How To Create an Event on Facebook: A Step-by-Step Guide for Small Businesses

Did you know that there are currently more than 3 billion Facebook users around the world? Social media platforms, like Facebook, make it easy to connect with people no matter where they are. Chances are that most of the people you know are on Facebook, whether they use it to catch up with friends and family, share content, or keep up with personal interests.

As a business owner, having a business profile or group is a great marketing strategy when it comes to connecting with your customers. It gives you the opportunity to cultivate an inclusive space with a fun sense of community where customers or potential customers can connect with you and keep up with the latest news from your business.

One powerful tool that you have in your arsenal to connect even further is creating an online event. Events let you and your customers connect in real time in an exciting and engaging way. Here’s how to create an event on Facebook in just a few easy steps.

Understanding the Power of Facebook Events for Small Businesses

Facebook is a cost-effective tool that can build up your online presence and potentially help you reach customers both near and far. In particular, creating a Facebook event is a simple way to get attention when you have something new to share with your customer base without having to invest too much in marketing, advertising, or preparation. Live events can be an innovative part of your social media management strategy as long as you know how to properly set them up.

You already know the audience that you’re targeting, so you can set the tone and decide how you want it to be marketed. Fun and lighthearted? Friendly and upbeat? Whatever you decide, you have the power to capture your audience’s attention and make them want to invite other Facebook users, thus growing awareness around your company and brand.

Setting Up Your Event

The first thing to consider when thinking about how to create an event on a Facebook page is to make sure that you are using the right kind of account. Make sure that you set up Facebook events from a business account and not just your personal account. This way, you can take advantage of Facebook’s features, like analytics, promotional tools, and organization. Having a separate account also gives you the power to assign roles to other users, if you need a hand.

Choosing the Right Event Type: Public, Private, or Virtual

Next, think about the type of event you want to create. As you start formulating ideas as to how to create an event on your Facebook business page, you'll want to consider what kind of reach this event will have and what the geographical location of your customers is.

Here are the three main types of Facebook events you can offer:

• Public event: This event is visible to all Facebook users and can be seen online by non-users as well.
• Private event: Visibility is restricted to the Facebook users who receive an event link. You can even give your attendees the ability to invite other Facebook users.
• Virtual events: If your customers are spread out all over the place, it might make more sense to host a virtual event using the Facebook Live feature. This is one of the Facebook trends that small businesses are leveraging, since you can create a high-energy event that includes people from all over in one interactive space.

Creating an Event from a Business Page

Once you’ve decided on what type of event to host, it’s time to plan! Here’s how to create an event on a Facebook business page in just a few easy steps.

Navigating the Events Tab

• Open Facebook and check that you’re using your business profile. On your business’s page, click on the “Events” tab under your name and picture. This will redirect you to “Upcoming Events.”
• Select “Create New Event” in the upper right corner of the page. Then select whether you want an in-person or online event. If it’s an in-person event, you can choose to have a recurring or one-time event.
• Next, in the event settings, you need to enter all of the event details that your invitees need to be aware of.

Entering Essential Information and Branding

When you create an event, you really want to sell it so that your current and prospective customers will be excited to attend. Of course, you still need to maintain your brand voice and stay true to yourself. It’s also important to include all the key details your customers need in order to attend: the what, when, how, and why.

Optimizing Your Event Details

One of the best event promotion strategies is optimizing your event so that it gets attention. Here’s how.

Selecting a Captivating Event Name

Within the event, on the left side of the screen, type in a catchy event name that clearly states what the event is. The best advice is to keep it short, simple, and memorable so that attendees can remember it and talk about it. Avoid overly generic words, though, since you want it to stick out.

Crafting an Engaging Description

Here, you’ll want to create an event description with engaging copy. Clearly state what the event is, why it’s happening, and what attendees can expect to get out of the experience. Once you craft your description, you can then choose a category from the drop-down menu to make it even clearer what your purpose is, like "Arts & Culture" or "Business & Professional."

Choosing a Memorable Cover Photo

The right event cover photo and event banner can really set the tone for your event. It’s the first thing people see when they open the invite. When you create your graphic or photo, keep in mind that the best dimensions are 1920 x 1005 pixels. If it's smaller, Facebook will automatically resize it, which can affect the quality of the picture.

Setting Date, Time, and Location Clearly

It might seem obvious when you think about how to create an event on a Facebook business page, but the important details should be as clear as possible so your attendees aren’t confused about anything. Be sure to mention:

• The time and time zone
• Date
• Location, if in-person
• How to connect, if using Facebook Live

Next, click “Create,” and you’re ready to send out invitations.

Keeping Your Audience Engaged

Now it’s time to promote your event. Create posts that promote the event and publish them on a regular basis to drive up interest leading up to the event. Allow attendees to spread the word (if you want to), as word-of-mouth is free and effective. In your posts, remind users to register for the event by using the RSVP feature on the event’s page.

If you want to spend a little money, consider paying for Facebook ads or boosted posts to increase visibility and interest. These ads are customizable and appear in different placements to drum up potential customers. With this boost, your event will gain more traction and clicks.

Utilizing Facebook Live for Real-Time Interaction

For either an in-person or virtual event, consider hosting a Facebook Live session before the event. You can answer questions, really hype up the event, and make sure your attendees are clear on everything. This will get them excited for the real thing!

Professional Help Managing Your Facebook Events

Social media is just one part of your marketing strategy, but it takes time and effort to properly cultivate and execute. As a business owner, you have a million other things that require your attention at any given moment. If you need some help, Optimize Digital Marketing is here with the professional guidance you need to drive your online marketing and brand presence with custom marketing plans and a strategic approach.

Managing Facebook is just the tip of the iceberg. To learn more about our services and what we can do for you, reach out to us to schedule your free consultation and get started.