🏔challenge: “Our gala season is coming up and I wanted to know how to build momentum around the event and more importantly get sales up?” – non-profit comms manager
✨opportunity: Ah, yes. Gala season is upon us! If your nonprofit is hosting its signature fundraiser over the next few months, you are not alone. Here are some tips to build event momentum:
- Start early. There’s no such thing as starting too early, especially with events. Get those “save the dates” out and update your email signature as soon as possible. Schedules fill up quickly – and you want to make the cut before everyone’s booked! Feel like you’re already behind? There’s no time like the present. 🙏
- Repeat, repeat, repeat. We sometimes have the tendency to feel like we’re overcommunicating with our brand connectors. While I’m not one for over-fatiguing folx, it is important to repeat the event message as much as you can. Don’t assume everyone who sees it will a) remember it, and b) take action. McDonald’s never worries about bothering their audiences with their message too much, and neither should you.
- Lead with curiosity. While marketing and promotion opportunities are certainly a draw for businesses to get involved with your event, more often than not, they will have a personal connection and reason for giving. Rather than leading with your ask – lead with curiosity. Use this as an opportunity to build a longer-term relationship, and hopefully, they say yes to sponsorship this year, too.
One more tip I’d add is to remain ever-flexible as we enter fall season and possibly more Covid concerns (I hate having to type that sentence). Expect the unexpected, and stay focused on your event goals.
You are doing an *amazing* job.
Sending the confidence vibes of Sheryl Lee Ralph,
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