Following some recent work with a new client around gaining sign-ups for a fitness course, we thought we would share some best practise pointers for promoting any type of Event or Course online.

Research the market

• Who are your target audience?
• Where can they be reached?
• What platforms are others in your industry using to promote their events?

Timing

• Don’t rush into launching your campaign
• Take a look at who you are targeting and why – for example people are far more likely to sign up for a fitness course in January than December
• When posting or promoting posts on social media use your insights to see when your followers are online

Advertising budget

• Run a test post on Facebook to see your results, this will allow you to set a budget, bare in mind promotion can do better with smaller daily amounts over longer periods
• Use Google Adwords, you don’t need to spend a fortune to get results if you use the correct search terms

Networks

• Use your networks of contacts to help spread the word
• Look for influencers you follow and ask them if they will help retweet or share the information

Post to Google Business

• Make sure you have claimed your Google Business profile
• Create posts that include your relevant keywords and search terms

Keep it Visual

• Use Twitter cards – these are free to use, stand out well and you can pin them to the top of the page
• Videos work well – create a post using a video for more engagement
• Use good quality image and include text with calls to action

The Direct Approach

• Share the offer or event in relevant Facebook groups – do keep checking back for comments
• Tag people and pages in your Facebook and Twitter posts for more engagements
• Ask for a Retweet!

Monitor Progress

• Check Insights and Analytics to see how well your promotion is performing and which posts are achieving the best results
• Monitor enquiries and ask where leads are coming from

You may wish to look at our other related articles:

• How to use social media to promote your event
• Social media at events
• Event planning
• Community events

Or our dedicated Events page which lists how we can help your business with your next event.