If you are planning a real world event like a conference, an exhibition, or workshop or an online event like a webinar, social media marketing is an in-expensive and effective tool that will grab attendee attention and increase your attendee numbers. As a resourceful event organizer, you are already aware of the benefits of social media marketing to build awareness about your event and so, we will not reiterate the same. We will focus on how to use the numerous social media sites as part of the marketing mix.

The Social Media Marketing Game Plan uses a few popular social media websites to demonstrate how you can use to build awareness about your event. It also touches upon how to capitalize on this ‘attendee number increasing opportunity’ once your event has developed a fan following. Please note, this is a tentative plan using only a few of the social media websites currently online:

Facebook: Facebook is one of the most popular social media websites today with over 500+ million global users. You can direct the attention of these 500+ million users towards your event using two simple to execute moves. First, update your status on your Facebook page with details of your event. This change in status will reflect on the profiles of all people on your friends list. Second, create a page for your event on Facebook using Facebook Events. This application will enable you to create an event page and send out invitations with links to your event website so they can learn more about your event and/or your event registration page, so they can register for your event instantly, online. You will also be able to send out reminders as your event date draws near.

Twitter: Like Facebook, the first step to promote your event on Twitter is to tweet about it. A simple tweet saying you organizing a 'Walk for Peace in Mumbai' will get you started on your promotional path. When you tweet about your event, exhibition or marathon, it is a good idea to include an event centric hashtag such as #walk4peace in your tweet. You should also request everyone spreading the word to include the hashtag in his or her tweets. By including a hashtag in your tweets, you connect the tweets and people interested can read all event related tweets.

LinkedIn: Each Social Media website has an ambience. Facebook has a casual ambience; Twitter has a newsy ambience; and LinkedIn a professional one. If you want to network, then LinkedIn is the place to go. For example, if you are organizing a niche conference for IT professionals, you will probably achieve the best results by using LinkedIn to promote your event. LinkedIn has an event application that lets you create an event and invite people from your LinkedIn network. Every time someone RSVPS, it will show up on the profiles of everyone on his or her network.

Online Event Listing: List your event. This makes it easier for people to find out that your event is taking place. There are event listing websites like EventsAvenue, Eventful, BookMyShow etc. whose sole purpose is to give people an idea of what is happening in their city and allow them to register or book a ticket for the event online. For example, when people visit EventsAvenue.com, they can see all events happening in their city for the week or month.

There is no point in taking the time and effort to create awareness about your event, if you cannot capitalize on this 'attendee number increasing opportunity' immediately. You need to offer interested individuals an Online Registration Facility to close the deal instantly.

Online Registration: Online Registration Facility is Mandatory not Optional. People today don't want to stand in lines, they want the convenience of logging onto your event website and being able to book and pay for their registration/ticket. Online Event Management solution providers like EventAvenue can help you market your event and close registrations in real time. This will not only provide attendees with registration ease but will also ensure that your marketing efforts pay off instant as attendees can registration directly online.

These are just some of the social media websites you can use to build awareness about your event. We hope the information provided has clarified any doubts on how to utilize social media as part of your marketing mix. Good Luck!