How to Start Hosting Events to Increase Business

Do you ever feel like you’re grasping at straws, trying to build a connection with your ideal customer? You pour your precious time, energy and money into social media strategies and marketing campaigns hoping to make an impression and create meaningful customer relationships, but how often do you think about getting out from behind the computer screen? (Do you feel personally attacked? Trust me, I’ve been there!)

If you are looking for a new tool to get you in front of customers and expand your reach, hosting an event could be exactly what you’re looking for. Don’t think you have the kind of business that can add events to its offering? Think again! Hosting an event to uplevel your business is easier than you think since there are so many different options out there. Once you find the right choice for you, it can be super simple to kick things off.

Open your mind to possibility as you read through the event types below and think about which one you could implement into your business in the next few months. I’m telling you, lady, it’s totally possible! You can also listen to episode 126 of the Speak to Scale Podcast with Jessica Rasdall to hear how I started hosting my event Cupcakes & Creatives and the impact it had on my own creative business.

Pop Up Shops That Really Pop 

Whether you are a product or service-based business, switching things up and setting up shop somewhere new can be a great opportunity to connect with new customers. A simple change of scenery can do wonders to spark inspiration and fuel you with new ideas on how to display your product or interact with people. To plan your first pop up shop, reach out to a few brands that complement your business and share a similar customer base. These can be local or destination hotels, boutiques, restaurants, or any other physical location that would allow you to set up shop with them. Invite them to partner with you by hosting you at their location on a specific date and time that works for both of you. You can even ask a biz bestie to collaborate with you for the event! Don’t forget to promote the pop up leading up to the date and include the location you’ll be at with all of the details for customers- both new and returning- to come by and show their support.

Workshops and Classes to Show Your Expertise

Think of everything you’ve learned since that first year you launched your business! You have so much value to offer someone by sharing advice and teaching your proven steps to success. Remember, you don’t have to know the steps A through Z to teach someone A through C! Host a workshop or class on a special topic you are knowledgeable and passionate about that coincides with your brand. Once you decide on the topic, figure out if your event will be free or paid and where you’d like to host it. While attendees can learn from you during this time, they can also learn about you and your business. (People like to buy from people they know!) By showcasing your expertise and becoming a resource for your audience, you gain trust, which helps build a strong, reputable brand people stand behind.

Networking Events That Bring Together Your People

Even if your business is flourishing in its little corner of the internet world on social media, have you thought about taking things from online to offline? Networking events allow us to have real-time, face to face interactions where we can get to know the person behind the business. (And hey – virtual networking events are a thing now too! So offline isn’t necessarily a bad thing.) Challenge yourself to think outside the box when it comes to networking and create something that feels unique to you and the brand you are representing. If you want something that feels large scale and VIP, you can find a large venue and pull together lots of community contacts to invite their audiences. If you’re looking for something more intimate and industry-specific, perhaps you’ll want to book a small meeting room at a coffee shop downtown. Figure out what your goal is and the kinds of connections you’d like to help foster and go from there! Remember, this could be the perfect opportunity to team up with some other brands out there if you don’t want to try this one solo.

These are just a few ideas of the types of events you could start hosting in your business and if you are up for the challenge you can always try more than one or go even bigger! I know so many crafters who began selling just their own products and eventually ventured into curating items for an online marketplace or hosting their own craft fairs. In the current world we are living in, there are a vast amount of events being reimagined virtually which means you can build something from the ground up even faster and reach a larger audience of attendees right now. So figure out what your event might look like and what success would look like for your and your biz after. Now, go for it, girl!

Interested in bouncing your ideas off another creative? I’d love to help you dive into your current offerings and see what kind of magic we can make crafting an event that fits your goals! You schedule a time to chat together using the link here!