We often get the question from Race Directors, should I create a Facebook page or an event? If you plan for the race to be an annual event, then the answer is both! The race host should have their own Facebook page, then each year create a new Facebook event.
WHY DO i NEED A FACEBOOK EVENT?
You can invite attendees easily from your Facebook friends list, which makes them significantly more likely to sign up. Then, all of your attendees will get reminders as your race gets closer so they don’t forget, and they’ll have the option to invite their friends as well.
The best part of it all, however, might be that you effectively get a free newsfeed placement. Whenever somebody signs up for your event on Facebook, it’s posted to their wall for their friends to see. Their friends may even see it, too. You’re getting high-traffic ad space absolutely free, and you’re getting their friends – who they trust – to deliver those ads for you.
The best part of it all, however, might be that you effectively get a free newsfeed placement. Whenever somebody signs up for your event on Facebook, it’s posted to their wall for their friends to see. Their friends may even see it, too. You’re getting high-traffic ad space absolutely free, and you’re getting their friends – who they trust – to deliver those ads for you.
HOW DO i CREATE A FACEBOOK EVENT?
The process is simple and the time commitment is small. It really only takes 5 minutes of your time to do it. Follow this step-by-step guide.
And before you say, "I hate Facebook. I don't even have an account", you do know that a lot, and I mean A LOT of people use Facebook? Approx 2.85 MILLION monthly active users in Canada and the US as of Jan 2015, according to TechCrunch! N So if you're not a Facebook fan, find somebody on your organizing committee who is and let them own this promotion piece.
And before you say, "I hate Facebook. I don't even have an account", you do know that a lot, and I mean A LOT of people use Facebook? Approx 2.85 MILLION monthly active users in Canada and the US as of Jan 2015, according to TechCrunch! N So if you're not a Facebook fan, find somebody on your organizing committee who is and let them own this promotion piece.
10 TIPS TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR FACEBOOK EVENT
1. Don't make them search for event info
Make sure the important stuff is at the top of the details section and can be seen without hitting “See More.” Put registration link first! At the end of the details section, list all of the links someone would be interested in: main event link, tickets, audio, video, Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, and all other event links.
2. Use Facebook-recognized venues, not addresses for the location
Type the venue name into the location bar slowly. Facebook will auto-complete the name of the venue and then you can click on one of the suggestions. If your venue is not listed, create a venue.
VERY IMPORTANT: If you do not have a map on your event, Facebook will not recommend it to friends of your attendees or people in the area.
3. Add a cover photo that fits the event and fits the rectangle (784 x 295 pixels)
Ensure it includes the race name and date. This is just like a magazine cover or flyer for an event. Don’t use the flyer for the event unless you can see all of the information you need in the rectangle. When designing the photo, refer to this Facebook event dimensions cheat sheet.
Here's an example of a good event cover photo:
4. Have one official Facebook event
If you can, make everyone involved with the race (sponsors, charity partners, service providers) a host to your event.
* Invitees can see all their friends who are attending without having to look at lots of events
* Additional hosts can help spread the word about your event by inviting their friends
* The true attendee number can be seen a lot easier
5. Show RSVPs to demonstrate social proof
One of the first things you probably do when checking out an event is seeing how many people have RSVP’d, right? Success sells. Be sure to edit your event information and check the box that says ‘show guest list’. People want to know who else is going, and this is a great way to leverage the numbers to your favor.
After audiences RSVP and comment on your event wall, thank them personally by writing on their personal wall or sending a personal message. Comments can be added on videos/photos/links, and all activities display in the mini feed.
6. Stagger Invitations into Rounds
Consider a first round of invites to people you know will show up either because they’re involved, you’re already friends, you know they’ll be interested, or they are key players you have personally invited by phone, email, chat, or even in real life.
Invite this initial round first, and after 70-80% are committed, invite the next round. These newcomers will immediately see positive momentum: a high number of RSVPs, particularly in proportion to the number invited. These are signs of a successful event-to be. After a couple rounds, open up the invites to the broader community.
7. Use your invites wisely
Create groups of friends by location, interest, work and more. Use Facebook hacks like “invite all of your friends” to invite the groups of your friends to your event. (Abuse of this feature can be seen as spam.)
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/invite-all/eopekjehpibhfpjjcokfmhcaeiclddih?hl=en
8. Promote your event outside your circle
Facebook only allows you to invite your friends. Facebook ads give lots of impressions but very few attendees. (It’s not worth the cost.)
* Share your event on Twitter and your Facebook page.
* Share your Facebook event with all of the people involved with your event.
* Share your Facebook event with traditional media, bloggers, and well know racers on social media that would care about your event
9. Get people involved
The wall is the best place to engage your invitees. Allow them to communicate with you.
* Never check “Only admins can post to the event wall.”
* Install the Facebook pages app on your phone so you can easily and quickly reply to comment/questions.
The more people that comment on your event page, the more impact it will make. As audiences judge the importance of Facebook Events by their activity, you want them to get involved in the most important conversations.
As a result, you should make efforts to get a conversation going on the event wall. On the event page, you can ask questions, conduct polls, and respond to comments to spark engagement. Here’s a great example from the official event page of European Youth Event:
If you can, make everyone involved with the race (sponsors, charity partners, service providers) a host to your event.
* Invitees can see all their friends who are attending without having to look at lots of events
* Additional hosts can help spread the word about your event by inviting their friends
* The true attendee number can be seen a lot easier
5. Show RSVPs to demonstrate social proof
One of the first things you probably do when checking out an event is seeing how many people have RSVP’d, right? Success sells. Be sure to edit your event information and check the box that says ‘show guest list’. People want to know who else is going, and this is a great way to leverage the numbers to your favor.
After audiences RSVP and comment on your event wall, thank them personally by writing on their personal wall or sending a personal message. Comments can be added on videos/photos/links, and all activities display in the mini feed.
6. Stagger Invitations into Rounds
Consider a first round of invites to people you know will show up either because they’re involved, you’re already friends, you know they’ll be interested, or they are key players you have personally invited by phone, email, chat, or even in real life.
Invite this initial round first, and after 70-80% are committed, invite the next round. These newcomers will immediately see positive momentum: a high number of RSVPs, particularly in proportion to the number invited. These are signs of a successful event-to be. After a couple rounds, open up the invites to the broader community.
7. Use your invites wisely
Create groups of friends by location, interest, work and more. Use Facebook hacks like “invite all of your friends” to invite the groups of your friends to your event. (Abuse of this feature can be seen as spam.)
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/invite-all/eopekjehpibhfpjjcokfmhcaeiclddih?hl=en
8. Promote your event outside your circle
Facebook only allows you to invite your friends. Facebook ads give lots of impressions but very few attendees. (It’s not worth the cost.)
* Share your event on Twitter and your Facebook page.
* Share your Facebook event with all of the people involved with your event.
* Share your Facebook event with traditional media, bloggers, and well know racers on social media that would care about your event
9. Get people involved
The wall is the best place to engage your invitees. Allow them to communicate with you.
* Never check “Only admins can post to the event wall.”
* Install the Facebook pages app on your phone so you can easily and quickly reply to comment/questions.
The more people that comment on your event page, the more impact it will make. As audiences judge the importance of Facebook Events by their activity, you want them to get involved in the most important conversations.
As a result, you should make efforts to get a conversation going on the event wall. On the event page, you can ask questions, conduct polls, and respond to comments to spark engagement. Here’s a great example from the official event page of European Youth Event:
10. Keep people excited about coming
Typically 50 percent of tickets are sold when you first publish the event, the next 50 percent are sold closer to race day. Someone saying that they are attending does not mean that they will remember to be there.
Once or twice a week (depending on how soon your race is), post an update to let them know about the current number of registrants, updates about the venue, and any information about new sponsors. These event updates will notify everyone who has been invited, replied "Yes" or "Maybe". It's also a great way to instruct people to take any other necessary actions (such as purchase of additional merchandise/food tickets, etc).
You can also post pictures, past videos, reviews and articles written about the event (remember to tag all of the pages involved with the @ function). Updates can also be sent to guests directly via the Message Guests feature.
