Would you like to create social media buzz at your next charity event? Take a page from major sporting event playbooks and invite people to post photos of themselves at your event. They can share the photo via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to show everyone else why they should be at your event next year. Better still, you can create a Selfie Raffle to increase the fun factor. Designate a Selfie Staging Area with fun props that are appropriate to your mission and programs. Have guests tag themselves and use a predetermined event hashtag.

One client we worked with recently used this verbiage:

“Like/Follow us on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook and post your selfie using our event backdrop for a chance to win a $100 gift card to [insert a popular shop, theater or restaurant here]. Posting must be completed by 8:00 p.m. The lucky winner will be selected by random drawing and will be announced during the program. The winner must be present to win.”

What a fantastic sponsorship opportunity for your vendors! Sponsorship can include the Staging Area and prize, and the sponsor gets their name added to the signage. Note that the above text says that the winner will be chosen by drawing, but the post could also be judged by your sponsor, select Board members or volunteers, CEO, Communications Director… You get the idea. You will also need tech savvy staffers or volunteers to track contest entries toward the correct outcome.

Plus, when it’s time to promote next year’s event, you’ll have these unique photos to link back to. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a fun-filled album worth?