Events are a great way to attract new customers, build awareness of your brand and educate people about on how to best use your products and services.  

You might be wondering, “what kinds of events can I possibly host?” or “I’ve hosted events before, how can I mix things up to give my attendees a new experience?”

Either way, if you want to host events, but need some guidance, then this blog post is for you.

I always advise clients, before starting to plan any event, make sure you have a goal and a vision that outlines what you want to accomplish and who you want to reach.

It’ll be much easier for you to decide on what type of event to host when you have a clear vision. Learn more about why your events need a vision.

Here are 12 event ideas to get your creative juices flowing.  

1. Team Retreats + Business Meetings. When you think of events, you might think of an extravagant party with lots of lights and a fancy red carpet. The truth is, you can make anything an event.

If you have employees, or contractors you regularly work with, consider planning a team retreat. This is great especially if you have a remote team because it gives everyone a chance to bond and get to know each other in person.

Another idea is to give your business meetings a little boost by surprising your peeps with a team building activity such as improve, a nature hike, or getting a behind the scenes tour of a local attraction. You can still have fun while reviewing important business goals for the year.    

2. Seminars + Webinars. If you believe in adding value to your current and potential customers, consider hosting a seminar or webinar. These types of events last anywhere from one to three hours and offers information on a specific topic with one presenter and many attendees. Remember to offer a Question & Answer segment toward the end and a way for people to connect after.  

3. Workshops. Workshops are a lot like seminars, but they differ in the sense that the group may be smaller and more intimate. It’s an opportunity for attendees to learn, ask questions and get things done in real time. The format is usually one to two days and offer several opportunities for the attendees to interact with the speakers. Workshops care be a great opportunity to teach your attendees about how to do something.

4. Fundraisers. Host a fundraiser for a cause you care about, or one that aligns with your company’s vision and mission. Consider how you can support other groups by introducing them to your network to not only help raise money for their organization, but also raise awareness. Hosting a fundraiser for someone else shows that you care about your community, and allows you to give back in a fun way.

5. Conferences. Conferences are a great way to gather many like-minded people together for a day or multiple days of education and inspiration around a certain topic or industry (i.e. social media, moms in business, marketing, etc.). Conferences are best for businesses that have a large following and are well known in the community, but it’s not impossible for smaller companies to host one. After all, you’ve gotta start somewhere, right?

If you’re a smaller company and are passionate about hosting a conference, there’s still hope. Think of who you can partner with to make sure your conference goes off without a hitch.

6. Trade shows + Expos. When you participate in these types of events you position your brand as an industry leader. When you host these events, you can be the industry leader, giving other brands a platform and opportunity to share and demo their products and services. Trade shows are more for business to business and expos are for business to consumer. Either way, you’re able to meet or serve a lot of people all at once.   

7. Appreciation Events. Think of the people who’ve had your back since day one. What group of people might you be able to host an appreciation event for? Client appreciation events come to mind first, since without them, you wouldn’t have anyone to sell to. These events support customer retention efforts, and let customers know you care about them as people not a paycheck.

8. Networking Events. Get to know people in your industry of around your geographical area with a networking event or mixer. Invite people to connect with others and create a space for them to learn about how they can support and collaborate with each other. When you help others, they will be grateful.   

9. Product or Business Launches. Got a new product, service or business you want the world, or your world, to know about? Why not host a launch party?! Invite the community, the press, and clients to get them excited and help spread the word.  

10. Holiday Parties + Celebrations. We believe everyday is a reason to celebrate! Special milestones, celebrations and holidays are all great reasons to host an event. Make it fun for attendees and yourself. Keep it simple, or go all out.  

11. Community. What better way to welcome your neighborhood into your stores that with a community event. Consider what their needs are and what they care about and host an event that supports them while also highlighting your product or service. Remember, your first goal here is to reach out to the community around you and let them know you’re there and you care.

12. VIP + Influencer Events. Marketing events can be so much fun, and can create so much social media buzz for you when done right. Host an event for your VIPs or the influencers in your industry. Give them an incentive to come, let them explore and have a good time with your brand. They’ll likely return the favor by sharing their unique experience on social media and with friends and family.

Your Turn

Did reading through these different events spark some ideas for you? Which type of event would you host? Tell us in the comments below.

If you’re feeling really brave, email celebrate@angelagraceevents.com and schedule an Event Strategy Session [link: http://angelagraceevents.com/services/event-strategy-session/] today!