5 Must-Make Moves for Event Promotion

A look back at the 2024 MHM Conference

In our last post, we shared how year-round marketing fuels Mental Health Marketing and builds a loyal community that returns year after year. As the event approaches, that ongoing effort shifts into focused event promotion. 

We consistently invest in strategies that amplify visibility and engagement, using a variety of event-specific marketing tools to put MHM in front of the right audiences. 

These five musts for event promotion include starting early, promoting your speakers well, building a strong brand identity, investing in your website, and looking into paid ad strategy.

Incorporating these tools into your promotion plan will ensure you’re making strides towards a successful event.

1. Start Early

The number one thing you can do to promote your event is to start as soon as possible. 

A lot goes in behind the scenes to confirm speakers, gather details, and collect information needed not only for the event itself but needed for promotion. 

So the earlier you can start, the sooner you can generate buzz. 

Pushing out an early agenda to attendees not only drives anticipation but also encourages earlier ticket sales and gives word-of-mouth conversations more time to travel between peers. 

It also gives you more time to promote your event through speaker promotion.

2. Promote your Speakers Well

Your speakers are the keystone of your event. Which is why promoting them directly will draw more attendees than an event itinerary will. 

MHM’s speaker promotion strategy leans on our marketing to prioritize speaker exposure and push them out to the industry. 

The number one marketing tool we use for this strategy is creating social content specifically for speakers to share. 

Giving speakers ready-to-post content makes it simple and convenient for them to highlight their involvement in our event on social media and in their community. 

This not only amplifies their voice but also extends our event’s reach. 

When speakers share with their own networks, it drives their audiences directly to the event, boosting visibility and interest. 

Steve Turney kicks off the 2024 Mental Health Marketing Conference in Franklin, TN

3. Build a Strong Brand Identity 

Even before viewers are driven to your page, whether it be to social media or a website (more on that later!), it is essential to present a strong brand. 

Building a strong brand lies at the heart of event promotion.

A brand delivers a promise to the viewer - your potential client - about the experience they’ll have if and when they engage your company. Your brand should be communicated with consistency, which in turn shows reliability, attention to detail, and a precise communication about who you are, and who you aren’t..

Having a consistent logo mark, color scheme and messaging helps others identify your brand by its look and voice.

Our event, The Mental Health Marketing Conference, created a consistent brand across all conference-related communication for this reason. We also practice strong branding in all of our other faucets, The Hype, The Census, The Boost, and TURN.

The most important part about strong branding includes showing potential customers that you are consistent in your work, and care about how your event is being visibly presented.

4. Invest in your Website

A part of building a strong brand identity is ensuring your website matches all of your generated social content and professional marketing. 

Your website should be specifically designed as your call to action for viewers. A place to direct traffic to sell your event and generate ticket sales. 

With attention spans shorter than ever, viewers’ time is sacred. Their first impression of your website will often determine whether they stay and engage or close the tab.

Ease, convenience, and attraction are your best friends. When your website prioritizes these, potential attendees are more likely to view your event as professional, accessible, and worth the investment.

5. Look into Paid Ad Strategy

Finally, look into how you can further market your event through external advertisements.

Paid ads have the ability to help you reach new audiences and drive ticket sales. You can do so much now to target potential buyers based on their organization and demographic details, and their preferences. You can add geofencing and geotargeting to get hyper-specific. Combine that with compelling ads, strong copy and a landing page that converts, and you’re on your way toward an efficient spend.

Once your agenda is finalized, promoted through highlighted speakers, and supported by a website to direct traffic to and a strong brand, you can use advertising to your advantage.

While it may seem hard, it doesn’t have to feel like it is all on your shoulders! Our event production company, TURN.productions, is here to help. Check out our main page for more information.