THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS
Right now, the business world is in a whole new landscape. The incredible infectivity rate of COVID-19 has nations across the globe asking everyone to stay home.
On the other hand, we’re better equipped to do that than ever before.
With wifi, the cloud, and version-control software available, people are actually managing to continue their lives and transition most shopping to e-commerce.
WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR EVENT BUSINESSES
But some industries are hit harder than others. With national orders to cancel all social events, it’s no surprise that event industry businesses are suffering, along with many others that revolve around in-person experiences.
Uncertainty is normal during a global crisis and even the most rock-solid or online-bloated businesses are unsure.
Here in the event industry, we wanted to share some words of wisdom and our perspective on where to go next.
EMERGENCY CUSTOMER CARE
Right now, thousands of people are trapped away from home during stay-at-home orders. Airports and hotels are closing at the same time; a deadly combination. If you have clients who need emergency travel coordination and you have the power to help, reach out. Save lives and get people home, if you can. Or, if you’re unable, consider how else your business might contribute to emergency care.
STOCK UP ON CONTENT
A great use of any business downtime is to stock up on scheduled content. Build out your content marketing using a collection of newsletters, social media posts, email blasts, or helpful COVID-19 tips. This is a great chance to create a year or more of casual content that can be used to reinforce more timely work.
However, right now is not a good time to try and launch something new. Yet, you can still write, record, and film content to release in batches or a smooth pre-scheduled sequence later when the time is right.
TAKE EVERYTHING ONLINE
Event planning is an interesting mix of in-person and remote logistics. Right now, the globe is taking all business practices online… and you can too.
It is essential to provide all of your services and communication online. Quickly add live chat, a contact-form, and information section to your website if these don’t exist already. Make sure your website is ready to be the face of your business, even if events are not currently being planned.
Of course, your business logistics can be taken online as well. For meetings normally held in person, video-call instead. For inspections of properties, arrange for a safe 3-D tour to be filmed.
RECONNECT WITH YOUR CLIENTS AND CONTACTS
Get in touch with your clients. Just reach out and ask if they’re okay. Become an information and connection hub in your community. Building the brand and the involvement of team members in the community is important during global events like this. Make sure everyone is somewhere safe with the resources they need.
BRAINSTORM NO-CONTACT BUSINESS MODELS
Coronavirus is not passing quickly. Stay-at-home orders have extended into April and May. Schools are canceling for the rest of the academic year. But business continues and so can yours. People are figuring out how to continue celebrating while staying apart, and we can find ways to provide them services.
Apply your creativity, experience as an event professional, and the business partners available to build new service models. We recommend avoiding a full event cancellation if at all possible and offering alternative virtual content instead. Events can fulfill their promise to audiences through interesting, useful, and industry-relevant virtual experiences and still approach their original objective. At-home communities and professionals can benefit greatly from well-planned virtual events that bring them together for a safely shared experience.
Events have not come to an end, even if traditional gathering styles are not currently safe. Come together with your team and brainstorm how you can reinvent events for your clients, and bring joy into the COVID-19 situation.
GET INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY AID
Finally, don’t be afraid to put on a mask and roll up your sleeves. One of the most noticeable things about the coronavirus isolation is how much we have come together. Anyone with a few spare hours can contribute to the demand for no-contact delivery, check on neighbors safely, or look up local aid projects to join.
As an event industry business, you have more options than you may have realized. Get in touch and share your ideas, feedback, or useful COVID-19 information resources with the community.
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