Events are important marketing and revenue-generating opportunities for small businesses. While you may not have the resources to host an extravagant gala or auction, even a simple event can boost employee morale, generate publicity, and foster meaningful relationships with customers. This can mean new and exciting growth for your organization, allowing it to become a cornerstone of your community.
Whether you own a pet grooming business or are in the process of opening a dance studio, these four event ideas will help raise meaningful support for any type of small business.
Hosting an online event, like a webinar, is an inexpensive way to raise brand awareness and expand your audience beyond those in the local area. A webinar is an online seminar that allows your team to share important information and prompts attendees to engage in discussions about your work. By sharing your expertise and positioning your small business as a thought leader in the industry, you can gain the trust and respect of potential customers, which, in turn, can lead to increased sales.
Follow these three tips to host a successful webinar:
If the webinar generates positive feedback from participants and helps you acquire new customers, consider making them recurring events. Send a survey to your supporter base asking how often they would attend a webinar hosted by your small business and what topics they would like to learn more about.
If your small business doesn’t have a robust pool of customers to invite to your event, you could benefit from co-hosting an event with another business in the community. To ensure a successful partnership, it’s important to choose an organization that shares a similar vision for the event and holds values that align with your business’s. Reach out to prospective businesses and ask detailed questions about who their customers are, what their goals are for the partnership, and how they expect to contribute to the event.
An example of a mutually beneficial partnership would be a dance academy owner teaming up with a daycare facility to host beginning ballet lessons for toddlers. The businesses share similar customers, parents of small children, and would therefore benefit from hosting an event that showcases both of their services.
Once you’ve secured a partner, delegate roles and set clear expectations for each business. While tasks like event registration and merchandise sales can be shared by both parties, other roles will be better suited for a particular business and should be defined clearly. In the example above, the dance studio owner would be in charge of giving ballet instruction, while the daycare might lend their facility to use for the event or advertise the opportunity within their own network of parents.
When executed properly, partnership events can have a greater impact than an event organized by one small business alone. With the support of another business, you can host a memorable event with limited resources and connect with new customers who likely already have an interest in your services.
Bring new customers into the fold by hosting an interactive class or workshop. Find someone who would be willing to showcase a skill or teach people how to make a product that is relevant to your business. For instance, if you run a dance studio, you could have an experienced instructor teach a course on ballroom dancing.
Some other examples of small-business-related workshops include:
Whether you hire outside talent or enlist the help of your staff members to lead the event, a well-designed workshop will provide participants with a valuable experience and leave them with a positive impression of your organization.
Partnering with a local nonprofit to raise funds for their endeavors is a great way to deepen your involvement in the community and boost your brand’s reputation. If possible, choose a cause that aligns with your own mission. Then, use the following ideas to make an impact on your charity of choice:
By teaming up with a nonprofit, your small business can reach new markets for customers and make a positive difference in the community.
From launching a webinar series to partnering with a local business to host a dance recital, there are countless event ideas that your small business can use to inspire meaningful engagement. Choose an event that aligns with your goals, budget, and audience and be sure to thank attendees for their commitment to your organization. Doing so should result in a loyal customer base that will be well worth your efforts.
About the Author | Casey Dorman
Hi, I'm Casey! I'm the Sales Manager at Gingr software. Originally from Indianapolis, I now live in Colorado with my wife and dog, Dexter. Our hobbies include hiking, skiing, and visiting local breweries.