Virtual event ideas we loved and learned from
In 2020, households gathered in their living rooms to watch more virtual events than ever. While the COVID-19 pandemic will eventually end, virtual events are a trend that are here to stay.
According to an Event Outlook Report, 93% of event marketers plan to invest in virtual events moving forward.
The types of events that are held live on social media fall in a wide range of categories — but we’ve outlined and showcased some of our favorites that we tuned into. Use these previous events for inspiration to hold your own for your business or brand:
Live Demonstrations
2020 was the year that we got to understand others’ crafts a bit better, thanks to live events and demonstrations. We loved seeing makers like Marie Lewis, of Pine Springs Pottery, going live to show off her creative process. This video was part of a larger online event called the PA Wilds Makers Market.
Online Game Night
Online game nights became popular within family and friend groups in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but brands that created opportunities for widespread game nights really shone on social media. As part of the third annual Central PA Theater and Dance Festival, State College Live hosted a Saturday Night Game Night on Facebook Live.
Players were able to tune in live and play Scattergories virtually by submitting responses on Google Forms created for each round. Throughout the night, players commented on the feed in addition to submitting responses — expanding the reach of the Facebook Live video.
Facebook Live Concerts
2020 was powered by online concerts — and we were here for it. Brands and musicians alike stepped up to provide at-home entertainment through Facebook Live concerts.
One of our favorites locally was a series through the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts. On “Festive Fridays,” the festival organizers held a cabaret-style concert, powered by the aforementioned State College Live.
Small Business Support Events
The year of 2020 will always be remembered as the one when local communities and their residents rallied for small businesses. Many live events supported small businesses throughout the year: From business tours, to giveaway videos, retail sales and more, small business videos were not hard to come by on social media.
Our friends at By a Thread Boutique utilized the Comment Sold platform to hold live sales in its VIP Facebook Group.
Live Tours
Because travel was limited, brands took to live videos to share travel inspiration, host tours and show off what different places and spaces had to offer. We helped out with a live tour with Local Historia during shutdown in our hometown of Bellefonte, but these neat tours were held worldwide.
One huge benefit of virtual events that are held on social media is that hey can help brands make up for lost revenue as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the need to continue virtual events in 2021, Hello Social Co. has launched an Events service that could help your brand pull one off! Reach out to us to learn more about this service, and let’s get to work planning your virtual event.
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Tags: live events, Social Media, social media marketing, virtual events