Updated March 2022

When Covid made its way to the US in early 2020, events became virtually nonexistent.

Now, with the help of online tools that help virtual events run smoothly, safety protocols that make in-person events possible, and the sheer creativity that powers everything in-between, events are slowly starting to make a comeback.

We’re very here for it, and judging by the fact that basically everyone feels a little bit stir-crazy right now, we’re guessing you are, too.

Event marketing is no small feat though— and in a pandemic, it’s even tougher. As the industry continues to change and adapt to safety guidelines, local regulations, and “the new normal” as a whole, your event marketing strategy needs to change and adapt with it, regardless of whether your event is virtual, live, or a hybrid of both. That’s where we come in.

Throughout the evolution of Step Out Buffalo, we’ve worked hard to build a brand that people turn to as a trusted resource. Our audience is filled with highly engaged Buffalovers who are actively looking for the 411 on the best things to do in and around Western New York. And because we love supporting small businesses in everything we do, we’ve made sure to have affordable advertising options available to help connect them to your unique event offering.

So if you’re planning a Covid-era fundraiser, festival, or any type of event in the coming months, here are just a few ways our team at Step Out Buffalo can help promote it:

Free Community Updates

When the pandemic first hit Western New York hard, we launched our Community Update Board to help customers find the information they needed to know about their favorite local businesses. From updated hours to new services offered, it was a central information hub for all Western New York consumers, and a way to help businesses market themselves at no cost.

Today, small businesses and local organizations alike can still leverage our Community Update Board to help spread the word about all of their different types of events. All you need to do is sign up for an account and provide us with your event’s information— we’ll take care of the rest!

Free SOB Deals 

Throughout the course of the pandemic, we’ve also rolled out SOB Deals, which take things a step further by helping our readers discover all of the great deals, happy hours, coupons, and specials that local businesses have to offer. These are a great way to drive traffic to your event or your event listing by offering new customers an actionable deal to take advantage of before or during the event, like an exclusive discount on tickets or registration, for example.

What’s even better? SOB Deals are also completely free for businesses to submit. Learn more about SOB Deals and how to get listed in our article SOB Deals: What They Are, Why They Can Help Your Business, & How to Submit Them For Free.

Weekly Email Newsletter

Our Step Out Buffalo newsletter, which highlights local business listings, events, offers, and more, is sent out every Monday through Friday to over 55,000 subscribers looking to discover what’s happening in Western New York. So if you’re looking to increase the number of signups for your upcoming event, our email blasts are a great way to tap into an interested local audience, get people excited about what your event has to offer, and give readers a reason to visit your website or event listing.

Don’t just take it from us, though. Read about how Buffalo Place leveraged Step Out Buffalo’s Partner Tip emails and High Brand emails in conjunction with our other social media strategies in our case study: How One Local Organization Reached their Event Attendance Goals.

Social Media 

Getting featured on Step Out Buffalo’s social media pages is a great way to build awareness around your event (and your business as a whole), increase your event’s number of sign ups/registrations, and in turn, grow your following on social media organically. A few of our social media marketing options for local events include: 

• Facebook posts and ads pushed out to our 100,000+ followers
• Instagram posts pushed out to our 95,000+ followers
• Giveaway hosting to build awareness around your event, create interest, and encourage your audience to interact with you
• Instagram & Facebook stories created with your event’s unique goals in mind

All of our marketing packages here at Step Out Buffalo focus on developing creative strategies that resonate with your unique audience— or the ideal audience you hope to reach. Because our social media strategies aren’t cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all, we’ll work collaboratively with you to hone in on your event’s unique goals and create a campaign that delivers.

Let’s Make Your Next Event One to Remember

If you’re ready to take your event marketing strategies to new heights this year, Step Out Buffalo is here to help. Reach out to us to learn more about our marketing and advertising packages designed specifically for Western New York businesses.