How Smart Marketers Use WhatsApp to Get People to Come, Build Excitement, and Get People to Talk

You’ve spent weeks getting ready for your event. You hired the venue, verified the speakers, and made lovely posts on social media. But when the day of the event gets closer, you start to worry:

👉 Will people really come?

👉 Are my reminders getting lost in their email?

You’re not the only one who feels that way. Even events that are well-planned often have trouble getting people to show up and stay interested. The truth is that people are tired of email, and old-fashioned marketing methods can’t keep up with how people talk to each other these days.

That’s where WhatsApp for events marketing comes in. It’s a direct, personal, and high-engagement way to make sure your audience sees (and acts on) your messages.

This post will teach you how to use WhatsApp to get more people to attend events, send updates through chat, automate follow-ups for webinars, and more.

What Is WhatsApp for Marketing Events?

Using WhatsApp for events marketing involves using the WhatsApp platform, especially WhatsApp Business and WhatsApp API, to get people to come to your event, promote it, and make it more fun.

• Instead than just using emails or sponsored marketing, brands and organizations use WhatsApp to:
• Send invitations to events directly to those who are going
• Use chat to provide reminders and updates
• Automate confirmations and messages to RSVP
• Help people in real time before and during the event

After the event, send out feedback forms or deals.

You might think of it as turning WhatsApp into your event helper, which is quick, personable, and always available.

How WhatsApp Changes the Game for Event Marketing

Let’s be honest: people don’t disregard WhatsApp messages.

Here are some numbers that indicate why WhatsApp is becoming the go-to tool for event marketers:

• 98% open rate, which is much higher than the ~20% average for emails.
• 90% of texts are read in less than 3 minutes
• More than 2 billion people use it every month throughout the world.
• Sharing multimedia (pictures, PDFs, videos, links) is easy.

When you use WhatsApp for event marketing, you’re not just advertising; you’re also developing a direct, two-way interaction with your audience.

How to Use WhatsApp for Event Marketing: A Step-by-Step Guide

Let’s talk about how you can use WhatsApp at every stage of your event, from getting people excited before it starts to following up with them after it ends.

Step 1: Get people to follow you on WhatsApp

You need to have an audience that has agreed to get updates before you start messaging.

How to make it:

1. On your event landing page or social media marketing, add a button that says “Click to WhatsApp.”
2. Use QR codes at places or events that have already happened to start a WhatsApp chat right away.
3. Give people who sign up early benefits or special content to entice them to do so.

For example, “Get VIP access to updates from behind the scenes!” Send us a message on WhatsApp to join our event group.

Step 2: Send out invitations that are unique to each person

It’s time to make it personal once users have signed up.

Use WhatsApp templates to send personalized invitations that include the recipient’s name and important event information.

Template for a message:

Hey [Name], you’re invited to our [Event Name] on [Date]! 🎉

To let us know you’re coming, click here 👉 [Link]

Personalized WhatsApp invites can get up to three times more people to respond than regular email blasts.

Step 3: Set up automated confirmations and reminders

People don’t like missing events they were looking forward to. Use WhatsApp automation technologies like Wbotz, Twilio, or Meta’s official API partners to:

• Send quick confirmations of RSVPs
• Set up reminders for events to happen automatically
• Give out maps of the event site or links to the webinars.

Example of automation: “Hi [Name], your registration for [Event] is confirmed.”

We’ll send you a reminder with the access URL 24 hours before the event!

This keeps your guests up to date and cuts down on people who don’t show up.

Step 4: Get people involved during the event

WhatsApp can be a great way to get people involved throughout the event:

• Send live updates, like “The session starts in 10 minutes!”
• Use polls or Q&A forms to get real-time input.
• Help people who are having trouble getting in by offering assistance chat.

This real-time communication makes it easier for people to take part in virtual events and maintains the enthusiasm level high.

Step 5: Set up automatic follow-ups for webinars or events

Don’t let the connection evaporate after the event.

You can use automated follow-ups for webinars or messages after the event to:

• Say thank you and share the best parts or recordings.
• Ask for feedback with quick questionnaires
• Give discounts or invitations to events in the future

Example message:

“Hi [Name], thanks for coming to [Event]! 💚

This is your private replay link: [Link] Do you want to get updates about our future session?

This easy follow-up plan will help you keep leads and attendance for your next event.

A Music Festival in Real Life: How It Increased Attendance by 40%

WhatsApp Business API was used by a well-known Indian music festival to make ticketing and updates easier.

What they did was:

• Used Click-to-WhatsApp advertisements to get people to sign up right from Instagram.
• Sent out automatic confirmations of tickets and modifications to the schedule.
• Made a WhatsApp broadcast group for VIP guests to get announcements in real time.

The outcome: 

✅ 40% more people came, 

✅ 65% more people were interested than in email campaigns, and 

people were happier with the event (as shown by WhatsApp feedback forms)

Important Reasons to Use WhatsApp for Event Marketing

1. More Engagement: Because WhatsApp is direct, people will see and read your messages.
2. Instant Communication: Send updates or emergency notifications to all attendees right away.
3. Automation at Scale: Use WhatsApp Business API to easily manage thousands of participants.
4. Make your brand more human by having one-on-one conversations with customers.
5. Better ROI: Spend less on marketing and get more people to sign up for your events.

What to do and what not to do when marketing events on WhatsApp

To make sure your campaigns work and follow the rules:

Before sending out promotional communications, always acquire permission. Use approved templates for event reminders and confirmations. Make sure your messages are short, visual, and interesting.

✅ Send distinct messages to different groups of people, including attendees, VIPs, or speakers.

✔️ Keep track of things like the open rate, response rate, and conversion rate of your messages.

Questions and Answers About WhatsApp for Marketing Events

1. Is it possible to deliver a lot of event updates on WhatsApp?

Yes, you can deliver updates to thousands of people at once with WhatsApp Business API or automation solutions like Wbotz, while still making the experience personal.

2. How do I get people to sign up for updates on my WhatsApp events?

You can utilize QR codes, Click-to-WhatsApp advertising, or sign-up forms that let people choose to join your WhatsApp list.

3. Is it feasible to send follow-ups to webinars automatically?

Yes, of course! After your webinar, you may set up WhatsApp automation to send thank-you messages, links to replays, or feedback forms on its own.

4. Is it possible to use WhatsApp instead of email for event marketing?

Not completely, but it can help. Use email for official correspondence and WhatsApp for reminders and real-time conversations.

5. Is it safe to use WhatsApp to promote events?

Yes. Your campaigns are completely safe and legal as long as you follow WhatsApp’s rules for commercial communication and use approved tools.

Conclusion: Use WhatsApp to make your next event one that people will never forget.

WhatsApp for events marketing cuts through the noise of all the alerts individuals get these days by letting people talk to each other directly.

WhatsApp can help you get people excited about your event, get more people to come, and make it a success story.

So, if you want to take your event marketing to the next level, start using WhatsApp right away to get people interested, remind them, and turn them into customers.