Showing appreciation to your customers through special events is an excellent way to enhance customer loyalty, boost client engagement, and provide an unforgettable customer experience. With the right approach, you can host the best client appreciation events to create personal connections that reinforce the value of your brand.
How to drive advocacy and retention with memorable client appreciation events
Events have been used for ages as a tool to attract customer interest. From super large, elaborate user conferences to small, intimate gatherings, innovative companies are leveraging the power of events to strengthen their relationships with their customers, both prospective and acquired.
There are different ways you can leverage virtual experiences to create deeper customer bonds and loyal customers:
- Build a stronger sense of community among your customers through unique networking experiences.
- Using experiences with kits like a wine tasting or cooking class makes the customer feel like they’re being gifted something. That gift in exchange often gives them this sense of commitment to your business.
- Gather a group of like-minded individuals for some good old-fashioned networking. Experiences like Water Cooler can help you get started by breaking the ice!
- Provide your customers with professional development opportunities to help strengthen their own business and learn something new.
- If you’re in certain industries like HR, it might be worthwhile to gift an experience to your customer to enjoy with their team intimately. This shows you’re invested in improving their culture as well.
- Consider encouraging customers to invite colleagues from their network to attract new potential clients.
- To provide variety and more opportunities to connect, consider tagging the experience onto a larger conference or webinar series.
- Consider offering a virtual solution to those who cannot attend an in-person conference.
Solutions like Sendoso and Postal are integrated within your CRM, but come with a hefty onboarding fee in the tens of thousands of dollars. Confetti is a free platform alternative with excellent customer service, where all you have to do is pay for the experience/booking itself.
5 tips for client engagement:
- Make your appreciation event focused on networking and building a personal connection with your loyal clients. Don’t be super sales-heavy. Leave that for before or after the call.
- Consider doing the sales portion at the beginning or end of the call (both have their pros and cons) and keeping it very short. You can always follow up.
- Some customers swear by not having any sales pitch at all. Consider inviting a few customer advocates to participate and let them sell for you! Experiment with various options.
- Create a mix of prospective customers, new clients, and happy customers so they can influence one another in their settings.
- If breakout rooms are being utilized, consider allocating one salesperson per breakout room.
Invite your valued customers to these engaging events:
1. Virtual Wine Tasting & Networking Mixer
A wine tasting & networking mixer is a great way to kick off your client events. Participants can enjoy a guided tasting session, where a wine expert will explain the characteristics of each wine, the winemaking process, and how to properly taste wine. This is a great way to break the ice and encourage some casual conversation before diving into the rest of your agenda and learning more about your company in a casual, relaxing environment. Plus, the duration is customizable, allowing you to add it to the beginning or end of your larger client networking event.
How to get started 👉 Start your client appreciation event with a Virtual Wine Tasting & Networking Mixer!
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2. Storytelling or comedy night
Invite your clients to a virtual storytelling or stand-up comedy night. Welcome local comedians or storytellers to entertain (in-person or virtually), and give your clients an evening of laughs and relatable experiences. Humor is a great way to bring your customer community together and build positive associations with your brand.
3. Charcuterie Board Making Class
Treat your clients to a charcuterie board-making class, where they will learn the art of assembling an impressive board. Participants will be guided through the selection of meats and cheeses, taste profiles, and aesthetic presentation. This interactive event ends with a sharing session, where everyone can showcase their creations and enjoy their boards while mingling.
How to get started 👉 Treat your customers to a Charcuterie Board Making Class!
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4. Themed movie night or watch party
Organize a movie night with a fun theme that reflects your brand or the interests of your clients!
To make the event more immersive, provide snack boxes or popcorn, drinks, and movie-themed treats. Virtual teams can use a virtual watch party to watch simultaneously and use the chat to share reactions, movie trivia, or other discussions about the movie.
5. Trivia night
Organize a virtual trivia night packed with fun and challenging questions. This event is perfect for fostering engagement and friendly competition among your clients. Offering prizes for the winners will make it even more exciting and memorable for everyone involved.
How to get started 👉 Host a round of Classic Trivia for your customers!
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6. Client-exclusive webinar with an industry expert
Set up an interactive webinar or Q&A with a well-regarded industry expert. Tailor the content to the interests of your clients or business to help them grow their own knowledge and skills. Providing a professional development opportunity demonstrates to clients that you’re invested in their success.
7. Escape Room
Host a virtual escape room event where your clients can work together to solve puzzles and escape the room. This event is filled with mystery and excitement, encouraging teamwork and collaboration as participants navigate through the challenges to complete their quest.
How to get started 👉 See if your clients have what it takes to make it out of this Escape Quest!
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8. Scavenger hunt adventure
Organize a scavenger hunt, either in a local area or virtually. Clients can team up or compete individually to respond to prompts and complete fun challenges. This event works well to encourage collaboration and excitement, and it can be customized with brand-specific themes to reinforce your company's personality.
9. Art class
Arrange a virtual painting or drawing class where clients can express their creativity. Confetti will take care of the hard part by shipping out kits of art supplies and a professional instructor will guide them through the process. A relaxing and enjoyable artistic practice will help clients unwind and engage in a fun activity that leaves them with a memorable souvenir.
How to get started 👉 There are plenty of seasonal crafts available in our Arts & Crafts collection.
10. Personalized wellness packages
Show appreciation by sending clients curated wellness packages. You could organize an event around these packages with virtual sessions such as guided meditation, a mental wellness workshop, or a mindfulness session. It’s a refreshing way to help clients unwind and recharge while associating your brand with well-being.
11. Yoga session
Wellness events are a great choice for customer events. Offer a virtual yoga session to help your clients relax and focus on their well-being. This event will provide a calm and restorative experience, allowing participants to de-stress and recharge.
How to get started 👉 Give your customers the gift of relaxation with a Yoga Class!
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12. VIP sneak peek or product launch event
Give your most loyal clients early access to new products, services, or features in an exclusive VIP event. In addition to your product demo, feature Q&A sessions, a guided walkthrough, and an optional post-event survey to gather their insights and tailor future events for optimal success. Offering special access to your products makes clients feel valued and included in your brand’s journey.
13. Game night
Set up a virtual game night with popular games like Taboo or Charades. This is a great way to break the ice and build camaraderie among your clients. Fun and interactive, game nights foster a light-hearted environment for meaningful connections and casual networking.
How to get started 👉 Sample a collection of games with a round of Mash-Up!
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14. Charity event
Host a day of giving by involving clients in a charitable event, like a virtual or in-person volunteering opportunity. Clients can donate or participate in activities that give back, like a cleanup day or fundraising walk. This shows a shared commitment to social good and can build a deep bond with customers over shared values.
15. Mixology class
Host a virtual mixology class where clients can learn to make cocktails. Send cocktail kits to participants and have a professional mixologist teach them the art of making classic drinks. This event includes a Q&A session and opportunities for mingling between drink preparations.
How to get started 👉 Cheers to your loyal customers with a Mixology Class!
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16. The Confetti Pub
Create a virtual pub experience with live music, conversation rooms, and games. Clients can enjoy live music, engage in pub trivia, participate in a virtual game show, and socialize in various breakout rooms. This event offers a mix of entertainment and interaction, making it a versatile and engaging experience.
How to get started 👉 Kick back with your customers at the Confetti Pub!
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The takeaway 🎊
A customer appreciation event fosters long-term connections that benefit the success of your business. When customers feel valued and appreciated, they are more likely to stick with your brand.
Consider using these resources and engagement calendars for your Success & Sales teams, and increase customer engagement and retention using Confetti’s virtual events.
Ready to plan your next client appreciation event? Visit our Engage Your Customers Collection or reach out to the Confetti team to get started!
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