What to do when you are organizing an event

Tell your friends!

• With at least three organizers, create a Facebook event page.  Have all the organizers invite all of their Facebook friends.  Even if people don’t come just because of the Facebook invite, an event will create a buzz and create reference for friends to check the event.

• Send out a tweet or two each day about the event.  “Direct Message” the friends; organizers, and allies you expect to come.

• Use other sites like Pinterest and Google+ to reach out to your networks.  The most likely people to attend the event will be people who know someone who is going to the event.

Tell the press!

• Before you do anything else, think about the newsworthiness of the event.  Is it something that a reporter will want to write about?  If yes, do the following:

• Write a media advisory with the details on the event.  (Get help at http://www.raiseyourvoice.com/mediaguide.shtml.)

• Email the media advisory to local reporters and other reporters who might be interested in your event.  Reporters can be in television, radio, print newspaper, and the blogosphere.

• Call and email reporters individually when needed.  When calling, smile, take a deep breath, and call the main phone number for their news outlet to tell them about the event.

• Visit the websites or blogs of the top five reporters you want to reach.  Make intelligent comments on their articles or blog posts with information on your event.

• Send a “direct message” tweet or “mention” tweet to them that contains information on your event.

Tell your community!

• Talk to other groups who might be interested in your event.  Get them to “sponsor” your event, and ask them to invite their supporters and networks to the event.

• Make a flyer that engages the eye with a who/what/when/where.  (Make sure the flyer contains the names of other groups who have endorsed.)  Place/post the flyer in your local coffee shops, stores, churches, and community centers.  If you can, post it to community bulletin boards.

• Stand at a major intersection or subway station on a busy day.  Hand out flyers to passersby.

• Get the event listed as a Public Service Announcement on your local radio station.  Call the radio station to ask how to do this.

• Talk to prominent officials such as your mayor or dean of your school.  Ask them to send information about the event to their networks.