We asked 6 event organisers for their number one tip to drive ticket sales. Check out their expert advice below:

#1: Make it as easy as possible to purchase tickets! A lot of people say they will come and then give up when the payment process is complicated.

Shona Smith
Event Director, Red Letter Management

#2: Using social media is a phenomenal way to drive ticket sales for your event. The best way to ensure your event spreads virally is to offer an incentive to those who take the time to share your message. It can be as simple as a gift basket, backstage pass or some merchandise, something that won’t break the bank but is enough to … Read more »

Nobody wants to get the same old gifts at your event, so we’ve collected 38 ideas for handmade gifts. Most of these are so easy the kids can lend a hand, and will make your event memorable long after it’s over.

Sidewalk chalk

Not only is this an easy project, these colourful chalk sticks are just as much fun to make as they are to use.

Tile coasters

Who knew old tiles could be so handy? Tie four of these together with ribbon for a sweet coaster set.

Lanyard

The added pen pouch makes this lanyard pattern perfect for a conference or networking event. Try using fabric colours that match your event’s theme.

Lego cookies

Everyone loves cookies, but it’s … Read more »

There are so many exciting ways to integrate new technologies into your event, but do they help with audience engagement?

With Twitter hashtags users can follow your conversations and live tweets. Your audience can see Facebook updates, images and videos from your event as it happens. Location-based apps tell us who is at your event and let attendees find or meet others. Live blogging provides almost-real-time updates to those following along at home.

With so many possibilities, it’s easy to skip the question of “why” and jump right into thinking about “how” and “when” to integrate technology into your event. But perhaps we need to look more closely at how attendees use social media and other technologies to engage, and … Read more »

To get the most out of your event blog you need to produce good quality content that your audience will want to share. Here are twenty-five of our top tips to help you improve your blog posts.

1. Collect ideas
Keep a list of possible themes or ideas that you can follow up on later. Evernote and Clipboard are handy tools for capturing ideas and keeping them organised.

2. Make notes
Whether you’re a fan of apps like Evernote or old-fashioned paper and pen, keep notes somewhere that you can find them again later. Personally I prefer using paper so I have the freedom to use doodles, mind maps and flow charts as well as simple lists.

Image credit: English106… Read more »

Image credit: Nesster

1. Thinking it’s all about you

Are you focussing heavily on your brand image and pushing ticket sales for your event? Are you constantly checking your stats but struggling to improve them? Are you not getting the support you expect from your fans and followers online?

Your social media strategy should not be solely focussed on you and your event. Social media is about people. It’s about engagement and connections and community. If your strategy is heavily one-sided, you’re going to alienate your current and potential customers.

How to avoid this:

• Share great content and ideas you find online, even when they’re not you’re own.
• Promote other organisations and brands that complement yours.
• Support others who

… Read more »

Pinterest is everywhere. There are blog posts about this visual bookmarking site all over the web, examining its success and analysing its popularity. We’ve even covered it here at Eventarc.

It’s no secret that the team at Pinterest have done a lot of things right. Let’s look at 5 of the site’s biggest secrets to success and how you can use these at your next event.

Heavy on the visuals

Looking at Pinterest, the first thing you’ll notice is the highly visual nature of the site. The layout emphasises images, keeping text elements to a minimum.

Steal this idea:

• Cut down on text elements at your next event and focus more on images. Use colours and themes to highlight your

… Read more »

Image credit: Ferrell McCollough

Remember when social media was fun? When only the cool kids knew how to use social networks, and it was still exciting? Remember the time before your business had to be present on social media? Before you had to follow industry leaders on Twitter and update your Facebook page twice a day?

It seems to be a regular staple of social media blogs to have rules, “best practice” guidelines and “must-follow” tips. Most of the time, these are great resources that can help you to develop a strong, productive social media plan. But it can also be easy to get overwhelmed with so many rules to follow.

What rules are you following in your social … Read more »

Image credit: Joselito Tagarao

When was the last time you let your ego get carried away? I do it all the time. We all do. Accepting help or advice from others goes against our better nature to think we know everything, right? But organising an event is a mammoth task, and it takes a team of people to get it right.

Sometimes a slice of humble pie is exactly what we need.

You don’t know everything.

Nobody knows everything, not even you.

Everyone has different areas of expertise – use this. Take advantage of the knowledge and experience you have around you. In your office, in your building, in your neighbourhood – people who can help are all around you. … Read more »

Keeping on top of your brand’s social media presence is a hard enough task at the computer. When you’re on the go with only a smartphone or tablet to keep you connected, the more handy tools and shortcuts you have available, the easier you’ll find it to keep up. Try these 8 tips to make the process a little smoother when you’re out and about.

1. Sync your phone

Keep your phone in sync with your computer to save time when switching between devices. Social media dashboards like Hootsuite and Tweetdeck offer mobile apps that sync with the web and desktop versions. Take the time to set up an account with whichever app you use, as this will save you … Read more »

Image credit: Southern Foodways Alliance

How do your events impact the environment? If you haven’t yet thought about it, you should.

Eco-friendly approaches can:

• reduce resource usage, reduce pollution and reduce waste
• increase your organisation’s positive reputation
• benefit present and future generations
• save money.

With these objectives in mind, let’s look at seven simple ways you can make your events more environmentally friendly.

1. Minimise travel

Select a location that minimises the distances your attendees must travel. If it runs over multiple days, make sure accommodations are convenient to your venue. Encourage your participants to walk where possible. If they can’t, make public transport an option.

2. Minimise haulage

While thinking about travel, remember that equipment and supplies have to … Read more »