Starting a new business is always a challenge. There are so many things to think about, from booking events to hiring staff to marketing your venue. But don’t worry, we’re here to help! In this article, we’ll give you some tips for marketing your event venue
As the owner of an event venue business, you know that having a good marketing plan is essential to your success. After all, without customers, your business will not survive.
But what goes into a good marketing plan? Below, we will go over some of the key components of a successful marketing plan for an event venue business.
Key Components of an Event Venue Marketing Plan
A great marketing plan has eleven sections as follows:
- Executive Summary
- Target Market Segments
- Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
- Pricing and Positioning Strategy
- Distribution Strategy
- Offers
- Marketing Materials
- Promotions Strategy
- Digital Marketing Plan
- Conversion, Referral, and Retention Strategy
- Financial Projections
We provide more detail for each of these key components below.
Executive Summary
The executive summary is a brief overview of your entire marketing plan. It should include your overview information from each of the other sections, such as your target market, unique selling proposition, key promotions strategies, and financial projections.
Target Market Segments
When it comes to marketing an event venue, it is important to identify your target market segments. Who are your most likely customers? Consider factors such as age, gender, income, location, and lifestyle when determining your target market segments.
For example, an event venue business’ customers may include:
- Wedding planners who are looking for a venue for their clients
- Corporate event planners who are looking for a unique space to hold corporate functions
- Local businesses who are looking for a place to host company parties or holiday gatherings
- Individuals planning a special event, such as a birthday party or anniversary celebration
Once you have identified your target market segments, you can begin to tailor your marketing efforts to appeal to them.
Break down each of these segments even further by considering their needs, wants, and pain points. For example, the needs of an event venue business’ customers may include:
- A convenient location
- Ample parking
- A variety of event spaces to choose from
- On-site catering
- Affordable rates
- A reputation for providing great customer service
By understanding your target market segments, you will be better equipped to create marketing messages that resonate with them.
Unique Selling Proposition
Your unique selling proposition (USP) is what sets your event venue apart from other event venue businesses. What do you offer that nobody else does?
For example, your USP could be:
- The only event venue in town with a ballroom
- The only event venue in town that offers on-site catering
- The only event venue in town that is pet-friendly
No matter what your USP is, make sure it is clear in your marketing materials. Your clients should be able to see immediately what makes you different from the other business in their area.
Pricing and Positioning Strategy
Your pricing and positioning strategy will be determined by your target market segments and your unique selling proposition.
For example, if you are targeting corporate event planners, you will want to position yourself as a high-end venue with competitive rates.
On the other hand, if you are targeting individuals planning special events, you may want to position yourself as an affordable option that offers great value.
No matter what your positioning strategy is, make sure your pricing strategy is competitive. Consider conducting a market analysis to see what other event venue businesses with which you compete are charging for similar offerings.
Distribution Strategy
Your distribution strategy will determine how you get your event venue in front of your target market segments.
There are a number of ways to do this, including:
- Advertising in local print and online publications that your target market segments are likely to read/view
- Creating a listing for your event venue on popular event planning websites (e.g.,The Knot, WeddingWire)
- Participating in local bridal shows and other events that your target market segments are likely to attend
- Working with local wedding planners, corporate event planners, and other vendors who may refer customers to you
By creating a well-thought-out distribution strategy, you will be able to ensure that your event venue is seen by the people who are most likely to use it.
Offers
Providing offers through your business is a great way to entice customers to make a purchase. Some examples of offers you could provide for your event venue business include:
- A percentage discount on the rental fee for booking a certain number of events within a set time period
- A free tour of the venue for those considering booking an event
- A discount on catering services for those who book their event at your venue
By providing offers, you will be able to make your event venue more attractive to potential customers.
Marketing Materials
Your marketing materials should be based on your unique selling proposition and target market segments. They should be designed to grab attention and generate interest in your business.
Some of the marketing materials you might want to create include product brochures, flyers, and website banners. You will also want to make sure your branding is strong and consistent across all of your marketing materials.
Promotions Strategy
Your promotions strategy includes the methods you will use to attract new customers. It should be designed to generate excitement and encourage customers to try your business.
Event venue businesses should consider the following promotional strategies:
- Host a free open house to give potential clients a taste of what your venue has to offer.
- Offer a discount on the rental fee for those who book their event within a certain time period.
- Collaborate with other local businesses to cross-promote your services. For example, you could partner with a local catering company to offer clients a discount on catering services if they book their event at your venue.
- Participate in local bridal shows and other events that your target market segments are likely to attend.
- Create a social media strategy to promote your business online.
Digital Marketing Plan
In today’s digital age, it’s important to have a solid digital marketing plan. This will help you reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your business.
Some of the digital marketing tactics you might want to use include search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click advertising, social media marketing, and email marketing. You will also want to make sure your website is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate.
Event venue businesses should consider the following digital marketing strategies:
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Optimize your website for search engines so that it appears higher in the results pages when people search for keywords related to your business.
- Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising. Create targeted ads that appear alongside search engine results and on other websites frequented by your target market segments.
- Social Media Marketing. Create social media profiles for your business and actively post engaging content that will resonate with your target audience.
- Email Marketing. Build a list of email subscribers and send them periodic updates about your business, special offers, and upcoming events.
- Website Optimization. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate so that potential customers can easily find the information they’re looking for.
Conversion, Referral, and Retention Strategy
Your conversion, referral, and retention strategy should be designed to keep customers coming back. Consider offering loyalty rewards, discounts for referrals, and other incentives to encourage customers to continue using your business.
You will also want to make sure your customer service is top-notch. Respond quickly to any complaints or concerns, and always go above and beyond to exceed customer expectations.
Event venue businesses should consider the following conversion, referral and retention strategies:
- Offer a loyalty rewards program to encourage customers to continue using your business.
- Increase word-of-mouth marketing by offering discounts for referrals.
- Respond quickly to any complaints or concerns, and always go above and beyond to exceed customer expectations.
- Create social media profiles for your business and actively post engaging content that will resonate with your target audience.
- Offer discounts or promotions for those who book their event within a certain time period.
- Collaborate with other local businesses to cross-promote your services.
Financial Projections
Last but not least, you will need to create financial projections for your business. This will help you track your progress and ensure you are on track to meet your goals.
The key information to include in these financial projections are your monthly marketing expenditures and expected sales. Be sure to update your projections on a regular basis to reflect any changes in your business.
Financial projections for a startup event venue business may include:
- Monthly marketing expenditures
- Expected sales
- Cost of goods sold
- Operating expenses
- Projected profit (or loss)
- Break-even analysis
Summary
When starting an event venue business, it is important to have a solid marketing plan in place. This will help you reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your business.
By following these steps, you can develop a quality marketing plan that will help you successfully launch and grow your event venue business. Just remember to be creative, think outside the box, and always put your customers first. With a little hard work and dedication, you will be well on your way to success!