Getting your event seen and heard above the chatter

A year or two ago, Facebook events were a little known thing used to organize Frat parties and the occasional happy hour. I used them to organize events for members of my Facebook group, JewC. Back then Evite reigned supreme, and some people just emailed out event details.

Fast forward to the present, everyone and every organization is using Facebook events to promote their next event, launch, party, sale, etc. Getting heard through the clutter can be nearly impossible. Having spent the last two years organizing large and small events via Facebook, I have learned a few things. Here are my tips:

1. Title the event clearly, the more clever you are, the more likely it is that someone will not understand what you are inviting them to (and they won’t bother to call and ask for more information). Last week I threw a fundraiser summer party and I titled it ‘Drinking for a Cause”. Worst. Idea. Ever! People thought it was a drinking contest, they thought it was a cocktail party, they thought it was everything but a summer party where we were raising funds for Team in Training. My first rule is clearly state in the title what the event is.
2. If the event is for an organization, put your organisations name in the event title. Referencing my blunder above with my “Drinking for a Cause”, I should have named the event “Moishe House – Tikkun Olam Summer Party”. The event was being held at the Moishe House, we were doing something good, and we were throwing a party. Done.
3. Always include a photo or graphic, preferably one that illustrates what you are doing at the event e.g. a summer party might have a photo of palm trees and cocktails. If you are concerned about using any random image search for photos on Flickr that have creative commons licensing which allows you to repost the photo for free.
4. Keep the description short and use a bullet format when possible. People don’t read, they skim.
5. Always include an address
6. Invite people that want to come to the event, no one likes to be spamed. If you spam people with event invitations all the time, they might ignore you when you invite them to something personal, like your birthday party. I recommend you create lists on Facebook and organize your friends accordingly. I have a list of local friends and LA friends, so for example, if the event is in LA, I only invite people on that list.
7. Once you have invited everyone, send three emails maximum!
   - The first email should be 1-2 weeks before the event with any instructions on logistics, parking, cost, etc. and asking people to update their RSVP, buy tickets, and anything else you might need.
   - The second email should be 3-4 days before the event reminding people to please update their RSVP, buy tickets, etc.
   - The final email should be sent the evening before, or the day of reminding them that the event is coming up and inviting them to come.
   I did this last week for our event, and someone commented that I had sent five emails, which I hadn’t, but people start to get annoyed if you exceed three. Sending one email the day before the event telling everyone you are looking forward to seeing them is the most effective strategy.

Hopefully these instructions will result in more clear communication and better attendance at your events.