What to do when you are organizing an event
Tell your friends!
• With at least three organizers, create a Facebook event page. Have all the organizers invite all of their Facebook friends. Even if people don’t come just because of the Facebook invite, an event will create a buzz and create reference for friends to check the event.
• Send out a tweet or two each day about the event. “Direct Message” the friends; organizers, and allies you expect to come.
• Use other sites like Pinterest and Google+ to reach out to your networks. The most likely people to attend the event will be people who know someone who is going to the event.
Tell the press!
• Before you do anything else, think about the newsworthiness of the event. Is it something that a reporter will want to write about? If yes, do the following:
• Write a media advisory with the details on the event. (Get help at http://www.raiseyourvoice.com/mediaguide.shtml.)
• Email the media advisory to local reporters and other reporters who might be interested in your event. Reporters can be in television, radio, print newspaper, and the blogosphere.
• Call and email reporters individually when needed. When calling, smile, take a deep breath, and call the main phone number for their news outlet to tell them about the event.
• Visit the websites or blogs of the top five reporters you want to reach. Make intelligent comments on their articles or blog posts with information on your event.
• Send a “direct message” tweet or “mention” tweet to them that contains information on your event.
Tell your community!
• Talk to other groups who might be interested in your event. Get them to “sponsor” your event, and ask them to invite their supporters and networks to the event.
• Make a flyer that engages the eye with a who/what/when/where. (Make sure the flyer contains the names of other groups who have endorsed.) Place/post the flyer in your local coffee shops, stores, churches, and community centers. If you can, post it to community bulletin boards.
• Stand at a major intersection or subway station on a busy day. Hand out flyers to passersby.
• Get the event listed as a Public Service Announcement on your local radio station. Call the radio station to ask how to do this.
• Talk to prominent officials such as your mayor or dean of your school. Ask them to send information about the event to their networks.