Sometimes the best marketing is a new & improved event!

Here are a few small ways to tweak your event plan. Ask yourself if any of these apply to your events to give them a refresh in 2026.

1) Simplify it!

Most of the time, advertising fewer things will attract more attention. It's counterintuitive, but it works.

Think about it: If you came across a busy Facebook event or flyer with 250 words describing your event in minute detail...

Vs.

"Visit 123 Main Street this weekend for a free pumpkin patch!"

Which is more likely to capture your attention? The simpler event wins every time.

2) Hold it at a place people know & love.

This doesn't have to require a rental fee. Think about local parks that people already flock to, nice public libraries, a picnic shelter at a nature preserve, etc.

Many coffee shops, restaurants, or breweries have back rooms or big tables that you can reserve for free (or with a small group purchase minimum). If your group is small enough, you might not even need your own dedicated space.

3) Incorporate a local business that people know & love.

What if you invited the mobile popsicle stand? The taco food truck? A local BBQ spot?

Remember that with food trucks, you don't pay them to set up shop. In fact, they're thrilled to sell somewhere for free since they usually have to pay a fee to park.

What if you served bagels from the local bakery everyone loves? Or got a 96 oz. to-go box of really good coffee? Yes, it costs a few extra bucks, but it makes people more excited to show up. Admit it, you'd be more excited too!

A fun bonus here: when you post pictures of the event, you can tag the local business. They'll often repost it to their story.

4) Provide a quick & easy way to get reminders, directions, or parking info.

There are so many events I see and think, "Oh that sounds fun; I should go to that." Then what do I proceed to do? Not go.

Not because I didn't want to—I just forgot. You've done it too.

Make it easy for people to stay in the loop: Text EVENT to 12345, drop your email into a simple form, or respond to the Facebook event. Then send a friendly reminder the day before with parking tips, the full address, or what to expect.

5) Get real about objections and provide solutions.

It's OK to recognize that people have busy schedules. It's OK to say your Bible study has a hard cutoff at 45 minutes so people can plan the rest of their day.

Be honest about who can realistically attend: if your event happens at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday, you're probably looking at retirees or parents with flexible schedules—not young professionals working 9-to-5 jobs.

If your event is at night and you're hoping to include parents, childcare is essential. Don't make people choose between attending and scrambling to find a babysitter.

Think through the barriers that might keep someone from saying yes, then do what you can to remove them.

How could you make one small tweak to your next event?

I'd love to hear how it goes. Reply and let me know what you try!

🎉 Pssst: down here!

Have questions about Christmas ads? Hoping to become more consistent on social media in the new year? Something wrong with your Google Grant? Can't figure out a website setting?

Starting next Friday, December 12th, I'm rolling out something new: a monthly Open Office session.

I love writing my newsletter, but I really want to be able to offer the tailored advice you need.

And not everyone needs my full hour consult; sometimes you just need a couple minutes "face-to-face" to bounce ideas around or share your screen.

This is my solution! Get access to:

Submit questions whenever they arise, then talk them through with me every 2nd Friday of each month. You're able to cancel whenever you please; though I think you'll consistently find it to be well worth your dollar!

"See" you next week? :)