Top 10 Tips for Promoting Your Volleyball Event

Local volleyball events are fantastic for bringing communities together, boosting local businesses, and forging lasting connections. To ensure your event is a smashing success, here are 10 proven strategies to maximize attendance and engagement.

Top 10 Tips for Promoting Your Volleyball Event

1. Leverage Sports Platforms

Apps like Javelin Sports connect you with over 36,000 volleyball players, simplifying registrations and participant engagement. This approach simplifies promotion and management.

2. Partner with Local Businesses

Collaborate with sponsors such as food vendors, equipment suppliers, or venue partners. This helps share costs, increases visibility, and boosts your event's funding and credibility.

3. Engage Local Sports Figures

Involve coaches, retired players, or fitness experts to promote your event. Their involvement builds trust and visibility, attracting more fans.

4. Host Training Sessions

Pre-event training sessions tailored to different skill levels can build excitement and participation, increasing engagement and skill development.

5. Send Targeted Emails

Segment your audience by skill, location, or age to deliver personalized updates. This drives personalized communication and boosts attendance.

6. Distribute Flyers

Design eye-catching flyers with bold visuals and clear details. Post them in high-traffic areas like gyms and schools to reach offline audiences.

7. Work with Local Media

Pitch your event to newspapers, radio stations, and TV channels to expand your reach and publicity.

8. Launch a Community Rep Program

Recruit volunteers to promote your event through social media, flyers, and local outreach. This amplifies local outreach.

9. Offer Early Registration Deals

Incentivize early sign-ups with discounts, exclusive perks, or free merchandise. This encourages quick sign-ups.

10. Plan Charity Tournaments

Combine your event with a fundraising cause. This attracts more participants and media attention by combining fun with a good cause.

These tips can help you create a well-attended, impactful volleyball event that benefits both your community and participants.

How to Advertise Your Upcoming League: Best Practices

1. Use the Javelin Sports Platform

If you're looking to expand the reach of your volleyball events, using a dedicated sports platform like Javelin Sports can make a big difference. With access to over 36,000 volleyball players, it's a go-to resource for event organizers.

Javelin Sports offers tools that simplify everything from promotion to participant management. Here's what you can do with it:

• Connect with a community of volleyball players at various skill levels.
• Handle registrations and communication with ease.
• Engage directly with users through built-in chat features.

The platform's effectiveness is backed by user feedback. One user, S Sak, shared their experience:

‍"Best app to know the sportstainment happening around. I wish everyone uses it, so that people like me could have been more active sooner. Really appreciate the Javelin team for putting up such an idea and app together. Thanks 🙏."

To make the most of Javelin Sports, consider these promotion strategies tailored to the platform:

Metrics also showcase the platform's power in event promotion. Justin Ford, CEO of Javelin Sports, explains: "Javelin Sports quickly became the top destination for volleyball fans nationwide. We have built a strong following among all levels of volleyball players. Our features allow users to communicate with other players, improve their skills, and take part in tournaments and competitions."

The numbers speak for themselves: a 40% monthly growth rate, over 90 games hosted weekly, and a 4.6/5 user rating. Staying active on Javelin Sports can help you consistently engage with your audience and grow your events.

2. Build Local Business Partnerships

Teaming up with local businesses can significantly increase your event's visibility and attract more attendees. Here's a quick look at common partnership types and how they benefit both the business and the event:

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Jon Schmieder, Founder and CEO of the Huddle Up Group, highlights the importance of building strong relationships over time: "Trying to generate sponsorship revenue isn't an event or a sale, it's a process. Consider it a journey and not a singular transaction. We like to use the 'four touch rule' in relationship building. That is making sure that you track the outreach to all of your key stakeholders and talk or meet with them one-on-one at least four times a year, so once a quarter."

To make these partnerships as effective as possible, focus on these strategies:

• Create Customized Packages: Design sponsorship packages that cater to different budgets. The Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Sports Commission, for example, developed tiered packages offering top-tier sponsors premium perks like event naming rights and prominent website placement.
• Target Businesses with Community Ties: Look for businesses that have a natural connection to your event's theme or audience. For instance, for youth sports events, consider reaching out to former coaches, players, engaged parents, local sporting goods stores, or community volunteers. These connections often lead to more meaningful and enthusiastic partnerships.
• Measure and Share Results: Keep track of how the partnership is performing using measurable metrics, such as attendance numbers, social media engagement rates, website traffic driven by partner referrals, participant feedback, and media coverage. Sharing these results shows partners the value of their investment and strengthens the relationship for future collaborations.
• Stay in Touch Year-Round: Don't let communication fizzle after the event ends. Keep your partners engaged by sharing success stories, testimonials, and impact reports throughout the year. As Schuyler Bull, owner of Fort Orange General Store, puts it: "Partnering with other businesses does not need to be complicated. Simply providing each other the opportunity to collaborate, share, and grow is enough to make for a successful event."

3. Work with Local Sports Personalities

Teaming up with local sports figures and fitness experts can significantly boost your event's visibility. Their involvement adds credibility and creates a genuine connection with your audience.

• Identify the Right Partners: Choose sports personalities who align with your event’s goals and appeal to your target audience. Great options include local volleyball coaches, retired players, fitness trainers, athletic directors, or sports journalists.
• Create Engaging Collaborations: Design partnerships that deliver value for both your event and the audience.

Robin Waite, a partnership strategy expert, emphasizes genuine collaboration: "Sponsorship success starts with aligning shared values, measurable goals, and creative engagement strategies."

• Leverage Digital Channels: Maximize reach by equipping influencers with tools for effective promotion, such as ready-to-use social media posts, custom hashtags, exclusive behind-the-scenes access, and personalized discount codes. Óscar Mayo, Executive Director of LaLiga, notes: "We're living in a time of maximum interaction and the level of intensity of sports consumption is very different."
• Offer Mutual Benefits: Make the partnership worthwhile by offering perks such as access to facilities, opportunities to lead programs, cross-promotion, and VIP experiences for their followers.

4. Run Training Sessions

Pre-event training sessions are an excellent way to sharpen skills and bring the community together, boosting participation and enthusiasm.

• Structure Sessions for Maximum Impact: Tailor sessions to different skill levels. For beginners, focus on basics; for intermediate players, include position-specific drills; for advanced groups, introduce complex plays. John Forman, Strategic Manager for Talent and Indoor Performance Director for Volleyball England, highlights this: "With a bit of thought, you can find ways to make it work with a group of players of markedly different levels. No doubt it's a challenge. If you do things right, though, you can not only develop both groups, but also strengthen team bonds."
• Promote Training Events Effectively: Spread the word using creative and targeted methods: share short practice clips on social media, use unique hashtags, collaborate with local schools, and send targeted emails. The Wolfpack Dynasty Volleyball Club, for instance, runs Pre-Season Volleyball Clinics for $20–$25 per session, building excitement for future events.
• Foster Community Engagement: Make sessions engaging by pairing experienced players with beginners, incorporating team-building exercises, and celebrating progress. This creates a sense of belonging and strengthens the community. Tools like the Javelin Sports platform can simplify organization and promotion.
• Track Progress and Gather Feedback: Monitor attendance, collect post-session surveys, and track skill improvements. Analyze event registration conversions to gauge interest and refine promotional efforts, improving future sessions and building compelling success stories.

5. Send Targeted Email Updates

Building on platform and partnership strategies, targeted email updates can significantly boost event engagement. Email marketing delivers an impressive $36 return for every $1 spent.

• How to Segment Your Email List: Tailor messages by dividing your audience into meaningful groups: skill level, role (players, coaches, parents), event history, location, or age group. Segmented campaigns see 30% higher open rates and 50% more clickthroughs compared to generic emails.
• Tips for Crafting Engaging Emails: Make emails stand out by keeping them clear, concise, and mobile-friendly. Include: event details, action-packed photos, pricing info (highlight early bird rates), social proof (testimonials), and bold calls-to-action for registration.
• Timing Is Everything: Plan your email schedule strategically: send save-the-date emails 3–6 months before, followed by reminders at 2 weeks, 1 week, 3 days, and 1 day before. Automation, as seen with Spotify's email verification, can significantly improve deliverability.
• Make It Mobile-Friendly: Design for mobile users with a single-column layout, tap-friendly buttons, and readable fonts. "Email marketing is about more than just a short-term injection of purchases - it's about your brand's community." - Will Blunt, Founder, Sidekick Digital.

6. Post Eye-Catching Flyers

Even in a digital-first world, professionally designed flyers remain a powerful way to promote local volleyball events. They provide a tangible way to grab attention and expand your reach in the community when placed strategically.

• What Makes a Flyer Stand Out? Focus on bold colors, high-quality action shots, clear information (dates, times, locations), consistent branding, and QR codes for quick online registration.
• Choosing the Right Size and Placement: The size should align with its use:

• Where to Post Flyers for Maximum Impact: Place them where your target audience will see them: sports facilities, schools, sports-related businesses, and community spaces.
• Tools to Create Professional Flyers: You don't need to be a designer. Tools like Canva, PosterMyWall, and Adobe Express offer templates and intuitive interfaces. "PosterMyWall has made it simple and easy for us to create eye-catching posters and flyers to advertise our company's accreditation services, with all the templates on offer." - Diane B., Finance Director.
• Tips for Effective Distribution: Get permission before posting, use protective sleeves for outdoor displays, regularly replace worn flyers, refresh distribution every 2-3 weeks, and add unique QR codes to track engagement.

7. Contact Local News Outlets

Getting local media involved can significantly increase your event's visibility by connecting with audiences you might not otherwise reach.

• Crafting Your Media Pitch: Focus on how your event benefits the community. Include key event details, community impact, notable participants, standout features, visual assets, and contact information.
• Media Kit Essentials: Prepare a media kit to simplify coverage for journalists:

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• Targeting Different Media Types: Tailor your approach:
  • Television Stations: Highlight visual aspects, offer live interviews, and suggest filming times.
  • Print Media: Share in-depth background information and compelling human interest stories.
  • Radio Stations: Provide content suited for audio, like interviews or announcements.
• Building Media Relationships: Follow reporters on social media, offer exclusive access, respond quickly to inquiries, and share post-event highlights.
• Timing Your Outreach:
  • Initial announcement: 4–6 weeks before.
  • Follow-up: 1 week before.
  • Day-of coverage: Share updates and visuals.
  • Post-event updates: Send a recap.
• Making Your Event Media-Friendly: Prepare a designated media check-in, a press box, spokespeople, organized photo/video opportunities, and reliable Wi-Fi.

8. Start a Community Rep Program

Launching a community representative program can significantly expand your event's reach and boost engagement.

• Structuring Your Rep Program: Define clear roles and expectations for representatives.

Once roles are established, provide your team with the necessary tools and guidance.

• Training and Support: Set up a comprehensive onboarding process with templates, guidelines, a dedicated communication channel, regular check-ins, performance tools, and consistent communication.
• Incentivizing Participation: Motivate representatives by offering public recognition, exclusive perks (free tickets, special access), and leadership opportunities.
• Empowering Your Representatives: Encourage reps to take initiative by tailoring outreach strategies to their local communities.
• Best Practices for Success: Ensure clear communication with weekly newsletters, accessible resources (FAQs, templates), and a knowledge base.
• Measuring Impact: Track registrations generated through rep referrals, social media engagement, attendance at info sessions, volunteer retention rates, and growth in event participation.

9. Set Up Early Registration Deals

Offering early registration deals not only encourages participants to sign up sooner but also simplifies event planning. Research shows that 69% of people are more likely to buy tickets early when limited-time discounts are offered.

• Building a Tiered Pricing Model That Works: Design a pricing structure that rewards early commitment:

This tiered setup encourages quick action.

• Adding Exclusive Perks: 72% of attendees prefer early bird tickets with added benefits. Consider premium court time, VIP parking, free pre-event coaching clinics, or merchandise bundles.
• Strategies to Promote Early Deals: Create urgency with countdown timers, emphasize limited availability, send personalized email campaigns, and highlight early bird perks on social media. "Early bird tickets create a sense of urgency for attendees to purchase tickets early, driving ticket sales faster. It also facilitates you to gauge interest in your event and helps with cash flow management for planning and marketing." – AlphansoTech Blog.
• Measuring Success: Track conversion rates for each tier, revenue from early sign-ups, email open and click-through rates, and social media engagement. Early bird promotions can boost social media mentions by up to 50% and increase early sales by 30%.
• Timing Your Communication: Start promoting 3–4 months before the event. Send regular updates and offer first access to email subscribers and past attendees.

10. Plan Charity Tournament Events

Organizing sports-based charity events is a smart way to bring together participants, sponsors, and media attention while supporting a meaningful cause.

• Selecting the Right Cause: Choose a cause that resonates with your community. Verify the organization's legitimacy, review their financials, get permission to use their branding, and clearly define fund distribution.
• Setting Clear Fundraising Goals: Establish specific targets for participation, sponsorships, donations, and media exposure.
• Using Storytelling to Inspire: Share impactful stories about the cause to inspire deeper emotional involvement and drive donations. Tanya Wang, a senior and Varsity Volleyball Captain, noted that a fundraiser "brought attention to not only our sport but also the American Cancer Society."
• Engaging Sponsors and Partners: Offer tiered sponsorship packages with clear value, such as banner placement, ads in programs, social media shoutouts, VIP access, and on-site brand activation.
• Promoting Your Charity Tournament: Use social media campaigns, outreach to local media, and email marketing. Re-engage past participants with updates and success stories. The H.O.P.E. Beach Volleyball Charity Tournament, for example, raised over $650,000 for local causes.
• Measuring Success: Track total funds raised, number of participants, sponsor satisfaction, social media engagement, media coverage, and volunteer involvement. These events not only generate funds but also foster teamwork and leadership skills.

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