. Send them all multiple copies, months in advance, weeks, then days. The more ‘ready to print’ it is, the better your luck will be!  Send them lots of interesting, detailed info, photos, and call them. - Customers for many successful shows travel from hours around, some events\\\'  entire customer-base come for a show in the middle of a beautiful nowhere. Signs may remind locals, but only distant advertising will bring in the out-of-towner.... - Coupons work! Time and time again, I\\\'m told that coupons placed in newspapers almost always bring in more in entrance fees than the ads. Coupons will also increase the chances of it being placed on their refrigerator as a reminder. - Be sure to submit your show info to the Calendar Editor. Usually, papers will not take the initiative to put an event in the calendar (even if it\\\'s written up several times in the newspaper and advertised in the classifieds or as a display ad), but if submitted as a separate request to have it include in the Calendar, it is more likely to be included. - Some promoters have said that they tried newspapers, and have found only certain small community papers, under a things to do section, actually bring in any new customers, others said that display ads in papers which cost quite a bit never paid in added customers through the door. Radio & TV - Send out a press release to every radio and television station, and post on every free news site in the area. A live radio broadcast would be optimal, ASK! I have had promoters tell me they did get this for free, so be creative and try! Let them know that YOU know that they will enjoy exposure to your large, already expected attendance by their attending and broadcasting live. - Most local television stations have a public announcement spot or a \\\"Public Service Bulletin Board\\\" that they announce upcoming local events going on that week. Normally they just need the information on your event about three to four weeks in advance. - most radio stations\\\' websites have a community events section, and they are usually very good about posting event listings (such as a craft show!). Other Ideas -  Internet - Find the countless free sites for your town or region. Post on chamber of commerce sites, tourism sites, tourist destination (resorts, inns) sites with event lists online, etc.   - Many promoters visit every other local show that they can to promoter their own event. - Offer to partner with other local events in advertising - trade handouts, postcards, flyers, posters, even print or media ads. Place their show handouts on your info table at your show, in exchange for your flyer at theirs, etc. Advertising Refinement - Track ALL ads, ALL monies, and source of EACH customer. ASK EVERY ENTRANT where they heard of the event and how many are in their party. - Designate multiple greeters with clipboards to ask EVERY gate entrant where they heard about the event. They should stroll or be at main entrance points if there is no gate. The info gathered is priceless! If you sell tickets, have the question asked and recorded at that point. Under no circumstance should you neglect this valuable resource. Since you know the cost of each media ad, campaign, gimick, etc. you can brake down each ad source to how much each customer from it cost. In future years, drop the worst and improve upon the best! V NON-Member Add On: Member Add On: P w/ No Listings Add On: