Even with a chill in the air and snow on the horizon, you shouldn’t shy away from some classic physical activities. Winter sports offer a fantastic way to embrace the season—and they provide the perfect excuse for a post-game cup of hot chocolate.
Whether you’re planning a skiing tournament, a snowboarding contest, or an indoor event like ice hockey or indoor soccer, here are four effective strategies to promote your winter sports event and attract a crowd.
Design print material
Even in today’s digital world, nothing beats the impact of a well-crafted poster. Traditional marketing methods, like posters, are still incredibly effective for promoting your winter event. But your poster needs to be visually striking to catch people’s attention.
With the demands of planning a sporting event, you probably won’t have the time to create a professional-looking design. Fortunately, there’s a quick solution.
Online graphic design tools like PosterMyWall offer a wide variety of professional-looking winter sports flyer templates. Just browse through the options, select a design that aligns with your organization, fill in the details, and your poster is ready to print.
Once you’ve printed your eye-catching posters, hang them in places where sports enthusiasts are likely to see them—like gyms, sports fields, schools, and other local businesses. The more visibility your posters get, the more fans you’ll attract to your event.
Promote on social media
While posters are a great way to spread the word locally, they can’t convey all the details of your event. To give potential attendees a complete picture, create social media pages for your event.
With a quick scan of a QR code on your poster or a click of a link, anyone can access your event page to find out everything they need to know.
Almost everyone is active on social media these days. Research shows that about 70% of Americans use at least one social media platform each month, including many sports fans in your area.
Creating an event page on Facebook, the most popular social media platform in 2023, is both easy and free. Be sure to include all the essential details so attendees are well-informed and ready to participate.
Additionally, your Facebook event page would allow people to ask questions, leave comments, and RSVP, giving you valuable insight into how many people might attend.
You should also create an Instagram and TikTok account to reach out to and connect better with younger audiences. Plus, they’re great for sharing engaging short-form video content.
Share event countdown posts, player stats, behind-the-scenes venue preparation, and other exciting content on your socials to build hype for your event.
Create an email campaign
When it comes to tried-and-true marketing methods, email marketing stands out as one of the most cost-effective options. It might be one of the oldest forms of online communication, but it’s far from outdated. Email marketing has one of the highest returns on investment, averaging $36 for every $1 spent.
Start sending emails about your event at least a month or two before. A frequency of one or two emails per week is ideal to keep your sports event fresh in people’s minds without overwhelming them. The goal is to ensure people don’t forget about your event, without becoming a nuisance.
If you don’t already have a mailing list, now’s the time to build one. Collect email addresses whenever possible and invite people to sign up for your newsletters. You can also include an opt-in form on your website or share it on social media to gather even more contacts. The larger your email list, the more impactful your email marketing will be.
Partner with Local Businesses
Sponsorships are essential for any sporting event—not just as a way to raise funds, but also as a powerful tool for promotion. While sponsors may contribute financially in exchange for promoting their business at your event, they’re also likely to help spread the word through their marketing channels.
Sponsors want to ensure a packed audience at your event, so they’ll often use their marketing resources to promote your event.
And the more sponsors you secure, the broader your marketing reach will be.
Pack the Stands at Your Winter Sports Event
Winter isn’t just for cozying up by the fire—it’s for partaking in thrilling sports such as skiing and ice hokey! As you prepare to promote your upcoming winter sports event, be sure to create eye-catching posters, set up a social media event page, send out regular reminder emails, and collaborate with local businesses.
By combining all these marketing strategies, you’ll quickly fill the stands with enthusiastic fans. And don’t forget to keep warm by cheering on your favorite competitors!
