At Charlotte on the Cheap, we have pivoted from publishing a list of real-life events to publishing a list of virtual events. As always, there is no charge to have your event (real or virtual) listed on Charlotte on the Cheap, but we might not be able to list everything we’d like to, just because of time constraints.

In our virtual events calendar, we include links to events all over the world, but it’s central to our mission to support local businesses and artists, so we’re trying to give those events special attention, like having them going out to our email subscribers (30,000+) when possible, or sharing on our social media.

This is new to all of us, and we’re figuring it out as we go, but we wanted to share some thoughts on creating a successful virtual event. We’re focusing on the promotion aspect of the event, because that’s what we’re involved in, not the technical challenge of creating the event, although that would be useful information as well.

We want to help your event be as successful as possible, so here are some ways that you can help us to help you.

Create a Facebook Event

Even if the event isn’t happening on Facebook, a Facebook event is a really great way to tell people about it, because, by design, it includes vital information, like date and time.

And it’s easy to find and share. If you just write a post on your Facebook page that you’re doing a live stream at a certain time, people have to scroll through other posts to find that information. And it doesn’t give people as much confidence as a Facebook event does.

If you have a business or band page, create the event there, not on your personal page. It will be visible to more people that way.

To submit it for publication on Charlotte on the Cheap, just send the info to info@charlotteonthecheap.com

If you have all the information (see below) in the Facebook event, that’s all we really need. We can’t guarantee that everything that is sent to us will end up on our virtual calendar, but the chances are significantly higher if we don’t need to email back asking questions about the event.

Everyone is operating day-to-day, or hour-to-hour right now, but if you can create the Facebook event at least several days before the event, that’s best. You’ll give it time to build interest. And you’ll have a better chance of getting it listed on publications like Charlotte on the Cheap.

Put this in the Facebook Event’s description

You can certainly put the vital information in the discussion section of your event, but it’s a good idea to actually (also) put it in the description, because that way people can see it at a glance, without scrolling through other comments.

Where it will stream. If it will be on Facebook Live on your Facebook page, tell people (and tell them what the Facebook page is.)
If it will on Instagram on YouTube, provide a link to your Instagram page or YouTube channel
Even though you don’t have the address to the stream, tell people in the description that you’ll add the stream as a comment to the event once it starts. That way people will know to look for it.
Tell people your Venmo, Paypal, or Cash App payment information. If you want to make it really easy for people to tip you (which you do) make those clickable links, as well as spelling them out.
Your time zone. Yes, Facebook includes this information, but it can be missed. Make it easy on people. Consider even including the start time for other time zones. After all, one unique, positive aspect of this strange and horrible time is that you have the opportunity to reach people in locations you wouldn’t normally reach. People are looking for things to do at home. You could make some new fans.

Create Co-Hosts

Invite everyone involved to be a co-host. (But not random people.) That really helps visibility. As a matter of fact, please feel free to add Charlotte on the Cheap as a co-host. We’re very happy to use our platform to help promote local businesses and bands right now.

Also, if this is a music event, make MusicEverywhereCLT a co-host. MusicEverywhereCLT has created a virtual music series for Charlotte musicians, called Music Anywhere CLT, and by adding them as a co-host, your show will automatically be an event on their Facebook page.

Invite Everyone

This isn’t the time to be shy. Send everyone you can an invite to the event. Ask people to share your event. Post on your business page and personal page. More than once. Repeating: this is not the time to be shy. We’re all trying to keep going right now, and you need to advocate for yourself.

Optional – Create a Cover Photo for Your Event

This isn’t necessary. You can use your business/band page’s cover photo for the cover photo for the event. But if you have the time and you know how to do it, add words to that photo saying what the event is, and the basic details about it.

You don’t have to do anything too clever here. But it gives people confidence about the event when they see an image has been created especially for it.

There are lots of ways to add words to a photo, and you probably know several ways already, but if not, PicFont.com is super easy to use, and free.

Join relevant groups

Facebook groups and pages for virtual events are sprouting up like crazy right now. Hunt around a little and see if there is one you can join that are relevant to what you’re doing, and see if you can add your event.

One Facebook group for virtual concerts by independent artists is Viral MUSIC – Because Kindness is Contagious and there definitely are others out there.

Who is that amazing dog in the photo?

That’s my dog, Harlow, who joins me in watching live streams every night.