Our tips for Event Organisers

With Running Calendars in NZ, Australia, Ireland and UK, we see a lot of events and in all different shapes and sizes. We've seen the good, the bad and some in between.

Here are our suggestions for event organisers to help maximise your event’s potential.

Do...

Have a website/webpage (if your budget allows) - this makes it easier for people to find your event

  • If you have an existing website (e.g. for athletic/running clubs), create a dedicated webpage for your event
  • Update/re-use the same page for the next event - don’t create a new page each year
  • Make sure it looks OK when viewing on mobile devices
  • Remove any "Cobwebs" - this is any old information, reviews and dates that are no longer relevant
  • If you have to set up a new page (or change the URL link) - set up a redirect from the old page to the new page. The search engines will be happier and anyone who has bookmarked the old page.

Display all key information clearly on the website home/webpage page

  • Date (including the year) - In a prominent position, not hidden in small text in the top corner of the page
  • Location - Include region/state if you want out of town entries
  • Registration link/button or status (e.g. opening soon) - If the link is for an external website, it should open in a new tab so the visitor can easily get back to your website
  • Event blurb - keep this short but include highlights, terrain, selling points
  • Distance options
  • Start venue and time

Check & test that...

  • The registration link is correct - we often see old links that haven’t been updated or links that contain mistakes so they don’t work
  • The date and registration link has been updated in ALL areas on the website/webpage
  • The day of the week matches the date - you'd be surprised how often we see this

Keep it simple...

  • Use bullet points or summaries - these are best for reading on screens
  • Put finer details into an FAQs section/area
  • Consider your potential entrants when writing about your event - what will be important to them?

If you are relying on Facebook only*

  • On your Facebook page - If there is a date mentioned in the About section - keep this updated. It is the first thing people will see and old “cobwebs” don’t make a good impression
  • Create a Facebook event from your Facebook page - Include the same information as you would on a website/webpage
  • Pin important posts about the event to the top of your page
  • View your page as a visitor from time to time to see what the public can/can't see

*We do not recommend Facebook as a replacement for a website. It will limit the event's reach and exposure across younger age brackets.

Avoid...

Only displaying the event date in an image on your website/webpage

  • Search engines (and Running Calendar) cannot pick up information that is embedded in an image
  • Make sure it is also included in text somewhere on the page

Showing an event countdown without including the actual event date

  • No one wants to have to figure it out themselves - don't make it hard!

Long winded tracts of text on your website

  • People won't read it

Not displaying key information

  • You'll increase your admin having to reply to people asking simple information

Using Facebook as the primary form of important communication about your event

  • Not everyone following your page will see your posts
  • Not everyone uses Facebook - especially those under 30 years
  • If you have a website - make sure important updates are also made on the website (especially new event dates and postponements/cancellations)