Short answer: most corporate events are filled by direct invitations to people you already know, not by broad advertising. Build one clear event page, send a planned sequence of invitations and reminders, use LinkedIn if your guests are business people, and follow Singapore’s rules on marketing messages. Plan the follow-up before the event, because that’s where most of the value comes from.
Start with who you’re inviting
| Audience | Main channel | What works |
|---|---|---|
| Your own staff | Internal email, managers, intranet or chat groups | Early save-the-date, a clear reason to attend, reminders from their own managers |
| Clients and partners | Personal email from the person who knows them, then a formal invitation | A named sender, a short agenda, a reason it’s worth their time |
| Prospects and industry | Email to your opted-in list, LinkedIn, partners and speakers sharing | A strong speaker or topic, a simple registration page |
| The public | Social media, paid ads, media, partners | A clear offer, visuals, and an easy way to sign up |
One clear event page
Every invitation, post and ad should point to the same page. It needs:
- What the event is and who it’s for, in one or two sentences
- Date, time, venue, and a map or directions
- The agenda and speakers
- Registration, with as few fields as you can manage
- Dress code, parking and other practical details
- A contact for questions
Send a confirmation email with a calendar invitation straight after someone registers. A registration system can handle confirmations, reminders and check-in on the day.
The invitation sequence
| When | Send |
|---|---|
| As soon as the date is fixed | Save-the-date |
| Several weeks before | Full invitation with agenda and registration link |
| Two to three weeks before | Reminder to people who haven’t replied, ideally from someone they know |
| About a week before | Last call, and a note to registered guests with what to expect |
| The day before | Logistics to registered guests: time, venue, parking, what to bring |
| Within a day or two after | Thank-you, photos, slides or recording |
Singapore’s rules on marketing messages
- Email. Unsolicited commercial email sent in bulk falls under the Spam Control Act and must include a way to unsubscribe. Email isn’t covered by the Do Not Call Registry. See PDPC’s guidance on spam.
- Calls, SMS and WhatsApp. Marketing calls and messages to Singapore phone numbers are covered by the Do Not Call provisions of the PDPA, including messages sent through apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. Check numbers against the DNC Registry before sending, unless an exemption applies. See PDPC’s guide for businesses.
- Registration data. Collect only what you need, say how you’ll use it, and don’t add registrants to other marketing without their consent.
LinkedIn and social media
- LinkedIn is where business audiences are. Create an event from your company page, and ask speakers and partners to share it. Their networks are often more valuable than yours.
- Speaker posts. Give speakers a ready-made image and a short line they can post, so sharing takes them a minute.
- Paid ads make sense when the audience is wider than your contacts, such as a public or industry event. For client events, personal invitations work better.
- Hashtags only help if people will actually use them. For most corporate events, good photos shared afterwards matter more.
A clear identity for the event
Give the event a name people can repeat, one line that says what it’s for, and a simple visual style used on the page, invitations, slides and signage. Consistency makes every invitation recognisable. It doesn’t need to be elaborate.
If you want press coverage
Most corporate events don’t need media. If yours does, like a product launch or a significant announcement, prepare a press release under embargo, a press kit and a spokesperson. Our product launch guide covers what journalists need.
After the event
- Send the thank-you within a day or two, with photos, slides or the recording.
- Pass leads to whoever follows up, with notes on who they spoke to.
- Send a short feedback survey.
- Share highlights on LinkedIn and your website.
What to measure
- Registrations and attendance. How many registered, and how many came.
- Where registrations came from. Use tracked links for each channel, so you know whether email, LinkedIn or partners worked best.
- Leads and meetings, for client and prospect events.
- Feedback, from the survey.
Common questions
How early should we start promoting?
Send a save-the-date as soon as the date is fixed. Senior guests’ calendars fill early, so client events need more notice than internal ones.
Why do so many people register and not come?
Free events usually see more no-shows than paid ones. Reminders, a clear agenda and a personal follow-up from someone the guest knows all help.
Can we send event invitations by WhatsApp?
Marketing messages to Singapore numbers, including on WhatsApp, fall under the Do Not Call rules. Check the rules before sending, and keep a record of consent.
Planning a corporate event?
See how we run corporate events and our event registration system, or tell us about your event.