Everyone loves a good story. In fact, storytelling is an integral part of the human experience, dating back at least 30,000 years. So, just imagine how powerful your event marketing strategy could be if you were able to tap into that innate human need for storytelling. It truly is one of the best ways to drive up both attendance and engagement. However, effective storytelling is a skill that takes practice. Here’s how to weave storytelling into your event marketing strategy.
Aim for Emotional Connections
Part of why we love storytelling so much is that when it’s done well, we see ourselves in the characters. And when it comes to storytelling in your event marketing strategy, you need to help prospective attendees have the same experience. Think about the types of stories that will resonate with your audience and which emotions you can tap into with each message. For event marketing, joy and hope are particularly powerful.
So, what story can you tell to engage your audience? Do you have a keynote speaker with a phenomenal success story? Can you create a video for social media, highlighting the entertainment at your event? Or can you drum up excitement for your event by resonating with your audience’s goals and values? The more you can connect with attendees on an emotional level, the more successful your event will be.
Personalize Storytelling in Your Event Marketing Strategy
It’s important to remember that your attendees are likely a group made up of diverse individuals. Whether you’re hosting a huge corporate event, a milestone birthday party, or a community festival, your audience will likely represent a variety of demographics. It follows, then, that a one-size-fits-all approach to storytelling will leave some guests out of the narrative. That’s why personalizing storytelling within your event marketing is always a good idea.
Segment your marketing into relevant groups and craft narratives that resonate with each. When guests feel seen and valued, they are more likely to attend your event. So think about characteristics like age, gender, cultural background, occupation, interests, etc. Your storytelling should also differ based on whether you are trying to reach sponsors, audience members, or vendors.
Take Advantage of Multiple Platforms for Storytelling
Once you know exactly what story (or stories) you want to tell, you need to reach your audience. And the best way to do that is to take advantage of multiple platforms for storytelling. For instance, you may want to make a TikTok video to grab the attention of younger attendees, while a TED talk-style format might work better for seasoned professionals. Spend time researching which platforms your target audience typically engages with, and adapt your storytelling to match.
Depending on your target demographics, email, blogs, social media, podcasts, television, radio, and industry publications may all potentially work well for storytelling. From fast-paced videos featuring upbeat music and clips of your event entertainment to blog posts highlighting keynote speakers, storytelling across multiple platforms is a great way to help potential sponsors and attendees connect with your event’s purpose.
Experience the Best Storytellers at The Event Planner Expo 2024
The Event Planner Expo offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn about fine-tuning your event marketing strategy from top industry pros. Don’t miss your chance to give your event planning business an edge over the competition. Get your tickets today!
