5 Overlooked Ways To Get People To Your Event

You've done ALL THE THINGS, and you are super pumped about your upcoming event.

But no one is signing up for it.

Let's face it, getting people to register for any event can sometimes feel like pulling teeth. But the truth is there are some key and easy things you can do to get people to register for your event.

So let's get into the five overlooked things that we've seen happen for a lot of events and what you can do to avoid them:

#1 See the Need. Fill the Need

We get it! There are important things you need to get across at your event. And, whether at an internal company event or out-facing your clientele, it's imperative you speak to your audience's needs. You'll need to package it in a way that lets your audience get what they want out of that session. This doesn't mean you have to change what you’re talking about in your event or what you need to do. But it does mean you'll want to learn to craft your sessions to speak to what they feel they need at that moment.

#2 Content, Content, Content!

Take a look at your event's content and how much you're delivering to your audience. Focus on sharing content they can actually take action on after the event.

Yes, content is king. However, too much content is unproductive for your audience. No matter how much you believe it can change their life.

They're only going to be able to execute one or two ideas from the content you've given them. Your superstars might be able to execute three. 

So ask yourself these questions...

1. Do you need to smash everything into one event?

2. How are you going to deliver all that content?

3. Is it something they're going to be able to consume and retain?

4. If they are going to consume it, but can't retain it (which means that they can't take timely action on it) is it worth adding that content in the first place.

5. If it's something you're going to record and give access to, will they watch all the recordings? This is important to think about because we've all got things to do, places to be, and people to see.

#3 Get Sociable

There are some fabulous, free social tools you can use that get overlooked. I mean, look where we are right now. We all use social networks every single day of our lives.

And the thing is, you can use social networks, even for your internal events, because people are online.

That's not to say that you can't use paid ads. But if you do, make sure you're speaking to what your audience wants and you're targeting the right people.

#4 Kick Overwhelm to the Curb

One thing that we see happen a lot for online events is organizers packing so many speakers on stages. You do not have to fill your event with 1000 speakers and vendors.

Unless you're a trade show. Then, do that thang!

When you offer an overabundance of speakers, you're already making your audience anxious.

Why?

Because now they're going to have to make so many decisions. They know they will not be able to watch all the speakers or get involved in all activities. They’re already overwhelmed thinking about which ones to listen to and which ones they can skip.

You've essentially turned your event offering into a Cheesecake Factory menu. 35 pages of everything you want knowing you can't possibly eat it all. Don't ask me how Cheesecake Factory has made this work all these years. They're the only ones allowed to overwhelm us with choices.

You, my friend, are NOT The Cheesecake Factory!

So what should you do instead? Take the time to get into the heads of your audience and carefully choose the speakers and vendors for your event. Pick a few speakers that your audience will actually listen to and get actionable steps from.

#5 Be Exclusive

Take the time to curate who will speak or be involved with your audience. Be exclusive with who you allow onto your virtual stages, such as the vendors and sponsors.

This is especially important if you have an event that has booths. If you have more vendor booths than an audience, you're going to have some very unhappy vendors on your hands. I know this might seem elementary...but I've seen it happen one too many times. And I've also been one of those unhappy vendors.

This also means you'll want to be incredibly truthful with those you're inviting to your stage. Let them know who your audience is so they have can also determine if the event is right for them.

By implementing some (or all of the tips) we've shared in this post, you'll be on your way to seeing a surge in registrations and higher attendance rates.

We hope these tips have been helpful and that your upcoming event is a rocking success!

And, if you're planning a virtual event, but don’t know where to start, be sure to reach out to us at www.beyondvirtualevents.com. We’d be happy to chat with you about your specific needs and help you create a unique virtual or hybrid event that ROCKS!

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