Event Marketing Could Be The Missing Piece of Your Marketing Strategy
Ever wondered why some brands appear to have a religious following of loyal customers, and what it is that makes them so unforgettable and engaging? The secret can often lie in one powerful strategy: event marketing. Whether it’s a product launch, a chatty networking event, or a high-energy trade show, events seem to have a way of bringing people together and create lasting impressions.
If you’re reading this, you might be wondering why event marketing is such a big deal for business success? Here at Hatter’s, we like to think we’re pretty clued up on all things marketing, which is why in this blog, we’ll dive into the world of events to uncover how they can transform your brand, boost your sales, and engage potential customers. We’ll explore the top reasons why hosting and participating in events can be widely beneficial in increasing profits and keeping you busy. Trust us, by the end of this, you’ll be itching to organise your next event!
So, What is Event Marketing?
Currently, the UK events industry is worth £42 billion, and a hefty chunk of that is likely to be branded and corporate events, with 1.3 million UK business events held every year. We know it’s popular, but what actually is event marketing?
In simple terms, event marketing is a strategic approach that involves creating and executing events to promote a product, service, brand or cause. Events can be in-person or online, and often include themed exhibits, displays, or presentations.
The goal of event marketing is to engage with potential customers and build relationships with them through memorable experiences.
What Are The Benefits Of Event Marketing?
Event marketing isn’t just about showcasing what your business offers, it’s about engaging with your community, building relationships, and generating buzz that extends far beyond the event itself. Plus, these events are the perfect opportunity for collecting valuable feedback, networking with other people in the industry, and even closing sales on the spot.
In short, event marketing is a powerhouse for elevating your brand presence and driving business growth in a dynamic, interactive way, so let’s take an in depth look at the benefits:
Establish Credibility
By hosting or participating in events for your business, you give yourself a platform to demonstrate your products or services, showcasing your expertise and knowledge. This could involve conducting live product demonstrations and delivering informative presentations backed up by real-time data.
You could also look at hosting educational workshops and industry seminars, as these can provide practical insights and boost engagement through its interactive nature. Use your event to showcase why your brand is so amazing; presenting original research, market insights, and detailed case studies all demonstrate your capabilities and success to potential customers.
Valuable Customer Insights
Events aren’t just about sharing what you know with potential customers; they’re also a golden opportunity to learn from them. Think of it as a chance to dive into some consumer research. Who’s attending? What are they interested in? What problems are they facing that you could solve?
Plus, it’s the perfect time to gather valuable feedback to help you fine-tune your products and services. By listening and adapting based on what you hear you’re more likely to keep your customers happy.
Pre-Event Marketing
When planning your event, tap into pre-event marketing. By utilising pre-event communication, it gives your target audience a chance to get familiar with you and your brand ahead of time.
Identify your target audience and start outreach efforts before sending out event invitations. Determine which channels your audience frequents and use them strategically, from email marketing to social media. Here at Hatter’s, we can take pre-event marketing off your hands, to ensure that you’re clear with your intentions, capture attention, and make your brand memorable.
Showcase Your Business
Events marketing is an ideal way to grab the attention of potential customers, and keep the existing ones. By getting your products and services in front of as many potential customers as possible, it will enable the right people to discover your brand, what you offer, and where your business could add value.
Competitor Research
To stay ahead of the game, holding events can be key to gaining insights on your competitors, and what you can do to ensure customers see you as the best option.
Events offer a chance to connect with similar brands and explore potential partnerships while also sparking new ideas and inspiration. Understanding your competitors’ strategies and products can help reveal gaps in your own business and its offerings, allowing your business to continuously grow and adapt to new trends.
Boost customer loyalty
Inviting existing customers to an event not only helps with obtaining valuable customer feedback, it also creates immersive, memorable experiences that forge deeper connections between your brand and its customers.
By putting effort into event marketing, you can engage customers in a more personal and interactive way. Events offer opportunities for real-time interaction in a dynamic environment, fostering a sense of community among attendees. When customers feel valued and have positive, engaging experiences with a brand, their emotional investment strengthens, making them more likely to remain loyal and advocate for the brand.
Find out how we can help you…
At Hatter’s, we offer a variety of services designed to lighten your marketing load, so you can put your energy into other parts of your business while we handle everything. Curious about what our team of experts can do for you? Get in touch with us now.