Theatre leaders should constantly strive to gain and retain new audience members. The easiest way to reach that goal? Innovative marketing solutions. Whether you’re hoping to get more seats filled at an in-person showcase or get more eyes on your next hybrid production, On The Stage offers advice to get you there.
It’s important to continually assess your marketing strategies and pivot if necessary. If you’re in the midst of a marketing evaluation, ask yourself if you’re truly on target to reach your goals. Check email subscribers, open rates, social media interactions, unsubscribe rates for email lists and the overall growth of your brand.
Make notes of where you can improve, as well as the types of content that gain you the most traction. After studying your metrics and making a few adjustments, roll out the new and improved plan with the goal of enticing your target demographic and growing your audience.
The world has changed considerably in the last two years, and theatre makers have (or should have) changed with it. If you haven’t already, consider hybrid shows that blend in-person and video-on-demand or live streaming options. With these new choices available to increase your accessibly, build a marketing campaign around it. This way, your digital audience is built in advance and you can focus on producing a great show.
If you don’t have the budget to hire a digital production specialist for your virtual showcases, carve out extra time to learn the ropes about livestreaming and video-on-demand. Feeling overwhelmed? This article can help. Additionally, On The Stage offers demos to assist you with streaming. Bottom line: We’ve got you covered!
You won’t get more audience members if your presence online is weak. Consider the following to make your branding online pop:
The importance of community partnerships can’t be overstated. After identifying potential partners and gaining their support, you’ve also gained a voice in the community to help build up your brand. Aside from organic marketing, the types of benefits you can gain from these partners include:
Utilizing an in-house marketing team of students to promote your show offers you numerous advantages. These include:
Social media is easily one of your biggest assets when it comes to marketing your show. Along with sharing posters, merchandise and other production artwork on your platforms, don’t be afraid to get your audience involved in the fun.
A great question to ask yourself in regards to your social media marketing is this: Is your communication on these platforms a two-way street, or is it just you with a microphone? If it’s the latter, work for more engagement by asking questions, responding to comments on your posts, tagging partners and conducting polls. People just want their voices to be heard!
It’s easy to say you’ll up your marketing efforts, but harder to put that idea into practice. If you need help crafting your marketing plan for next season, let On The Stage help; book a demo today.