Marketing Tips for Event Promotion on a Budget

Oct 2

Promoting an event can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t have a big marketing budget. The good news? You don’t need thousands of dollars to get great results. With the right mix of creativity, strategy, and consistency, you can draw the right crowd without overspending.

Here are my top affordable event marketing strategies that I’ve used for clients and my own events.

Leverage Social Media Organically

Social media is one of the most cost-effective tools for event promotion. Instead of just posting a flyer, create a content series leading up to your event, for example:

Countdown posts (“10 days until ____”)
Behind-the-Scenes Clips
Speaker/Vendor Spotlights with short bios
Polls or Questions

Use a Facebook Event Page

Facebook events show up in local search results and can be shared easily. To optimize your page:

Write a keyword-rich event description
Add your location so Facebook shows it in “Nearby Events”
Post updates, photos, and reminders leading up to the event

Tap into Local Online Communities

Many cities have free community calendars and local Facebook Groups where you can post upcoming events. Search for:

Local chamber of commerce calendars
Eventbrite or Meetup listings
Neighborhood Facebook and Linkedin groups

These platforms are designed for free event promotion and help you reach people already looking for something to do.

Partner with Other Businesses or Influencers

Partnerships allow you to double your audience without doubling your cost. For example:

Collaborate with a venue, vendor, or performer to share promo responsibilities
Trade services or sponsorship spots in exchange for marketing support
Work with a local micro-influencer who aligns with your audience

Repurpose your Marketing Materials

Instead of creating a dozen different designs, make one core piece of branded content and adapt it for:

Instagram/Facebook posts
Stories
Reels/Videos
Email Newsletters
Flyers and Posters

This keeps your branding consistent while saving design time and money.

Use Email Marketing (even with a small list)

Email is one of the highest-converting event marketing tools, and it’s free if you use platforms like Mailchimp for under 500 contacts. Send:

“Save the Date” emails
An official announcement with details and RSVP link
A last-call reminder 24/48/72 hours before the event

Create a Simple Event Landing Page

Even if you don’t have a big website, having one clear page with all event info helps you look professional and improve search visibility. Include:

Date, time, and location
RSVP or ticket link
A short “Why attend?” section
Social sharing buttons

Final Thoughts

Promoting an event on a budget isn’t about spending less; it’s about being strategic with the resources you already have. Focus on platforms that give you the most visibility for free, and lean on partnerships, organic social media, and email to get the word out.

If you need help with affordable event promotion strategies, I work with businesses and organizations to create custom marketing plans that make the most of every dollar.

Emma Tobia