Social Networking Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/708951798 Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram: the list goes on and on and it seems like a new social media outlet is popping up every day! But let’s be clear: social media and social networking are not the same thing. Social media is an … Continue reading “Join Our Webinar “Social Networking””
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Increase Event Revenue with Better Online Marketing Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/562442078 The buzz about Saffire is spreading far and wide! Now is your chance to find out what we’re all about and why so many fairs, festivals and rodeos around the country are joining our movement to improve … Continue reading “Join Our Webinar “Increase Event Revenue with Better Online Marketing””
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We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: our goal is to help improve the overall online presence of the event industry. One of the ways we try to keep up with the needs of fairs, festivals and rodeos is by surveying our current clients to find out what is important to them. Earlier … Continue reading “Should you be using Text Marketing?”
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: our goal is to help improve the overall online presence of the event industry. One of the ways we try to keep up with the needs of fairs, festivals and rodeos is by surveying our current clients to find out what is important to them.
Earlier this spring, we asked what feature they would most like to see incorporated into Saffire and the overwhelming answer was text message marketing!
After we saw this infographic, we were sure glad we took their word for it and now provide SaffireText.
But that’s enough about us. Let’s talk about why text marketing is an important step for the event industry.
This infographic breaks down why text message marketing just might be the best way to reach customers. You can’t really argue with the fact that 98% of text messages are opened!
Most Americans look at their phones around 150 times per day, so going where your users are has taken on a whole new meaning. Not only should you have a presence on sites they already visit, but you can now go directly into the palm of your customer’s hand with the latest information and updates about your event.
Text messaging is still considered to be mainly a personal form of communication, so you don’t want to just add text marketing to your mix and look like a bull in a china shop. Here are a few tips to consider as you get started with text marketing.
If you haven’t considered text marketing before, I hope these statistics show you that this new marketing technique is something your event should consider.
Is Email Marketing Dead? (No, and we will tell you why!) Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/631659158 Saffire is excited to bring you the first in a new series of webinars where we will partner with successful events around the country to bring you the insider’s guide to effective online marketing. Since … Continue reading “Join Our Webinar “Is Email Marketing Dead? (No, and we will tell you why!)”
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Increase Event Revenue with Better Online Marketing Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/527639294 The buzz about Saffire is spreading far and wide! Now is your chance to find out what we’re all about and why so many fairs, festivals and rodeos around the country are joining our movement to improve … Continue reading “Join Our Webinar “Increase Event Revenue with Better Online Marketing””
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Maximizing Your Mobile Marketing Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/396256022 It is estimated that by 2014, more people will access your website via a mobile device than a desktop computer. This means that the future of the web is in the palm of your hand, and it’s time to … Continue reading “Join Our Webinar “Maximizing Your Mobile Marketing “”
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The success of social media outlets like Instagram and Pinterest has proven what we’ve been saying all along: photos are the hook for your website! Facebook finally jumped on the bandwagon with their timeline overhaul that gives more profile real estate to images. Let’s go over a few facts that prove images are the king … Continue reading “A Picture is Worth 1,000 Visitors (or more!)”
The success of social media outlets like Instagram and Pinterest has proven what we’ve been saying all along: photos are the hook for your website! Facebook finally jumped on the bandwagon with their timeline overhaul that gives more profile real estate to images.
Let’s go over a few facts that prove images are the king of online content:
Our belief that images drive traffic and engagement is just one of the reasons the Saffire software has such a focus on photos. We include a photo gallery on every event page, and even offer a gallery view so you can look at photos as you browse events.
Unfortunately, we often hear from events that getting quality photos isn’t easy. That is a serious problem and we need to find a solution, because it is essential to the success of your event to have great photos! If your staff is too busy to take pictures during the event, consider assigning that duty to an intern or even working out a sponsorship opportunity with a local photographer.
Whatever you do, we encourage you to make photography a priority at your event this year. Your content online could be great, but it won’t really matter if it’s not attractive.
And just a little tip from us: the best and most shared photos are the ones from your visitors, so allow them to share photos with you online. Who knows, you might find the next face of your fair on Facebook!
If you’ve had a conversation with one of our team members for longer than 30 seconds, we’ve probably told you how important we think ecommerce is to the success of any event. Our roots are in ecommerce for large companies and we’ve proved our theory to be true, so it’s no surprise we are so … Continue reading “What’s the big deal about ecommerce?”
If you’ve had a conversation with one of our team members for longer than 30 seconds, we’ve probably told you how important we think ecommerce is to the success of any event. Our roots are in ecommerce for large companies and we’ve proved our theory to be true, so it’s no surprise we are so sure that it will help increase revenue for your event.
Even though we are spreading the ecommerce message far and wide, we still find events that are skeptical, so we’ve decided to try a new approach. They say “A picture is worth 1,000 words,” and in this case I couldn’t agree more! This infographic tells you just about every reason we have (and a few more) as to why your event MUST have ecommerce.
So let’s recap:
Folks, if these stats don’t convince you that it is time to make ecommerce a priority, I don’t know what will!
The creation of your event’s brand has been a process that has taken years, if not decades! As with any new brand, there was a period of trial and error to fine-tune what it means to be associated with your event as you found your identity. For some of you it means supporting youth livestock … Continue reading “5 Tips to Building Your Event’s Brand Online”
The creation of your event’s brand has been a process that has taken years, if not decades! As with any new brand, there was a period of trial and error to fine-tune what it means to be associated with your event as you found your identity.
For some of you it means supporting youth livestock scholarships. For others it means staying on the cutting edge of the fried-food craze, while others are focused on creating the ultimate concert lineup. Whatever it may be, there is an immediate thought that comes to mind when someone hears your event’s name.
Over the years, we have found that many events are sure of who they are, but just aren’t quite sure how to translate their brand to the web. Check out these 5 tips to help you enhance your online marketing to truly reflect who you are as an organization.
1. Make your website the online front gate to your event.
The moment people arrive at your website, they should feel like they have stepped onto your event grounds. If there is a specific theme or color associated with your event, make sure that plays a part in the look and feel of your site. People may only visit your grounds once a year, but visiting your website is an experience they can have daily, so make sure you make it memorable! Honestly, I can’t be on the Rodeo Austin website for very long before I can “taste of the dirt” of the rodeo.
2. Strut your stuff!
Your event is unique and has a personality all its own, so don’t be afraid to show it. The Tulsa State Fair has fun to spare on their website! Their mascot, Dizzy the goat, pops in and out showing off different aspects of the fair. From food to livestock, they highlight different aspects of their event with a twist. They also incorporate their colors in a great way by creating a bright, eye-catching design.
3. Don’t lose sight of what you’re all about.
Make sure you feature the mission of your organization. For example, the American Royal Association highlights right on their homepage that they give over $1 million annually to support youth and education. While lots of people visit their site to learn about events like the rodeo or World Series of Barbecue, they want to make sure that you know right from the start the heart of who they are and the difference that want to make in Kansas City.
4. Create a community of fans and supporters.
You hear us harp all the time on the importance of social media, but an event that seems to really “get it” is the Florida Strawberry Festival. They have over 36,000 Facebook fans and over 5,000 Twitter followers. The often run contests and post pictures to spark conversation among their followers, which are great ways to create a sense of community.
5. Don’t be afraid to try new things.
I think we can all agree that fairs, festivals and rodeos aren’t always the first to jump on board with new online trends. For example Pinterest is the fastest growing website in history, but only a few fairs, like the Kansas State Fair, have actually created accounts! If you’re late to trends, you are missing out on free, primetime marketing! We encourage you to pay attention to the “buzz” you might hear about new online marketing tools, and don’t be afraid to take the plunge. What have you got to lose?
As the marketing mix continues to evolve, businesses are looking for new ways to reach their customers, which means they are more likely to spend money on sponsorships than ever before. In fact, it is estimated that this year companies in the US will spend close to $18.9 billion dollars in sponsorships on events like … Continue reading “The Anatomy of a Sponsorship”
As the marketing mix continues to evolve, businesses are looking for new ways to reach their customers, which means they are more likely to spend money on sponsorships than ever before.
In fact, it is estimated that this year companies in the US will spend close to $18.9 billion dollars in sponsorships on events like sports, philanthropy, community events, arts and entertainment. Lucky for the fair, festival and rodeo industry: You are just what they’re looking for!
As a community event that gives back, you encompass several of the criteria businesses are looking for in a sponsorship opportunity.
I know that events depend heavily on the support of local businesses for their event to continue to thrive in the current economy. With funding disappearing left and right, sponsors are the ticket to the future of your event.
In order to keep the sponsors you have and find more, you need to know the benefits they are looking for. Sponsorship is a two way street, so make sure you’re giving them what they want in return.
Don’t be afraid to try something new and update your sponsor package with online opportunities. On-site signage is great, but make sure to include prime real estate on your website, too! Linking to their site from yours will also improve their Google ranking.
The audience who comes to a fair, rodeo or festival is a unique combination of individuals from all walks of life. An event like yours crosses all demographics to give the sponsor a new and diverse audience to reach. Make sure to mention that you will include their company in your social media posts during the event.
And the best part about these ideas? They are free for you! Nothing like not having to spend money to make money.
