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  • Event Promotion Tips

How to Supercharge Venue Engagement in 2024

  • By Dale Grogan

  • 01 Feb 2024
  • 1 min read
venue engagement

In the exciting world of live music, the challenge for independent venues lies not just in hosting events but in fostering a vibrant, year-round connection with their audience. Email marketing, social media and Ads have all made it easier than ever to reach out to fans but with so much content available at any given time, it’s becoming increasingly hard to engage with potential venue visitors in the digital landscape.

In this blog, we’ll share some clever tactics to help grab the interest of your desired audience—many of which don’t rely on digital methods. From immersive experiences to collaborative initiatives, let’s dive into the following list of 10 ideas to help you forge lasting bonds with the community your venue serves.


 

Introduce loyalty programmes that reward your most frequent customers

Offer exclusive perks, including discounted tickets, special access to unique merchandise, and concessions at the bar to those who frequently come out to support events happening at your venue. By introducing these programs, you not only acknowledge and appreciate your regulars but also improve their overall experience.

It’s all about fostering a lasting connection, where your patrons feel valued for their continuous support. Through these loyalty programs, you’re not just selling tickets; you’re building a community of dedicated supporters who gain more from offering their commitment to your venue.

Host networking events for performing acts and promoters

Strengthen the foundations of your local music scene by organising networking events tailored towards performing acts and promoters. Gatherings such as these serve as platforms for showcasing the unique advantages that your venue offers, creating an atmosphere where artists and promoters can establish meaningful connections.

Beyond the spotlight, these events become pivotal in nurturing enduring relationships within the local music scene. Attendees not only witness firsthand the distinct features that set your venue apart but also engage in valuable exchanges that contribute to the vibrancy of your community.

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Work with local influencers, radio stations, and media outlets to cross-promote events at your venue

Collaborating with local influencers, radio stations, and media outlets is a powerful way to boost engagement with your venue whilst at the same time promoting your events programme. By partnering with these influencers and channels, you tap into their fan base, elevating your venue’s visibility, whilst also creating a reciprocal relationship where both you and said influencers benefit.

Through strategic cross-promotion, you can broaden your venue’s exposure, fostering community engagement. This helps build authentic relationships beyond the digital realm, ensuring promotions reach a wider demographic.

Offer your customers value outside of live events.

Provide fans of your venue with added value beyond the excitement of live events. Enhance their overall experience by introducing interactive elements, such as exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities with performers, or by organising competitions, where attendees have the chance to win enticing prizes such as bar tabs, event tickets or exclusive pieces of merchandise.

These interactive experiences not only enrich the overall event journey for your customers but also create memorable moments that extend beyond the music or performances. By introducing these value-added offerings, you not only increase attendee satisfaction but also foster a sense of community and loyalty, ensuring that your venue becomes a go-to destination for immersive and rewarding experiences.

Rely on Skiddle to help supercharge your venue’s engagement.

With over 6.5 million monthly visitors to our website and a whopping 1.5 million party enthusiasts relying on our app to discover and secure tickets for their favourite events, Skiddle is your ultimate ally in improving engagement with all the events taking place at your venue.

Our platform doesn’t just bring together millions of event-goers; it serves as a dynamic hub connecting diverse audiences with a passion for entertainment. By partnering with Skiddle, you open the doors to a vast community of eager attendees, turning your venue into a go-to destination for eventgoers in your area.

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Think up new ways to engage with your followers on social media.

Ok, so we couldn’t completely overlook the use of social media. It’s a tool in every venue’s arsenal that must be utilised. But it’s how it is used that could make all the difference.

Look for a unique angle when creating content. You could, for example, allow social media users a peek behind the curtain of your venue’s operations. Take them behind-the-scenes and provide a glimpse into the inner workings of your venue. Showcase the talents and expertise of your team members, highlighting the unsung heroes, such as your skilled sound engineer.

By offering this fresh perspective, you not only add a human touch to your brand but also build a deeper connection with your audience. It allows your followers to see and appreciate the dedication and proficiency of your team, creating a more engaging and relatable social media presence.

Create a dedicated space for your customers to share their feedback.

Offering your customers a place to share their thoughts about your venue, it’s facilities and the events you host isn’t just about making them feel heard; it helps make your events even better.

By listening to your customers preferences and analysing insights from past events, you gain a deeper understanding of their needs. This allows you to refine your offerings, ensuring each event surpasses expectations, ultimately building a stronger connection between your venue and its attendees.

Engage with your community through sponsorships and partnerships.

Making positive contributions in the community local to your venue, by sponsoring local charity events or creating reciprocal partnerships with businesses that share similar values and objectives, for example, can improve the sentiment behind your venue and brand.

By aligning your venue with those in the community, you not only improve your local reputation but also contribute to the collective well-being. Your venue benefits from increased visibility and positive opinion, while the community enjoys the added value and support that comes from a socially engaged and responsible venue.

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Showcase local talent.

Not only does this further strengthen community ties, but it provides emerging artists with a platform to perform and signals that your venue is available to emerging acts.

By showcasing local talent, you contribute to the cultural fabric of your community, creating a sense of pride and identity. It’s a win-win scenario. Your venue becomes a nurturing ground for the next generation of stadium-filling rock stars and rave specialists, whilst the community gets to witness and celebrate its homegrown artistic gems.

Who knows, the next big superstar might just be starting their journey on your stage. Embrace the local talent, and let your venue become a stepping stone for the future stars of the entertainment world.

Develop youth programmes, such as skills-sharing initiatives and workshops.

These programmes serve as a valuable stepping stone, empowering those looking to begin their journeys in the notoriously hard-to-crack creative industries by providing a place to develop new skills, gain practical knowledge, and connect with established professionals.

In providing such programmes, you not only contribute to the support of local talent but also play a pivotal role in shaping the future landscape of the music industry within your community. It’s not just about workshops; it’s about investing in the creative potential of the young minds eager to make their mark in the world of music.

Don’t pass up on a great opportunity to engage the next generation of music enthusiasts in your community and cement the future of your venue.

Got a question you need an answer to?

Give us a call on 03333010301 or ask us a question over on the Skiddle Promoter Twitter account by clicking or tapping on the button below. Alternatively, you can also find a list of our most frequently asked questions over at https://help.promotioncentre.co.uk

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