The OpenWater Blog

5 Platforms You Should Use to Generate Awareness for Your Call for Papers

The call for papers process either sets up your conference for success or failure. After all, you’re only as successful as the number of quality entries you and your team are able to generate through marketing and other efforts.

That being said, even the most successful conferences have room for improvement. In fact, there are always new presenters or entrants to attract. But you won’t find them on the platforms you’re already using.

There are countless ways to generate additional entries for your program and new platforms are the simplest way to reach new audience members. If you’re looking for new ways to extend your reach, check out our five favorite platforms below to jump start your recruitment efforts.

1. Create an Email Campaign

An email campaign may not seem like a new platform if you’re already using email, but it is. Most organizations send discrete emails to entrants when the call for papers process draws near. However, there are few organizations that create a campaign for their email marketing efforts.

Segment your target audience by industry or category and custom-tailor appropriate emails to pique interest in your program. Doing so will generate more interest than a one-off, generic email to your entire mailing list and allow you to treat email marketing as an entirely new platform altogether.

2. Create New Social Campaigns

Chances are you’re already promoting your program on Facebook and Twitter, but what about other social platforms? YouTube and LinkedIn are two great options where you can use dynamic content and connect with industry leaders who may be interested in your conference.

3. Create a Blog Series

You already have a website for your abstracts conference. So, why not publish a blog series to publicize your event and generate additional interest in what you have to offer?

Blog posts are a great way to educate those who are already on your website considering your conference. Likewise, they’re a great marketing tool you can put in emails, newsletters, or other materials to further educate your audience about your conference and what you have to offer.

Just remember to segment your blog articles and topics by your audience members. Most individuals won’t attend your conference for the same reasons so it’s important you understand what each audience segment wants and deliver accordingly.

4. Create a Newsletter

You may already have an organizational newsletter. If you do, you may want to create a theme around your call for papers period to promote it with different content you’ve likely created.

You may want to publicize blog posts you’ve written or any other content that will at least get potential entrants on your site. The best you can do in any of these campaigns is get individuals to open your email, read your newsletter, and explore more materials on your website.

5. Create Listings on Conference Directory Sites

While you can promote your call for abstracts on many of your own platforms, it doesn’t hurt to turn to other platforms as well. Conference directory sites and even sponsor sites are great places to reach new audience members.

How Will You Promote Your Call for Papers?

Your call for papers is a critical point in your conference. While you want to generate a decent number of entries, you also want to generate high-quality entries. By publishing information on new platforms, you can accomplish both.

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