Online events are increasingly popular, but many event creators are still figuring out where to start. If you’re used to planning in-person cultural events for your organization, you may wonder if you can cultivate the same connection online.
With the right planning, an online cultural event can be a fantastic way for your group to connect with its most committed members. Since anyone with an internet connection can attend an online event — as a participant or guest speaker — you can even expand your reach across the globe and save on costs while increasing revenue. Learn how to host a cultural event online with these 10 top tips.
1. Know your audience
One of the keys to any event you’re hosting is to know your audience. What will they find interesting, engaging, or entertaining? For example, if you’re planning Pride Month events for an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, consider whether your attendees would respond better to a film showing, a poetry open mic night, or a panel of speakers. You can determine this by looking into your target audience’s demographics or the events that you’ve had success with in the past.
2. Work your core
Appeal to your organization’s existing members first before trying to bring in a new audience. Your core members are already passionate about your organization, so you can not only count on them showing up, but also use them as a great asset for promoting your event. If your temple is hosting an online Seder, for example, be sure that the temple’s congregation is in the know and then give them resources to share the event with their network.
3. Ad it up
Once your core membership is excited about your event, consider who else might find your event appealing and find ways to advertise to them, from sponsored Instagram posts to targeted email campaigns. Take advantage of the reach of online events and market to people in similar organizations in other cities. You might find people who are interested in joining your event online but might not have been able to attend in person.
4. Plan for access
Remember to plan for accessibility so that people get the most out of your event. For example, if you’re hosting an event focused on another culture, like a documentary showing for Mexico’s Día de los Muertos, consider including an interpreter for the Q&A or translated subtitles during the film.
With any type of event, you should also think through how the pricing for your event may affect attendance. Allowing greater access to your event adds up to greater success. Sliding scale pricing is a great way to make events more inclusive while still making a good profit.
5. Highlight what’s unique
Your organization is unique, so your cultural event should celebrate that. Look to members of your community for imaginative ideas that will make your online cultural event more appealing. Consider putting your community’s artisans, musicians, or thought leaders in the spotlight as part of a holiday celebration. This can help draw attention from new audiences.
6. Build your brand loyalty
With the expanded reach an online audience can bring, be sure to consider ways to inspire brand loyalty from your attendees. Schedule recurring events to give attendees a reason to return, or organize an ongoing series of related events. The National African American Mission Council hosts a series of online events each year to celebrate Black History Month, for example. People want to be part of vibrant communities, and a key to growth is making sure your community is active and vital.
7. Hold a conversation
Ultimately, any cultural event is about creating connections between attendees, which is often as simple as starting conversations. One idea is to tie your cultural event to current issues. Take the Center for World Catholicism & Intercultural Theology. It hosts events on topics like Catholicism and healthcare around the world. By tying into such issues, you can create conversations that extend beyond the event itself.
8. Have fun for a cause
One surefire way to make an impact is to organize your event as a benefit for a cause. To do so successfully, it’s key to be sure the cause relates to your organization. Jack and Jill St. Louis hosted a virtual teen trivia contest during Black History Month to benefit the Teen Foundation. This connection appealed to their core members and gave a greater purpose to the event. Similarly, Soroptomist International of Central Alberta hosts events and fundraisers to benefit women’s organizations in celebration of International Women’s Day.
9. Bring it back home
When planning your cultural event, find a way for the event to put the spotlight on your organization. If you’re hosting an online Easter egg decoration event, you can invite attendees to your online Sunday services. Or pair cultural events like a Women’s History Month Q&A with a discount code to purchase related reading from your website’s online shop.
10. Check your calendar
There’s no denying it: people love to celebrate. Many cultural and religious communities have popular holidays — so why not build your event calendar around them? Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Pride Month all offer unique opportunities to highlight different communities and causes, which is an excellent way to market your event and gain greater connections.
If you want to know more about how to plan a cultural event, we have the resources you’ll need for planning, pricing, and marketing. Enrich and expand your community by hosting your next cultural event online.
