Create a Facebook Event
Since this is the most widely used social media platform, it’s the best place to start. You can also use the wording and graphics used here on other advertising for the same event.
Your goal, in the description, is to very briefly describe the event and invite people to join you. Wording should be brief and create excitement. Don’t forget to use a good graphic. Affiliate members should be reminded to click “going,” invite friends, and share each event.
The event should be shared on the county page twice weekly until the week of the event. The week of the event, it should be shared daily. Shares are most effective before people go to work (7-8am) and after they get home and have settled in (7:30-9pm).
Make sure to tag the state party in the post to get it shared or contact the state social media team.
Also, tag liberty leaders in your area, other local affiliates and candidates, activist pages with common goals, and the page of the venue where the event will be held. Remember, if the venue is selling something like food or drinks, it’s in their best interest to help promote your event.
Share the events in local groups weekly. Join local event and activism groups.
Finally, once you have contributions in the bank, you can also pay to promote your event. This is a bit of an art. You have to be careful who and what area you target, how long you run the ad, and make sure the ad actually gets run effectively. However, if done right it can get you a ton of exposure in your community you wouldn’t otherwise get. Whoever actually posts the ad will have to get specially verified by Facebook to run political advertisements, which involves their getting snail mail confirming their address, scanning their driver’s license, and a few other steps – so make sure to do it plenty in advance if you plan to. Other social media managers in the state party can help you get all these details sorted out.
Don’t get overwhelmed. You can schedule posts for weeks in advance, and don’t forget to share the responsibility.
Inform the Media
Write a press release. Formatting and professionalism matter, so it’s best to use a template on an official LPMO letterhead. Writing a good press release is an art so do your research and don’t be afraid to ask for help from other party members.
When you send out the press release, it’s best to send it directly to each individual news outlet rather than CC’ing multiple outlets. Also, try to pick a specific journalist. Many outlets have someone listed as a political correspondent or something similar. You’ll find that it’s also helpful to do a follow-call. If you sent your email to Joe Politics at WWAY your call could go something like this:
“Hi, Joe. It’s Bill from the Libertarian Party of Kansas City. I sent you an email yesterday about our upcoming event. I just wanted to make sure you got it and invite you to come out yourself.”
Also, many news outlets have community event calendars. Don’t forget to post your event there.
Other Outlets
Meetup.com is a great platform to let others know about your event, but it does cost money. Free classified sites like Craigslist.com and Nextdoor.com have categories like Politics, Events, Groups, and Local News that are all appropriate places to share information about your event. You can even use the same wording and graphics you used in your facebook event and provide a link to the event.
Contact Members
A quick text or phone call to active members is always a great idea. For those you don’t have time to contact by phone, send out an email. You can also contact your state affiliate and ask for an email or text blast.
Local Organizations
Contact local organizations that share common goals or interests. Also, contact local organizations with opposing goals and interests. Other Liberty-focused organizations, other political organizations, and single-issue activist organizations are ripe with people who already want to be involved and are active in changing their community. If you can work together, GREAT! If you can’t, best to get to know them early on. Good examples of sympathetic local organizations might be branches of NORML, Campaign for Liberty, Young Americans for Liberty, Students for Liberty, Missouri Rights Restoration Coalition, and many others.
Colleges
Your local colleges may have a community events page on their website or a list of student organizations. You can post your event and contact student organizations that may be interested in your event, but the best way to reach college students is on campus. If you have the manhours, visit your local campuses with handouts and a signup sheet to be contacted for future events. Once you have a foothold, you might even be able to establish a “Young Libertarians” student group guided by a sympathetic professor, or work with existing nonpartisan groups like Young Americans for Liberty or Students for Liberty.
Businesses
Is your event or meetup centered around a specific industry? Maybe you’re working on legislation that affects local bar owners, farmers or welders. Invite them. Ask them to put up a flyer. Libertarians and small business owners have many mutual interests. Make it work for you.