“Go to social media” somebody would say. Off course you must embrace social media, but before that look at few focal points which would help you market your event effectively with or without social media.

Start by answering some key questions:

1. Who constitutes the target audience?
2. What attraction will draw that audience into your event?
3. How do you reach that audience?
4. When is the right time to conduct the event?
5. What is the price point?

Once you have answers to above questions, delve more into messaging and follow some basic marketing rules

1. Repetition - you want to build momentum and interest leading up to the event.
2. Diversified approach – Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Web Site, Email Blasts, Associations/JV Partners, etc. Choose right messaging and right channel to connect to your audience.
3. Promise Stars: Offer good reasons for people to attend – don’t just ask them to attend and list an agenda – ethically bribe them (bonuses or prize drawings) or create drama or intrigue (special guest).
4. Connectors: Offer something to those who refer others to get the "connectors" to promote your event.
5. Power of Free: Offer few free tickets to your potential audience and see your message getting spread like wildfire, specially if your audience is active in social media.

Each of the above bullet point is worthy enough to have individual posts on them, which I might cover in this blog in future.

Did I missed any points? Share with us below as comment.

For a typical event to be considered successful, event should be should be cash flow positive after paying to everyone you promised you will after event concludes.

Below are some tips to raise money for an event

1. Start early: Start as soon as possible. Best time to start looking for sponsorships for your next event is just after you have finished your current event. Its easier to get traction from all people who were involved with the event( in any form)
2. Budget your event: Calculate how much you need to execute your event. This might change over the  period of time, but knowing your target amount would help you plan your strategy to raise money.
3. Demographic Information: Prepare demographic information about people who have attended this before and the people who are going to attend event. This would help potential sponsors to decide if their product and marketing dollars are well suited for the event.
4. Do research on the companies you are approaching. Understand their goals and initiatives and approach them with a couple of ideas and ways you can help them attain those goals.
5. Maintain records of last events and thereafter and put everything in a nice presentable format (maybe as a website or paper brochures/presentation).  This would help you convince potential sponsors that you are not doing this for the first time and would give them confidence in your ability to execute event. Consider this as your report card.
6. Create a value proposition for what your sponsors are going to get out of sponsoring the event. Having a well defined opportunity for sponsors and associated coverage numbers would help sponsors take decision.
7. Networking all year round: If you are doing event, make sure you are networking all year around. Not only this would help you raise money but would help you get event attendees.

Do you have any other suggestions for event managers? Add in your comments below

There are some great action happening in India in the startup space, which is reflected by events happening around in India, very specific for startups.

If you are interested in or already doing a startup in India there are some great events you might want to check out.

Startup Saturday:

About: Provides a forum for entrepreneurs to discuss, present, network and learn from peers, prospective customers, adopters, partners and investors.

When does it happen: Every 2nd saturday of the month.

Where:Presently its active in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bangalore.

More Details: (here).

Proto.in

About: Proto.in is a Support Platform For The Indian Startup Community

When does it happen: Every Year.

Where:In a selected Indian city

More Details: (here).

HeadStart

About: Organizes annual HeadStart and Compute conference that showcases the best and most innovative products coming out of India and enables various innovation ecosystem stakeholders to exchange views and network

When does it happen: Annually.

Where:Many Indian cities

More Details: (here).

ESummit

About: is the annual flagship event of The Entrepreneurship Cell, IIT Bombay which is a student organization with it’s aim and mission to foster and sustain entrepreneurship among students and youth

When does it happen: Annually.

Where:IIT Mumbai, IIT Delhi

More Details: (here).

If you know any interesting events for startups which is not listed here, you can add details as the comments below (and we would update this post) OR email us to ruchit@eventNu.com