Welcome back to Hustle’s newest best practices series, where we’re sharing how to make the most of Keywords and Automations in our platform. For tips specifically related to higher education, be sure to check out part one here.
If you’re looking for a way to make events, fundraisers, and community engagement more personal (and more effective), text messaging is your secret weapon. Gone are the days of generic email blasts that get lost in inboxes — today’s audiences expect communication that feels personal, relevant, and timely.
That’s where Hustle comes in. With features like custom tags, automation, and A/B testing, you can create engaging, tailored experiences that drive attendance, increase donations, and keep your supporters excited. Let’s break down how you can make the most of text messaging for your next event or campaign.
Personalized invitations
- 📣 Why it matters: Personalized invites = higher attendance. When supporters feel like an event was made just for them, they’re more likely to show up!
- 💡 How to do it (example): Let’s say you work in higher education and need to engage alumni for an upcoming event. You can use text messaging to send invites that reference alumni’s class year, major, or favorite campus spots.
- A message like “Hey Alex! We’re hosting a reunion for Class of 2012 grads — think live music, food, and throwback campus vibes. Hope to see you there!” feels way more inviting than a generic message.
- 🔧 Hustle pro tip: Leverage custom tags and groups to personalize invites in both Peer-to-Peer (P2P) and Broadcast messaging. Want to keep event updates relevant? Use keywords & automations to segment contacts automatically.
- Try a message like: “Reply with your preferred events, and we’ll send you invites just for your choices!”
Event reminders to maximize turnout
- 📣 Why it matters: People get busy, and even the most excited RSVPs can forget about an event without a reminder.
- 💡 How to do it: Schedule friendly, timely texts leading up to the event. Include key details like time, location, and parking info. A well-placed last-minute text can be the difference between an empty room and a full house!
- 🔧 Hustle pro tip: Use message series to schedule reminders automatically. If you know the entrance is tricky to find, send a quick photo or video along with directions. Set up keywords to automatically send replies to FAQs — freeing up your team’s bandwidth for other day-of tasks, while still getting attendees the info they need, instantly.
- Try setting up something like “Reply PARKING for details on where to park!”
Exclusive content and pre-event hype
- 📣 Why it matters: Building excitement before an event keeps it top-of-mind and increases actual attendance.
- 💡 How to do it: Share sneak peeks of guest speakers, activities, or even a teaser of event giveaways. People love an exclusive inside scoop!
- 🔧 Hustle pro tip: Create an automated message series to keep registered attendees in the loop. Use video messaging to send clips from past events or a quick message from a special guest.
- Try scheduling a message like the following: “Big news! Our keynote speaker just dropped a hint about a surprise giveaway — can’t wait for you to see it! 🎁” You could even include a short video clip from the keynote speaker saying hi to attendees, or a sneak peek of the giveaway.
Real-time updates during events
- 📣 Why it matters: Keeping attendees informed ensures a smoother, more engaging experience — whether it’s a schedule change, donation goal update, or a weather alert.
- 💡 How to do it: Send real-time texts for key updates. Need to let attendees know where registration is? Remind them when a big moment is happening? Looking to keep them engaged during half-time? A quick text can make all the difference.
- 🔧 Hustle pro tip: Use keywords & automations to streamline day-of communication. Schedule messages in advance for key moments, and set up auto-replies for commonly asked questions like WiFi info or agenda details.
- Try scheduling a message to send 10 minutes before your opening session, such as: “We’re kicking off in 10 minutes! Head to the main stage for our opening speaker! PS, you can reply to this message with AGENDA to receive a link to the agenda or WIFI to receive instructions on accessing the Wi-Fi.”
Post-event follow-ups for continued engagement
- 📣 Why it matters: Just because the event is over doesn’t mean the conversation has to end! Follow-ups keep attendees engaged and open the door for future involvement.
- 💡 How to do it: Send thank-you messages, share event photos, and provide links to surveys, volunteer opportunities, or upcoming events. You can also connect Hustle to your CRM to automate messages thanking event participants for signing up!
- Try a message like: “Thanks for making this event amazing! Want to stay in the loop? Reply with any of the following: VOLUNTEER, REUNIONS, DONATE and we’ll be sure to let you know about future opportunities to get involved.”
- 🔧 Hustle pro tip: Use groups and tags to tailor your event follow-ups based on participation — volunteers, donors, and attendees can all receive different messages. Want to go the extra mile? Send a thank-you video from a special guest!
- Bonus: Use MMS to share fun moments from the event. 📸 Have any awesome photos from the event? A video clip or highlight reel that’s getting great engagement on social media? Send it along with your post-event text message to keep the excitement going with your audience. Pictures, videos, and GIFs are always impactful!
Ready to level up your event engagement?
With personalized messaging, strategic automations, and smart segmentation, you can make every event feel like it was made just for your audience. Whether you’re rallying alumni, donors, volunteers, or supporters, Hustle makes it easy to create meaningful connections that last. Book a demo today to learn more!
