Now that the novelty of online and virtual events has worn off a bit, organizations are looking for new ways to keep their audiences engaged. Many are turning to a perhaps unexpected source for inspiration: Hollywood.

It makes sense when you think about it — Hollywood knows how to tell a good story, and their stars are engaging. Plus, they know how to keep their audiences coming back for more, and that is pretty much what every company wants, no matter the specifics of their business objectives.

Engaging with virtual audiences is easier than it might seem — and the approach works for both large and small companies. It just requires some forethought, a compelling story and the right messenger.

Virtual events may never entirely supplant live events, but employing them allows companies to connect with audiences in a new but just as powerful way. Virtual events can offer great value and a solid return on investment, but success necessitates looking at and planning events differently.

The power of personality

At in-person shows and conferences, companies often turn to celebrities as a draw. But talent comes in all forms, and a “celebrity” doesn’t need to appear in a blockbuster movie to be famous.

Companies often want to use an executive team member, thinking they will be a draw for attendees. Instead, consider a looser definition of the term “celebrity” and look to a noteworthy entrepreneur or someone within a particular industry who will draw attendees and engage with them, even virtually.

As an alternate approach, look to other sources for talent waiting to be tapped — maybe it’s a customer, a partner or a team member in their own organization.

Inspiration for the moment

The world is facing COVID fatigue. We all want to know when the world will return to “normal.” But honestly, that may never happen. Instead, we’ll move into the “Next Normal,” where we’ll take with us the lessons and the new ways of operating we learned during the pandemic and apply it to the challenges ahead.

People often turn to celebrities because they value something about them, whether it’s their perspectives or their stories, and they are personable. Just like a movie has a story arc with bits of drama and a happy ending, people want to know that the drama of the moment will lead to a satisfying conclusion.

Right now, people can use some motivation. They want to know circumstances will improve and that the doldrums of COVID won’t last forever. People want an inspiring story, and there are many exciting happenings that are propelling companies to succeed even during a trying year.

What was the key to their success? Audiences will find that secret interesting, and it will give them ideas they can use within their own organizations.

More than “one and done”

As people engage with brands and organizations in a new way, the opportunity is to build an ongoing relationship — one that remains in the “Next Normal.”

For in-person events that happen only once a year, attendees may not hear from the event sponsor until it’s time for the next year’s event. People are growing more comfortable engaging virtually, and now they expect to do so regularly, so find a way to connect with them virtually on an ongoing basis.

Look at how celebrities engage with their fans on social media. Many companies use social media to project their message to a broad audience, but if they’re not taking time to foster a relationship with their followers, perhaps they should amend their approach and deliver content that inspires and keeps audiences clamoring for more.

An event should never be “one and done.” Instead, it should be the launching point for ongoing outreach and marketing, so build a plan and put in place everything you need to execute it.