5 Simple Ways to Promote a Charitable Event If you’ve ever worked for or with a non-profit, you already know how important events are. They help further a non-profit’s fundraising, awareness and advocacy efforts. It is important to put as much thought and strategy into promoting these events as required in organizing them, in order to meet your goals. With these 5 tips, publicizing your charitable event will be a breeze!

1. Know your target audienceNot all events are created equal, which means not all events will draw the same audience. Most non-profits know who their large donors are, but they don’t know who will attend their events. Best way to start? Write down who you would like to attend your event. Characteristics, gender, age range, income, education level, industry, etc. The more detail the better. This information will allow you to promote your event effectively and attract your ideal attendees. For example, a large upscale gala, would require different promotion avenues then a Fun Run for kids and families.

2.Use your audienceOne of the best ways to promote your event is to use your existing audience to help spread the word. Create tag a friend campaigns, group and friend rate promotions, ask questions to empower and engage your audience in your cause and event..Connect with other organizations that have a similar mission statement as your event, and join forces. Through word of mouth, you open yourself to more resources, contacts, and information.

3. Use social media tools:

If you have a large and/or engaged Facebook audience, use the following steps:- Create an event page, complete with who, what, when and where- Invite friends and family (who you think will actually attend)- Keep the page updated, and keep your audience engaged (see #2)- If your event is education based, a private facebook group for registered attendees might

be a good way to go- Create a targeted ad set to promote your event. (use your audience research from #1)

• TwitterTwitter is a great place to increase awareness about your event, gain new sponsors, find vendors and increase vent attendance.To increase the most awareness, follow these tips: - Create a hashtag for your event- Continually promote your event with tweets, images, all including the hashtag

- Retweet tweets that mention your event- Tweet live from your event

Twitter has been on the rise lately, with an increase of more than 50 million users in the past year. This makes the total amount of users on Twitter is roughly 270 million, according to social

caffeine. From these 270 million users, roughly a third of them will buy from a brand they follow. Amazing, right? These statistics show that advertising your event on Twitter can create a lot of buzz, no matter what the demographics of your target audience are.

• InstagramInstagram is a great place to engage your audience visually. Use your event’s consistent brand voice, ask questions, create tag a friend campaigns, and share the stories of the charity that your event will fund. Some tips:- Mention the details of your event often- Use the active link in your profile… make sure it points to where people can RSVP or buy tickets to your event- Use appropriate hashtags… location, event hashtag, brands with similar audience hashtags…- Promote your event the day of and after- Ask guests to use your hashtag during the event to post their photos. This is a great way to create a buzz for your next event.

Another great way to publicize your event, with an estimated 70 million daily users. Although it is a little more difficult to advertise your event prior to the actual event, it is extremely easy to publicize it during and after. To do so, you will need to:

- Upload a flyer for your event (or a photo of the flyer)- Include the details of your event- Add photos throughout the event including the hashtag

4. Use local sourcesThere are many local avenues that you can publicize your event through. By doing so, the community also has the opportunity to get involved.

• Newspaper adA newspaper ad is another great way to promote your event, even if it is a little old fashion. In your ad, it is important to include the 5 W’s: Who, What, When, Why, and Where. With these included, there is no confusion about the details for your event. Also, try to make your event sound as attractive as possible. For example, in newspapers, there are at least twenty garage sale ads every week. A typical garage-sale goer is not going to go to all of these garage sales. Rather, they are going to go to the ones that sound the most attractive and worth their time. The same goes for your event. How can you make your event different from the rest?

• FlyersFlyers are a way to associate your event with an image. Just like the newspaper ad, it is important to include the 5 W’s. Another important component is to keep your flyer short and memorable. People are not going to want to stop and read a flyer that is filled from top to bottom in words. Rather, they will stop to read the quick details of a short, but attractive flyer.

• Radio/TV ads

When it comes to advertising, most small businesses do not choose a TV ad in fear of the costs. Although a TV ad is more expensive than a radio ad, it will not break the bank, especially when you advertise on a local channel. Ultimately, which way you choose to promote your event depends on your target audience.

5. Have bonuses for those who attendThe last way to promote your event is to provide incentives for those who attend. Incentives will make your event more attractive, which, in turn, will increase the amount of people that attend.

Events are such an important part of non-profits. They are the face of the company. Basically, how an event goes is how the company is seen. Therefore, promoting your event is just as important as organizing it. However, reaching your target audience and keeping their attention can be tricky. By using these 5 tips, it will be much easier to not only gain awareness but also keep attention on your event.

Have any suggestions? Fill us in @insquiredesign #charitablepromotions