• By Charlie Davies
• SMS Marketing

SMS Marketing for Events: Maximize Attendance and Engagement

Event success depends on attendance, and attendance depends on effective communication. SMS marketing provides immediate, reliable communication for event promotion, registration confirmations, reminders, and real-time updates. Whether hosting conferences, webinars, or local meetups, SMS drives higher attendance and better participant experiences.

Registration Confirmations

Send instant SMS confirmation when someone registers. Include event details, date, time, location, and add-to-calendar links. Immediate confirmation reduces registration anxiety and provides a written record attendees can easily reference.

Multi-Touch Reminder Strategy

Send reminders at strategic intervals—one week before, the day before, and the morning of the event. Each reminder reduces no-show rates. Include different information in each: Week-before focuses on excitement, day-before on logistics, morning-of on directions and parking.

Last-Minute Updates and Changes

SMS excels for urgent updates—venue changes, schedule adjustments, speaker cancellations, or weather alerts. Immediate delivery ensures attendees receive critical information in time to adjust plans. For time-sensitive updates, SMS beats email by hours.

Check-In and Venue Directions

Send day-of messages with parking information, check-in procedures, and venue navigation tips. "Welcome! Park in Lot B, check-in at Table 2. We're excited to see you!" These practical messages improve arrival experience and reduce attendee stress.

During-Event Engagement

Use SMS during events for session reminders, Q&A participation, voting, and real-time announcements. Text keywords for different rooms or activities. SMS creates interactive experiences that boost engagement and make attendees feel connected.

Post-Event Follow-Up

Send thank-you messages after events with links to recordings, photos, or resources. Request feedback via quick SMS surveys. Announce next event dates to maintain momentum. Post-event SMS keeps conversations going and primes attendees for future participation.

VIP and Speaker Communication

Create separate SMS groups for VIPs, speakers, or staff with exclusive updates. Send backstage information, schedule changes, or special access instructions. Segmented communication ensures right people receive right information.

Event SMS Campaign Timeline

• • Registration: Instant confirmation with details
• • 1 week before: Excitement builder and preparation tips
• • 1 day before: Logistics reminder and what to bring
• • Morning of: Final reminder with directions
• • During event: Real-time updates and engagement
• • Post-event: Thank you and follow-up resources
• • 1 week after: Survey and next event announcement

Frequently Asked Questions

How many SMS reminders should I send?
3-4 reminders work well for most events: registration confirmation, week-before, day-before, and morning-of. More for multi-day events or complex logistics. Avoid over-messaging which causes opt-outs.

Should I use SMS for virtual events?
Absolutely. Virtual events need reminders even more—it's easy to forget online events. Send login links, technical check reminders, and during-event engagement prompts via SMS.

What reduces no-show rates most effectively?
Morning-of reminders have biggest impact on attendance. Combined with day-before reminders, this two-touch approach typically reduces no-shows by 25-35%.

Conclusion

SMS marketing dramatically improves event attendance and participant experience through timely, reliable communication. From registration to post-event follow-up, SMS keeps attendees informed, engaged, and excited. For event organizers serious about maximizing attendance, SMS isn't optional—it's essential infrastructure for success.

Ready to boost your event attendance? Start using SMS for your next event today.