The Facebook Marketing Book

Chapter 5. Facebook Events

Using Facebook’s Event functions, you can invite users to any event, be it real or virtual. Events are great for rallying Page members around a timely happening, whether it is a sale, movie opening, menu revamp, or new product launch. Plus, because Events have a dedicated tab on your Page, Page members can easily see what you’re up to.

Events are quick and easy to set up, perfect for creating a quick response to a time-sensitive issue. This makes them a no-brainer for inclusion in your Facebook marketing strategy. On the flip side, they are also easy enough for anyone else to make, leaving a lot of Event clutter on the site. This makes it harder (but not impossible) to use Facebook Events effectively. You just need a little extra effort to make your Event stand out.

Figure 5-1. Facebook Events should be used for actual events that include a time and a place in the real world. They can also be used for virtual events, but be careful not to confuse people.

When to Use an Event

The best way to use an Event is as you would use a printed invitation: when you have an actual event to promote (Figure 5-1). Using Facebook to send event information is a lot faster (and cheaper) than printing and mailing invitations to all your contacts.

Facebook Events can also make a great accompaniment to an email announcement or an actual invitation. You may want to send select people ...