Our 6 best tips for promoting an event

Know your audience

The most important prerequisite for good marketing is knowing who you are talking to. It can be tempting to want to target “everyone,” but the clearer your target audience, the better chance you have of reaching out to those who will actually come to the event.

Think about what your event is about, and who it is relevant to. Is it a concert, a professional seminar, a performance or a social meeting point? Who do you think would be interested, and why?

If you have arranged something before, you can learn a lot from past experience. Who attended this? If you have a social media account, you can also gain insights from the demographics of your followers.

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Use social media strategically

Social media is one of the most important tools you have. A well-planned and engaging content can make a big difference — and it doesn't have to be complicated.

When promoting your event in social media, you should use a public profile, which is created for you as an organizer and not as a private person. This gives both the event and you as the organizer increased credibility, and helps build a clear and professional brand over time.

Here are tips for good measures:

• Create a Facebook event and invite Sentralen as a co-organizer
• Share the event in relevant groups and invite friends and contacts

• Update your bio link on Instagram, TikTok and/or LinkedIn so that the event is at the top and is easy to see,
  • or add a Linktree link in your bio, and include event info or ticket link in Linktree.

• Create short videos or Reels — e.g. from rehearsals, stage construction or interviews with artists
• Count down to the event with one post a day for the past five days

Also remember to tag Sentralen when posting — then we can help share!

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Targeting your advertising

It doesn't have to cost much to reach out wide. By spending 200-500NOK on a targeted campaign on Facebook or Instagram, you can easily reach the right audience based on age, interests and geography.

If you have a video or a good teaser, it may pay to boost it with your ad budget for extra reach.

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Use website and press release

If you have your own website, your event should be clearly visible here. Write a short and clear description of the event, and include link to ticket sales or Facebook event. You can also write a press release and send to relevant editorial offices or cultural media.

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Hang up physical posters

Even in a digital world, physical posters and flyers can still have a big impact — especially in central Oslo and the area around Sentralen. Think about where your target audience is moving: cafes, cultural centers, schools, workplaces or gyms. A good poster with a clear visual identity and QR code to ticket sales can do a lot. In addition, you can hang your poster on the board by our main entrance.

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Think holistically and start early

Good marketing isn't about one big campaign, it's about building visibility and anticipation over time. We recommend starting at least 4—6 weeks before the event, thinking holistically:

• First: advertising and general visibility
• Then: behind-the-scenes content and creating engagement
• Finally: reminders, countdown and “now it happens!” -mood

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While marketing may seem comprehensive, it's basically about telling the right story to the right audience - at the right time. By using the tips above, you'll have a solid starting point for creating visibility and drawing people to your event at Sentralen. Good luck!

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