5 Tips to Hosting a Virtual Retreat

If you are a retreat leader then you know the value of an in-person retreat. Spending time with your clients face-to-face in a setting where they are unplugged from the daily distractions of life can certainly equal magical, momental shifts in your retreat participants lives and businesses. However, if you are unable to host a live retreat right now you can still serve your community by hosting a virtual retreat. If this sounds overwhelming, fear not. Here are 5 simple tips of how to make sure your virtual retreat is an amazing experience for all involved.

Tip #1 - CREATE CONTENT. Create a simple, easy-to-follow retreat workbook for your participants to journal, take notes or complete self-guided exercises. NOTE: Keep it simple. It can be a one-page PDF document. What knowledge do you want them to take away?

Tip #2 - SEND AN ENGAGING WELCOME EMAIL. Get them excited about participating and share what to expect next and how to fully participate in the retreat. Include any technology instructions with links, PDF's of workbook and instructions for how to get the best experience (ex: make sure you are in a quiet, distraction-free location with headphones.) out of the retreat.

Tip #3 - CREATE AN EXPERIENTIAL, RESULTS FOCUSED AGENDA. If it is your first virtual retreat I recommend you keep your agenda to one-day, around 4 hours. A virtual retreat can follow the same agenda as a live retreat with a few tweaks to interactive, hands-on group activities. For example, if you normally open your live retreat with a meditation session you can duplicate that in a virtual retreat. Build in opportunities for sharing, group chats, self-guided exercises and breaks. And be prepared to be flexible. A topic may show up for many of your participants and you may decide to spend more time discussing it because it will support your participants in breaking through to a desired outcome.

Tip #4 - KNOW YOUR LOGISTICS. There are many platforms available for event registration, hosting virtual events and receiving payment. Keep it simple. Visit my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/katsanfordretreats for a list of resources.

Tip #5 - SPREAD THE WORD. In other words, market your retreat. Share your event invitation via your email list and social media channels and include links to register. Look for places where you can be featured as a guest speaker on another expert's upcoming webinar/virtual event. Build excitement by sharing tips via Instagram TV or Facebook LIVE. What can you do to build credibility and community with your online audience who might also be potential retreat participants? Who are your RAVING FANS that would you spread the word in exchange for you doing the same or a small Brand Ambassador commission or chance to attend your retreat for free or a discount?

And finally, pick a date and get started! The time is now...don't wait until you have more knowledge, more clients. If you need support please reach out to me at kat@katsanford.com.

#virtualretreats, #katsanfordretreats #retreatstraveltransformation #virtualevents