Running a free event? Here’s our tips on gathering a crowd!

Running a new event is always a challenge, and keeping it free is a great way to get the local community through the door. But even when you have a lot of people registering to attend, how do you make sure they actually show up?

A great way is to get people to enter their email address when they register for the event so that you can keep in contact with them in the lead up to the event day. You could send out a few newsletter-type emails detailing stallholders, food available and performances to keep people interested in your event. Be mindful of only sending out valuable content, you want to excite them, not deter them. You could even send them a personalised ticket to make the experience a little more exciting.

Social media is another great way to keep your event front-of-mind. By getting potential attendees to join the event page on Facebook, you can share information about the event. Sharing images and details about what’s happening at your event will help get generate excitement.

Try showcasing some images of the event set-up a few days before to muster engagement. Promoting  performances and stall holders is another great way to show ticket holders what to expect and in turn, encourage them to turn up. Release a map of the location a day or two before the event. This will remind people about what will be there, where things are located, the best place to park and public transport options.

By providing event details, you’ll encourage ticket holders to not only attend your event, but also promote your event through word of mouth and ensure your event stays front of mind.