How to Get the Most Exposure for Your Event with Visit York

Promoting your event can feel like a big task, but with the right tools and support it’s much easier than you might think. As a Visit York member, you have access to a wide range of opportunities that can help your event reach thousands of people planning their visit to York. From free listings and social media sharing to premium features like blogs, newsletters and our Featured Event placement, there are lots of ways to make sure your event gets noticed. Follow these steps to give your event the best chance of success. 

In this guide: 
Step 1 – List your event on visityork.org 
Step 2 – Share and tag on social media 
Step 3 – Make the most of your membership 
Step 4 – Featured Event listing on visityork.org 
Step 5 – Explore further marketing opportunities 

Step 1 – List Your Event on visityork.org

The single most important thing you can do is to make sure your event is live on our website. Our What's On pages are viewed by thousands of residents and visitors every month, so this is where your audience is looking. 

How to list your event: 

1. Go to visityork.org/login
2. Submit your event with:

• A clear, engaging title and description
• Dates, times, prices and booking links
• All relevant categories so your event appears in multiple searches
• Bright, high-quality photos

Check your main business listing is also up to date, as your event will link back to it. 

Tip: Add your event as early as possible - the longer it is live, the more people will see it. 

Full step-by-step guidance is available in our Business Login Guide. 

Step 2 – Share and Tag on Social Media

Once your event is listed, tell the world about it! When you share posts about your event, tag @VisitYork. Where possible, our team will share your content with our 200,000+ followers. 
Short videos and reels work particularly well, so consider creating something visual and engaging. 

Step 3 – Make the Most of Your Membership

Your Visit York membership level opens up a whole menu of ways to raise awareness of your event. Bronze membership gives you the essentials, while Silver and Gold open the door to many more opportunities to get the word out there. 

Bronze Membership – the essentials 

Ensure you use all your Bronze benefits as mentioned above. 

Silver Membership – expand your reach 

In addition to everything Bronze members receive, Silver members can: 

• Submit one dedicated social media post per quarter
  • Perfect for major milestones in your event’s calendar.
  • Examples: announce ticket sales, share a teaser video or reveal the line-up.
  • We will share it on Visit York’s channels, giving it an audience boost.
• Feature in two 7 Days newsletter banner adverts per year
  • Great for building awareness with local audiences.
  • Examples: promote your event a few weeks before it starts, or highlight a resident offer. 

Gold Membership – premium promotion 

Gold membership includes all of the Bronze and Silver benefits, plus: 

• Two dedicated blogs per year on visityork.org
  • Turn your event into a story!
  • Examples: a behind-the-scenes preview, an interview, or “5 reasons to visit [your event name].”
  • Blogs are visible for months and help your event appear in Google search results.
• Two banner adverts on visityork.org (1 month each)
  • Place your event on popular pages like “Things to Do” where people are already looking for activities. Ads will be placed on your most relevant sector page.
• Two dedicated e-newsletters per year
  • A whole email about your event, delivered directly to thousands of inboxes.
  • For example, use one to launch your event dates, and the other as a last call for ticket sales.

If you are a Silver or Gold member and need guidance on submitting your content for these benefits, please email membership@makeityork.com. 

Want to unlock these extra opportunities? 
Find out how to upgrade your membership. 

Step 4 – Featured Event Listing on visityork.org

If you want your event to stand out above all the rest, a Featured Event listing is the most effective way to do it. 

What is a Featured Event? 

• Your event will be displayed right at the top of:
  • The What's On page
  • The Events page
  • Relevant event category pages
  • Event search results on the home page
• No other events replace your position during your booking period – your event remains the highlight throughout. 

Why choose a Featured Event? 

• These pages receive over 425,000 views every year.
• Your event will be the first thing visitors see when planning their trip.
• It’s ideal for boosting ticket sales, awareness and attendance. 

Cost 

£500 per month (plus VAT) 

How to Book 

Find out more and secure your Featured Event space here.

Step 5 – Explore Further Marketing Opportunities

Looking for even more ways to promote your event? Visit York offers: 

• Advertising across visityork.org (home page, seasonal campaign hubs, category pages)
• Competitions and giveaways on our website and social media channels
• Sponsored social media posts
• Inclusion in our consumer newsletters
• Digital screen advertising at the Visitor Information Centre 

These channels connect you with 1.7 million annual website visitors, over 200,000 social followers and 33,000+ newsletter subscribers. 
Find out more about all of these opportunities in our Digital Rate Card. 

City Centre Opportunities 

There are also powerful ways to promote your event right in the heart of York, putting it directly in front of the millions of people who visit the city each year. 

Art Benches – Promote your event in a high-footfall location 

Our vibrant Art Benches are placed along Parliament Street – one of York’s busiest areas. Featuring your event on an Art Bench is a striking way to build awareness and capture the attention of visitors as they pass by. This is ideal in the weeks or months leading up to your event, ensuring that your dates and details are visible to a huge audience. 

Visitor Information Centre Opportunities – Personal recommendations and on-site promotion 

With nearly half a million people visiting our Information Centre every year, this is one of the most effective places to promote your event: 

• Display your event leaflets (free for attractions, tours, retail and eateries) – keep your event front of mind as visitors browse for ideas.
• Brief the VIC staff about your event – our knowledgeable team can then recommend it directly to visitors looking for things to do.
• Feature on our in-centre digital screens – place your event on our screens so that visitors see it as soon as they enter.

Read more about these opportunities here.

Ready to Begin? 

1. Log in to your member account
2. Submit your event and keep your business listing up to date
3. Share and tag @VisitYork on social media
4. Make use of your membership benefits – and consider upgrading for extra exposure
5. Explore Featured Event placements and other marketing opportunities, including city centre options, to reach even more people 

By following these steps, your event will gain the best possible visibility across York’s most trusted tourism channels.