We like to think we’ve seen it all after powering over 2,500 virtual events (and countless in-person events prior to 2020), but we’re always surprised by the creativity some events bring to the mix when running their virtual events.

No matter what the future holds for events, the one thing which is certain is that people like to experience real, tangible things. As time goes on, we’re seeing innovation and opportunity on all fronts. Event technology platforms like ours are innovating at lightning speed, event planners are learning the ropes of digital content production, sponsors are shifting more dollars towards virtual events, and more.

The one thing we’re seeing more of is coupling physical experiences with virtual ones.

Hybrid events are already here, in some ways. Instead of the event starting in-person with a virtual component added on, events starting virtual with physical components added on are gaining traction.

It makes sense - the advantages of virtual events are hard to discount anymore given the increased reach, decreased cost, and rapid innovation. In this blog post, we’re covering 4 companies we’ve seen used by PheedLoop powered events or ones we’ve come across in other ways that are bridging the virtual and physical worlds.

1. Postal: Engaging Activities

You don’t need to have everyone in the same room to host a charcuterie board class or teach about terrarium design—this is where Postal comes in. Postal specializes in offline marketing to help brands strengthen their sales pipeline, retain customers, and reward employees with personalized, easy-to-send gifts. 

Postal works particularly well for organizations hosting community-building events across large geographic distances, whether as a strategy for remote employee engagement or to encourage networking among multiple chapters of an association. As attendees focus on the activity, such as planting a tree seedling, they can also share progress via their video feeds and encourage one another, giving them a natural starting point to build relationships. 

Incorporating an activity also makes it easier for your marketing team to generate interest in the event, particularly because you can choose from a wide variety of options (including local small businesses!) to find an interactive gift that will resonate most with your audience.

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2. Bonfire: Unifying Merch

Another challenge of virtual events is the difficulty of building a sense of unity when people are not physically together. But with an intentional strategy, you can overcome this.

Bonfire is a custom merch platform that allows you to design and order or sell custom shirts for your event. Creating custom t-shirts for your event fosters a sense of community among participants, even across many miles. 

Everyone can show off their matching apparel on the video conferencing platform to build a sense of community. The shirts also serve as a tactile reminder of the event and your organization’s impact. When attendees wear their merch afterward, it brings awareness to your cause. 

With Bonfire, you can design the merch that best resonates with your community’s event. While t-shirts are a popular choice, Bonfire also offers trending products like activewear, mugs, tote bags, water bottles, sling bags, blankets, and more. Upload your event’s logo to Bonfire’s design tool, or your team can commission talented graphic designers to make a custom one specifically for your merch. 

For nonprofits or brands hosting an event to raise funds, Bonfire makes it easy to maximize revenue with its GoFundMe integration. By connecting these revenue streams, you’ll drive more page views and more donations before you even host the event!

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3. HelloFresh, Blue Apron, Chef’s Plate, & Goodfood: Meal Kits

One of the best things you can do to bridge the online/offline divide is to gather your attendees around the (virtual) kitchen. Nothing brings people together like food, and providing meal kits so attendees can participate in the process makes your virtual event that much more engaging. 

There are countless companies out there, like HelloFresh (Canada), Blue Apron, Chef’s Plate, Goodfood (Canada), and more, that make this possible. Preparing food at home is not only a healthy option that teaches attendees new skills or recipes, but also creates authentic connections for your online community that might not otherwise happen.

As you plan your event, you may be able to get a free or reduced-price trial to test the meal kit experience for your virtual attendees. When you’re ready to place your order, you may be able to strike a deal for a bulk event order as well!

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4. Hoppier

Depending on your event size and purpose, it might not be feasible to invite attendees to cook along at home. However, you can still offer some sort of catering option. With Hoppier, a company specializing in food voucher and gift card distribution for organizations, your team can send attendees digital cash cards they can use at one of the thousands of vendors online. 

As an event planner, you can set clever constraints on the way the cards can be used, including timing, and you’ll get access to analytics to incorporate into the wider set of event data that a platform like PheedLoop can give you. Even better, you can extend your sponsorship options through Hoppier by allowing the cards attendees use to be customized with sponsor branding. You can also add local eateries to the options your attendees can select from.

This is one area where the advantage definitely falls towards virtual events. Attendees get the autonomy of deciding what they’d like to eat, instead of selecting from a limited catering menu, and attendees with dietary restrictions can choose the best option for their needs. 

Conclusion

There are a lot of simple but powerful ways to engage attendees at your virtual events beyond the screen. Whether you’re looking to engage remote employees, raise funds for a worthy cause, or connect with customers, you’ll be able to overcome digital fatigue and create a memorable experience.