How To: Do's and Don'ts of Holiday Event Planning

Holidays are great event occasions. Sometimes, however, the holiday cheer gets in the way. If you’re planning a holiday-centric business event, make sure you’re packing in the essential ingredients. Also, avoid the pitfalls associated with holiday meet-ups.

Soho Studios has the resources you need to make an awesome holiday event. If you need room, need ideas and need a good host, we’re here to help. Before you settle on a location, though, check out these holiday event do’s and don’ts.

Do Have Good Timing

Holiday ads, event invites and shout-outs during late summer can annoy customers. The Christmas creep exists, but it isn’t going away. Target the holiday’s early birds, sure, but don’t blast them with event reminders when it’s too early. Maximize the November weeks. If you’re planning a summer event, don’t give notice two months before the actual event.

Do Use Technology Benefits

Connect to users via mobile. If you’re hopping on the Black Friday and Cyber Monday train, offer discounts at your event. Make technology an integral part of your business’s meetup, and give customers mobile-exclusive access to discounts, promotions and rare opportunities. If you can, integrate virtual reality and augmented reality.

Do Offer Entertainment and Refreshments

It’s a holiday, after all. Your brand’s biggest fans have things to do. They’re going to other parties. If you’re going to create a holiday-centric event, give event-goers a way to let loose. They’ll be enticed by a branded event which offers live entertainment, drinks and a place to party. As a rule of thumb: Offer shuttle rides, unique drink offers and food.

Don’t Plan Over a Big Weekend

The holidays are packed with traffic, bustling shoppers and busy families. If you want your event to take off, make sure it’s in the average eventgoer’s “free spots.” If possible, avoid Friday and Saturday nights. Plan to kick off the event before the holiday’s date and give customers easy access to your location.

Don’t Forget Social Media

Too many brands forget about the power of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Social media sites are buzzing with activity over the holidays. Work is cut short, school is out and newsfeeds are watched closely. If you leave out the social media angle, you’ll miss a huge opportunity. Help customers connect, and make social media networking a big part of your holiday event.

Don’t Push Your Products

If you’re creating an event around Thanksgiving or Christmas, you shouldn’t make your brand’s products or services the main focus. It’s a time for celebration. Connect with consumers. Offer live demos, sure, but don’t make money the event’s main focus. If you do, eventgoers will get the wrong impression. During the holidays, a lot of brands advertise to make a profit. If you want to stand out, you’ll need to take the higher ground.

Make sure your vent has unique highlights, and promote its success on social media. Good event planning exists before, during and after an event. To resonate with your customers, you’ll need to educate yourself on their social media activity, favorite engagement strategies and personal preferences. More than ever, your brand will need to appeal to its audience with laser precision.

Make your campaign powerful. Zero in on your audience. Contact us today, and check out our event availability. Between great rates, holiday hosting opportunities and great planning options, Soho Studios is the place to settle in during the holidays. We’re brimming with ideas, and we can make sure your brand’s holiday is a cheerful one. Exceptional events aren’t born overnight. They require time, a knack for fun and some holiday cheer to work. So, stop on by! We’re ready to party.