Studio 87: From Empty Space to Booked Solid. An Event Venue Marketing Case Study
Launch to booked out calendar in under a year?
That’s exactly what Studio 87 achieved.
This event venue marketing case study walks you through the strategies and marketing tactics learned and performed to take a raw space to grand opening in 3 months, the SEO groundwork that drove over 380 total bookings, 250+ five-star reviews across multiple platforms, and the lean ad and systems strategy that filled the schedule with events and $100K in year-one revenue—without relying on pricey listing platforms or luck.
Event Venue Business Insights and Information
From the outside it looks like rapid success—keys in September, open by October, over $100 K revenue in the first year—but the snapshot above was built on systems.
A purpose-built SEO Optimized Squarespace website captured search traffic, HoneyBook handled proposals and email follow-ups, and a simple CRM workflow turned every satisfied renter into a five-star reviewer.
With just one virtual assistant, a reliable cleaning crew, and clear SOPs in Notion, Studio 87 became a proof-of-concept that a lean, owner-operated event venue can compete—and win—nationwide when the right marketing engine is in place.
Business Type
Event Venue Rental Space, Photo Studio and Photo Booth Rentals
Rentals Booked
380+ in 3.5 years
Location
Dundalk/ Baltimore, MD
Public Reviews
250+ across Google, Peerspace and others
Launch Timeline
Idea in July, Keys in September, Open in October
Primary Channels
SEO, Google Ads, Meta Ads and Social Media
Year 1 Revenue
$100,000 +
Systems Stack
Squarespace, Honeybook, Notion, Google Workspace, Mailchimp
Leads Generated
I tracked every inquiry from September 2021 through December 2024 and this chart tells the story.
Organic SEO content did the heavy lifting, pulling in nearly 400 qualified leads from people actively searching for an event venue in the Baltimore area.
Hyper-targeted Google Ads added another 200 high-intent prospects, while low-budget Facebook Ads and steady social media posting produced 150 more. Even smaller channels like the 360 Virtual Tour and Eventective or the occasional Peerspace booking filled gaps in the calendar.
The mix proved one thing: when you line up SEO, ads, and share-worthy content, you meet clients wherever they are in their planning journey and never depend on a single platform for bookings.
The Challenge Was Going From A Raw Space and Being Invisible Online To Booked and Busy
We went from idea to execution incredibly fast.
The idea struct in July and the lease was signed in September. The space was a little more than four empty walls and a big dream. It was actually a vape shop that was closed due to the pandemic and the space sat vacant for over a year and a half.
After looking at over 30 other spaces, this was the first space we visited and the one we ultimately chose to move forward with.
During this time, I discovered the power of SEO and immediately knew that I had to rank in order to fill the calendar. I spent countless hours learning and applying all while learning web design, Squarespace, the CRM, automation, and doing all the things I needed to do to open for business.
To start, every new business begins with no keyword footprint, zero Google reviews, no website traffic, and the only realistic way to find renters fast was through high-fee listing platforms like Peerspace.
I had to find a better way.
Pain Points We Had to Solve Fast
No brand visibility: The domain was brand-new and was not showing up in searches
Time pressure: Keys in September, grand-opening bookings needed by October to cover rent.
Marketplace dependency: Listing platforms could take 15 % per booking which was unsustainable for in the long run; for my guests and for the business
Resource constraints: One owner-operator, one virtual assistant, and a shoestring marketing budget.
Operational unknowns: A calendar to fill, but no automated system to prevent double-booking or handle inquiries at scale.
Studio 87 needed a marketing engine that could generate awareness, convert website visitors, and capture reviews and we needed all this asap.
“I realized early on that if I wanted Studio 87 to survive, I had to think like both an owner and an event planner. Mapping every step of the customer journey before the doors even opened.”
Studio 87 Was Featured On
The Strategy: Building an Event Venue Marketing Engine From Day Zero
1. Keyword Planning & Site Build
I spent late-night hours planning out the entire website while doing all the additional work including balancing life and relationships during all these months. I picked the core “event venue Baltimore” phrases, sprinkled in long-tail keywords like “photo studio rental” and “event planners welcome” and launched a fast, mobile-first Squarespace site. That gave Google something to crawl while the paint was drying.
2. Local SEO Foundations
I created and optimized our Google Business Profile on day one—photos, service areas, Q&A, the works. Every time I updated paint or décor I added fresh content and geotagged images. By the time we cut the ribbon, Google already trusted us enough to show up for “event space Dundalk” and similar search terms.
3. Review-Generation Engine
I created an automated HoneyBook workflow that sent a friendly email plus SMS 24 hours after every booking, asking clients for feedback and a quick five-star review. The script even mentioned we were a brand-new space “making a good first impression in the community.” Result: 25 reviews in the first 90 days, and then 250+ total.
4. Social Media & Video Hype
I documented everything from paint on the floor, IKEA and Home Depot runs, first walkthrough with potential event planners. Short reels and BTS clips on social drove curiosity and trust. When people finally toured in person they’d say, “I feel like I already know this place.” That social media momentum turned into shareable word-of-mouth.
5. Paid Ads With Laser Targeting
Once organic traffic started, I invested my own money to target warm site visitors. I ran $5-a-day Google remarketing ads and low-budget Meta campaigns aimed at newly engaged people within 15 miles. Because the SEO was driving high-intent traffic, those ads converted at 10 %+.
6. Systems & Automation
Use HoneyBook all client management purposes, from inquiries to tours, contracting, invoicing, calendar management and even upsells
My VA and I used Notion for SOPs, checklists, all relevant business information, SEO tasks and team hand-offs
Weekly Emails to our growing list of guests and inquiries. Our emails were short, relevant, contained useful information and every once in awhile we had a sale to promote. Staying top of mind was key with email marketing.
A 360 Virtual Tour from OpenDoors360 to save time on site visits
AI chatbot to answer late-night questions and capture leads
All of that kept operations lean—just me, my VA, Mayah, and a reliable cleaning crew.
Good event venue marketing isn’t luck; it’s rigorous planning, consistent execution, and a stack of simple tools that talk to each other.
In the next section I’ll break down the exact numbers this strategy produced—and how any venue owner can copy the playbook.
The Results: Proof an Event Venue Marketing Engine Works
With the strategy firing on all cylinders, Studio 87 turned from “unknown space” to go-to venue in Baltimore—and did it with a lean budget and practically no staff in a powerful way with virtually no online presence.
Within the first year, we outranked spaces with SEO that had decades in business, the business phone line was consistently ringing, and while sure, there were scary weeks and even months, overall, the marketing brought in the business we needed to stay alive and bring some of the money back home.
| KPI | Before Launch | 12 Months | 36 Months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic Google Rankings | 0 | 50+ core “event venue” keywords | Over 1000 high-value keywords |
| Monthly Site Visitors | < 50 | 1,200+ | 2,800+ |
| Qualified Leads | 0 | 600+ | 1,000+ |
| Booked Events | 0 | 90 | 350+ |
| Public 5-Star Reviews | 0 | 100 | 250+ |
| Year-One Revenue | — | $100K+ | $300K+ cumulative |
What These Numbers Mean for Event-Venue Owners
Revenue without reliance on Peerspace, Giggster, and all the other platforms: Marketplace bookings dropped below 10 %, saving thousands in fees.
Search-engine visibility drives predictability: Ranking for “event venue Baltimore,” “photo studio rental,” and related phrases delivered steady, high-intent traffic.
Content compounds: Every blog post, social reel, and virtual-tour update boosted authority and kept Studio 87 ahead of competing venues.
Ads amplify wins, not plug holes: Google Ads and Facebook Ads retargeting converted warm traffic instead of cold audiences, giving an 8:1 return on ad spend.
Systems scale service: Automated email and SMS follow-ups kept customers informed, gathered feedback, and fueled review growth—all managed by a single VA and steady organized systems and processes.
Ready to Build Your Own Booking Engine?
If you’re not sure how to promote your venue and want to make it easier for people to find your business. We did the work, we know the best practices first hand. Our strategy sessions are complementary and you’ll leave with an effective marketing plan whether you work with us or not.
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Frequently Asked Questions from Venue Owners
Event-venue owners and event planners alike ask a lot of the same questions once they see Studio 87’s numbers, everything from day-to-day planning hacks to which channels actually drive paying clients. This FAQ pulls together the answers we give on discovery calls and in follow-up email audits, so you can use them immediately. Think of it as a quick-start guide to the exact mix of content, social media touch-points, and low-budget ads that turned an empty building into one of Baltimore’s most talked-about spaces. Whether you’re a seasoned venue manager or a first-time host juggling floor plans and vendor calls, the next ten Q&As will help you move from guessing to booking—without drowning in marketing jargon.
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Begin with local SEO: claim your Google Business Profile, load it with photos, and add “event venue” plus your city in the title, be careful with this one because if this isn’t your actual business name, Google can flag it. I always suggest owners to create a DBA and add the city name to their actual business name.
Pair that with a simple Squarespace site that targets “event venue” keywords and captures leads through a contact form or chatbot.
Once organic traffic trickles in, layer on low-budget Google Ads that target “event space near me” so you appear above larger listing sites.
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These platforms have strict policies that can restrict or flag your listing if you attempt to take visitors offline and onto your own website. Its usually prohibited since they found the lead for you, they want their cut, understandably so.
Direct bookings come from content marketing. Get in front of the camera. Talk about your event venue on social media. Talk about the struggles of a small business owner, showcase the things your space is capable of. Give people a reason to know and trust you.
There is also advertisement. Retarget website visits through Meta Ads or Google Ads. this is normally the fastest way to get leads.
Offer a quick-reply email or SMS sequence (powered by a CRM like HoneyBook) that walks people through pricing, available dates, and virtual tours. When you have their attention, keep it!
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An online scheduler tool like Honeybook that blocks dates automatically to prevent double-booking and can send emails on auto pilot.
A review-request email campaign that fires 24 hours after every event.
A CRM workflow that tags new customers and drops them into birthday or anniversary nurture sequences for easy upsells for repeat events.
An AI chatbot on your website that answers FAQs, shows pricing, and collects phone numbers even at 2 a.m.
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Word-of-mouth is priceless, but paid ads give predictable reach.
A $5-a-day Google Ads search campaign often produces better ROI than broad Facebook traffic ads.
You’re only showing ads to people who are searching for event venues, warm traffic halfway through the customer journey.
Combine that with consistent Instagram reels that showcase event setups and you’ll cover both paid and organic visibility.
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There’s no fixed number, but keep in mind that if have at least 1 event a week then you should get at least 1 review a week. The more the better, just make sure they are authentic, include photos, and also include an actually review of the services they received.
Venues that break 100 public reviews typically outrank listings with 20 or fewer.
Reviews drive trust, local rankings, and click-through-rate.
Our Studio 87 playbook generated 250 reviews by automating polite SMS requests, offering a thank-you gift card draw, and responding to every single review within 24 hours—which Google loves.
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Run a weekday-only discount code via a social media story highlight (“Midweek Mixer Rate”) and push it with an email blast to past clients.
Add a limited-time Facebook ad targeting local entrepreneurs or non-profits. Because you’ve segmented “weekday availability” in your CRM, the campaign feels personal and fills low-demand slots without slashing weekend rates.
There are many other strategies to attempt to fill in week days. Lets chat about how we can help you do that.
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Use UTM parameters on every ad and social link, then connect them to your CRM or Google Analytics.
When the inquiry form is filled, you can see “source = google ads” or “source = instagram.” Combine that with a quick “How did you find us?” question in your inquiry process.
Over time you’ll know exactly which traffic source pays and which one can be trimmed.
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No. Studio 87 outranked bigger players with a lean stack: consistent content, tight-targeted ads under $300/month, and relentless review generation.
The algorithm rewards relevance and engagement, not just spend.
A well-optimized Google Business Profile often beats big-budget but poorly optimized competitors.
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If budget is tight, then you should have the time to record short BTS clips after each setup and schedule them with free tools like Meta Business Suite.
Add captions and geotags for “event venue” visibility. When revenue grows, outsource editing—but keep authentic owner-voice posts; they outperform generic stock photos every time.
Since you have a physical space, we recommend you recording your own content and actually attempt to be “social” on social media.
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Local SEO gains can surface in 30–60 days for long-tail keywords; paid ads can deliver bookings the same week.
Reviews start influencing rank after 10–15 new five-star ratings.
Most venues that adopt this full stack (SEO + ads + automation + social proof) see noticeable lift within 90 days—Studio 87 hit $10 K in pre-sales in the first 2 months.
So your business shows up when people are searching for what you offer.
We Focus on What Actually Works for Local Businesses
To get in front of high-intent customers already looking for your service.
Think blogs, video, and repurposed content that builds trust and drives traffic.
Custom built AI Chatbots that pre-qualify leads 24/7
