GET YOUR PROMOTION OFF TO A WINNING START

The importance of creating a promotion strategy could be what makes or breaks your event/service. Strategies are everywhere, just search for them on the internet but Winning strategies, and are extremely rare. All winning strategies have a similar under laying rule at is base.

There are no sure things, you will still need to do your research and ground work. But if you adhere to a few simple rules you can start your promotion off the right way.

FLYERS AND PRINT

Every promotion needs a physical presence in which to encapsulate the promotion type. Even if it’s to conjure up an image in raver's/clients minds as well as serving as a reminder to the events address and date.

A good designer will create a promotional flyer with the look and feel custom made for you. Striking colours, sexy imagery. Bold and bright fonts and lettering. As well as clarity of address, date and prices. Who, What, Where and when rules converted and created into a striking piece of art for your customers/clients to take home emblazed with your logo and information.

Printing isn't design. Some designers print, some printers design. But if you think of these as two separate departments it will bode you well in creating the perfect campaign. Will you flyer be double sided? How big will the actual flyer be? What type of paper will you choose for your print? All these need to be considered. A good printer will help you in your decision.

The print-run or the amount of flyers you print is usually determined on the ways in which you’ve decided to promote your event. If for example your event is a few months away and you are expecting over 300 visitors, it will be considered a good idea for a minimum print of 5000 .

NETWORKING AND PROMOTION

Facebook is a phenomenon that has become an irreplaceable tool in marketing and networking. Once you've uploaded your flyer/event type and information you can list it on the events page for everyone to see (not just the people in your list). Once created you can visually see who has marked it as an event they would attend or one that they would give a miss. Using this information you can gauge the responses and adjust your marketing strategy to accommodate.

MySpace thee for runner of facebook, can be used to house your flyer as well as serving as an extra for you website. If you don't have a MySpace or facebook you could create one specifically for your events/promotion.

Emails are an excellent way of getting your flyers/event right into the hands of the same people you are looking to attract. Extremely cheap to produce, cost effective and anybody with an email account can create one.

An e-flyer would be considered a more professional version of a standard email. Visually attractive, using your logo/s and pre-created flyer. This would be embedded into an email and sent using a database so as you can reach an even wider audience. *see also database

THE IMPORTANCE OF A DATABASE

What is a database? Why is it important?

You may have a database without even knowing? A database is all the people in your address book. All the email addresses that you have are classed as a database. To do lists - Shopping lists all are classed as databases. Many companies are available that sell databases for promotional use. Such databases can help you strategically target your audience. Age, region, sex, employment, email, phone number or address. If you haven't started, make sure you start taking details from all your clients/audience as they either enter or leave your event/promotion/business. This information can be used to tell of future changes, events or business news that will aid in keeping your service up to scratch.

RADIO/TV Adverts

Keeping the momentum of your promotion/service is one of the strongest rules in your strategy. Big conglomerates spend millions on TV advertising not to encourage us to buy the product, but to keep the product in our minds eye. Over and over again we are bombarded with the same images, same logo, and same name until, when it is time to actually set out to purchase an item, a name springs automatically to mind.

If your budget doesn't stretch to that of a TV campaign, Street radio is always a cheaper alternative. Many underground radio stations offer packages and tailor made campaigns to suit any budget. Major stations are available for advertising but at a cost. Just as effective is an urban radio station that pumps your product/event/service on the hour every hour, for as long as your event is on or as deep as your marketing budget will allow.

WORD OF MOUTH IS GOOD HAND TO HAND IS BETTER

Nothing works better than recommendation. Once somebody has used your service/product and is so happy with the results they pass on your details to somebody else. That type of promotion can't be bought. But how easy is it for your details to be passed on incorrectly? What happens if you've changed number or changed your address? How is the new and potential client going to contact you?

Posters, business cards or flyers all serve as physical promotion material that aids in keeping your name at the forefront and reminds your potential clients that business is still open as usual.