The purpose of a non-profit charity event isn’t merely to raise as many funds as possible (although it is the most important one). Still, a successful charity event also caters to the experience of its attendees.
Hosting a marathon event in 2024 requires a memorable experience for your audience, but how can you get people through the door if they don’t even know about your event? Here are five ways to market your upcoming charity marathon event and make it a hit.
Market through social media
The market today is digital, and so should your marketing tactics. Social media marketing is the way to promote your event, with its endless possibilities and low costs involved. After all, you’re trying to raise charity funds and not lose them, right? Picking the right platform is crucial when opting for social media marketing, and for a charity event, Facebook can be your best bet.
Work towards creating a dedicated Facebook page for the event and invite people from your community to engage in conversations about the event. Create an event reminder to help everyone else stay on track and updated about any changes and developments in the planning; constantly hammer the final date into your audience’s mind. Engage your audience through various mediums; you can host live Q&As, post polls sta, rt discussions, and constantly update your audience.
Opt for print
Print media may be the last thing you consider when digital is the way to go, but old-school marketing is still highly effective. Highlight your fundraiser’s mission through bold and bright aesthetics to appeal to the audience.
Aim to make your leaflets and flyers as eye-catching as possible since attraction and attention make your print material a hit. You can even use fitness poster templates to simplify things. Placement is the most essential step in your print marketing plan; consider high-traffic areas to hand out or place your flyers/leaflets.
Areas like malls, gyms, hospitals, schools, restaurants, cafes, and universities can be good start-off points. Make your leaflets as informative as possible. Include all essential details (date, time, venue, charity behind the marathon, purpose, sponsors, ticket booking, etc.) in your flyers.
Run paid ads
Paid advertising might be your secret weapon, giving your marathon marketing the much-needed nudge! Imagine reaching people interested in running and passionate about making a difference. Paid ads and targeting options help you target specific demographics and interests. With paid ads, you can even target audiences based on their location with geotargeting.
Meta Ads can help you carry out your paid ads campaign on social media and make the targeting more straightforward and specific with its advanced targeting features. Additionally, you can even run Google Ads, which can enhance the efficacy of your paid marketing program by helping you rank higher in searches and appear frequently in the feeds of your target audiences.
However, with paid advertising, you must track their performance closely and do A/B testing to find the best methodology for your campaign and make necessary adjustments for maximum efficiency.
Tap into clubs and communities
Community spirit is alive and well, especially for local clubs and organizations. Think about how local running clubs and fitness enthusiasts rallying behind your cause can transform your event into a community celebration.
Research and reach out to local fitness groups with the same passion for running as your team; consider reaching out to running clubs, gyms, and local marathon teams. Engage these communities and get them on board to help you market your marathon to their audiences and circles to leverage their status in the community.
Hosting informative Q&A sessions in your local community centers and clubs to provide information about the charity you’re supporting can help encourage members to attend the marathon for a particular cause.
Drop into boxes
Using a mix of marketing tactics can be a surefire way to success for your fundraiser and help you check all your boxes. Leave no stone unturned, so drop informative newsletters where you know they’d hit home or digital inboxes, whichever you prefer.
If you’ve hosted any marathons or charity events in the past or have access to past participants (through your charity’s help), you may use that to build a mailing list that can be used for your email campaign. You can even make a mailing list through the support of local fitness communities and reach out to interested individuals directly through their inboxes.
Craft compelling newsletters that create a sense of urgency to join your fundraiser. These newsletters help paint a story in readers’ minds, bringing your charity to the forefront and explaining the cause behind this fundraiser. From there, share updates and past success stories and send constant reminders of the due date.
With these five strategies, participants will fly through the doors with their running shoes laced up. Remember, while raising funds is the most essential aspect of this event, you should focus on providing participants and fundraisers with an excellent experience to ensure they’ll support you in your future endeavors. Fundraising and charities are a unified process, and having unwavering support can do wonders for you and your cause. Good luck!
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