David Doe

Designer - Redshoe

September
 
19
, 
2016
 

Title

Some default description

Subscribe
Text goes here
X
13 Event Invitations that Actually Work

Party Science /

September
 
19
, 
2016
 

by Ben Hindman

Image Source: Name of Source

Get more opens, more clicks, and more RSVPs with these genius invitation templates.

Even if your concept is flawless and your event page is dazzling, it’s your invitation that makes or breaks your guest list. The invitation is your handshake. It’s your opening number. The right one will sell out your event. The wrong one can tank your RSVPs.  


Looking for some inspiration? We've gathered together 13 super effective intivation email formats—all through the lens of our BK.events launch party—that you can steal today.

THINGS TO NOTE 

ONE: Don’t forget to optimize for mobile. A bad mobile experience drives people away...and sometimes for good.

 

TWO: The best time to send email invites completely depends on where your audience is. Think about their work hours, commuting times, or social media channels and then jump into the pool where they’re already swimming.

 

THREE: Test, iterate, and make improvements. None of these invitations are silver bullets. Find the right combination that works for you.

THE EARLY BIRD

Purpose: To encourage RSVPs from loyalists with special deals or access.

Format: Designed invitation.

Audience: Brand fans and repeat attendees.

Rewarding your biggest fans with discount codes, special access, or exclusive gifts gets the ball rolling on RSVPs. You know these people will probably already attend. Show them some gratitude ahead of time and they’ll probably bring a handful of friends, too.


THE PAGE PORTAL

Purpose: To increase visits to the landing page.

Format: Designed invitation with a simple CTA that strokes curiosity.

Audience: All.

A simple call to action with the premise of a reveal can get more eyeballs on your event landing page. Prompt users to click through by leaving a breadcrumb in the invitation. The more people that visit your landing page, the more RSVPs you’ll get.


The Celebrity Clickbait 

Purpose: To entice the reader to open your invitation.

Format: Designed invitation with a familiar sender name.

Audience: All.

Sure, it’s a little sneaky, but email inboxes are no place to get precious with your marketing morals. Everyone will know they didn’t actually get an email from Louis CK, but choose the right celebrity and you’ll catch some RSVPS with your cleverness alone.


THE PLAIN TEXT

Purpose: To slip into the Primary tab in Gmail.

Format: Regular plain text email format with a personalized greeting and no design. 

Audience: VIPs and influencers.


Nothing works better than one to one. The benefit of sending out personalized invitation is that it will always feel more authentic than a mass blast. It may not have the sparkle or the swag, but it feels ultra genuine, which plays in your favor with VIPS and influencers that need more convincing. Just make sure to use private tracking links in the RSVP url link to monitor click through so you know how to respond.


The gif monster

Purpose: To add dynamic flair to your invite.

Format: Image-heavy designed invitation format with limited text.

Audience: All.

You’ve heard that no one reads anymore. So tell your story with moving images instead. Find the perfect GIF and you may not have to say anything at all.


THE HEADLINER

Purpose: To encourage RSVPs by focusing on a single value proposition.

Format: Designed invitation.

Audience: All.

By shining a spotlight on the best reason to come to the party, you can cut through the other noise of the event. Choose your best, most compelling attribute, and simply sell that. You want your guests to be able to say, “I'm going to that _____ event.” A simple CTA is good for conversions, good for marketing, and helps direct your event design, too.


THE CLOUT

Purpose: To encourage RSVPS by showcasing influencers or talent.

Format: Designed invitation format with speakers or attendees on display.

Audience: All.

Highlighting your host committee or well-known attendees in the invitation can be the straw that breaks the camel’s resistance to RSVP. Who doesn’t want to hang out with cool people?


THE WHITE GLOVE

Purpose: To encourage RSVPS and make a big impression up front.

Format: Designed invitation hand delivered in real life.

Audience: Super VIPs.

Yep, it’s a little more work, but a hand-delivered invitation to a party? How can anyone resist? It’s not only personal, it’s perfect fodder for social media, which acts as baked-in marketing.


THe +1 push

Purpose: To encourage additional RSVPs by targeting attendees.

Format: Designed invitation.

Audience: Guests who have already RSVPed.

Your current guest list is your best advertising. Using messaging that encourages attendees to extend their invite is an easy way to spread the word organically through digital word-of-mouth. Varsity move: Automate this additional invitation through the confirmation email guests receive upon RSVP.


THE DOORMAN

Purpose: To stoke interest by creating the illusion of a limited guest list.

Format: Designed invitation.

Audience: All.

It feels counterproductive, but the law of scarcity drives action, especially when it comes to parties. We’ve found that keeping the event RSVP button private or wait-listing the guest list actually increases interest. Seventy-five perfect of of attendees surveyed said they’d be more excited about an event that they couldn’t automatically get on the list for. Wacky, but it works.


THE LINK IN BIO

Purpose: To encourage RSVPS through Instagram.

Format: Instagram-specific designed image.

Audience: All.

No, Instagram doesn’t allow for clicking through a post (unless you go the sponsored route), but the “link in bio” langauge actually keeps the CTA clear and simple. Make a flashy feed-smashing ‘gram, and send it out to your entire team to promote. Just don’t forget to actually put the event link in your bio.


THE AFFILIATE

Purpose: To encourage RSVPs by sending an invitation on behalf of the talent or partners.

Format: Designed invitation.

Audience: All.

Let your sponsors or talent do the heavy-hitting. Work together to draft an invitation from their POV and send it out on their behalf. Keep it authentic. The language and vibe should feel legit for this to work.


THE AFTERSHOCK

Purpose: To use your event’s momentum to get signups for your next event.

Format: Designed invitation.

Audience: All.

Yep, it’s a bit unconventional, but if you’re riding a post-event high, you might as pull people along before the wind runs outs. Sending out an invitation the day after your event for your next gig can be a huge incentive for those that attended and had a great time, or for those who missed out and now feel the FOMO.


ACT I: Daytime

Ready to spread the word for your next event? Learn more about our Email Sequencing technology today.

ACT 2: Dusk

Dusk is great for drum circles and grilled sweets. This is a great time to light planted tiki torches to keeps bugs away and to highlight the impending sunset. Toss some fruit on the grill for a sweet surprise dessert. Watermelon, peaches, strawberries are all awesome on the grill, but any fruit (or avocado!) works great.

Have guests BYO percussion instruments, and purchase a few of your own to add to your party closet. I like tambourines, rhythm bongos, and percussion blocks.

ACT 3: Darkness

Darkness, of course, means dancing and more drinks. This is a great time to ask guests to collaborate on the music selection by passing around your iPad and having guests add their favorite summer jams to the playlist.

Now is the time for fun party lighting, too. Attaching simple string lights to the tents you used during the day can bring energy back to the lawn. And a single moving light near your speakers will draw eyes and happy feet to the “dance floor.”

Finally, surprise your guests with roaming trays of chilled toasting shots. Premix your favorite summery beverage–I like cucumber with gin or spicy tequila concoctions – and pour them into disposable shot glasses for easy access. This is one of my favorite things to do, especially towards the end of the evening. Encourage celebratory dedications with each toast.

And don’t forget to toss one back yourself for the badass barbecue you crafted.

Ben Hindman

Ben Hindman is co-founder and CEO of Splash, the country's fastest-growing event marketing platform that helps businesses and brands more effectively market through their events. An event planner turned tech entrepreneur, events are in Ben’s DNA. Prior to starting Splash, Ben was the Director of Events at Thrillist, where he produced large-scale events from concerts to mystery fly-aways. He also co-founded the invite-only Summit Series, a premier event which attracts the world's leading entrepreneurs. Before that, Ben founded and sold DC By Foot, DC's only free walking tour company. In another life, Ben goes by Benny Beatbox, and has performed at the White House and on stage with Naughty by Nature – but not at the same time.

Subscribe
Text goes here
X

Keep on, keepin' on...

CONTACT THE ORGANIZER
Google   Outlook   iCal   Yahoo

Subscribe

processing image...
Add to my Calendar
  • Google  Outlook  iCal  Yahoo