The Charity Commission recently released new draft guidance on social media use for charities and invites Charitable organisations, including leisure...
Marketing is a broad term and covers a huge range of activities. From researching potential audiences to composing social media posts, choosing your group's 'brand colours' to deciding on ticket prices: these activities all feed into how your group is seen; how potential members, audiences and supporters feel about it; and whether they decide to engage with you.
Branding
Your branding is instrumental in the way that your group is perceived. Whatever someone sees when they come across your group online or offline will leave an impression of who you are and what your story is. Creating a strong and consistent brand allows people to connect with you.
Marketing your events
You’ve practiced all year for an upcoming performance and now you need to sell some tickets. Who are your audience? How do you define and represent what will happen at your event? How do you get it out there to as many people as possible? Marketing your event doesn’t have to be a daunting process by just following a simple organised plan to spread the word.
Member recruitment
Most groups go through stages where it is important to recruit new members, but they also find that this can sometimes be a challenge! Before putting your group out there and advertising for new members to join, it is important to first decide on how you will manage the logistics of the recruitment process and how to establish or protect your group’s culture.
Online marketing
Your website, social media and email marketing will all play a crucial role in getting your group known. With 91% of adults checking their emails at least once a day, this could be your most fruitful way of communicating what you need to with your audiences. Social media channels can be incredibly useful in finding new audiences and attracting younger generations.
Resources (available for Making Music members)
Branding
Marketing your events
- Marketing your events: A step-by-step guide
- Free event poster templates
- Top five tips for designing posters
- Should your group be using online ticketing?
- Discounts on online ticketing
- Ticket pricing case study
- Where to go to list your events online
Email marketing
- Top tips for email marketing, part 1: Getting started and building a list
- Top tips for email marketing, part 2: Building a great email
Creating visual assets for marketing
Data Protection responsibilities
Social media
- How to get started with social media
- Top tips for social media (general)
- Tips for managing an engaging Facebook page
- The rule of thirds
Website design
- Top tips for designing a website for your group, part 1: Planning
- Top tips for designing a website for your group, part 2: Design and Copy
- Top tips for designing a website for your group, part 3: Visibility
- How to make your group easy to find online with SEO
- Website health check
- MM Platform
Press
Member recruitment and audience development
- Recruitment toolkit
- Starting a new group: Finding members and creating a culture
- Member recruitment case study: Aldworth Philharmonic
- Audience development case study: Bristol Choral Society
We hope you find this Making Music resource useful. If you have any comments or suggestions about the guidance please contact us. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the content of this guidance is accurate and up to date, Making Music do not warrant, nor accept any liability or responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of the content, or for any loss which may arise from reliance on the information contained in it.
