How to Schedule an Event on Facebook

Trying to get the word out about your upcoming workshop, online sale, or community get-together? Facebook Events are one of the most effective tools for gathering a crowd, online or off, and setting one up is much easier than you might think. This guide breaks down every step of how to schedule a Facebook Event, from preparing your details to promoting it for maximum attendance.

Why Bother With a Facebook Event?

Before we get into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." A simple post might get some attention, but a dedicated Facebook Event page offers powerful advantages that a standard feed post just can't match.

• Increased Organic Reach: When someone interacts with your event (by indicating they are "Interested" or "Going"), their friends can see this activity in their own feeds, organically spreading the word about your event without you spending an extra dime.
• Automatic Reminders: Facebook automatically sends notifications to people who have RSVP'd, reminding them as the event gets closer. This is a huge help for reducing no-shows.
• A Centralized Information Hub: Your event page is the single source of truth. It holds the date, time, location, description, ticket links, and any updates all in one easy-to-find place for your attendees.
• Builds Community and Buzz: The "Discussion" tab on the event page acts as a mini-forum. You can post updates, run polls, answer questions, and build excitement in the days or weeks leading up to your event.
• Gauges Interest: The "Going" and "Interested" counts give you a real-time, at-a-glance estimate of how many people to expect, which is incredibly valuable for planning.
• Powerful Ad Targeting: If you decide to run ads, you can create hyper-specific audiences, such as targeting people who RSVP'd "Interested" but not "Going," or creating lookalike audiences based on who has already signed up.

Before You Begin: Gather Your Event Info

The secret to creating a Facebook Event quickly and without stress is having all your information ready before you start. It saves you from scrambling to find a photo or confirming the schedule midway through the process. Here’s a quick checklist of what to have on hand:

• Event Name: Make it clear, descriptive, and engaging. "Social Media Workshop" is good, but "Level-Up Your Instagram: A Content Creation Workshop" is better.
• Date & Time: Have the exact start and end dates and times finalized.
• Location or Link: For an in-person event, have the full physical address ready. For an online event, you'll need the direct link (Zoom, Google Meet, YouTube Stream, etc.).
• A Compelling Description: Write a paragraph or two explaining what the event is, who it's for, and why they should attend. Include any key details like a schedule, what to bring, or guest speakers.
• A High-Quality Cover Image or Video: This is your event’s digital billboard. A striking visual makes a huge difference. Recommended dimensions are 1920x1005 pixels.
• Event Category: Selecting a category (like Music, Class, or Networking) helps Facebook show your event to people who have shown interest in similar events.
• Co-Hosts: If you're collaborating with another brand, speaker, or venue, know their official Facebook Page name so you can add them as a co-host.
• Ticket URL: If your event requires tickets, have the link to your sales page (like Eventbrite, Shopify, or your own website) ready to go.

How to Schedule an Event on Facebook: A Step-by-Step Guide

The process is slightly different depending on whether you're using a desktop computer or the mobile app. We’ll cover both.

Creating an Event on a Desktop Computer

Using a desktop gives you the most screen real estate and access to all the features in one clear view. Here’s how to do it:

1. Navigate to 'Events': From your Facebook homepage, look at the menu on the left-hand side. Click on "Events." You can also access this from your Facebook Page by clicking on the "Events" tab.
2. Click 'Create Event': You'll see a prominent blue or green button that says "Create event." Click it to start the process.
3. Choose 'Online' or 'In Person': Facebook will first ask you to define the type of event.
   • In Person: This is for a physical gathering at a specific location.
   • Online: This is for a virtual event. You’ll have options like Facebook Live, an external link, or "Other." Use "External Link" for platforms like Zoom, YouTube, or your own website.
4. Fill Out the Core Details: This is where you'll input the information from your checklist. You'll add the Event Name, Start/End Date & Time, and set the Privacy.
   • Public: Anyone on or off Facebook can see the event. This is the best choice for maximizing reach.
   • Private: Only invited guests and hosts can see the event. Use this for celebrations or invite-only gatherings.
5. Add Your Location or Link: For an in-person event, start typing the venue address, and Facebook will connect it to Maps. For an online event, this is where you'll paste your streaming or meeting link.
6. Write Your Description: Paste or type your pre-written description. Use formatting like bullet points or short paragraphs to make it easy to read. Include a clear call to action, like "Grab your tickets now!" or "RSVP to save your spot!"
7. Select a Category: Choose the category that best fits your event. People can discover events by browsing categories, so this is an important discoverability step.
8. Upload Your Cover Photo/Video: Click to upload the engaging image or short video you prepared. Drag to reposition it perfectly.
9. Tweak Your Event Settings: Before you publish, you can refine a few more details. This is where you’ll add Co-hosts (just start typing the name of their Page or profile), add your Tickets link, and control settings like whether guests can invite friends or post in the Discussion tab.
10. Publish or Schedule: You have two choices. You can click "Create Event" to make it live immediately, or you can use the dropdown to "Schedule Event" for a future date and time. Scheduling is great for building anticipation and aligning with your marketing calendar.

Creating an Event on the Facebook Mobile App

The mobile flow is just as effective and guides you through the same basic steps.

1. Find the 'Events' Section: Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the bottom-right (iPhone) or top-right (Android). Then tap "Events." If you're creating from a Page, navigate to your Page and find the 'Events' tab.
2. Tap the Create Button: Look for a plus (+) icon or a button labeled "Create."
3. Enter Your Details: The mobile app will then walk you screen-by-screen through adding your cover photo, event name, date, time, location, description, and other details. The process is very intuitive.
4. Review and Publish: Once you’ve filled everything out, review the details to make sure they're correct, then tap "Create Event" to publish it.

Your Event is Live! Here's How to Promote It

Creating the event page is step one. Getting people to sign up is step two. Don't just publish it and hope for the best. A little promotional effort goes a long way.

Start with Immediate Invites and Shares

As soon as your event is live, take two important actions. First, use the "Invite" button to personally invite friends, colleagues, or past customers you think would be genuinely interested. A personal invitation carries more weight than a random feed post. Second, share the event to your own feed and your Page’s feed with a caption expressing your excitement.

Keep the Discussion Tab Active

An event page with no activity can feel a bit lifeless. Use the Discussion tab to keep the energy up. Here are some ideas:

• Post a countdown.
• Introduce your speakers or performers with a photo and a short bio.
• Ask a question to your attendees (e.g., "What are you most excited to learn at our workshop?").
• Share behind-the-scenes content of you preparing for the event.
• Run a poll to build engagement.

Make Your Co-Hosts Your Promotion Partners

One of the biggest benefits of adding a co-host is gaining access to their audience. Once you add them, they’ll get a notification and the event will automatically appear on their Page's event calendar as well. Be sure to coordinate with them so they also share the event and engage in the Discussion tab.

Promote on Your Other Channels

Don’t confine your event promotion to just Facebook. Get the event URL and share it everywhere:

• Put the link in your Instagram bio.
• Create Instagram stories with a countdown sticker that links to the event.
• Share it on LinkedIn, X, or any other platform where your audience hangs out.
• Send an email to your newsletter subscribers with a clear call to action to RSVP on Facebook.

Consider a Small Ad Budget

For important events, putting even just $20-$50 behind an event ad on Facebook can make a massive difference. You can specifically target promotions to people in a certain location, with certain interests, or who are similar to your existing followers. The "Event Responses" ad objective is designed specifically for this and is incredibly effective.

Final Thoughts

Creating a Facebook Event is a simple but powerful way to connect with your audience and drive attendance for your next gathering. By following these steps and layering in a few smart promotional tips, you're setting yourself up for a packed house or a full virtual room.

Once your event is scheduled, keeping that promotional momentum going across all your social channels can feel like a full-time job. We created Postbase to simplify exactly that challenge - planning and scheduling all your promotional content from one clean, visual calendar, so you can focus on making your event amazing instead of juggling a dozen different apps and spreadsheets.