The only surefire way to get event-goers to show up and stay interested in what you’re presenting is to get the word out there! Here are five awesome ways to promote your event to the public, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Use them all, one at a time, or choose the one that best fits your needs and budget!

1) Promote using vinyl banners

One of the best and cheapest ways to promote an event is by using vinyl banners from 1 Day banner. Vinyl banners are durable, can be made in various sizes and shapes, and they're perfect for outdoor use. They are also easy to change out so you can reuse them. However, one downside is that vinyl banners will not last forever. The lifespan of a vinyl banner varies depending on how much sun exposure it gets; rain or snow can also cause wear and tear over time.

2) Build relationships with journalists

If you're hosting a big event, one of the most effective things you can do is create and maintain relationships with journalists that cover events in your industry. It's important not only to speak to them before your event but also has post-event when they’re looking for storied. The good news is that there are tools that make it easy for journalists and influencers to find sources for their articles. One such tool is Followerwonk from Moz, which identifies social media profiles based on hashtags or keywords. You can search for these users by typing in influencer or journalist.

3) Promote on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a social media platform that can help you market an event. Posting about your upcoming event on LinkedIn will allow for targeted promotion of the post. LinkedIn has over 500 million users, so it's a great place to reach a large audience. You can also create a LinkedIn group and invite people from your network or other relevant people in order to increase exposure. LinkedIn Groups are another way you can promote your event.

4) Do pre-publicity

Pre-publicity is one of the best forms of promotion you can do for an event. If people know about it, they will be more likely to attend. The key is to start pre-publicizing as soon as you can so that people will have time to plan and buy tickets before it starts. Letting people know in advance also means that if there are any issues on the day of the event, like inclement weather or traffic delays, attendees will still come because they already knew about it.

5) Create events around your event

Create other events around your event and make them relevant. You can create a pre-event or post-event, or both. Pre-events will lead up to the main event. Post-events will follow it. Some examples are an opening party, a meet and greet with vendors, or a training seminar for participants in the main event. Your attendees may be more likely to come if they have additional reasons to attend.