Elevate Your Events: 17 Proven Strategies to Boost Resident Event Attendance
Hosting engaging resident events is not just about planning (which is a lot!); it's about making sure there’s active resident participation and attendance. In multifamily, community events serve as vital touchpoints for fostering connections among residents. Unfortunately, getting those high attendance rates can be challenging without effective strategies in place.
Lucky for you, in this episode of the Multifamily Mix, we dive into 17 actionable strategies to boost resident engagement and event attendance. From personalized invitations to leveraging social media and involving residents in event planning, these strategies are designed to create memorable experiences and engage your community’s residents.
17 ACTIONABLE STRATEGIES FOR BOOSTING RESIDENT ATTENDANCE AT EVENTS
1. DOOR-TO-DOOR PERSONAL INVITATIONS AND CALLS
Create genuine connections with residents by personally inviting them to events through door-to-door visits or phone calls. This personalized approach not only increases the likelihood of attendance but also strengthens the sense of community among residents.
No AI-built message or bland flyers being left at their door. A personal invite goes a long way!
2. POST EYE-CATCHING POSTERS 👀
Capture residents' attention with visually appealing posters strategically placed in common areas. These eye-catching posters serve as constant reminders of upcoming events, making residents want to participate and engage with their community.
LOOKING FOR SOME EVENT INVITE INSPIRATION?
Sprout’s Resident Retention Membership is full of eye-catching graphics, invitations, and decor like this. —>
EPISODE AT A GLANCE:
00:00 The Challenge: Resident Event Engagement
01:11 Personal Connection: The Grassroots Approach
01:53 Expanding Your Reach: Invites, Ambassadors, and Reminders
04:10 Creative Signage and Social Media Strategies
05:52 Leveraging Business Collaborations and Incentives
08:42 Fostering Community Involvement and Feedback
10:35 Maximizing Event Exposure and Creating Anticipation
11:34 The Solution: Where to Find Your Download
3. ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO BRING FRIENDS
Encourage residents to bring their friends to community events to foster a sense of inclusivity and camaraderie. By expanding beyond just residents, events become more dynamic and enjoyable for everyone involved. And sometimes, it’s easier to walk into an event with a friend. (Plus, you’re showing off how cool your community is compared to their friends’ apartment community😉 a great referral strategy!)
4. RESIDENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
We all have those extra enthusiastic residents who love to always come by the office. Give them an ‘official’ job title of resident ambassador for community events! Their outgoing nature and strong social connections are pivotal in spreading the word and generating excitement among their peers. They can help decide on events, encourage attendance and capture social media content. Win-win!
>>FREE DOWNLOAD - GET THE SCOOP OF 25 RESIDENT EVENT IDEAS
5. SENDING EMAIL INVITES AND TIMELY REMINDERS
Utilize email invitations and timely reminders to keep residents informed about upcoming events. Providing enough notice and gentle nudges helps ensure maximum attendance and participation. Because, let’s be honest, life gets busy, and people forget, so help them out with some fun reminders!
6. USE CREATIVE SIGNAGE AND FLOOR DECALS IN COMMON AREAS
Infuse creativity into event promotion by using innovative signage and floor decals in common areas. These fun and creative displays serve as constant reminders and create a buzz around upcoming events throughout the community. Budget Option: sidewalk chalk! A cute ‘event today’ with a doodle on the sidewalk or in the parking lot will stop residents in their tracks.
Whether your advertising your event or just your community as a whole, your signage says a lot about you. Sprout makes sure it says a lot of GOOD things!
7. BUILD ANTICIPATION ONLINE WITH EVENT COUNTDOWNS
Generate excitement and anticipation among residents when you create event countdowns. These countdowns serve as daily reminders and build anticipation as the event draws nearer. Instagram lets you set up personalized event countdown timers that are perfect for this!
8. POST TEASERS AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES CONTENT
Engage residents and pique their curiosity by sharing teasers and behind-the-scenes content leading up to events. Show a quick unboxing video when you get your decorations in or give a teaser for the food you’ll have catered! Little things like this make residents excited to see the finished product.
Social media made easy: Sprout’s Resident Retention Membership gives you premade graphics (like this one) that you can easily edit in Canva, pull, and post! —>
9. INTERACTIVE POLLS FOR EVENT DETAILS
Empower residents to shape event planning by making interactive polls to get feedback and preferences on what they want to see at events. By involving residents in decision-making, events can be tailored to suit the community's interests and preferences better. Plus, they’re making the decisions for you and let's face it, sometimes you’re on the verge of losing it if you have to make one more decision yourself. 😅
10. PARTNER WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO SPONSOR AND PROMOTE EVENTS
Strengthen ties with the local community by partnering with businesses to sponsor and promote events. These collaborations enhance the event experience, showcase the community's support for local businesses, and get residents excited about their local neighborhood.
11. FEATURE GIFT CERTIFICATES OR DISCOUNTS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES
Incentivize event attendance by featuring gift certificates or discounts from local businesses as prizes. These rewards add excitement and introduce residents to nearby establishments, fostering a sense of community connection. This is a great example of business cross-promotion!
12. OFFER EXCLUSIVE PERKS FOR EARLY REGISTRATION
Drive early event registration to events by offering exclusive perks or incentives for the early birds. Whether it's a special gift or bonus prize, these perks encourage residents to secure their spot and ensure higher attendance rates.
13. SHARE VIDEO INVITATIONS THROUGH EMAIL
Share video invitations through email to personalize event invitations and enhance engagement. Videos provide a personal touch, showcasing excitement and enthusiasm, which helps strengthen a connection with residents.
SEE HOW #SPROUTERS ARE WOWING RESIDENTS
14. DECORATE COMMON AREAS FOR DAILY REMINDERS
Transform common areas into vibrant spaces by decorating them with event-themed decor. These daily reminders create a buzz and serve as constant visual cues, keeping residents excited about upcoming events. Throwing a Barbie party? Make that elevator a pink explosion! Hosting a plant party? Set up a succulent surprise in the lounge area.
15. INVOLVE RESIDENTS IN RESIDENT EVENT COMMITTEES
Create a sense of community ownership and involvement by establishing resident committees for event planning. Giving residents a voice in decision-making makes events more tailored to their preferences and interests.
16. POST-EVENT SURVEYS
Conduct post-event surveys to gather valuable feedback and insights. Attendees' input helps identify areas for improvement and ensure future events are even more successful. Be sure to follow up quickly while it’s on their minds!
17. CREATE A LITTLE HEALTHY FOMO
Nothing wrong with a good fear of missing out when it comes to resident events! Consistently share event highlights and photos of people having a blast. Showcasing the fun and excitement of past events can generate anticipation and encourage higher attendance at future gatherings.
Maximizing resident event engagement is multifaceted, to say the least. It takes a blend of creativity, effective communication, and deep community involvement to make resident events engaging and well-attended.
From personal invitations to post-event feedback loops, each strategy plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall event experience and fostering a sense of belonging within the community. We know you’re working hard to create vibrant multifamily communities, and we’re here to help innovate and evolve your approach to resident event engagement, making sure that every event leaves a lasting impact on residents.