The guests and vendors have headed home, you’ve taken down your branding, and packed everything away — now what?
Send attendees a compelling post-event thank you message for attending the event, or get started on your next event?
Having helped event creators send out millions of emails, at Eventbrite, we know that if you don’t contact your attendees within 24 hours of an event, you could miss out on a golden opportunity.
Here, you’ll learn our top tips for crafting a ‘thank you for attending the event’ email, from the perfect subject line to the sleekest sign-off. We cover everything from structure to making the most of personalization. Use our post-event email template to get things started, or create your own to suit your brand and attendee profile.
Thank you message templates
1. The ‘we keep it classy’ thank you message
2. The ‘you’re one of us now’ thank you message
3. The ‘remember how great our time was together’ thank you message
4. The ‘we aren’t like other event brands’ thank you message
Why the ‘8-hour window’ can boost conversion rates
According to the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve, most people forget new information within eight hours. That’s why reminding attendees of the emotional experience they had at your event during this timeframe can be a game-changer for your community building.
By doing so, you can increase your chances of creating a loyal community member out of a new attendee.
Additionally, providing a clear call-to-action (CTA), such as following your brand on Instagram or following your event page on Eventbrite, can help to solidify their future interaction with your brand.
Make attendees feel special and valued by focusing on recalled experiences. This means reminding attendees of the event’s highlights and their emotional experiences. By doing so, you can create a lasting impression that will keep people engaged with your brand.
💡Pro tip: A thank you for attendance message or email demonstrates that you care about your attendees and are grateful for them joining your event. This can help to build a genuine connection, foster brand trust, and create future opportunities. So, when you add a CTA, make sure it’s not a hard sale — instead, focus on providing real value to your reader.
Benefits of writing a thank you for attending message
A message can have numerous benefits, such as showcasing appreciation and strengthening connections with attendees and stakeholders. Here are some additional benefits:
- Encourage repeat attendance: A thoughtful message can encourage attendees to return to your next event, which is essential for building a long-term audience and generating repeat business.
- Keep the conversation going: Email is a great way to keep the conversation going after the event and to build relationships with attendees and stakeholders. Additionally, emails can be an opportunity to share additional information and resources or to keep attendees engaged with your organization.
- Measure the event’s success: Your follow-up message can help you to gather feedback about the event. The feedback and engagement data you collect can help you evaluate what went right and identify areas that need improvement.
💡Pro tip: Partner with an event marketing platform like Eventbrite to incorporate AI into your workflow. With AI-powered tools, you can easily segment your audience, personalize your messages, and automate your follow-up communication.
Start using Eventbrite today.
Examples of thank you for attending event messages for different attendees
A well-crafted thank you note should have a specific purpose to help it convert, such as encouraging attendees to take action or providing additional resources to keep them engaged with your brand.
Take a look at the following templates for inspiration.
1. The ‘we keep it classy’ thank you message
The ‘we keep it classy’ message is a polite and sincere way to show your attendees that you respect their time and involvement.
This type of message is particularly effective for more professional events like networking nights or seminars.
For example, CCEF, an event creator who organizes national conferences, would work well with this approach to thank attendees. This message exudes an air of professionalism and sophistication that attendees would appreciate.
Things to keep in mind:
- Keep the tone courteous: Be sincere without slipping into overly casual language.
- Have a clear purpose: Your message should be short and concise — without any fluff. Attendees of professional events are most likely time-poor; therefore, they would respect a more direct message.
💡Pro tip: Ensure that you include a ‘soft prompt’ within your copy rather than a blatant CTA. For example, having a social media link in the second paragraph can inspire attendees to take action while still maintaining a professional tone and not appearing too ‘salesy.’
| Subject Line: Thank You for Joining Us at the [Event Name] | |
| Dear [Attendee Name], We wanted to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation for your presence at the [Event Name]. Your support and participation made the event even more special, and we are grateful for your commitment to [Company Name]. We hope that you had a wonderful time and that the experience was everything you hoped it would be. We believe that events like these are an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share our passion and vision. We invite you to follow us on [social media platform] to stay updated on our upcoming events and share your photos and experiences using the hashtag #EventHashtag. If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [contact email/phone number]. We have included some photos and videos from the event that we hope will bring back some great memories. Once again, thank you for joining us at the [Event Name]. We are grateful for your support and look forward to seeing you at our future events. Best regards, [Your Name] |
2. The ‘you’re one of us now’ thank you message
The ‘you’re one of us now’ thank you message is warm, wholesome, and inclusive. It provides an emphasis on seeing attendees as part of the family.
This message type is perfect for workshops or classes where you want to create a strong sense of community or foster long-term relationships with individual attendees.
For example, community-driven events like The Monmouth Moms could use a ‘you’re one of us now’ thank you message. This would be a way to reach out to attendees and follow up about any questions they may have asked during the event, nurture event leads, and boost future engagement.
Things to keep in mind:
- Prioritize inclusive language: Use the word ‘we’ or adopt first-person language to promote an inclusive atmosphere and make your attendees feel like they’re now a part of your clan.
- Add some personal touches: For smaller events, keep track of each attendee and add a personalized memory with them from your event, such as ‘thank you for sharing your story about [experience] last night; you inspired us all!’
💡Pro tip: Consider including a personalized offer or discount code in your message that’s ‘just for you’ as a token of your appreciation and a sign that you want to see them at your next event.
| Subject Line: Thank You for Joining Our Community! | |
| Dear [Attendee Name], Thank you for joining us at [Event Name]. We hope that you had a fantastic time and that the experience was everything you hoped it would be. At [Company Name], we believe in building a community of like-minded individuals who share our passion and vision. We are thrilled to welcome you to our family! We invite you to follow us on [Social Media Platform] to stay updated on our upcoming events and share your photos and experiences using the hashtag #EventHashtag. If you have any questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [contact email/phone number]. Once again, thank you for joining our community. We are excited to have you with us and look forward to seeing you at our future events. Best regards, [Your Name] |
3. The ‘remember how great our time was together’ thank you message
This type of thank you message should create a sense of excitement for future events and ooze personality. You want to use engaging language to hook your attendees from the very first line.
Event creators, such as live music shows or food festivals, could use this type of email to show gratitude and build anticipation for regular upcoming shows.
For example, ORLOVE could use this template to sway their audience to attend an event with a similar vibe or theme to the one they just attended.
Things to keep in mind:
- Utilize FOMO: Express the excitement of the past event to encourage attendees to buy tickets to your next events.
- Include attendee interests: Recommend upcoming events that are closely linked to your attendees’ interests and values.
💡Pro tip: This kind of email is the perfect opportunity to use ‘early-bird ticket’ CTA for your next event, as you’re trying to spark fear of missing out on this type of experience.
| Thank You Message For Attendees | |
| Hey [Name], Can you believe how much fun we had at [Event Name] last night? It was so great to see you there! We don’t know about you, but we’re still thinking about [insert a specific memory from the event, such as a moment in a music performance or the most popular cocktail drink ordered]. It was such a special moment, and we’re so glad we got to share it together. We’re also so grateful for your support of [Event Name]. It means the world to us that you choose to spend your time with us. We’re already looking forward to our next event, which is happening [insert event details here]. We hope you’ll join us for it! Our early bird ticket are on sale now, if you’re interested [insert link] In the meantime, stay in touch! You can find us on social media at [insert social media handles]. Thanks again for everything, [Name]. Best, [Your Name]. P.S if you have any photos or videos from the event, please share them with us! We’d love to see them. |
4. The ‘we aren’t like other event brands’ thank you message
Instead of going down the traditional route, this message adds a bit of a sass into the mix.
It abandons the professional tone and talks like you would to a friend. The tone gives the vibe that your attendees have made it past the pleasantries, and now they’re in with the ‘cool crowd’.
This type of thank you message would work well for event creators like music festivals, nightclubs, or raves.
For example, Framed Events could use this tone to appeal to their young and adventurous target audience.
Things to keep in mind:
- Begin with a tagline: Start your email by breaking the mold, such as ‘another event tonight, you in?’
- Use short, snappy lines: Keep the email below 150 words to make it more likely people will read it.
💡Pro tip: Don’t spend too much time on the ‘thanking’ section of this email. Acknowledge that you had a great time together, but then focus on when you’re going to see them next.
| Thank You Message For Attendees | |
| To the best attendee ever, We aren’t going to waste time thanking you for coming to our event, because let’s face it — last night was amazing! You know you want to join us again, and we really, really want to see you there. So, let’s cut straight to the chase. We have an event next weekend — a [insert event type here] and we want to reserve a spot for you. But we only have [insert number of ticket left], so we gotta be quick. Don’t leave us hanging! [Your Event Name] |
Step-by-step process: how to write a captivating thank you message (+ free template)
Like all of your event marketing, your email needs to be well-designed and aligned with your brand. Follow this step-by-step guide to help get you started.
1. Craft a winning email subject line
The subject line is the first part of your follow-up email that your attendees will see, so it’s vital that it grabs their attention and persuades them to continue reading.
Make sure you keep the subject line short and sweet, hint at what’s inside, and even include attendee’s first names. Experiment with A/B testing and have a discount or FOMO message to get them to click on the email.
2. Start with a personalized greeting
Personalized greetings in post-event thank you messages are essential for creating a meaningful connection with attendees. Addressing each recipient by name makes the message feel more like a personal conversation, enhancing the sense of recognition and value.
This approach not only makes the attendees feel special but also helps your message stand out in a sea of generic communications.
If relevant, refer to their specific actions or engagement during the event to make it authentic.
3. Mention a notable event moment
Call back to key moments during the event and highlight any specific takeaways. Express appreciation for your attendees’ overall attendance and support throughout the event.
Highlight any key takeaways from the event. For example, did your attendees make new connections or discover new business opportunities at your event?
4. Include a CTA
Ask attendees to share posts with hashtags or fill out a feedback form to express their thoughts. Either way, try to keep the conversation going.
You can also direct attendees toward future events that they might want to get involved with.
5. Include follow-up information
Invite your attendees to any upcoming events or opportunities for future engagement, such as webinars, networking functions, or events in a similar area.
For example, include the text ‘stay in touch by attending our networking event next month’ at the end of your email.
6. Showcase photos or videos from the event
Share any photos or videos from the event to allow attendees to relive the experience.
Ensure that the photos are high quality, and encourage attendees to share their own photos from the event on social media and tag you in them. Share these to your social media stories to give them some fame; this tactic often urges people to share images.
7. Link to a post-event survey
A ‘thank you’ email is the perfect place to find out what your attendees liked about the event and where there’s room for improvement. To gather feedback from attendees, use a tool like SurveyMonkey.
With 15 different survey question types, you can create a customized survey or use a pre-designed template to help you ask the right questions and receive the most useful responses.
8. Close with a thank you and sign off with your email signature
Round off the email with a closing thank you that expresses appreciation for the attendees’ support.
What you need to know about data privacy
Data privacy laws protect user data from being illegally transferred or exploited. These laws can vary from state to state, so you need to be extra careful about the contents of emails you send and how you store recipients’ information. To ensure you comply, you should find out about the data privacy laws that apply to the state you’re in.
To be on the safe side, here are some ideas to protect your attendees’ data:
- Only send a thank you message to attendees who opt to receive communications from you
- Use BCC instead of CC when you send the email to keep everyone’s email addresses private
- If you’re intending to use data, such as email open rates, to plan your future email campaigns, then you need to inform the recipients
Write a strong thank you message for attending your event
Thank you emails are a way to connect with your audience, nurture leads, and create a long-lasting bond with attendees that can lead to recurring ticket sales.
Emailing guests a post-event thank you is also a tried and tested way to gather feedback and get them thinking about future events.
The reason most event creators struggle with this is because they’re so busy.
However, with an event marketing platform like Eventbrite, you can effectively streamline your post-event email marketing campaigns with AI-powered tools, customized templates, and accurate analytics to help you keep your attendees hooked.
