Internal events are more than just team-building exercises—they can serve as a treasure trove for creating engaging, authentic content for social media. Whether it’s a festival celebration, a corporate anniversary, or a fun contest, well-planned events can showcase your organization’s culture, values, and camaraderie to the world. But to achieve the best social media outcomes, strategic planning is key. Here’s how planning internal events contributes to social media success and what you should keep in mind.
1. Creates Shareable Moments
Events create unique opportunities for capturing real, spontaneous, and heartfelt moments that resonate with audiences. But to capture these effectively, you need to plan what kind of content you aim to produce—photos, videos, live sessions, or a mix of everything. A well-planned event ensures that there’s a schedule in place to capture highlights without disrupting the natural flow of activities.
2. Defines the Narrative
Every event should tell a story. Are you celebrating a milestone? Launching a new initiative? Honoring employee achievements? By defining the purpose and tone of the event during the planning phase, you can align the content to reflect the desired narrative on social media. This adds authenticity and consistency to your brand messaging.
3. Ensures Professional Coverage
A poorly captured photo or video can do more harm than good. When planning the event, decide if you need professional photographers or videographers, or whether your in-house team can handle the task. Allocate roles ahead of time to ensure you capture high-quality visuals that elevate your social media content.
4. Incorporates Social Media Strategy
Planning an event with social media outcomes in mind allows you to create content formats that match platform-specific trends. For example:
- Reels and Shorts: Capture quick, engaging snippets of the event.
- Behind-the-Scenes Content: Offer a glimpse of the preparation process.
- Employee-Centric Posts: Highlight your team’s involvement to make it relatable.
Also, pre-schedule hashtags, captions, and live updates as part of your strategy.
5. Promotes Engagement Pre, During, and Post-Event
A planned event allows for a multi-phase social media strategy:
- Before the Event: Build anticipation through teaser posts, countdowns, and sneak peeks.
- During the Event: Share live updates, polls, and stories to engage your audience in real time.
- After the Event: Post highlight reels, thank-you messages, and audience reactions to maintain momentum.
Things to Check Before the Event
- Set Goals: Are you aiming for engagement, brand awareness, or talent attraction? Define your KPIs.
- Finalize Logistics: Ensure everything—venue, décor, and activities—is in place for a smooth event.
- Plan Content: Outline what types of content you’ll need—photos, quotes, videos—and assign responsibilities to your team.
- Prepare Social Media Tools: Make sure your social media team has access to devices, Wi-Fi, and editing tools on-site.
- Test Equipment: From cameras to microphones, ensure all equipment is in working condition.
Pro Tips for a Successful Event
- Engage Your Team: Involve employees in the planning process to get fresh ideas and boost enthusiasm.
- Use Branded Elements: Incorporate your logo or colors into backdrops and props to strengthen brand recall.
- Timing Matters: Post content during peak engagement times for maximum visibility.
- Encourage Employee Shares: Encourage attendees to post event highlights using a common hashtag for extended reach.
The Takeaway
Internal events offer a unique opportunity to strengthen your brand’s online presence while fostering a positive work culture. However, the success of these events on social media hinges on meticulous planning. By focusing on creating shareable moments, defining a clear narrative, and incorporating a social media strategy from the start, you can turn your next internal event into a powerful marketing asset.