As we head into the summer months, you might be more focused on engagements you have scheduled. But how strong does your event planning business plan to finish out this year? If you're looking for marketing ideas to maximize your revenue-generating efforts, look no further. Today, we'll highlight ten effective ways to increase your bottom line. Tap into these marketing ideas to drive more traffic to your event planning website, generate more event leads, and grow your New York event business now, and finish out the year strong.
1. Discounts & Coupons
Regardless of your unique event planning niche, offering discounts and cost-saving opportunities can help increase your revenue. A time-sensitive discount can help drive decision-makers into your buyer’s cycle who weren't quite ready to commit yet. Use a coupon offer for a limited time to entice potential clients into taking the next step. You can measure the results of your reduced-cost efforts to gauge performance as well. Be mindful not to discount too much, or undervalue your service, though.
2. Seasonal Promotions
Take advantage of the seasons changing and upcoming holidays to promote your event planning company. You can use these as a reason to celebrate your customers or offer a seasonally targeted promotion. Over the summer months, you have Father’s Day and the Fourth of July worth celebrating, for example. Tap into the holiday season and the host of potential customers who are all finding themselves in the mood to engage.
3. Customer Loyalty Programs
Design a customer loyalty program and leverage the connections you already have with those who have booked an event with you before. You can create a marketing campaign via email, social media, or newsletters to thank them for their support and offer ongoing perks of partnership with your company. Be diligent with thank you measures and offerings as well.
4. Referral Programs
Don't hesitate to ask for more business. You can create a referral marketing campaign and remind everyone that you're open to new customers. Emails and social media are great methods to reach your audience, but you can look inward for connections as well. Create incentives for your event planning employees to bring in new business, too, since they can reach even broader audiences. Reach out to your business vendors and networking groups with similar incentives. An active referral program essentially builds an army of voices and trains them to look for new customers on your behalf continuously.
5. Search Engine Optimization
Having an interactive and engaging website along with active social media profiles is only half the battle. Enhance your online efforts with an SEO campaign. You can increase your website's ranking on the search engine results pages (SERP) and target potential customers who are keyword searching for event planners in New York. Make use of your analytics to measure the performance of your current SEO. Follow up by implementing the enhancements to help drive more online traffic.
6. Social Media Marketing
Social media platforms are ideal channels for connecting with your audience in a more conversational manner. We’ve shared tips and suggestions before for leveraging Facebook, Instagram, video marketing, and TikTok successfully. But to increase revenue, event planners need to engage where most people spend their time. Design an experience-based marketing plan for your brand that includes post boosting, social advertising, and strategically engaging posts through the end of the year.
7. Relevant & Engaging Content
Make sure your marketing efforts include a content management strategy. You are an expert in your event planning niche. Creating ongoing content and messages that inspire will reinforce your authority as the memorable experience planner. Posting blogs to your website regarding topics your potential customers look for most can help drive revenue. Sharing industry news to your social media pages can help increase your SEO efforts as well. Share your knowledge and expertise to connect with your target audience.
8. Networking
Get out there and meet new people. Find networking groups in your area with fellow business owners or industry colleagues. Be deliberate about meeting new people each week or month and use the opportunity to talk about your company. No one is a better champion of your business than you. Don't be afraid to connect with people and tell your story. You'll find engaging with other professionals can be a learning tool for you. It's also a chance to promote your business, land new clients, and increase brand awareness. And if you haven’t already, get your tickets now for The Event Planner Expo 2022 and 10-Year Anniversary Celebration this October. It’s the biggest event planner conference of the year.
9. Community Connection
Social and corporate responsibility are important assets for any business. As your potential customer base grows and changes, so do their supported causes, charitable efforts, and preferences. Make sure your event planning brand is aligned with note-worthy causes and charities in your community. Inspire your internal teams to volunteer. Host a winter coats for kids drive. Look for environmentally friendly and sustainable causes to support. Then, share the news of your company's efforts with a marketing campaign. You can share event pictures on social media or post your efforts to your website. In doing so, you'll improve your brand perception, and remind your audience that your company values community contribution.
10. Leverage Online Reviews
Online reviews are paramount to event planning success. Asking for reviews and then managing those reviews ongoing will drive revenue growth. Reviews help build trust with your company. Potential customers will look to see how others have experienced your services before making their booking decision. Building a library of positive reviews, as well as managing those not-so-favorable reviews, can increase your brand awareness, generate new leads, and strengthen your relationship with your audience.
It's a great time of year to re-evaluate your marketing strategies to finish out strong and plan for 2023. Consider these ten ways to increase revenue and make the most of every marketing effort. And if you still need ideas, let the EMRG Media team help.
