Small Rooms Can Be Powerful
If only 6 or 8 people show up, do not panic. Some of the most productive sessions happen with small groups because the conversation is more intimate, the questions are more specific, and the relationship-building is more genuine. Shift the format from a presentation to a roundtable discussion. Ask each attendee what challenges they are facing and facilitate a peer conversation around those topics.
Diagnosing the Problem
Low attendance is caused by one of three things: the wrong topic for the market, the wrong audience profile, or insufficient outreach volume. Review each honestly. Was the topic specific and timely enough that busy professionals would rearrange their day for it? Was the audience well-defined? Did enough people receive the invitation?
Preventing It Next Time
Confirm attendance 48 hours before and the morning of the event. Build relationships with past attendees who can become repeat participants. And run events consistently so your brand becomes known in the market. The second and third campaigns in a city almost always outperform the first.