Promoting Your Event With Social Media

Social Media has become an intricate part  that is woven into the fabric of  marketing and advertising. If you have a business, event, or ministry it is almost a faux pas if you don't have social media connected to it.

Social media is the marketing snapshot of the technological world we live in, and it is very important that you have it, not only to just have it, but to use it and use it wisely.

I want to share some tips on how to get the most out of social media for your events. First, if you are on Facebook, start an event page. This is an electronic invitation that you can use to reach many by saving dollars and time. The response measurement is also great. Once people accept your invitation, you can gauge how many you will have in attendance and feedback after your event has ended.

With an Facebook event page, you can customize your banner with your brand also, which makes it easier for invitees to recognize it and also share it with others. You can post reminders and also other things such as promo videos to bring awareness and encourage attendance to your event.

Another way you can use social media is with Pinterest. It is also good for promoting your event by designing a Pinterest pin where you can add solutions on how your event will solve problems for your attendees. You already know that pictures are worth a 1,000 words, and Pinterest pins can give wonderful snapshots of your brand to be used to attract people to your event.

And also Instagram is great for picture-perfect promotions of your event. If you aren't a graphic designer, hire one to design awesome pictures and ads to post to your Instagram page that can serve as your personal marketing coordinator to attendees and potential attendees.

Video media platforms such as Periscope and Blab are new to the social media scene that are the next "happening" for TV advertising and marketing. Use them to do one-on-one interviews and promos. These videos can also provide more information about who you are, why you're hosting the event, and what attendees can expect to gain from the event. Your attendees can receive a personal hello and invitation from you via video.

Using social media can do wonders for your event. Just posting the event on social media is not enough to garner a great attendance. You have to "market" the marketing tool. Use social media the same way you would use any other marketing platform. Purchasing ads or promoting your event page or Instagram ads are other ways to build attention to your event. But the whole "skinny" on this is your content. It is key to designing the best-seen pins and posts. Also target market research is necessary to ensure you are producing social media marketing ads that will be successful. You want to attract the right audience with the right content and the right graphics.

Another tip I want to give about using social media, is that posting once is not enough. You have encourage your audience with multiple "reminder" ads and posts. Start your marketing at least four weeks in advance and post "reminders" weekly to keep your brand and event before your audience.

I also suggest to use vibrant and eye-catching colors and legible fonts that will speak volumes to what your event is about and who you want to attend. Social media can help build great attendance by leaps and bounds if used properly. Social media can help you gain better relationships and networking opportunities from it as well. Don't count social media out if you are not a really tech-savvy person, yet you have a great event that you want to share with the world. Select platforms you are most comfortable with and utilize them to draw great attendees to your events, as well as use it to keep great records for your research and recap of your events. Social media can be your event's best friend!

Food to Love

Okay, so I know I said in my last blog post that I was going to do a video cooking something. Welllll, this week has already kicked into high gear, and I haven't had time to do much of anything, much less cook and then video tape it.

So, for those anticipating readers, I'm going to post a Valentine's Day dish that is pretty easy to prepare. Valentine's Day is the day set aside to honor love and all that it encompasses, so you want to show your love something special, even if your budget isn't as special.

Here is a nice recipe that I've dreamed up in my head, and is pretty tasty. Hope you enjoy! Comment on the blog if you try it, and let me know what you think.


Hearty Brunch Pizza

1 can of pizza dough
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup provolone cheese, shredded
4 eggs
1 cup spinach
1 cup Roma stewed or roasted tomatoes, sliced
1/2 cup of red onion, diced
1/4 cup of green bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup of red bell pepper, diced
1 cup meat choice (I like turkey sausage crumbles)
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Parsley (optional)

How to cook it:

Roll out your dough into a 9x9 pan with the edges slightly up on the sides of the pan. Saute your onions, peppers, and meat in a tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle evenly on top of dough. Whisk your eggs in a bowl with salt and pepper and pour carefully over your mixture (You can add a little milk if you want to stretch your eggs more). Mix your cheeses together (that's how I like it) and sprinkle 1/3 of it over the mixture.Next, add your tomatoes and spinach and top with the remainder of your cheese. Next, bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Once you've got the cheese all brown and bubbly, Let it cool for about 5 minutes and cut a V at the top and triangles on each corners to form the shape of a heart, sprinkle parsley and serve!

Nice brunch sides: Hashbrowns, fruit, or orange juice.

Gifts From the Heart

Our second holiday of 2016 is right around the corner, and the bottles of wine, champagne and sparkling juice are walking off the store shelves at a quick pace. Hearts, red candy bags, cupids, chocolates and perfume sales are not far behind in the race.

These are the norm in gift choices, but what about setting aside the "choice" gifts and giving a gift from the heart? One of my loves is cooking. A nice dinner and good conversation beats a box of chocolates for me any day. Cooking doesn't require a finesse of a chef when it is from the heart. I remember when I was growing up as a little girl, how those dishes that Mama called "thrown together" were some of the best meals to me. Why? Because of the love put into it. It was not just about getting kudos on her culinary skills, but it was about the point of her cooking - that she would do whatever she had to do to make sure we were fed, full, and nourished.

These types of meals are the ones that win hearts even on a holiday like Valentine's Day. Cook something that shows your significant other that you love them enough to give them your best. Put in a dash of understanding, a sprinkle of patience, a cup of hugs, fourth-cup of thank yous, a half cup of chivalry, a cup of laughter, and a cup of love. You will be surprised at how your meal turns out when you think on these things while you're cooking that special Valentine's Day meal.

So, don't stress about having the "perfect" meal of steak, potato, salad and fancy-schmancy dessert. Just put some plain ole love in what you cook, for it's the best gift that comes from the best place - your heart.

(Look out for next week's blog post on an easy-peasy Valentine's Day recipe)

The Power of Words

New Year's resolutions have been somewhat replaced by New Year affirmations. I tend to like affirmations better, because I've realized that words have power. There is something about speaking positive things over yourself, your business, your ventures, your family and your network.

I remember when I was in school, they used to say: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. And for a long time, I believed that. But the older I got, and the more experiences I encountered in life, I found that saying not to be so true after all. Words have a power that is like no other.

I know you're probably wondering what does this have to do with event planning. Well, as you plan your calendar year of great programs, initiatives, and events, set the tone from number one by declaring a positive outcome. And know this, positive outcomes are not always measured in great attendance, large amounts of money, or world-wide recognition. The positive outcome is what you learned from the event experience as a planner and how it will prepare you for the next one. Each experience is a stepping stone that matures you in your niche, and matures your relationship with your target audience.

Affirmations motivate you and can put things into perspective for you. As an event consultant, that is one of my gifts that I offer my clients. When they've had enough and feel they can do no more, it is my responsibility to provide them encouraging words and motivation to see it all to the end. Words are so powerful, and can change the atmosphere from chaotic to order. Seek to find your power in the words you speak.

I'd like to challenge you to start this year off with speaking positively. Find an affirmation word that will describe your year and describe your motivation as you plan, prepare, and promote great events and programs for 2016. My affirmation word this year is: PRESS. And I chose this word, because this will the second year that I will have been in business for myself, and I realize that the closer I get to my "prize," the more tests and lessons I'm going to encounter and learn. So, I'm speaking over my business now that I'm going to press on regardless of what comes ahead, and I'm going to press through for my clients when they feel like they're ready to throw in the towel and give up. What about you? What words are important to you and your success for 2016?

Greets and Eats

Good food and good hostesses go hand-in-hand. I've never been to a place where the food was so great without excellent service. It is important that if you're planning on hosting a New Year's Eve bash or get-together, that you be an exemplary host.

Great hosting tips include setting the atmosphere. Provide a relaxing ambiance and promote your theme well. Don't over-do it, just do enough to set the tone for your party.

Many people don't comment on decorations, but believe me, they matter. Loud colors and over exaggerated props can damper a party quicker than flat soda. Be subtle, but engaging. A nice tablecloth and a few table centerpieces will do just nicely.

Music. Everyone LOVES music. I may be old, but loud music is such a turn-off at a party. You can't hear your conversations, it makes your head hurt, and blaring music is hard to listen to. Make sure your music is in harmony with your decorations - subtle, but engaging.

As a host, be polite. Be well-dressed whether it's a house party or elegant soiree. Have your clothes ironed and neat, and wear a smile. This may seem elementary, but many people don't understand how being a great host is just as important to the success of a party just as much as the food and entertainment. If you have guests that are not familiar with your venue (whether it's your house or the local community center), show them where the restrooms are, politely inform them on certain "house rules" such as no smoking inside, you're welcome to go out on the balcony, (if you're serving alcohol) drinks will be served at whatever time, etc. And take their coats, or inform them where they can hang their coats. If you're doing potluck, show them where they can set their dish. Thank and compliment them on bringing their dish for the party. These small things go a long way in producing a great vibe for your party, and locks in guests for your parties to come.

Now, my favorite part of the party: the food. Finger foods are nice, but if you're doing something a little more upscale, keep up with your theme - subtle, but engaging You don't want to overwhelm your guests palates with fifty million flavors and varieties. You want them to be able to enjoy the food as well as the entertainment. Make sure your menu is colorful. Have some vibrant colors and also various textures. Some people like crunchy stuff, some like soft stuff, some like sweet, sour, etc. You get the point. The purpose of a party is to invite people to have a good time. Give the people what they want. There is no greater party than having good greets and good eats.

The Gift of 2015

This is the last month in the year. So much has happened and many moves have been made. Now it's time to sit back and reflect on the year.

What events were successful? Did you start a business, and what strides did you make? What were your failures? What changes are you looking to make in 2016?

In reflection, don't forget the gift that you received in 2015. Every success and failure was a gift. See each success as giving you more gumption to move forward and be creative. Take account that your failures educated you, and gave you the opportunity to explore new ways to improve yourself. Sometimes we can get so caught up in the budgets, the guest lists, the decorations, venues, and forget the lessons we learned and how we grew from amateur to professional.

Don't miss the gift in looking at how much money you made - or didn't make. Take into account each client that failed to pay, each vendor that supplied the wrong items, and each cake that was delivered to the wrong address. Take note on how each success and failure fit into what your goals were for 2015, and how they will improve 2016 or just plain need to be discarded.

The end of the year is reflection time. Look at the good and what you think was the bad. Every experience has a gift attached. All of them teach you something about yourself that you didn't know before, and opens a level of creativity that you never knew existed. So, as you celebrate your wins, don't miss the gift in it all.

Put A Lid On It

Now that Black Friday and Shop Small weekend and Cyber Monday is done, we can breathe a little bit. Well, not really. Now we have to scramble for Christmas. Biting and chewing nails to come up with some hip and catchy Christmas specials and deals, because this is the time of year that people spend money, right?

We jump on the bandwagon quickly to sell. But what kind of Pandora's box are we opening? Do we rush to push out the deals, and not focus on how to market our businesses?

It's very important that we must market our business and push the solution to what our clients really need. Am I against sales or discounts? No, but the focus shouldn't be so much on the sales and discounts, but more on marketing the business, and building the brand. Building your brand will do more to establish trust and longevity with your clients than just pushing the sale. Promote who you are and why you are in business to give your clients that comfort that regardless of what they're in need of, you are on their top list to get it.

If you run an event planning service, offer some helpful tips during the holiday season. Put a lid on it that "salesy" catering service that costs an arm and both legs to boost your commission. Just plainly appeal to the gift of empathy and sympathy to your clients. Even gift certificates are nice, but what your clients would appreciate most is that you understand what they're going through in planning a wedding or putting together a holiday shindig with the stress, budget, flowers - and let's not leave out dealing with the uncooperative staff.

I love giving gifts, but I'm learning that the best gifts to give in business are the ones that appeal to the need more than the wants. Put a lid on pushing clients to open up Pandora's box to frenzied shopping of gadgets and frills, and just simply open a gift of meeting the need.