Question 1

What is an event marketing agency?

Accepted Answer

An event marketing agency is a specialized agency that plans, organizes, and manages events as a strategic marketing and communication channel for brands and organizations. Simply put, an event company promotes a brand, product, or service before, during, and after an event.

It generates leads, converts customers, boosts brand presence, and improves customer relationships. Businesses can host, co-host, sponsor, speaker, or be a participant in the event. The events can be virtual, in-person, or a hybrid of both.

Event marketing agencies promote:

Exhibitions and conferences
Trade shows and expositions
Seminars
Pop-up shops
Workshops
Product demonstrations
Launch parties and celebrations
Charities and fundraisers
Seminars and webinars
Festivals and concerts
Customer VIP events

Event marketing teams are usually composed of the following roles:

Project manager or event marketing manager: Develops the marketing strategies for the entire campaign and oversees their implementation. They are also the client’s point person.
Designer: Creates all the visuals for event promotion, from posters to swag and merchandise.
Event videographer and photographer: Documents the event for marketing purposes and manages its live streaming.
Content strategist: Crafts the copy for the event, including announcements, landing pages, press releases, and blogs.
Social media manager: Manages event-related content on the brand’s social media channels. It also handles social media ads and community management.
Public relations (PR) specialist: Coordinates with magazines, newspapers, and other relevant media outlets to promote your event. It crafts compelling press releases, pitches story ideas to journalists, arranges interviews, and secures media coverage.

Event marketing agencies ensure that each event reflects the client's brand and offers tailored experiences for attendees. They work closely with partners and sponsors to boost event visibility. After the event, they keep attendees engaged, handle crises, and plan for unexpected situations to ensure a successful outcome.

Question 2

What does an event marketing firm do?

Accepted Answer

An event marketing firm works closely with clients to develop, plan, and execute events that align with clients' marketing goals and target audiences' preferences. It creates memorable experiences to engage attendees, foster loyalty, and drive desired outcomes — lead generation, sales, and publicity.

Its services include:

Event strategy development
Working closely with the client to develop the event’s key objectives, theme, budget allocation, timeline, and logistics plan
Creative design and branding
Designing exhibits, promotion materials, and other visual elements needed for the event and aligning them with the client’s brand identity
Event planning and execution
Managing event logistics, third-party vendors, material production, and staffing
Marketing and promotion
- Remarketing
  Re-engaging previous leads, customers, or website visitors to attend your event
- Social media marketing
  Leveraging social platforms to promote your event and brand
- Email marketing
  Sending emails to nurture leads, promote products and services, and maintain customer relationships
- Paid advertising
  Strategic placement of paid advertisements to reach specific audiences and drive conversions
- Traditional marketing
  Using conventional marketing channels, like print, radio, and television, to promote your event, brand, product, or service
- Public relations (PR)
  Building and maintaining a positive brand image through reliable media outlets, influencers, and other mediums
Sponsor acquisition and management
Managing relationships with sponsors, fulfilling their obligations, and ensuring they receive the agreed-upon benefits and exposure
Content production
Crafting relevant videos, blogs, graphics, and other content to engage audiences
Attendee engagement
Developing strategies to attract and retain attendees before, during, and after the event
Crisis management
Building a comprehensive crisis management plan that outlines protocols for handling emergencies and unforeseen issues

Most event marketing firms specialize in planning, executing, and optimizing events to maximize their impact on brand promotion. They also offer services like traditional marketing firms, such as branding, digital marketing, and advertising, but their primary focus is events.

Question 3

What is the difference between event marketing and experiential marketing?

Accepted Answer

The difference between event marketing and experiential marketing lies in their approach: event marketing promotes events to achieve marketing goals, while experiential marketing aims to create immersive and interactive experiences that establish a deeper emotional connection with the brand.

Below is a table with a clear side-by-side comparison:

Event Marketing	Experiential Marketing
Centers around events like conferences, trade shows, product launches, anniversaries, and celebrations	Seeks to engage consumers through immersive experiences, often using innovative technologies, such as AR/VR, pop-up booths, and other creative experiential methods
Increases brand visibility, product awareness, and customer loyalty through structured events	Creates a strong emotional impact and lasting memories to deepen the consumer's connection with the brand
Focuses on planned, organized events to interact with a target audience	Uses unique and personalized methods to engage consumers
Direct interaction occurs, but it is limited to the event's context and timeline	Emphasizes real-time, immersive interactions, often enhanced with elements of surprise and technology
Primarily informational and event-focused, with a certain level of emotional connection	Designed to evoke strong emotions and create lasting impressions

Question 4

How much do event marketing companies charge for their services?

Accepted Answer

Event marketing companies charge about 15% to 20% of the anticipated gross revenue of an event. For example, a tech conference aiming to sell 500 tickets at $200 each, would bring a potential revenue of $100,000. Applying the 15%-20% budget rule, event marketing company would charge between $15,000 to $20,000 for its services.

Given the diversity of event types, there is no one-size-fits-all pricing model for event marketing services. However, several key factors affect their pricing structure:

Event goals
Marketing complexity varies with event goals. A concert for 10,000 requires multiple marketing strategies and campaigns compared to a 100-person conference.
Target audience
Marketing approaches depend on the audience. VIP events might use email marketing and in-app notifications, while public events require social media, content marketing, PR, and other marketing strategies, raising costs.
Services
The choice of services like AR, live streaming, and influencer marketing greatly impacts the total marketing cost.
Level of competition
High-demand markets lead to higher ad costs and more aggressive strategies, increasing expenses.
Event popularity
Promoting popular annual events like Comic-Con requires less marketing than promoting a new event started by a small brand.

The top 50 event marketing companies on DesignRush charge $116 per hour. Among these, 14.3% take on projects under $1,000, making them accessible for smaller-scale events or startups looking to generate buzz on a limited budget. Meanwhile, 1.5% cater to projects starting at $50,000 for comprehensive planning, advanced digital integrations, and data-driven strategies designed to maximize event impact, audience engagement, and long-term ROI.

Question 5

Why should I hire an event promotion company?

Accepted Answer

You should hire an event promotion company because it has the expertise, extensive networks, and tools that increase the chances for the success of your event. These companies create buzz and awareness, ensuring your event attracts your target audience.

By entrusting your event to marketing professionals, you can drive new leads and customers, increase customer engagement and loyalty, collect customer data, and get strategic partnerships for your business.

Hire an event promotion company to:

Leverage the expertise of a multidisciplinary team
Gain access to strong strategic industry connections
Drive leads and customers
Increase customer engagement and loyalty
Collect and analyze customer data

Success Story

Take a look at this case study presenting how event marketing firm Jack Morton helped create a 360-degree integrated takeover for Cadillac:

Challenge: Cadillac aimed to increase the demand for its new electric vehicle (EV) during the US Open.
Solution: Jack Morton strategically placed ad displays, an immersive theater experience, a 200+ VIP vehicle fleet, VIP hospitality for celebrities and influencers, on-court net signage, and stadium takeovers. It also produced content that featured Frances Tiafoe, Billie Jean King, and Venus Williams.
Results: At the end of the 20-day activation, Cadillac reached 1.86 billion people via broadcast coverage and organic social media. It also improved brand awareness and audience perception.

Question 6

How do I choose the right event marketing firm for my business?

Accepted Answer

You can choose an event marketing firm by following these steps:

Define your brand
Have a cohesive brand image for your business, from your visuals to your copy, as it will be the center of your entire event marketing strategy.
Set your goals
Define SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely) goals for the event, like how many leads you want to gain after the event, how many sales you want to earn after a product launch, or how many people you want to sign up to your email newsletter.
Identify key performance indicators (KPIs)
From number of attendees to social media engagement to customer acquisition, there are many ways to measure your event’s success. However, choose the KPIs relevant to your event goals and long-term business objectives.
Determine your project scope
Define your target audience, budget, event location, theme, schedule, and market timeline.
Research potential event marketing agencies
Look at their client list, case studies, technologies and tools, media partners, and list of services. Prioritize those with experience in your field that provide the specific services you need.
Do your due diligence
Check for certificates, awards, reviews, and testimonials. Focus on the agency’s ability to deliver results and project management style.
Send a request for a proposal
Outline your project scope and send it to your shortlisted event marketing agencies and request for proposal (RFP).
Evaluate its communication style
Communication plays a crucial role in the success of an event, so assess how responsive the agency is to your messages.
Conduct interviews
Set up an interview with potential agencies, ask questions about your campaign, and observe how they interact with you and your team. Choose an agency that aligns with your goals, values, and team dynamics.
Request client references
Talking to former clients can give insight into how an event promotion company works, especially on the day of the event itself. Pay attention to how it works under pressure and its ability to solve problems on the spot.
Select your event marketing firm
Contact your chosen agency and discuss contract and payment terms. Coordinate digital marketing channel accounts and event planning details.

If you need help finding the right event marketing agency, message us. Our team will customize a list of the top agencies for you according to your project requirements. Visit our Marketplace for more information.

Question 7

How do I find the best event marketing agency on DesignRush that fits my budget?

Accepted Answer

Find the best event marketing agency on DesignRush that fits your budget by using our versatile sorting tools to filter by budgets ranging from $1,000 to over $50,000 or by hourly rates.

Low Budget: 1k above	Inbox Army Volts Consulting STOUT Creative
Mid Budget: 10k above	Zaya Production PROVEN Reality Elevate My Brand
High Budget: 50k above	Doe-Anderson Advertising All Terrain Dera Lee Productions

Access comprehensive agency profiles that highlight key details such as location, expertise, client feedback, and team size to give you all the insights needed to make an informed decision for your business.

Question 8

What red flags to watch out for when hiring event marketing agencies?

Accepted Answer

The red flags to watch out for when hiring event marketing agencies include:

Vague portfolio and case studies
An agency should showcase measurable success, such as increased attendance, lead generation, or ROI from past events. Avoid portfolios with generic claims like "we create memorable experiences" without specific data or outcomes.
No experience in your event type
Event marketing for a trade show differs vastly from a product launch or a music festival. Agencies lacking relevant experience may struggle to deliver results tailored to your needs.
Overpromising results
Promises of guaranteed viral campaigns or certain unrealistic ROI without clear strategies or contingency plans are major red flags. Marketing outcomes depend on numerous variables, and guarantees can be misleading.
Weak digital integration
A competent event marketing agency should integrate digital tools like email campaigns, social media, and analytics into its strategy. If they downplay or avoid these elements, it could indicate outdated methods.
Limited partner network
Event marketing often involves partnerships with vendors, venues, or media outlets. An agency with few or no established connections might struggle to execute effectively.
Minimal focus on attendee engagement
Look for red flags in how they plan to connect with your target audience. Lack of focus on pre-event buzz, interactive elements during the event, or follow-up with attendees can indicate weak engagement strategies.
Overreliance on generic metrics
Agencies that fail to emphasize data collection and analysis after the event miss a critical opportunity to measure success and provide actionable insights for future events. Metrics like social media impressions without tying them to attendee conversion, ticket sales, or brand impact can indicate a lack of strategic depth.

Question 9

What are the key success metrics for an event marketing campaign?

Accepted Answer

The key success metrics for an event marketing campaign are registrations and check-ins, cost-to-revenue ratio, cost per opportunity, net promoter score (NPS), social media metrics, lead acquisitions, and conversions.

Here is a closer look at each of them:

Registration and check-ins
Compute the ratio of registered people vs. those who attended the event.
Cost-to-revenue ratio
Compare how much you earn from the event vs. how much you spend.
Cost per opportunity
Measures how much you spend to push leads and customers through your conversion pipeline.
Net promoter score (NPS)
Send surveys to event participants to assess their satisfaction, gauge loyalty, and predict future event attendance and engagement.
Social media mentions and engagement
Monitor social media reactions, likes, impressions, and reshares involving your brand, event, and branded hashtag.
Lead acquisition
Compute how many new leads you gained from the event.
Customer conversion
Track how many of your event leads become paying customers.
Total donations
For charity events, compute how much money was raised through the event compared to the final goal.

Question 10

What questions should I ask when interviewing an event marketing company?

Accepted Answer

You can ask an event marketing company the following when interviewing it:

Its Relevant Background

What types of events do you organize?
How many events do you market a year? How do you manage your event calendar?
Can you share your portfolio with us?
Do you have experience with our niche?
What type of event and industry do you specialize in?

Company Services and Processes

What factors do you consider when doing an event marketing strategy?
How do you plan and implement your event marketing services?
What tasks do you outsource? How do you monitor external vendors?
What event technology do you use?
How do you ensure safety and security compliance before, during, and after the event?
Can you walk me through your crisis management plan?
Do you provide additional services aside from event marketing?
What are your project management and communication styles? How does your team work under pressure?

The Project

How early should I start promoting my event?
How do you measure event success?
How does your event marketing strategy help with my overall marketing goals?
Who will be part of my team, and who will be the main contact person throughout the entire campaign, not just during the event?
How will you coordinate with my event manager and internal team?
What is your payment structure?

Question 11

What are the best event marketing agencies in the US?

Accepted Answer

The best event marketing agencies in the US are:

Sagefrog Marketing Group
- 4.8 stars on DesignRush (6 reviews)
- 4.9 stars on Google (45 reviews)
- Top clients: UPS, APEX, Penn Medicine, Aramark
Callbox
- 4.8 stars on DesignRush (6 reviews)
- 4.5 stars on Google (87 reviews)
- Top clients: Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Intel
Groove Jones
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (18 reviews)
- 4.6 stars on Google (11 reviews)
- Top clients: Toyota, Amazon, MasterCard, Samsung
Inbox Army
- 4.9 stars on DesignRush (15 reviews)
- 5.0 stars on Google (28 reviews)
- Top clients: eBay, Hilton, Airbnb, Spotify
Zaya Production
- 4.8 stars on DesignRush (6 reviews)
- 5.0 stars on Google (10 reviews)
- Top clients: H&M, Mercedes-Benz, Match, SUMMER FRIDAYS

Best Event Marketing Companies

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