Instagram has become, by far, one of the most effective tools for social media event marketing. The platform gives organizers access to a massive and highly engaged audience. Its visual format, interactive features, and advanced targeting tools make it perfect for building hype, driving ticket sales, and keeping attendees engaged before, during, and after an event. 

However, posting randomly won’t cut it; you need a strategy. In this helpful guide, we’ll discuss how to promote an event using proven strategies that maximize Instagram’s potential for your event marketing.

What are the tried-and-tested Instagram event marketing startegies?

1) Post consistent, high-quality visuals

Your Instagram feed is essentially your event’s storefront. If your posts look scattered and low-quality, people may assume your event will be the same. 

Go for high-resolution, branded visuals with a consistent color palette that aligns with your event’s theme. For example, if you’re hosting a live music night, use bold, vibrant colors and dynamic imagery that reflect the energy and excitement of the night. For a corporate conference, on the other hand, you should opt for sleek, minimalistic designs instead. 

PosterMyWall makes it easy to design professional event graphics. Choose from the thousands of Instagram post templates, and customize them by adding your brand logo, images, and marketing messages. Then you can publish or schedule them to your Instagram directly from PosterMyWall. 

2) Use a mix of branded and relevant hashtags

Hashtags increase discoverability, but the key is using the right mix. 

Create a branded hashtag unique to your event, such as #NYCFoodFest2025, and use it in all posts so that anyone who clicks on it can find all your event promotion-related content in one place.

Pair this with industry-relevant hashtags like #FoodiesOfNY to reach new audiences. Research trending hashtags in your niche using Twitter and TikTok to tap into broader conversations. For instance, a charity marathon might use #RunForACause alongside its branded hashtag to maximize reach and attract participants outside its immediate circle.

3) Share your event page to boost RSVPs

Visibility is meaningless if your followers don’t know where to sign up for your event. 

Using PosterMyWall Events, you can create an event landing page in minutes, no coding required. You just need to specify the following, and your event landing pages will be good to go:

• The date and venue of your event
• Graphics/template for the landing page
• Event description
• Organizer details 
• Guest information that you want to collect 

Once your page is live, you can use it to create an Instagram post. Also, share your event landing page’s link in your posts, Stories, and even your Instagram bio. Use captions like “Tap the link in bio to RSVP!” to direct your audience to sign up.

If you have 10k+ followers, you can create Swipe Up links in Stories and save these Stories as highlights on your profile. 

You can also send reminder emails to the registrants using your PosterMyWall event landing page.

4) Share behind-the-scenes, teasers, and countdown posts

Get your audience excited for your event by sharing teasers and behind-the-scenes glimpses. 

Share snippets of the event setup and décor, or short interviews with performers and speakers. For instance, a concert organizer could post a 15-second Reel of the stage being built with a caption like, “Only 3 days left. Get your hands on tickets now before they run out!” 

Pair teasers with countdown posts and add Instagram’s countdown sticker in Stories to build anticipation. 

5) Collaborate with online ticketing platforms

Save your audience from the hassle of standing in long queues for tickets on the day of the event. Collaborate with an online ticketing platform to make purchasing tickets convenient for your attendees. 

Every promotional post should include a clear CTA such as “Book your tickets now,” “Get your early bird pass,” or “Don’t miss out! Only 50 seats left.” Place the ticket link in your bio and use a link-in-bio tool (like Linktree) if you’re juggling multiple links. Combine this with persuasive copy. For example, “Early bird tickets are selling fast. Secure yours before prices go up!” 

You can also add a QR  code with the link to the ticketing platform to your event landing page, posters, and flyers.

6) Run targeted Instagram ads

While organic reach is valuable, paid ads help you boost visibility faster.

Instagram ads allow you to target audiences based on location, age, interests, and even past online behavior. Use eye-catching visuals and short video teasers for the best results. 

Instagram also offers analytics, so you can track which ad creatives generate the most clicks and end or extend your campaign accordingly.

7) Invite influencers and guest speakers

Influencer and guest collaborations add credibility to your event and help tap into new audiences. 

If you’re hosting a wellness retreat, invite a yoga influencer to do a Story takeover where they share their excitement about attending. For a conference, ask keynote speakers to post about the event on their own accounts. These endorsements expand reach while building trust—if an audience sees someone they admire attending your event, they’ll be more inclined to check it out. Even micro-influencers with smaller but highly engaged followings can make a big impact.

8) Create engaging Reels with trending audio

Reels are one of the fastest-growing content types on Instagram, often outperforming static posts in reach and engagement by a big margin. 

Use trending sounds and transitions to create scroll-stopping reels. The topics could range from event trailers, last year’s highlights, or interviews with guests. For example, if you’re promoting a DJ night, a Reel with fast-paced transitions of the DJ mixing tracks, the crowd dancing, and flashing lights can go viral when paired with trending audio.

9) Use Stories with interactive stickers

Instagram Stories are perfect for building engagement, so your event stays top-of-mind for audiences. 

Features like polls, quizzes, and question stickers allow followers to interact with your brand. For instance, if you’re hosting a concert, post a Story poll asking, “Which song are you most looking forward to hearing?”.

10) Host contests and giveaways

Contests are a proven way to generate buzz. After all, who doesn’t want some discounts and freebies? 

Offer free tickets, early access, or exclusive merchandise to encourage participation. One way to run the giveaway would be to ask participants to repost the event post for a chance to win VIP seats. Then you can use an online lucky draw website to choose the winner.

Alternatively, you can create an interactive post where the winner is randomly selected from the people with the best comments (e.g., “Caption this. Wrong descriptions only!”). Giveaways incentivize people to spread the word, increasing your reach exponentially. 

To maximize results, tie contests to user-generated content, such as asking participants to share why they’re excited about the event using your branded hashtag.

11) Repost user-generated content and share event highlights

The conversation doesn’t stop once the event ends. Encourage attendees to post photos and videos during the event, then repost them on your Stories or feed. 

This not only showcases your event’s success but also builds trust for future promotions. For example, a brand hosting a product launch could share attendees’ Stories trying out the new product. Afterwards, create story highlights showcasing key moments, like speeches, performances, or audience reactions, to keep the buzz alive long after the event is over.

12) Win at Instagram event promotion

Instagram is a powerful marketing platform that can transform how you promote your events. 

By combining visual storytelling, interactive Instagram features, and audience-driven engagement, you can significantly boost event attendance. Each tactic helps build excitement at different stages of the event lifecycle. 

Start creating your Instagram marketing strategy to turn your event into a sold-out success.

FAQs

How far in advance should I start promoting my event on Instagram?

Ideally, you should begin promoting your event at least 4–6 weeks in advance. Start with teaser posts, then gradually increase frequency with countdowns, behind-the-scenes content, and ticket reminders as the event date approaches. Utilize PosterMyWall’s Content Planner to create and schedule posts in advance.

Can I track the performance of the Instagram posts I published using PosterMyWall? 

Yes, you can view performance insights like the impressions, reach, likes, comments, shares, and saves of your Instagram posts.

How can I promote my event landing page?

You can embed your event landing page and event schedule on your website, share its link on other platforms, use it to create flyers, send it via email, and create social media posts with it.
 

How can I manage my event landing page created with PosterMyWall?

PosterMyWall allows you to create and edit event sign-up forms, check registrations, and send reminder emails to event registrants.