Marketing an Event on a Small Budget

adpiucf · #1 08-02-2006, 02:33 PM

Any success stories or suggestions of marketing a gala or homecoming-oriented weekend to your alumnae association with virtually zero direct mail budget? What can you do with email and web? I'm working with a group 22-45, so they're fairly web-savvy.

Thanks!

tunatartare · #2 08-02-2006, 02:35 PM

Evite.com

Paige · #3 07-02-2007, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tunatartare

Evite.com

I just looked at the website. I am going to use it for my next party.

Drolefille · #4 08-02-2006, 02:39 PM

Evites. Create a webpage, maybe one that has a countdown clock or something. It needs to be well designed though, I feel like a badly designed website looks worse than having none at all. Hopefully you can get webspace from the school.

Phone calls, especially if you can use the school phones. That requires more manpower though.

kathykd2005 · #5 08-02-2006, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Any success stories or suggestions of marketing a gala or homecoming-oriented weekend to your alumnae association with virtually zero direct mail budget? What can you do with email and web? I'm working with a group 22-45, so they're fairly web-savvy.

Thanks!

I'd definitely go with evite--I know that we use it in my AA in NYC, and it works very well.

adpiucf · #6 08-02-2006, 05:54 PM

Great ideas! They are developing a website and we plan to send out emails. Any suggestions for an inexpensive direct mail effort?

tunatartare · #7 08-02-2006, 05:58 PM

evite is free if that's what you're asking

Drolefille · #8 08-02-2006, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Great ideas! They are developing a website and we plan to send out emails. Any suggestions for an inexpensive direct mail effort?

Actual mail? Nope, postage will get you either way. If you can afford the postage then just simple homemade fliers would work. Evites are nice because you have the RSVP aspect of it as well.

LPIDelta · #9 08-02-2006, 06:47 PM

Someone else already said it, but the best way to get people to come to something is to call them, and follow up with a email with all the details. Many people have 'free' long distance these days so the cost should be minimal. If you have 20 people willing to make phone calls, you'll probably reach many, and people appreciate the personal approach.

Mail typically is not as effective as phone...email is only slightly better.

Evite is good because people can see who is coming--and you want to maybe get a few key people who will be attending to respond earlier (also something you can do with a phont call). If people see that others they know are coming, people are more likely to attend.

If this event is something tied to you alma mater, see if the alumni office will pay for postage if absolutely necessary.

adpiucf · #10 08-02-2006, 10:52 PM

Thanks. There are about 1000 we need to reach and for some reason not much has been budgeted... I don't think the phone calling will be feasible given the large number, but we could cherry pick off a few hundred in the area and call them.

Tom Earp · #11 08-03-2006, 08:58 AM

If going to do a call, set up a system where there are multiple callers with a list to call.

Spreads the work around and if locals it is no cost.

CutiePie2000 · #12 01-19-2007, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Any success stories or suggestions of marketing a gala or homecoming-oriented weekend to your alumnae association with virtually zero direct mail budget? What can you do with email and web? I'm working with a group 22-45, so they're fairly web-savvy.

Thanks!

Yes: if you don't get responses to an EVITE, then a phone call PLUS a reminder follow up phone call the day before.