How to Make the Most Impact When You Plan Local Events

Connecting with customers can be a fruitful but stressful to-do for a lot of brands in the world, especially if you’re trying to market at local events. Regardless of whether you’re attending a local vendor event or a networking session, making your brand stand out and shine to attendees is an absolute must!

However, what if you spend most of your budget on becoming an exhibitor? What if there isn’t enough money to put into the booth? How will your brand stand out from the rest?

If you’ve found yourself asking these questions before, then you’re likely in need of cost-efficient ways to maximize ROI on a budget. Not only can they save on costs, but they also create a memorable impression on event attendees that will increase brand awareness.

Using our four tips, see how you can make the most of your future local events:

Develop a Social Strategy for Your Local Events

One of the most effective steps to take is to develop a strong social strategy. Get your audience excited for the upcoming event by explaining when the event is taking place, where you will be set up, and what they can expect upon visiting.

When you decide to post on social media, be sure to take into account the specific social channels you are using. Plan your posts carefully by including consistent information across all channels, as well as images that will help your posts stand out.

Most importantly, do research on your followers, as well as the audience you are trying to attract at the event, to know what keywords and photos will capture their attention. Employing an effective social strategy not only saves you money on paid advertising, but it also creates the kind of brand awareness that gets your audience eager to connect.

Create a Game or Activity

You need to generate buzz and attract people to your event booth. The best way to do this is to create a game or activity that encourages participation from your audience.

For example, at one of Mimeo’s recent events, a game of Plinko was used as a fun and memorable way for attendees to win something special (ex: gift cards, SWAG) and for us to get their contact information.

Afterward, when we followed up, they knew exactly who we were because they had fun playing Plinko at the booth. The activity helped create brand recognition in their minds and left a positive impact on their experience with us.

Using games and activities will help your brand stand out from others and allow it to become memorable with little cost associated. Double the impact by branding your games!

 

Craft a Unique Display to Stand Out

For the sake of those that may not have the time to participate in your game or activity at a local event, you should also craft a unique display that will make attendees stop and look at your setup. 

When deciding what kind of display to put up, consider the following questions to help you develop a proper brand strategy:

• What message are you trying to convey?
• Does your display represent your audience?
• Does your merchandise make sense to your brand?
• What do you need to print?

Your branded merchandise, products, and company collateral are special. Be sure to showcase each one by creating a display that makes your brand look vibrant. Organizing your materials into a display is an inexpensive way to show off your brand without having to go over budget, so take advantage of this opportunity at all your events.

Need some guidance on budget-friendly SWAG options? Check out Mimeo promotional products and branded merchandise to see what type of options you can order for your next event display.

Easily Provide Contact Info

Finally, it is an absolute necessity to have your contact information printed out in an easy-to-carry format. Using a card or flyer at local events that can be folded and placed into someone’s pocket could prove to be the difference in whether or not they remember your brand name.

With regards to style, make it entirely your own. The more unique your contact information is, the more likely that event attendees will recognize your brand name as something they could use. This is another chance for you to be creative, so use it to your advantage.

Overall, there are many ways you can help raise your brand awareness at your upcoming local events. With these budget-friendly solutions, you will be able to increase the likelihood of someone engaging with your products or solutions without having to break the bank to do so.

Need printing done for your next local event? See how Mimeo can assist with everything from custom tablecloths to flyers!