Top Marketing Tips to Sell Out Your Next Local Event

So, you have a wonderful event planned in Crawley. The goal is the same for all of these events, whether it's a high-energy show at the Medusa Cocktail Bar, a community event in Tilgate Park or a niche market in Queensway: to fill those seats and get people talking.

You can make a big difference in the digital world without spending a lot of money. This guide will assist you in increasing ticket sales for your upcoming event in Crawley by leveraging the latest local SEO trends and proven event marketing strategies.

1. Use "Local" to Your Advantage on Social Media

It's crucial to strategically place your posts on social media platforms.

• Facebook Groups. More than 75% of event planners use it every day. Share your news with local groups, like "Crawley Community Group" or "What's On in Crawley".
• The "Tag & Share" Giveaway: Hold a simple contest. Give away two free tickets to the person who likes your post and tags a friend. This makes your event visible to hundreds of people in your area for free, which is like a "snowball effect.".
• Visual Teasers: Instead of just telling people about the event, use past event photos to make your message stronger. Use images from past events, like those from Crawley Pride 2025, to give people a "vibe check" that helps them see what they are expecting from your event.

2. Get more people to see you by listing yourself in local directories.

Search engines require you to be visible where people search. Your marketing plan needs websites like www.crawleyevents.co.uk and other local directory listing sites.

• Unmatched Traffic Volume: Local directory listing sites get a lot more visitors than most other sites. When you list your event on a site like Crawley Events, you put your brand in front of a huge, existing audience that is already looking for things to do in the area.
• Search Engine Advantage: When you put your event in a specific local directory, search engines like Google see it as a "high-quality backlink" and a signal that is specific to your area. This makes your event more likely to show up when people search "events near me" or "what's going on in Crawley".
• Bigger audience: These websites often have their own email newsletters and social media accounts. This means that your event can instantly reach a local audience that knows about it without you having to do anything extra.

3. Take advantage of the cashless world.

In today's world, people prioritise convenience over cash when making purchases. More than 80% of event tickets are now sold online, according to surveys of the industry.

• Frictionless Buying: If people have to call or email to book, you've already lost half your audience. Ensure you have a clear "Book Now" link on your listings and social media.
• Use the Right Ticketing Tools: using ticket websites like TicketSource, Ticket Tailor, and Eventzilla provides easy-to-use systems for selling tickets, managing guest lists, and collecting data for future marketing.
• Advance Sales Security: Selling tickets online ahead of time doesn't just help with cash flow; it reduces the "no-show" rate and helps you plan your logistics (security, catering, staffing) with confidence.

4. Utilise Incentives to Encourage Word-of-Mouth

Personal recommendations are the most powerful form of marketing. If a friend of someone is attending, it is highly likely that they would also want to join.

• Bring a Friend: Offer a "Bring a Friend" discount or a small perk (like a free drink or merchandise) for attendees who refer others.
• Make "Share-Worthy" Moments: Plan your event with social media in mind. Give people a reason to post pictures that tag your event, like a special hashtag for the night or a unique photo wall at Goffs Park.

5. Prepare for the New World of AI

Marketing is changing. Tools like Google Gemini, ChatGPT, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri, as well as AI Overview in Google & Bing, now check "verified facts" and "structured data" to recommend events to users.

• Check Your Details: Check that the date, time, place, and price of your event are the same on all platforms, such as Google My Business, your website, Facebook Events, and the ticket-selling platform. Google, ChatGPT, and Meta use this consistency to "verify" that your event is a real recommendation for AI search results.
• Reviews: Google’s AI increasingly prioritises businesses and events with active review sections. To enhance your ranking, encourage attendees to leave reviews, even if they use nicknames, as both the quantity of reviews and the relevance of the keywords play a significant role.

6. Build Community Partnerships

Crawley is a town with distinct neighbourhoods, from the Manor Royal Business District to Gossops Green Shops. Use this to your advantage.

• The "Cross-Promotion" Strategy: Work with a nearby shop or cafe. For instance, if you're having a gaming night at Diamonds Bar & Club, ask Glitch Reality in County Mall if they will post your flyer in exchange for a shout-out on your social media.
• Influencer Outreach: You don’t need a celebrity. Reach out to local influencers, such as Nikhil Envy on Facebook or Instagram, who have already established trust with the people of Crawley.

7. Email: Your Direct Line to Success

While social media can be unpredictable, an email directly reaches the intended person.

• The Early Bird Offer: Using email marketing to offer "Early Access" tickets. A simple "20% off for the first 48 hours" email can generate a massive surge in initial sales.
• Personal Touches: Use the person's first name. A "Hey [Name], we'd love to see you back next bingo night" feels far more inviting than a generic blast.

Summary Checklist for Your Next Event:

• Create a Facebook event and share it in 3+ local Crawley groups.
• List your event on CrawleyEvents.co.uk and other local directories.
• Set up an online ticket link to capture 80% of "cashless" buyers.
• Post your event on your Google Business Profile with clear pricing and dates.
• Please send an "Early Bird" discount to your previous attendees via email.
• Create a "share-worthy" photo opportunity or hashtag for the event.
• (Optional) Set up a remarketing pixel on your ticket page to "remind" visitors who didn't finish their purchase.

Ready to list your event? Head over to our List Your Event page, and let’s show the town what you’ve got!

‍