BBB Business Tip: How to Host a Virtual Holiday Party

Social distancing requirements are tightening up once again, but that doesn’t mean your business can’t host a fun holiday party. Virtual office parties are an excellent way to bring staff and their families together in a safe and meaningful way, at a time when social connections are more important than ever before. Better Business Bureau Serving the Pacific Southwest shares the following quick tips to help make your online office party a success. Click here to view the entire article.

How to Make a Success of a Virtual Office Party

• Make it easy to attend. Use the video app your team feels most comfortable with, send an access link in the invitation and inform guests ahead of time of any preparation needed before attending.
• Choose a convenient time. If your party is for office staff only, consider hosting your event during business hours, recommends this article in Fast Company. If you want to host an after-hours party, why not invite your employees’ families to participate too?
• Invite the right number of people. Keep in mind that most video app software is designed to allow only one person at a time to speak, so consider splitting them into smaller groups in breakout rooms.
• Turned catered into delivered. If you normally cater your holiday office party, consider delivering food to your employees instead, advises Forbes.
• Keep the conversation flowing. Greet each participant as they enter to make them feel comfortable, recommends HBR. Be ready to keep the conversations flowing with prepared questions.
• Get creative with activities. Consider virtual games, live entertainment, or fun workshop topics such as crafting projects, at-home spa treatments or dance classes.
• Limit the length. Schedule your party to last only 60-90 minutes and let your guests know when the party starts and ends. Screen fatigue is real, and social events can be even more demanding.

For More Information

For more tips on running your small business during the pandemic and beyond, see the BBB Small Business Resources. For more holiday tips, check out BBB.org/holiday-tips, as well as information from BBB on how to shop safe this holiday season.

For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau (BBB) has been helping people find businesses and charities they can trust. In 2019, people turned to BBB more than 358 million times by checking more than 232 million Business Profiles views – all available to the public for free at bbb.org. Incorporated locally in 1938, BBB Serving the Pacific Southwest covers Greater Arizona and Southern California with key campuses in Phoenix, San Diego, Newport Beach, Prescott, Yuma, and Lake Havasu City. BBB Serving the Pacific Southwest is supported by over 19,000 BBB Accredited Businesses, making it one of the largest BBBs nationwide. Businesses that earn BBB Accreditation contractually agree and adhere to high standards of ethical business practices in the marketplace. BBB provides objective expertise and educational programs on topics affecting marketplace trust.