Ideas to increase attendance at resident socials

Hello all, looking for ideas to increase attendance at resident socials. Currently sending out newsletters and posting reminders at the entrance of each building the week of the event. Tomorrow we will start an email blast and posting it as a Facebook event. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Also would love to hear how you encourage people to sign up in advance for events with food? Thank you!

Door prize tickets for early sign up

Maybe the residents want a different type of social, or time/day.

Call them the day prior to event or personally email each one. Sometimes an individual phone call or email makes them feel more important and that they have to attend.

I use flyers/facebook/email blast reminder a few days ahead of event. Send a survey to your residents asking what events would interest them. when you hold the event thank them on facebook for the awesome idea.

I'm would survey the residents to ask what type of socials they'd like to have.

How about text them the invites and reminders? Reported increase in attendance for members using Hello Resident marketing!

If you feed them, they will come! I had great turn out sending 3 reminders week of event and had free food.

Survey monkey asking what they want and what days work best, order food for 80% of attendance

Drawings for prizes; must be present to win.

Rent to more retired folks, they love events.

Do you have signs you can put out at the entrances that say resident event today? You can put balloons on them too, to get their attention. I also try to remind them when they come in to the office to drop off rent or put in a work order.

Put notices in mail boxes and on each residents door

Start with an interesting, popular event theme! Hands down, every time a door hanger two days before the event gets the most response.

So much to say! I always suggest conducting a resident survey and asking them an open ended question asking their ideas for events they would like to attend.
Also, events aren’t 100% about the turnout. It’s marketing. You want to promote it everywhere, well before the event, while at the event post on social how much you all are having, and then talk about how much fun it was. (Pretend like it was a packed house no matter what.)
Remember our residents are just as busy as we are. So, they might see the posts and info but have plans. FOMO is real.
There is value in this.

Place flyers door to door the night or day before.

RSVP possibility

Serve alcohol, (in moderation of course) and you provide the food.. Most residents feel they pay too much in rent anyway so why should I provide food. You can also invite future move in's to join in as well. Those who are 30 to 60 days so they feel included in the community.

I’ve seen success with contests. In garden style, the building with most residents in attendance wins something fun (even just bragging rights on social media could be enough). We also had building ambassadors who helped knock on doors before party started as a way to remind people (reminded me of dorm life. It was a younger demographic). In a high rise, maybe it’s a contest by floor. Advance notice and Day- of -Signage is definitely important. I also had a property where we planned our events for the entire year and gave a calendar as a New Year’s gift with the parties already on the calendar (they all had a theme too). Finally, dog friendly events had the best turnout ever! Pet costume contests, best trick, etc.

Have vendors sponsor prizes and those that are planning to attend should sign up. Attendance would be required to win the prizes.

You might want to rethink having one big event that will draw a huge crowd. Think about smaller events that appeal to different interests. A pet party for residents with pets. A game night or card party, a wine tasting hosted by a local wine store. If you have a lot of baby boomers in your community consider opportunities for giving back to the community. It is not a one size fits all. Ask them what they like and build on that.

I found promoting 3 weeks a head of time with all possible means of communication. Giveaways always make it more appealing. Recognize the last event and the winners and prizes in newsletter, send hand written thank you cards for participating. Send "We missed you" letters to residents that didn't participate on next announcement of upcoming events. I had nice signs to place at entrance counting down days starting at 3 days a way, 2, 1 and Today or tonight. Always include time and dates. People are very busy there days and they sometimes forget...reminders always help. Ask a neighbor to bring a neighbor.

We made a deal with local pizza vendors and started giving out free pizzas dinner. They had to sign up in advance but its amazing how many actually do. Our teams hand deliver them to their doors!

It's not a typical social but has been a GREAT retention tool!!

I recently read in an article that you can use evite.com to invite your entire community where they can RSVP to help you get a better headcount. Good luck!