David Linck
If you’re planning a retail event but are not sure how to promote it effectively, you’re not alone. On top of balancing logistics, staff, and product discounts, managing a marketing campaign without a team or a large budget can be a daunting task.
That’s where having an all-in-one event marketing tool can come in handy. Whether you’re just planning your upcoming event or ready to launch your promotional campaign, we’ll break down the 5 best marketing tools to help make your next retail event a success.
Why Retailers Need an Event Marketing Tool
Leveraging an event marketing tool is a convenient way for retailers to better plan and manage upcoming events. Not only does it streamline the workload, but it’s also an effective tool for increasing customer engagement and boosting online visibility.
Whether you’re planning to host a product launch or a holiday sale, an event marketing tool is packed with built-in features that can help you better promote your event. Some features to look out for include:
- Post scheduler
- Sign-up forms
- Design templates
- Email marketing
Best of all, you don’t need a large budget or any prior experience to use an event marketing tool. So long as you understand your specific marketing goals, you simply need to select a tool that best matches your retail event’s specific needs.
The Best Free Event Marketing Tools for Retailers
From platform-specific marketing tools like Facebook Events to all-in-one solutions with free event flyer templates like PosterMyWall, here is a quick guide to the best event marketing tools online:
- Eventbrite
Overview
Eventbrite is a popular event management platform used by businesses and organizers to manage event registrations and ticket sales. With Eventbrite, users can create a dedicated event page and have access to a digital ticket management tool ideal for large events.
Pricing plans (per month)
- Pro 2K plan ($15): Up to 2,000 marketing emails per day
- Pro 6K plan ($50): Up to 6,000 marketing emails per day
- Pro 10K plan ($100): Up to 10,000 marketing emails per day
Key features
- Event management
- Event promotion
- Reports & insights
- Payments
- Integrations
- AI tools
Why it’s great for retailers
Eventbrite can be a great tool for retail events due to its built-in RSVP and ticket management tool. This can be especially helpful for large-scale events that require close attendance tracking.
- Mailchimp
Overview
Mailchimp is an email marketing platform specifically designed for creating email campaigns, automating workflows, and managing subscriber lists.
Pricing plans (per month)
- Free: Up to 250 contacts
- Essentials (Starts at $13): Up to 500 contacts
- Standard (Starts at $20): Up to 500 contacts
- Premium (Starts at $350): Up to 500 contacts
Key features
- Custom-coded email templates
- Email scheduling
- Generative AI
- Role-based access
- 300+ integrations
Why it’s great for retailers
Mailchimp is an ideal tool for retailers who want to focus on sending high-quality and professional email campaigns to promote an upcoming event. Users can easily send event reminders and deliver post-event follow-ups using Mailchimp’s drag-and-drop interface.
- Buffer
Overview
Buffer is a user-friendly social media management tool that helps users with scheduling, publishing, and tracking posts across social media platforms.
Pricing plans (per month)
- Free
- Essentials ($6)
- Team ($12)
Key features
- AI assistant
- Browser extension
- Scheduled posts
- Visual content calendar
- First comment scheduling
Why it’s great for retailers
Buffer is a great tool for retailers in need of a basic management tool for building event anticipation on social media. While it’s less ideal for managing RSVPs, Buffer is a great tool for scheduling and planning social media event marketing content.
- Facebook Events
Overview
Facebook Events is a built-in tool that businesses can use on Facebook and Instagram. With Facebook Events, businesses can easily interact with attendees and share event details online.
Pricing plans
- Paid Online Events: Customizable
- Facebook Event Ads: Customizable
Key features
- Check RSVPs
- Share event information
- Manage recurring events
- Sell tickets on Facebook
- Insights tool
Why it’s great for retailers
Facebook Events can be a handy tool for promoting retail events on social media due to its integration with Facebook and Instagram. Retail businesses can easily build online engagement and manage RSVP lists without having to download an external tool.
- PosterMyWall
Overview
PosterMyWall is an all-in-one social media management, email marketing, and design tool in one convenient platform. PosterMyWall is especially ideal for small retail businesses in need of an accessible and user-friendly marketing tool for retail events.
Pricing plans (per month)
- Free
- Premium ($9.95)
- Premium Plus ($29.95)
Key features
- 1 million+ design templates
- Create sign-up forms
- Brand Kits
- Event pages
- Design social media posts
- Content Planner
- Email marketing
Why it’s great for retailers
With its various all-in-one marketing features, PosterMyWall is one of the best event marketing tools for retailers. Not only is it ideal for creating high-quality promotional graphics, but it can also be used for attendance tracking, post-event email campaigns, and social media management.
The Best Event Marketing Tools for Retailers: Pros and Cons
Still confused about which tool is best for marketing your retail event? Here’s a quick pros and cons breakdown table of the top event marketing tools online:
| Eventbrite | Mailchimp | Buffer | Facebook Events | PosterMyWall | |
| Pros | ✅Easy event setup tool ✅Calendar integration ✅Free plan available | ✅Ideal for sending event invitations ✅Countdown reminders feature ✅Post-event follow-ups tool | ✅Built-in visual planner ✅Social media post scheduler ✅Basic analytics tool available | ✅Ideal for Facebook and Instagram promotion ✅Mostly free ✅Event features easily integrate with users’ Facebook feeds | ✅All-in-one event marketing that’s user-friendly ✅Easy-to-navigate interface and affordable pricing plans ✅Contains built-in social media management, email marketing, and design tools |
| Cons | ❌Watermark on free version ❌May be overkill for basic event needs ❌Not ideal for recurring events | ❌Limited free plan ❌The analytics tool is mostly limited to email campaigns only ❌Can get pricey for recurring events | ❌Limited social media engagement tools ❌Limited event-specific tools ❌Basic analytics only | ❌Event marketing is mostly limited to Facebook and Instagram ❌No email marketing feature ❌Limited analytics feature | ❌Limited integrations with other tools |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best event marketing tool for small businesses?
While it will depend on your specific needs, one of the most recommended event marketing tools for small businesses is PosterMyWall. Aside from its user-friendly and easy-to-navigate interface, PosterMyWall offers a wide variety of marketing and design features that retailers can use to successfully market an upcoming event. Not to mention, PosterMyWall offers highly affordable paid plans with a free 14-day trial for new users.
What is the best way for retailers to send post-event follow-ups?
Aside from social media DMs and SMS marketing, the best way for retailers to send post-event follow-ups is via automated email campaigns. While the content itself can vary, using a handy email marketing tool like PosterMyWall is a great way to design email campaigns with personalized subject lines and ready-made templates.
What is the biggest advantage of using a free event marketing tool?
The biggest advantage of using a free event marketing tool for retail events is avoiding the costs of hiring a professional marketing agent or team. Not only is it free, but using an event marketing tool is highly convenient for busy retail business owners who have to oversee all the inner workings of an upcoming event.
Set for Your Next Event?
Leveraging free event marketing tools is a cost-efficient and proven way to better manage retail events without spending a fortune. After all, whoever said that retail marketing has to be expensive?
Whether you’re aiming to focus on boosting your email campaign strategy or managing your attendees, try out one of these free marketing tools today and start generating buzz for your upcoming retail event.
