Promoting your Discover Sailing Event

Stage 1: Listing Your Event

The first place people will go for information and to get a feel for your event, is your website. Therefore, it’s important that your content is easy to find and presents key details in an understandable way.

Images and graphic assets help grab attention, so make sure your images reflect what your events about and that you have permission from those in the photos to use them.

Stage 2: Spreading the word 

Alongside your website, consider how your audience hears news from you and pick the appropriate channel to speak to them. For example, via social media, newsletters or email.

When sharing news about your event on social media, make sure it contains key details and links back to your event page. Consider using eye catching images and graphics, and use hashtags to further amplify your posts such as #DiscoverSailing.

If you’re using email, newsletter or e-newsletter communication, make it clear and contain key event information, with links back to your site.

Tell your members about Discover Sailing and get them to bring non-sailing friends and family along! Advertise your Discover Sailing event in your club or centre newsletters or send an e-newsletter about your Discover Sailing event to each member so they can forward on to friends and family.

Stage 3: Wider Promotion 

Consider displaying an eye-catching PVC banner to advertise your event. It doesn’t have to be right outside your venue, but make sure you position it in a prominent location where lots of people will see it.

Distributing posters, postcards, and leaflets are also another great way to reach your local community. Local newspapers and radio stations also love a local community story, especially if free or low-cost sailing and watersports taster sessions are on offer

Consider issuing an informative press release ahead of your event. Make it enticing to convince prospective sailors to come to attend. Our press release template can be found here (link) 

During your event, have a camera at the ready to capture some great pictures and videos of people enjoying the event to share with your followers. These images can also be used to promote any future events you may hold.

Stage 4: Follow Up:

To extend the impact of the event and maintain momentum consider sending a post-event press release and photos to local media.

Include details of how great the event was, what people did, and how they felt about their experience. Tell the story of the day through participant quotes and avoid technical jargon. Tell readers how to get involved, what’s coming up next, and how to contact the club.

Reach out to visitors within a few days while the experience is fresh in their minds. Let them know about upcoming social or sailing activities and remind them of special offers.

Evaluate the event with your team and volunteers, identifying what worked and what could be improved for next year. Collect stories and photos (with permission) of people who return for courses or membership!

Send feedback on participant numbers to the RYA and evaluate the provided support. (do we still want feedback?)

If you have any questions or would like more advice, email discoversailing@rya.org.uk and one of the team will get back to you.

Activators Checklist