3 ways to make professional event invitations stand out

Gone are the days of the “5 W” invites: you know, the “Who, What, Where, When, Why” of events.

Now more than ever, your event needs polish and creativity to shine, and professional event invitations are the first step in making that happen.

With more ways than ever to connect with each other, the possibilities for professional event invitations are now endless. And with an abundance of social occasions and business functions taking place, guaranteeing event turnout is only getting trickier. The invitation is your guests’ introduction to your occasion, and it can strongly influence a person’s decision to spend their valuable time at your event.

Modern event management software can be a big help with this, as reflected in the number of event planners who use the zkipster Invitations tool, and the volume of invitations sent out via zkipster every day. The best invitations are on brand, succinct and enticing, and a place where your creativity can really shine. Here are some key tips to help make your professional event invitations stand out - and get people to your event.

Be upfront with your professional event invitations

Provide as many exciting details as possible. Launching a new product? Tell your guests about it. Booked a special guest to help promote it? All the more reason for guests to come to the event.

While mystery is tempting, it can also be misleading. Trying to entice people to your event with a “special guest” or “secret launch” might sound exclusive, but it doesn’t leave your guest-to-be with much of a tangible reason to attend.

Worse, people may assume that if something is “secret”, you actually just haven’t booked it yet. Time is money. People want to know what they are getting themselves into. Specific details help guests evaluate whether or not an event is worth their time.

Font and design should elevate your event’s theme

Good design should be an integral element of your event, not a supplementary one. Font, font size, and the overall design of your invitation all reflect the tone of your event, so make sure they say what you need them to.

A clean sans-serif font can pack a punch for a casual cocktail party. A smart, accented serif font can add a touch of elegance to any gala. Don’t be afraid to experiment - elegant events can also call for big lettering and interesting fonts. Online resources for font-lovers like Typewolf are useful tools for tracking down just the right font to communicate your event message, and will help you create a professional invite to any event.

Write engaging copy for your professional event invitations

This brings us back to the most important of the “5 W’s”: the “why”. Think of it as your value proposition, and the most important piece of copy on your invite.

By the time your guests are done reading your invitation, they should have a good idea what your event is all about, and more importantly, the great time they're going to have by attending. Try to describe it from your guest's perspective, rather than your own. Imagine you receive two invites side by side: which one sounds more enticing?

"We're thrilled to host the Annual Gala where we have booked a variety of exciting industry leaders to speak to you, followed by a cocktail and tapas reception."

Or:

"Come hear an insider's take on our industry from the leaders in our field, just for you, followed by some great conversations with your peers over an open cocktail bar and delicious tapas."

Make sure to follow up with a clear action you want your guests to take, ideally one that's time-sensitive and mentions a benefit for attendees. Rather than the classic “RSVP”, consider “Reserve your spot now!”

A good invitation is more than just nice to look at - it’s a reflection of the event you’ve worked so hard to plan. From the details to the design and copy, every element helps your guest determine whether they’ll give you their time.

To help ensure your event runs smoothly, from invitations to post-event reporting, consider event management software like zkipster to help with your guest list, professional event invitations, seating, check-in, and much more.

Header image: Fiona Murray via Unsplash