If you've ever been in charge of planning community events, you know what it feels like to be part of something bigger than yourself. It's the feeling of knowing that everyone in the room is happy to see you, and that they're all there because they want to be.
The best community events bring people together for a common purpose: They get them talking about what matters most.
Here are some ideas for creating your own community event that will get people talking and build pride around your brand or business as well!
Freebies
Freebies can be a great way to attract people when planning community events, but you need to choose the right kind of freebie.
If you're handing out samples at a farmer's market or other outdoor event, a small sample of your product is probably enough for most people.
However, if you're doing an event indoors or in a venue with limited space, like a community center or library, this isn't always going to work for your marketing purposes.
In that case, think about what will be useful and interesting for people who aren't there specifically because they want your product but might enjoy it anyways (e.g., coffee mugs).
Freebies are also an excellent way to get people to talk about your brand or even better yet: talking with each other! You might consider giving out branded T-shirts or hats as swag at large events where there are several vendors present (and preferably different ones).
People love wearing their favorite brands on their bodies (if you do it right)!
Interactive experiences when planning community events
Interacting with people is a great way to get them talking. Whether you’re hosting an event or creating a space where people can meet and interact, there are many ways to make sure your guests know they are welcome.
Since we’re all about connecting people, we put together some tips on how to create an experience that is fun and engaging while making sure everyone feels safe and comfortable.
Tips on creating an immersive community event:
* Make sure your space is large enough to accommodate the number of guests you expect. You don’t want anyone feeling cramped or uncomfortable!
1) Host an event where people can interact with each other and/or a brand in some way: This could be something like a game, trivia night, or even just a photo booth!
2) Create an experience or activity that people can do together: This could be something like creating a little “shop” where guests can make their own gifts for others, playing games like bingo or charades, or having some sort of performance (like a band).
3) Host a themed event: This could be something like an “Under the Sea” party or even a murder mystery dinner!
4) Create a visual display that guests can interact with: This could be something like an art gallery where people can buy pieces from local artists, or even just having some sort of photo booth!
5) Let people know what is happening at any given time: You don’t want anyone feeling lost or confused about what they should be doing.
Competition
Competition is a great way to get people talking. When planning community events locally or nationally, for adults or children—competitions can be for anything.
You can host a competition for teams or individuals; it's up to you! The only requirement is that the prize must be something worth talking about.
For example, if your organization is hosting a week-long event where participants are asked to perform some sort of task (like solving puzzles or reading books), then you could give away something as simple as an ice cream cone at the end of each day's activity.
Having prizes like this will make your event more interesting and give participants something they can brag about when they return home.
That means more people will talk about what happened during their time at your event!
Online contests
When you're trying to launch a new business, promote an event or product, or raise awareness for a cause or charity, online contests can be an effective way to get people talking.
Contests are also a great way to build excitement and buzz around your company (and its products) by giving away something fun and valuable.
Any time you're looking for ways to get people talking about what you do—whether it's your business, brand, or event—online contests will help spread the word by creating multiple opportunities for users of all ages and backgrounds to participate in your contest.
Contests that build community pride
Contests can also be a great way to show off your city or town. If you're looking for ways to build community pride and get people thinking about their hometown in a positive light, online contests can help by encouraging users from all over the world to submit photos, videos and other content that shows off why their city is special.
If you do choose this route, make sure there's some intrinsic value behind it; don't just ask people for help because there's no other reason why someone should want help from your organization besides winning something at the end of it all!
Try asking contestants what kinds of things would motivate them most about participating in an event like yours. Maybe even offer small incentives throughout each round until everyone gets involved!
Kids' events and activities
When it comes to kids' events, the simple truth is that the more fun and engaging they are for your guests, the more likely people will talk about them. For example:
- A scavenger hunt through a local park with clues hidden in various corners of your city
- A game where participants have to guess what's inside a box before opening it (and then look at their own photos afterward)
- A party where everyone gets dressed up like their favorite characters from books or movies
Community events can keep people talking.
Events are a great way for you to engage with your community, build your brand and get people interested in your business. They can also be a great way for people to talk about what’s happening in the world around them.
Think about it: when was the last time you saw an event that didn't have someone taking pictures on their phone or posting something about it on social media?
So, here's how you can use events as part of a strategy that gets people talking:
- Have authentic conversations with people at events. If they see that you are genuinely interested in them, they will want to come back and see what else is going on. This will help build trust and make them feel more connected with your organization because they feel like they belong there, which means they'll tell other people about it!
Conclusion
So, we’ve shown you some fun ways to keep your audience engaged and talking about your brand. You can do this by offering them something unique or special, like a concert with a local band or an exclusive sneak peek at the new season of your favorite show.
Or you can get them involved in the process, like when we asked people to submit their own answers to our question and award one lucky winner a prize! The possibilities are endless when it comes to planning engaging community events that will keep people talking and hopefully coming back for more!
To learn more about how to keep your audience engaged and talking about your brand, click here to learn more about our next Event Planner Expo in NYC!
