Looking to increase brand awareness during the holiday season and into the New Year? Entertainment marketing ideas that promote brand awareness are plenty, but which ones actually make a splash? Let’s review six event marketing strategies that have proven to aid marketing efforts:

1) Use an Event Hashtag

Hashtags are an important new way to gain social followers and generate brand awareness. Create an event hashtag and promote the heck out of it. Use it in all tweets, Instagram and Facebook posts, emails, SMS messages and blog posts. Add it to event flyers and brochures, and don’t forget to tell your event speakers, partners and sponsors to mention it when discussing the event or anything related to it.

2) Contact Top Influencers

Use sites such as Topsy and Tame.it to find influencers relevant to the event you’re hosting/participating in. Contact them via email and social media, such as LinkedIn; follow them on Twitter or comment on Facebook posts. Ask influencers if they’ve heard of your event and get their opinions, or offer free event promotion if they’ll do the same. Always remember to ask how you can add value to their brands, which will help them discover the value in cross-promoting your event.

3) Comment on Popular Blogs

Become active on popular blogs frequented by potential event attendees and create a team that routinely leaves comments on your event’s behalf. Answer questions on sites such as Quora, and regularly contribute to LinkedIn groups. Capitalize on blog commentary by writing a 500-1,000-word guest post and sending it to favorite blogs. Target relevant sites you’ve been active on to increase publishing chances. Such activity raises your social profile, generates new friends and followers, and ultimately attracts more people to events.

4) Text Marketing

Use SMS texting to blast the event to opted-in event-goers. Partner with fellow event companies and mobile marketing vendors to build your text list and reach potentially interested mobile users in your demographic and region. Segment text marketing lists to those who have expressed interests in different event genres, age ranges, etc.

5) Utilize Real-Time Event Tracking

Implementing GPS and real-time event tracking is a powerful event marketing strategy that allows event managers to monitor what users are clicking on and reading when visiting a website or mobile app. Try posting event videos and determining how much play they receive. This insight to visitor behavior allows event managers to adjust publishing tactics and make content more relevant and compelling.

6) Cross-Promote

Get in touch with other event partners or sponsors to determine ways you can help each other promote events. The power of reciprocity is strong when promoting any brand.