Cross-posting and publicizing a Lions event online can significantly boost visibility and reach within your local community. Here are some low-cost or free online platforms where you can share information about your event:
Local Facebook Groups: Share your event in community-focused Facebook groups, such as “Buy Nothing,” “Community Events,” or neighborhood-specific groups (e.g., “YourTown Neighbors” or “YourCity Events”). This is a great way to target people in your area who might be interested in attending.
Facebook Events: Create an event on your organization’s Facebook Page or, if you don’t have one established, create a single Facebook Event Page for your project. This allows users to RSVP, share, and engage with the event. Encourage attendees to invite their friends to increase the reach.
Nextdoor Events: This neighborhood-based social network is ideal for local event promotion. Posting about your event here ensures that the message reaches people who live nearby.
Discussion Posts: In addition to posting the event in the Events section, you can share a discussion post to raise awareness and encourage more engagement.
Free Event Listings: Even if your event is free, Eventbrite allows you to create a professional-looking event page. This platform is widely used for local events, and users often browse it for things to do in their area.
Community Groups and Events: If there are local groups on Meetup that align with your cause (e.g., volunteering, community service, or charity), you can create an event or reach out to group organizers to share your event. To be a direct organizer does cost money, depending on the size of your subscribers. The fee might be $150 or more each year.
Community Calendar Section: Post your event in the local “community” or “events” section of Craigslist. It’s a traditional platform, but it can still reach a wide audience.
Local Patch Site: Patch is a network of hyper-local news sites. You can post events for free on your local Patch site, where many residents look for community news and happenings.
Online Event Listings: Eventful allows you to post events that users in your local area can search for. Although its popularity has decreased over the years, it can still contribute to local event visibility.
Community Event Calendars: Many local news stations and newspapers have free online community calendars. Submit your event to their calendar sections, such as “Things to Do” or “Community Events.”
Event Listings on Yelp: You can list your event on Yelp under the local events section. While Yelp is often associated with reviews, it also has a section for community events.
Google Events: If your Lions Club has a Google My Business listing, you can create events through it. This way, when someone searches for local events or your club, your event will appear.
LinkedIn Events: If the event is suitable for professionals (e.g., a charity fundraiser or a networking opportunity), you can create a LinkedIn event and invite local professionals.
Community Event Sharing: Bizzabo is an event discovery platform where you can list your event, although it’s geared more toward conferences and professional gatherings.
Local Volunteer Opportunities: If the event involves volunteering, you can list it on VolunteerMatch to attract people who are looking to contribute their time.
Local Subreddits: Post your event on local subreddits (e.g., r/YourCity) to reach people interested in local happenings. Be sure to follow subreddit rules about event promotion.
Small Business Community Network: Alignable connects local business owners. If your event could involve or benefit local businesses, share it here to get support and boost attendance.
These platforms offer various ways to cross-promote and expand the reach of your Lions event in the community. Sharing across multiple channels will maximize exposure and engagement. Promote a variety of service and fun social opportunities, get sign ups, repeat invitations.
IMPACT Marketing says that, while the precise number of touchpoints necessary to convert a prospect may vary widely depending on the source, a minimum of 6 to 8 interactions are often necessary to close a deal. According to Salesforce, it takes 6-8 marketing touches to generate a viable sales lead.