Event Venue Marketing: Showing Off Your Space From the Street
People book event venues for life’s big moments: weddings, birthdays, reunions, company parties and fundraisers. Most of them search online first, but many also remember a venue they’ve driven past, or a party they attended there.
Good venue marketing works both ways: it makes the venue easy to find and book online, and it makes the building itself look like a place people want to celebrate.
Make the venue visible from the road
1. Say what you are
A name alone doesn’t tell drivers you host events. “Event venue,” “Banquet hall” or “Weddings and events” on or under the sign helps people remember you when they need a space.
2. Light the building and sign
Evening events are your business. A lit sign, uplit building and lit entrance show what the venue looks like at night.
3. Keep the grounds event-ready
Landscaping, clean walkways and a welcoming entrance matter every day, not just on event days. Someone driving past today may be booking next year.
4. Show activity
On open house days and public events, flags, a banner or a balloon display at the entrance tell drivers something is happening and invite them in. Check your city’s sign rules first. (See Curb Appeal That Gets Noticed and Stays Within Your City’s Sign Rules.)
Be found online
5. Keep your Google Business Profile complete
Photos of the space set up for different events, capacity, hours for tours and a link to inquire.
6. Show the space in every setup
Couples, companies and families picture their event differently. Show photos of the space set for a wedding, a banquet, a party and a meeting.
7. Publish capacity and pricing basics
Guest capacity, what’s included and a starting price range save time for everyone and bring in better-fit inquiries.
8. Collect reviews
Ask hosts for a review after their event, and respond to every one.
9. List on venue directories
Wedding and event venue directories are where many people start their search.
Turn interest into tours
10. Respond fast
Event inquiries often go to several venues at once. Reply the same day with availability, pricing and an invitation to tour.
11. Make tours easy to book
Online booking for tours, with evening and weekend times.
12. Show the space at its best
Tour when the space is set for an event if possible, or stage a small display so visitors can picture their own.
Hold open houses
An open house lets many prospective hosts see the venue at once.
- Partner with vendors: caterers, florists, DJs and photographers can set up displays, share costs and promote the event to their own clients.
- Set the space for an event so visitors can see it at its best.
- Make it visible from the road with entrance displays and a banner a week ahead.
- Offer an open house booking incentive.
- Collect contact information from every visitor.
Use every event as marketing
Every guest at an event in your space is a potential future host.
- Keep the venue name visible at the entrance and on signs inside.
- Leave a small card at the bar or guest book with how to book the venue.
- Ask hosts for permission to share photos of their event.
The bottom line
Event venues sell an experience. Make the building say “event venue” from the road and look its best every day, show the space in every setup online, respond to inquiries the same day, use open houses to show the space at its best and treat every guest as a future host.
(See Event Signage Ideas for Schools, Churches and Nonprofits.)
Balloon Street Media is building durable outdoor balloon displays for event venues and other businesses that need to be seen from the road. Join the list to hear when they launch.