How can you promote early bird discounts?

1 Define your goals and deadlines

Before you set up your early bird discounts, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and when. How many attendees do you expect to register during the early bird period? How much revenue do you need to cover your costs and make a profit? How long will the early bird period last? These questions will help you determine the amount and duration of your discounts, as well as the metrics to measure your success. You should also communicate your goals and deadlines clearly to your audience, so they know what to expect and when to act.

2 Segment your audience and personalize your messages

Not all of your potential attendees are the same, and they may have different motivations and preferences for attending your conference. Therefore, you should segment your audience based on criteria such as their industry, role, location, previous attendance, or level of interest. Then, you should tailor your messages and offers to each segment, highlighting the benefits and value of your conference and your early bird discounts for them. For example, you could offer a higher discount or a free bonus for loyal attendees, or a lower discount but more flexibility for new or undecided attendees. You could also use different channels and formats to reach your segments, such as email, social media, webinars, or videos.

3 Create a sense of urgency and scarcity

One of the main reasons why early bird discounts work is because they trigger the psychological principles of urgency and scarcity. People are more likely to take action when they perceive that something is limited in time or quantity, and that they might miss out on a good opportunity. To create a sense of urgency and scarcity, you should use clear and compelling language and visuals that emphasize the deadline, the remaining spots, or the savings of your early bird discounts. For example, you could use countdown timers, progress bars, or testimonials on your website, email, or social media. You could also send reminders and follow-ups as the deadline approaches, or create a waitlist for those who miss the early bird period.

4 Leverage your network and partners

Another way to promote your early bird discounts is to leverage your existing network and partners. You can ask your speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, or influencers to spread the word about your conference and your discounts to their own audiences. You can also create referral programs or incentives for your attendees to invite their colleagues or friends to register for your conference. For example, you could offer a free ticket, a gift card, or a recognition for every referral that leads to a registration. You could also create group discounts or bundles for teams or organizations that register together.

5 Test and optimize your strategy

Finally, you should always test and optimize your early bird discount strategy based on the data and feedback you collect. You should track and analyze the performance of your discounts, such as the number of registrations, the revenue generated, the conversion rate, or the customer satisfaction. You should also test different variables, such as the amount, duration, or frequency of your discounts, or the channels, messages, or formats of your promotion. By testing and optimizing your strategy, you can identify what works best for your audience and your conference, and improve your results over time.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?