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Gevril and Haurex Italia dinner during Baselworld in March 2011 with Larry Brauner standing in the background.
Baselworld 2012 is right around the corner!
Sep
11
10 Tips for Inviting People to Facebook Events
Filed Under Best Practices, Facebook, Networking and Marketing Strategy, Social Media and Social Networking Sites, Targeting, Web Marketing
All media have the tendency to become over-saturated with intrusive commercial messages. There are too many television and radio ads, too much junk email and snail mail, too many billboards, and yes, too many Facebook notifications. When overload occurs, messages are perceived as noise, and people filter them or tune them out.The most common reaction of marketers is to raise the volume in one way or another. Marketers send more messages or create snazzier headlines. Raising the volume can help, but only for a short time. On Facebook, when the noise gets too loud, the top social networking site acts to tone it down or turn it off. Behavior that was once unrestricted becomes restricted.
As examples, we used to blanket our friends with invitations to Facebook events, but now Facebook forces us to be selective. We used to add friends haphazardly if we wished, but now Facebook deters us from adding people we don’t know. Raising the volume on Facebook isn’t a satisfactory option.
Inviting to Facebook Events
In response to Facebook Page Events Rock, readers asked for a Facebook page event how-to. I’m not ready to write a comprehensive guide. However, I offer you here ten tips for successfully inviting people to your Facebook events:- Create a Facebook event that people in your niche will naturally desire to attend. Provide a clear explanation and instructions.
- Line up influential supporters to help you promote the event.
- Give yourself enough lead time before the event to invite people and clear up unforeseen problems that arise in the process.
- If you plan to invite your Facebook friends, categorize your friends beforehand using Facebook friend lists.
- Only invite friends from relevant lists. Be prepared, in any case, for a disappointing number of responses. Not only are people overloaded with event and other types of notifications, many are also confused by Facebook and don’t get that they should read all the particulars and click on I’m Attending if they wish to RSVP.
- Post the event or an article that you write about it on your business page, your personal profile and in Facebook groups catering to your niche.
- Post your Facebook event related links several times during the period before your event and even during your event. Just don’t overdo it and become obnoxious.
- Promote your event on your blog and on social media sites such as Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.
- If you have an email list, send one or more messages to your list inviting contacts to join you at the event. I like to use Green Wave Email Marketing, because they allow me to directly upload my contacts without requiring them to re-opt in.
- Last, but not least, send individual messages personally inviting Facebook friends to attend. No only does this work if done right, it can help build relationships.
The key isn’t raising the volume. The key is better targeting and better diversifying your contact methods.
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Tags: email marketing, Facebook, Facebook events, Facebook Groups, Facebook pages, Green Wave Email Marketing
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Dear Larry ~ Always in the lead, you do it, we follow. Although, I’m not planning a FaceBook event, it’s good to know I can get your advice, especially after you’ve hosted a number of highly successful FB events. Thanks for sharing your experience and wisdom. Hugs, Debby
Because Facebook event spam is so outrageous, most of us have simply learned to ignore event invitations.
These are great tips, especially #5, you want to invite people who are interested in your niche because the chance is greater that they will attend and benefit from what you are offering.
Hi Larry,
Thank you for sharing this. Social networking still gets my head spinning at times. I’ll be bookmarking this page and referring back to it,
Many thanks and have a great day!
Eleanor
Hi Larry.
Thanks for the tips.
Social networks are somewhat complicated.
Dear Larry,
I appreciate the things you shared here how to create a powerful social networking. I always adopting your suggestions and they are really awesome! I’ve created a facebook page on my business website and now thinking to follow your instructions as you described here. Thank you very much.