One of the most common complaints I hear from vendors is that an event did not get enough foot traffic. When turnout is low, vendors often feel the organizer did not do enough to market the event.
To avoid that problem, you need to start marketing well before event day and use more than one channel to reach people.
Marketing should begin several weeks before your event and continue right up until opening day. You do not need a huge advertising budget either. Vendors, social media, community groups, local organizations, and your own website can all help bring more people to your market.
Below are seven ways to market your vendor event and give more people a reason to show up.
1. Post Your Event on Social Media
One of the easiest free ways to market your vendor event is by posting consistently on social media.
You can use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and others depending on the type of audience you want to reach. Each platform can work differently.
For example, Facebook may work better for an established farmers market with an older audience, while Instagram or TikTok may work better for a Thursday night market, food event, or market trying to reach a younger demographic.
Do not rely on one post. Share vendor announcements, food vendors, event details, behind-the-scenes content, countdown posts, and reminders leading up to the event.
2. Run Paid Social Media Ads
Not every vendor market has the budget to run paid ads, but if you do, they can help put your event in front of more people locally.
We recommend starting ads about a week before the event, then increasing your budget during the final day or two when people are deciding what they want to do that weekend.
Test different ads instead of running one version the entire time. You can test different photos, videos, headlines, and audiences to see what gets the most attention.
From what we have seen, Facebook and Instagram tend to work well for advertising local events because you can target people based on where they live.
3. Ask Your Vendors to Share the Event
One of the most effective tactics I have seen is asking vendors to help market the event.
Vendors already have their own customers and social media followers. In some cases, people attend a market specifically because they want to buy from a vendor they already know.
Make it easy for vendors to share the event. Send them a flyer, event link, graphics, and a short caption they can copy and post.
You can also tag vendors when you announce them on your own social media. Many will repost it to their audience, which gives your event more exposure without spending more money on advertising.
4. Contact Your Local Chamber of Commerce
Your local chamber of commerce may be willing to help share events that bring people into the community.
Some chambers have event calendars, newsletters, social media pages, or community boards where you can submit your vendor market.
In some cases, they may post your event for free. Others may charge a fee depending on the type of promotion.
It is still worth reaching out. Send them your event date, location, flyer, website, and a short description so they have everything they need to share it.
5. Work With Local Content Creators
You do not need to hire someone with hundreds of thousands of followers.
A local creator with a smaller audience in your city may be much more useful because their followers are close enough to attend.
Look for people who post about:
- Local food
- Family activities
- Things to do
- Small businesses
- Shopping
- Community events
Invite them to your event or ask if they would be interested in posting about it beforehand.
You can also give them a list of vendors, food options, activities, and other details they can turn into content.
6. Use SEO to Get Found on Google
People actively search Google for things to do and local events, including searches like:
- Farmers markets this weekend
- Vendor markets this weekend
- Craft fairs this weekend
- etc…
That is why every vendor event should have its own public event page.
Your page should include the event name, city, venue, date, hours, vendor details, photos, parking information, and anything else someone may want to know before deciding to attend.
If your market happens regularly, keep the page live and update it with the next event date instead of deleting it after each market. Over time, that page has a better chance of being found for local event searches.
You can also publish content around your local market scene, such as guides to farmers markets, vendor events, weekend events, or things to do in your city. These pages can introduce people to your event before they even know your market exists.
With Marketlly, you can create a public event page for your market without building one from scratch. Marketlly event pages are structured to help search engines and AI search tools understand important event details like the location, date, vendor information, and event type.
7. Use Local Signs and QR Codes
Digital marketing should not be your only source of attendance.
Post flyers and signs in places your audience already visits.
Depending on the event, this may include:
- Coffee shops
- Restaurants
- Gyms
- Libraries
- Local stores
Add a QR code that sends people directly to your event page.
Keep the destination useful. Someone scanning the code should immediately see the event date, location, hours, vendors, and any admission information.
For recurring markets, signs near the venue can also help residents remember when the next market is happening.
Start Marketing Before the Week of Your Event
Do not wait until a few days before your vendor market to start telling people about it.
Start several weeks ahead.
Post your event publicly, give vendors material they can share, submit it to community calendars, contact local organizations, publish your event page, and gradually increase your social posts as the date gets closer.
The more places people see your market before event day, the more chances they have to remember it, share it, and make plans to attend.