I think the following facts are the ones you should consider the most:

Invitations – Make it Personal

There’s a very good chance that your customer’s first impression about your event will result from your email invitation, so your invite must be engaging. Your invitation should look professional and communicate the basic information about your event. Here are some tips to sending great online invitations:

* It’s important to segment your list. You want to invite the people

who are most interested. * Personalize it (include invitee names). * Brand the invitation with your company’s logo and colors. Your customers should know it’s coming from you without seeing a single word. * Include the purpose for, and the benefits of, attending your event. * Provide clear details on the where, when, and costs associated with the event, as well as contact information. * Include a map, if possible, and driving directions.

Promote Proactively

Invitations may not be enough to guarantee a packed house. There are a few extra steps that can help raise awareness, encourage attendance, and fill seats at your event. Suggestions include:

* An event specific website. This is a great place to list all the

details of the event: the general description, purpose, fees, activities, links to other websites, special guests, and additional resources. * Like the original invitation, ensure all promotions include your brand, company logo and colors. * If the event is open to the public, consider promoting your event on social networking sites. My experience is that social networking is complementary to promotional tools like email invitations. I find that I can increase attendance by at least 10% or more by incorporating social networking into the mix. * Remember to send a reminder in the days leading up to the event. * Include an events calendar to promote future events. * Capture more than standard information for use in future marketing efforts. * If there are fees for your event, collect these during registration. Collecting fees electronically avoids the security risks of managing and storing credit card numbers on your own computer. And, if you can get registrants to pay at the time of registration, you’re getting a firm commitment from those individuals that they will attend the event. * If you collect fees, always include a refund policy.

Leverage the Right Tools

Small businesses should value their brand and strive for professionalism when communicating with their customers and prospects. A tool designed for professional use offers the best solution to meet these demands. As with email marketing and online survey, there are online tools available to help you plan, track, and manage your event.

I recommend you to read the complete article here!