TL;DR
Social media can help boost attendance before, during, and after your financial seminar. Combine it with direct mail to expand your reach, retarget interested prospects, and build excitement through polls, contests, videos, and speaker highlights. A coordinated social + mail strategy converts casual interest into confirmed registrations.
Social media plays a vital role before, during, and after a financial seminar.
When used alongside direct mail, it can significantly increase attendance. Here’s how to use social media strategically to fill more seats and build momentum around your event.
1. Maximize RSVPs
Social media platforms make event planning fast and simple for both attendees and organizers. You can instantly see who’s attending, engage with them, and send reminders through direct messages or SMS notifications.
Additionally, social platforms expand your reach beyond your email list. Post free event listings on Facebook, Eventbrite, LinkedIn, and other websites to reach audiences that frequent different platforms. Listing your event in multiple places ensures more visibility—and more signups.
2. Retarget Prospects
Not everyone registers the first time they see your seminar. That’s why retargeting is key. Tools like Facebook Custom Audiences let you show ads to users who already visited your landing page or clicked on your post.
You can also encourage organic promotion by asking registrants to share that they’re attending your seminar. Each post helps spread the word and increases the likelihood of attracting new attendees who may not have seen your original campaign.
3. Engage with Polls
Keep your audience engaged by using polls and feedback forms. Ask followers what topics or speakers interest them most. Platforms like Tweetpoll, Crowd Campaign, and PollDaddy make this process interactive and fun.
When you let potential attendees vote on elements like the seminar’s theme or speaker, they become personally invested. The famous SXSW Festival does this brilliantly—more than 30% of its programming comes directly from audience input.
4. Keep Interest with Contests
People love a good contest. Offer a small reward, such as free seminar registration, to participants who answer trivia questions about your topic. You can run these contests on Twitter or Instagram to maintain buzz and boost engagement.
Besides being fun, contests increase visibility. Every participant’s network sees the event, which multiplies your reach without extra ad spend. While you’ll cover the cost of a few tickets, the exposure pays for itself.
5. Highlight Your Seminar Speakers
Showcase your speakers early and often. Post photos with compelling quotes to spark curiosity and highlight what attendees can expect to learn. This not only drives excitement but also positions your event as high-value and credible.
Even better, create short videos. Have your speakers record a quick teaser or compile a highlight reel from past events. Posting these clips across your social channels keeps the momentum alive and adds a human touch to your promotion.
6. Harness the Power of Visuals
Videos remain one of the most effective tools for promoting seminars. They’re shareable, searchable, and budget-friendly. Use them to showcase testimonials, behind-the-scenes clips, or energetic highlights from previous events.
Post your video on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to communicate the live energy of your seminar. When people can see the value of attending, registration rates rise naturally.
7. Create a Unified Hashtag
A strong, short hashtag helps participants connect online. Use the same hashtag across all your posts, event materials, and direct mail pieces. This consistency organizes the conversation, helps attendees find one another, and keeps your seminar top of mind.
8. Bonus: Social Media Advertising
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of paid social media ads. Well-crafted campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn can amplify your reach dramatically. When combined with direct mail, we’ve seen client attendance climb noticeably.
A coordinated strategy—using both digital and physical touchpoints—builds familiarity, credibility, and excitement before the big day.
Final Takeaway
Social media isn’t just for brand awareness; it’s a conversion tool. When you combine it with direct mail, you turn casual interest into real registrations. Plan early, engage often, and give attendees reasons to share your event—because the more they talk about it, the faster your seats fill up.
FAQs
How can social media help increase seminar attendance?
Social media extends your reach beyond your existing contact list. It helps you promote your event through organic posts, paid ads, and peer sharing. When paired with direct mail, it reinforces your message across multiple touchpoints, leading to higher attendance and stronger engagement.
Which social media platforms work best for financial seminars?
Facebook, LinkedIn, and Eventbrite are ideal for financial and professional audiences. They allow easy event setup, RSVPs, and targeted promotion. For added visibility, share teaser videos on Instagram or YouTube to reach a broader audience.
How far in advance should I start promoting my seminar online?
Start at least four to six weeks before your event. This gives you time to build awareness, retarget visitors, and keep interest alive through polls, contests, and updates about your speakers.
What type of content gets the best response?
Short videos, speaker spotlights, polls, and personal invitations perform best. These create anticipation and make your event feel more approachable. Always include a clear CTA; such as “Register Now” or “Save Your Seat.”
Does direct mail still work alongside social media?
Absolutely. Direct mail gives your seminar credibility and tangibility, while social media builds interaction and momentum. When used together, they create a seamless campaign that boosts trust and drives higher response rates.
Ready to fill your next seminar?
Let’s plan a campaign that blends direct mail, social media, and smart follow-up—so every seat gets booked by the right people.
Contact Plum’s marketing team today.
