How to Measure the Effectiveness of Your Print Event Marketing

Online advertisements and social media campaigns dominate the marketing landscape, so it’s easy to overlook the power of traditional print marketing — especially when it comes to event marketing. 

Printed event marketing offers a tangible and engaging way to reach your target audience, making it an invaluable tool for event organizers. To ensure you’re getting the most out of your print marketing efforts, measuring its effectiveness and maximizing your return on investment (ROI) is essential.

Here’s why print is still a great option for promoting events and how you can measure the effectiveness of your print event marketing.

Why Print Marketing is Great for Events

In a world saturated with digital marketing messages, print marketing offers a refreshing change that can make a lasting impact on your event attendees. 

First, it’s tangible. Having an eye-popping physical reminder of your event allows attendees to engage with your message and keep your event top of mind, unlike digital ads that can be easily ignored and forgotten. 

Also, print event marketing makes targeted distribution easy. Place your materials in strategic locations where your audience is and your message will reach those who are most likely to be interested in attending your event. 

Finally, printed materials enhance engagement. Print can be designed to captivate your audience with creative visuals, tactile finishes, and personalized messaging — creating excitement and anticipation around your event. The physical nature of print also encourages interaction, allowing potential attendees to share materials or refer back to them when making their decision to attend. 

Measuring the Effectiveness of Printed Event Marketing

Before launching your print marketing campaign, establish specific and measurable goals. These may include increasing event registrations, generating leads, or boosting brand awareness. By setting clear objectives, you’ll have a benchmark against which you can evaluate the success of your print marketing efforts.

Here are five ways to measure the success of your event marketing campaign:

Unique QR Codes and Tracking URLs

Incorporate unique QR codes or tracking URLs in your print materials to track the number of scans or clicks they receive. By redirecting users to dedicated landing pages or registration forms, you can easily measure the conversion rate and determine the impact of your print marketing on attendee sign-ups.

Coupon Codes and Promotional Offers

Include exclusive coupon codes or promotional offers in your print materials. By monitoring the usage of these codes or offers, you can track how many attendees were influenced by your print marketing and calculate the corresponding ROI.

Surveys and Feedback

Distribute surveys or collect feedback from attendees to gauge the impact of your print materials. Ask questions about their awareness of the event, their decision to attend, and if they found the print marketing materials influential. This qualitative data can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of your event print marketing efforts.

Social Media Engagement

Monitor social media platforms for mentions, tags, or shares related to your print marketing materials. Encourage attendees to post pictures of themselves with your print materials or share their excitement about the event. Increased engagement on social media can serve as an indicator of the effectiveness of your print campaign.

Post-Event Analysis

After the event, analyze the overall success of your print event marketing by comparing the number of registrations, attendance, and feedback to your initial goals. Assess the impact of your print materials on the event’s success and identify areas for improvement in future campaigns.

Maximizing Your Event Marketing ROI

To maximize your ROI from event print marketing, consider the following strategies:

• Exciting design and messaging: Invest time and effort into creating compelling print materials to maximize your ROI. By utilizing eye-catching designs and impactful messaging, you can capture the attention of your target audience and leave a lasting impression. Mimeo can help you print and ship the highest quality collateral for your next event.
• Targeted distribution: Understanding your audience and knowing where to find them helps you reach a relevant and engaged audience. By identifying the demographics and preferences of your target market, you can strategically distribute your materials in locations where your audience is most likely to be. Relevant and engaged audiences increase the likelihood of generating meaningful leads and conversions.
• Integrate with digital marketing: In today’s digital age, it’s essential to integrate your print marketing efforts with digital channels. Include your event website and social handles on print materials to bring people to your platform and allow for easier access to additional information, event registration, and brand engagement. 
• A/B Testing: Test variations in design, headlines, calls to action, or print products — for example, postcards versus flyers — to optimize their impact. By experimenting with these elements, you can identify which options resonate best with your audience, ensuring your print materials have the greatest impact and effectiveness. A/B testing allows you to make data-driven decisions and continuously improve your print marketing strategy.
• Track costs and resources: Keep records of all associated expenses to accurately assess the return on your investment. By tracking the costs and resources involved in your printed event marketing campaign, you will gain valuable insights into its profitability. You will also be able to analyze the effectiveness of different print materials, distribution channels, and overall strategies to make informed decisions for future events.
• Post-event follow-ups: The feedback you receive after the event is a valuable resource for redesigning your event marketing efforts. By collecting feedback from attendees and analyzing their responses, you will gain insights into what worked well and what can be improved upon. By continuously learning from past experiences and incorporating feedback, you can improve your print marketing approach and get better results with each new event.

Print Event Marketing is a Valuable Tool for Event Organizers

The world of marketing is ever-evolving, and it is crucial to adapt and innovate continuously. By embracing the strengths of print marketing, you can create an impactful event marketing campaign that drives attendance, engagement, and ultimately, the success of your events. 

Mimeo can help you proof, print, and ship everything you need for a successful event marketing campaign with our on demand print platform, allowing you to focus on maximizing your ROI through the strategies above. Are you ready to start planning a print campaign for your next event? Connect with one of our experts today.