How I Collect Leads From Any Event, Even If No One Shows Up

Let’s talk about a simple way to generate leads from local events before the event even happens.

I call this the “Ethical Bribe Strategy.”

Here’s how it works:

Let’s say there’s a Fall Festival, Trunk or Treat, or community fair coming up in your town. 

Sign up for a table,  it’s usually under $150. Even if you’ve never done one before, do it.

Next, join your local Facebook community groups. There’s one for every town, usually multiple,  and there’s almost always one called “Moms of [Your Town Name].” 

Those groups are gold.

Now, you’re going to offer what I call an ethical bribe.

Here’s an example post you can literally copy and paste:

“Hey everyone! We’ll be at [Name of Event] this weekend! We’re giving away FREE board breaks for kids, yes, real wooden boards! Want to reserve yours before they run out? Send me a quick DM and I’ll hold one for you!”

Here’s some best practices for posting in facebook groups.. 

✅ No links Facebook moderators hate those.
✅ Use a selfie,  it’s more human and trustworthy.
✅ Tell them to DM you,  that’s your call-to-action.

When they message you, send them a Google Form (or whatever you use) to “reserve” their board. That’s how you collect their name, email, and phone number, all before the event even happens.

You’re now collecting leads whether they show up or not.

Clever, huh? 

Just make sure to actually bring the boards (or whatever you offered) so you can follow through on your promise.

After that, drop them into your email marketing sequence to build trust and communication over time.

And if they ghost you? Who cares. It didn’t cost you a dime.

This strategy is fast, free, and powerful.

You can set it up in literally one minute.

You’re not just collecting leads,  you’re building relationships with local families before they ever walk through your doors.

Simple. Easy. Effective.

Now go try it this week, and if you know a martial arts friend who could use more local leads, share this post with them.