Businesses are always competing for the attention of potential customers. Why not set your company apart from the rest by hosting an event that is fun, promotes your business and helps people in your community?
Third-party events are proving to be a popular and increasingly common choice for promoting a business.
What is a Third-Party Event?
A third-party event is one that is hosted by a company or club for the benefit of a local non-profit organization (NPO).
What kinds of events are we talking about? Anything and everything! The possibilities really are endless. Clothing stores may hold fashion shows, entertainment venues may donate a portion of ticket sales, and companies may plan walkathons, bowl-a-thons, a marathon, or other tests of endurance. Some may keep it inside the organization, donating proceeds from casual days or holding hold raffles for sports tickets, while others will plan an elaborate event for the wider community.
The key to a successful event is getting a large number of people involved and promoting it to the intended audience, whether that audience is limited to employees or expanded to include an entire city.
How Does a Third-Party Event Promote Your Business?
There are many ways that this kind of event can benefit your business. For starters, you will have your profile increased, especially if you get the media and larger community involved. Even if you keep the event within your organization, you could ask the NPO to publicize the donation you are giving them through a press release, a mention on their Website or even a simple cheque presentation ceremony.
Your business can also promote its involvement with the NPO in its own media kit or on its Website.
In addition to publicity, your organization will also gain some valuable team building opportunities. From the volunteers that plan the event to the employees who support it, people will be brought together in a common cause. The skills they learn in working together and planning the details of such an event will be of great benefit to them as employees.
What Kinds of Organizations Need Help?
There are so many worthy organizations out there, it can be difficult to decide which one needs your help the most. Some companies are motivated by the travails of an employee, perhaps choosing to donate to an organization that helped a co-worker through a serious illness or other troubles.
Some like to find organizations that correspond to their target demographic. For example, a cosmetics firm might support a women's organization, a toy store might choose to help a children's charity, and a grocer might donate to a food bank.
Other companies might look at the challenges their communities are facing - homelessness, low literacy, and high unemployment - and find a local organization that is focused on one or more of those issues.
If you are interested in helping a local group, be sure to do some research. Read the organization's mission statement and talk to the people there to see what kinds of programs they are running and how much of an effect they are having. Many small, relatively unknown organizations have an impact far greater than their size would indicate. Some companies like to seek out those kinds of NPOs so they can plan an event that not only raises money but also raises the profile of the organization. Most NPOs would be happy to make a presentation to your company to answer questions and generate support for the event you are planning.
Third-party events are a wonderful way to support your community and enhance your corporate image. To find an organization, use your favourite Internet search engine to look for NPOs in your city or region. You can narrow your search even more to focus on social service organizations, women's organizations, children's charities and so on. From there you can decide what type of event to hold, set a fundraising goal and start planning. Have fun!
