Promoting Your Event the Web 2.0 Way

How do you leverage a the Web and Internet marketing to promote your upcoming event? There are so many channels of distribution, the possibilities are almost endless. Here’s a checklist of what I did to promote an upcoming workshop I’m teaching at flyte called "How to Plan, Build and Promote a Business Blog."

I also plan on submitting this event to the print versions of MaineBiz and the Portland Press Herald.

Will I do this for every event? Probably not, but I will try and track which channel is bringing me attendees, by asking everyone at the event.

Your Turn: What tools do you use to promote your events in this 2.0 world? Leave your suggestions in the comments section below.

Rich Brooks
Business Blog Expert

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  • http://www.buildabetterblog.com Denise aka The Blog Squad

    Excellent list, Rich. I'd advise anyone promoting an event to make a checklist out of this blog post (modified for their local area) and use it every time you have an event to promote!

  • http://www.buildabetterblog.com Denise aka The Blog Squad

    Excellent list, Rich. I'd advise anyone promoting an event to make a checklist out of this blog post (modified for their local area) and use it every time you have an event to promote!

  • http://www.buildabetterblog.com Denise aka The Blog Squad

    One more thing. Submit an online press release. You can post to PRweb.com with links to audio, video and other docs for about $80 or you can use a service like ExpertClick to submit a press release every week for an annual fee of $995. That's the best deal and the one The Blog Squad uses. Even tho it might not get picked up by the media, potential clients may find it and you get links back to your site/blog.

  • http://www.buildabetterblog.com Denise aka The Blog Squad

    One more thing. Submit an online press release. You can post to PRweb.com with links to audio, video and other docs for about $80 or you can use a service like ExpertClick to submit a press release every week for an annual fee of $995. That's the best deal and the one The Blog Squad uses. Even tho it might not get picked up by the media, potential clients may find it and you get links back to your site/blog.

  • http://www.myeventguru.com John

    Try My Event Guru: http://www.myeventguru.com – which lists ONLY business & industry related events.

  • http://www.myeventguru.com John

    Try My Event Guru: http://www.myeventguru.com – which lists ONLY business & industry related events.

  • http://www.PublicityHound.com Joan Stewart, The Publicity Ho

    Also post it at Kijiji.com, one of the up-and-coming competitors to Craigslist.

    And if your event is in L.A., San Francisco, Seattle or several other big cities, check out http://laist.com/ and pitch them.

  • http://www.PublicityHound.com Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound

    Also post it at Kijiji.com, one of the up-and-coming competitors to Craigslist.

    And if your event is in L.A., San Francisco, Seattle or several other big cities, check out http://laist.com/ and pitch them.

  • http://www.zvents.com Joy, Zvents

    A great way to promote your event is to post it on Zvents: http://www.zvents.com. Zvents is the local search engine for things to do. Because Zvents partners with media publishers to power their local listings, each listing on Zvents is syndicated to over 200+ media partners with a much better chance of being picked up by Google and Yahoo! in natural search results. For example, if an event is listed on Zvents, when you do a "local search" for "REI Mountain View," you'll notice that the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rankings are naturally the REI store. However, the 4th and 5th rankings are associated with San Jose Mercury News (one of Zvents' media partners). Zvents currently powers some of the nation's largest media companies including The New York Times Regional Media Group, MediaNews Group Interactive, and Freedom Interactive.

  • http://www.zvents.com Joy, Zvents

    A great way to promote your event is to post it on Zvents: http://www.zvents.com. Zvents is the local search engine for things to do. Because Zvents partners with media publishers to power their local listings, each listing on Zvents is syndicated to over 200+ media partners with a much better chance of being picked up by Google and Yahoo! in natural search results. For example, if an event is listed on Zvents, when you do a "local search" for "REI Mountain View," you'll notice that the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rankings are naturally the REI store. However, the 4th and 5th rankings are associated with San Jose Mercury News (one of Zvents' media partners). Zvents currently powers some of the nation's largest media companies including The New York Times Regional Media Group, MediaNews Group Interactive, and Freedom Interactive.

  • http://zugunruhecoaching.typepad.com Tara

    Great suggestions, Rich. Thanks!

    peace be with you,
    Tara

  • http://zugunruhecoaching.typepad.com Tara

    Great suggestions, Rich. Thanks!

    peace be with you,
    Tara

  • http://www.blockbeta.com Robbin Block

    I also speak on marketing for small business and integrate Web 2.0 at every opportunity. Here are a few more ideas for promoting your event:

    Internal communications at the venue or organization where you'll be speaking, such as:
    –Posting on bulletin boards
    –Providing collateral for pick-up at reception, inclusion with materials or on marketing table at other workshops
    –Announcements in venue's newsletter/calendar
    –Live announcements at prior events

    Gorilla: distribute postcard or flyer at coffee shops, supermarkets, etc., depending on the audience you're trying to reach.

    Promote through related organizations that get same audience (sponsor, advertise, announce; add to calendar). Build relationships with these other orgs.

    Another online calendar for small business: incbiznet.com

    In Seattle area, post to:
    http://www.iloveseattle.org, Seattle Times, and seattle24x7.com

    …and finally, contribute info to related social networking sites (in addition to Facebook). For small business networking sites, visit: http://www.blockbeta.com/social-networking/

  • http://www.blockbeta.com Robbin Block

    I also speak on marketing for small business and integrate Web 2.0 at every opportunity. Here are a few more ideas for promoting your event:

    Internal communications at the venue or organization where you'll be speaking, such as:
    –Posting on bulletin boards
    –Providing collateral for pick-up at reception, inclusion with materials or on marketing table at other workshops
    –Announcements in venue's newsletter/calendar
    –Live announcements at prior events

    Gorilla: distribute postcard or flyer at coffee shops, supermarkets, etc., depending on the audience you're trying to reach.

    Promote through related organizations that get same audience (sponsor, advertise, announce; add to calendar). Build relationships with these other orgs.

    Another online calendar for small business: incbiznet.com

    In Seattle area, post to:
    http://www.iloveseattle.org, Seattle Times, and seattle24x7.com

    …and finally, contribute info to related social networking sites (in addition to Facebook). For small business networking sites, visit: http://www.blockbeta.com/social-networking/

  • http://www.beauty-salon-marketing.co.uk/ Jon

    That's a very useful list, thanks

    Don't suppose anyone knows any similar sites/resources for the UK?

    Cheers, Jon

  • http://www.beauty-salon-marketing.co.uk/ Jon

    That's a very useful list, thanks

    Don't suppose anyone knows any similar sites/resources for the UK?

    Cheers, Jon

  • http://www.findevent.com Derek

    You might also want to check out http://www.findevent.com it's getting pretty popular

  • http://www.findevent.com Derek

    You might also want to check out http://www.findevent.com it's getting pretty popular

  • Chris Holloway

    test

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