The biggest fear when scheduling a member event is that no one will sign up.  It’s a legitimate concern but not a good reason to not put on events!  In the world of marketing more is more… so don’t be afraid to advertise your events.  If your members don’t know what is happening, they can’t and won’t come – and you never want to hear “I didn’t know about it.”  Making it easy for your members to know about events is possibly the most important element of a successful event. 

This post is not about what to advertise (details of the events, titles, costs, etc), it’s specifically about how to get the word out.  There are dozens of ways to keep your members up to date and below are 6 ideas to try. We’re going to skip over the notice in the calendar section of your newsletter, since that’s the very first step everyone should already be doing

One more note… With regards to the ideas below, don’t say no before you give it a go! Club’s love to say “our members won’t want that.”  Again, your members are special, but they are not unique.  Take a risk and enjoy the rewards of a sold-out event!

Signs

Large visual signs are a huge part of marketing any event.  Your club should have a bulletin board with fliers for upcoming special events, but you need to think bigger.  Small standup signs at the front desk, posters in the locker room, and a large poster at the main entrance.  The poster should advertise the next big event. Consider using QR codes that link to the event page.

Bookmarks and table-tents

Table tents in your dining room and bar are a fabulous way to advertise upcoming events.  You can just print your monthly calendar or change it for each upcoming event.  A bookmark passed with each check (bar and restaurant) gives your members something to take with them.  An in-hand reminder will work wonders for signups. Don’t forget QR codes!

Dedicated email blasts

Stop putting your event emails buried within another email.  If you want your members to know about upcoming events you’ll need to start sending out dedicated email blasts.  Don’t worry about “too many emails,” more is better in this case!  It’s also a constant reminder of how much your club is doing.  Some people like to know that their club is offering events, even if they don’t attend!

Social media

If you club doesn’t have an active social media page it’s time to make one.  Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn (yes, LinkedIn) are vital to word of mouth and attendance.  Post pictures and videos of past events, post notices for upcoming events, and keep it updated daily.  You can hire a professional company to do this for you and it’s worth the expense!

I-pad Sign-ups at member hotspots (dining room, golf check-in, pool, bar)

Make it easy for your members to sign up on the spot.  Have an Ipad or other device at various member congregation spots to let them sign up on the spot.  QR codes (see above) also work well, but there’s something about being able to do it right there that makes it work well.

Calls to members who are not digital (older members)

Don’t forget about your older members who are not digital!  Have a list of your members who don’t engage digitally and give them a call once a month to update them on upcoming events.  They’ll appreciate the outreach and be more engaged with the club. 

About Michael:

Michael Gutenplan is the top-rated entertainer for private clubs and corporate events.  He was named Boardroom Magazine’s Best Entertainer, has had rave reviews in the New York Times and LA Times, and is a noted expert on psychic readings.