There are a lot of things to think about when putting a WordCamp together. You have to find speakers. You have to find a location. You need to order food. And swag. And plan the speaker dinner. And the after party. And none of it will matter if nobody comes.
You have to fill those empty seats.
So how DO you promote your WordCamp so that all of your hard work pays off for attendees? We’ve assembled a list of ideas for you to use in getting the word out – and selling tickets – for your WordCamp.
Be active on social media
Of course it’s important to post your WordCamp on Facebook and Twitter leading up to your camp, but have you considered these ideas?
- Add Instagram. Post with a great photo, appropriate hashtags, and a link back to your site.
- Don’t wait to post about your WordCamp to be active. Post all year long about WordPress. Retweet others. Post the videos. Stay relevant so that people will continue to follow you and stay informed of your speaker, sponsor, and ticket sales deadlines.
- Use the same hashtag every year, adding to the conversation year over year. It’s much easier for others to follow if you don’t add a year/date to your hashtag.
Enlist your speakers and volunteers
Speakers want their sessions filled. Volunteers want your WordCamp to succeed, too. So why not ask for their help?
- Tag them in your social media posts.
- Email them and ask them to share and post to their social accounts.
- Ask them to write a post on their own website about speaking and volunteering at your WordCamp and then to share it.
- Ask them to send out emails to their lists inviting others to participate in WordCamp.
Invite other nearby meetups
Reach out to regional meetup organizers inviting them to share your WordCamp site with their meetup attendees. Offer to visit their meetup in person or via video link to personally invite their attendees.
Post your event to online calendars
Most local media outlets (print, radio and television) have online calendars. Submit your event to them with all the necessary information for anyone who sees it there to buy a ticket. Don’t forget to add it to Craigslist, too!
Write a press release
Write a descriptive press release and submit it to all your local media outlets. Make sure it includes all the pertinent information, a quote or two from an organizer or speaker, but is still only about a page in length. Always send your press release in the body of your email, not as an attachment, and include your contact information.
Reach out to local colleges
Most colleges have departments where students learn web design. Whether as part of a communications program, IT degree, or even as an elective class. The cost of a WordCamp fits almost every student budget, so it’s a great event for them to attend (especially if they know food is included). Students often make great volunteers, too!
Create engaging posts on your site
Use your site to post engaging content. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Introduce your speakers.
- Post about your after party.
- Talk about the value of a ticket.
- Promote your happiness bar.
- Talk about networking.
- Introduce your hashtag.
Finally
These are just some of the ideas you can use to promote your WordCamp. The best advice is to be excited about it and tell others often. Word-of-mouth will carry your message when you’re excited about your event.
Have other ideas? Tell us in the comments!