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You don’t need dollar bills to host community events.
How to Host Events on a Zero Dollar Budget
An important part of community relations can involve hosting events. Events matter because they create an atmosphere where trust is built, connections are made, and there is a sense of community that people desire.
A little face-to-face time makes it more likely others will support and talk about you later. It’s a great way to add to your social capital account, even if your bank account is low.
Here’s a list of events ideas you could host for little to zero dollars spent.
Types of events to host:
✅ Educational Event
✅ Art Exhibit
✅ Movie night
✅ Pop-up shops
✅ Clean-up
✅ Skill-share workshop
✅ Networking event
What event ideas do you have in mind?
Next, here’s 7 steps to hosting a successful event.
7 Steps for Hosting a *Free* Event
Define your audience & goal for the event. (The thinking part)
Who do you want to attend? What is the purpose of the event? This needs to be clear from the beginning.Build your list. (The hard part)
Maybe you have one already built, or maybe you can use LinkedIn Sales Navigator, or perhaps Apollo or Clay to build one. However when you make your list, be specific about who you want at your event. Use location and other filters to help narrow the list down.Find your venue. (The exploring part)
For inexpensive spaces, think of your own office, a library, coffee shop, park, or collaborate with a business that aligns with yours. If you can’t buy everyone’s coffee, or cocktail, or whatever it is, let them know it’s a buy-your-own event.Create an event page (The must do part)
Try Eventbrite or Luma. Submit your event to the local publication’s city calendar section for extra visibility, or to local newsletters that list events.Send out invitations. (Another must-do part)
Use email, LinkedIn messages, Instagram, or X—wherever your audience is most active. Keep the invitation messaging simple and clear.Send a reminder of the event (The easy part)
Send out a helpful reminder close to the event. Easy peasy, all the hard work has already been done.Partner with someone for more reach, fun and sustainability. (The optional part)
Maximize your effort by working with others. Define responsibilities and match up expectations.
Follow up with photos, stories, and thanks to participants and partners publicly, and invite attendees to the next step or CTA (newsletter, future event, feedback form, etc.).
🎨 Real World Example: A financial planning firm hosts an art gallery night for local artists to display their artwork. Offices have lots of wall space and are used to having clients come in. It’s a perfect way to support the local art community and meet new people. Artists and patrons naturally learn about the firm and are impressed by their dedication to the local art scene.
💫 Pro Tip: Timing of your event can make or break it. Keep in mind commute times, the location of the venue in relation to your audience, holidays, school pick-up/drop-off times, etc.
Treat each event as a relationship-building system. You’ll learn what your community values, and you can show up and provide the event. You’ll make yourself unforgettable—even if your budget is zero dollars!
“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”
Do this now:
Remember these three words for organizing an event: Help. Learn. Connect.
1) How can I help my community?
2) What can I learn from the event, and from others?
3) How do I make meaningful connections?
Term to Learn
Community Relations are the planned efforts by businesses, organizations, or institutions to build and maintain positive relationships with local communities. That means engaging with the community, supporting causes, and contributing resources like time, money, or products that address needs. Side effects of a healthy community relations program include building goodwill, gaining a good reputation, and finding you’re getting support from unexpected places.
FAQ
Q: Can I turn my community event into a sales pitch with out getting caught?
A: You can try, but people are savvy and they can sniff out a sales pitch a mile away. That’s why set your goal from the start. You want to offer something to your community, then do that. Let them come to you if they want to know more – and they will. People seek out companies that contribute positively to society.
Get PR techniques from recent news.
Newsworthy
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Welcomes Back Prince Cheddward
The fans have spoken and Cheez-It has listened: Prince Cheddward is returning as the official ruler of the 2025 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.
How can your business take advantage of fun promotions like this?
Essential strategy:
Find a way to incorporate it into your daily business
Produce good content and use the assets that may be provided.
Get creative and make it visually interesting, unique, fun.
🕵️♀️ Recently Spotted: I’ve seen a local pizza company using Cheez-it as a theme ingredient in a special item. They are promoting this via newsletter, social media and in store signage. I hope to see more of these types of promotion as the Citrus Bowl returns to Orlando.
💫 Pro Tip: Use the high quality images, videos, graphics, hashtags, product descriptions and links to your owned media. These can be found on official company announcements.
✍️ Key PR Takeaway: Ride on the coat tails of already popular cultural staples– but do it smartly. Stand out as different by coming up with your own twist. Take advantage of the hashtags. Link, like, tag and comment on the company posts for further reach.
Useful PR Resources.
🧰 TOOLKIT
Your Local Library
The library provides free access to many publications that are often behind a paywall, requiring payment to do research on their publications. You can also access many different trade journals or other databases for free.
Did you know that many libraries now offer many useful tools like computers with paid software applications like Adobe Creative Cloud, recording studios for Podcasts, meeting rooms where you can host a small events, printers, 3-D printers, Cricut die-cutter, Glowforge laser printer, Ultimaker 3D Printer, and HP large format printer, and loads of other resources.
Search for public libraries in your area.
Good to know: Librarians are incredible sources for research help, plus they are very friendly… truly an untapped treasure close to home.
Attention Seeker of the Week
Sean
Sean, a 3-year-old Peregrine Falcon, is quite the attention seeker, or perhaps he’s just a food seeker. This handsome flyer loves showing off his hunting skills and his keen eyesight. I quite enjoyed meeting him and his other feathered friends at Faha Flaconry in Ireland. All the gorgeous, well cared for birds were fascinating and thrilling to see up close.
Hope you have a great week 😋
Until next week, keep your shades on and stay cool.
Your fellow Seeker,
Keren
🕶️
