Nine Tips for Facebook Event success

Facebook Events can be one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal as a business owner and this list of nine tips for Facebook Events success can help you. While Facebook is ever more complicated when it comes to getting your business message out, the company still has two tools that they’re really pushing hard and thus provide a lot of opportunity for your business with these. Facebook Events are one area they want people to become accustomed to using, the other is video. 
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There are a lot of little “tricks” to making Facebook Events work for you and I’ve compiled this list, which I hope is helpful.  Facebook is becoming the place where we all gather to share both information and misinformation. After all, how else will I find out about things like whether the dress is gold or blue or if there is a secret volcano that’s going to blow up?

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Great Photos Matter - 1

For all digital media, great photography makes a huge difference. The photos you use for Facebook Events should compel people to want to learn more and attend. A great photo that tells the story and is eye-catching makes a huge difference. 
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Of course Facebook resizes the image depending on where people are looking and what device they’re using but the company recommends an image that’s 1920 X 1080 or an image with a 16:9 aspect ratio. 

What's in a name - 2

Of course you'll want to give your Facebook Event a proper name and one that is also descriptive. 

Facebook venues - 3

Facebook is working very hard to make sure their list of venues is as encompassing as possible. You’ve probably noticed this when you go somewhere and Facebook asks you to check in. You may have also been aware that they’re now asking for more details about the venue such as hours, whether they accept credit cards and other factors. When you create an Event use a Facebook-recognized venue wherever possible. 

Description - 4

A clear and thorough and inviting description are a big key to the success. Last week I wrote about Getting Your Events Noticed and it’s just as true with a Facebook Event. The better the description the more likely people will embrace the event.

Use Keywords for tags - 5

Optimize your Facebook Event by including relevant keywords in your tags section. Don’t limit yourself to just branded keywords. For instance, if you’re hosting a music concert, you could include the genre as a tag. Start typing relevant keywords and Facebook will give you suggestions.

Ticket Link - 6

Now that you've successfully created and managed the event send people to your own owned content which would be your website. Yes, you still need a website. What I do here is send people to my own website to get tickets, even if I’m using a ticketing service like EventBrite or Brown Paper Tickets. The reason for this is that I want people accustomed to going to my website as a source of the most accurate information.

Co-hosting - 7

Co-hosting Events is a powerful tool for your arsenal. You can invite co-hosts to the event and use the power of their Page to help tell your own story. 

Recently we did this with the Lakeside Car & Boat Show where I added the band we hired as a co-host of the event along with the charity that the show benefits. I also added several of the vendors whom we’re having at the show. When these people accept the invitation to co-host the event this will also appear on their timeline creating greater awareness of your event. Now you’re not only taking advantage of the voice of your own Business Page, but the power of others’ Pages as well. 

So if you’re hosting a Chamber mixer at your business, don’t forget to invite the Chamber of Commerce as a co-host. If you have a caterer doing the food, invite them. If there’s a DJ providing the music, they should be a co-host as well. 

The cynic in me (yes, he exists) would consider using other companies that had a strong presence on Facebook with an active Business Page and an enrolled audience. After all, the more of your own fans and their fans that see the Page, the more see this event and the more successful the event will be.

Posting - 8

You should allow guests to post in the event. This will help it show-up on their timeline which, again, adds another voice to the event. You can always mute or delete inappropriate posts if that becomes an issue. 

Pin it to win it - 9

You can pin posts to the top of your Facebook Page by clicking the little arrow at the top and selecting “Pin to Top of Page.” This will prioritize your event on your Page. This is a great tool to use as the event gets closer. 

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