It's a virtual world... how to be more than just an online version of yourself.

"Let's just move everything online," says your exec team, your board of directors, your boss. Sure. We'll just do that. NOT. There are no more breaks to catch up with coworkers. Now there are breaks to check your kid's homework. Breaks (in the middle of conference calls) to fix your kid's distance learning Zoom problems. You are tech support. You are an employee. You are a boss. You are a BOSS.

Eyes are tired. Screens all day. Ears hurt from earpods and headphones. The dog needs to go out. The sink is filled with family's dishes from lunch (not to mention breakfast).

This is now. This is real. This is life.

Now what else is there? Here are 10 ideas for ways to engage your audience, keep the home fires burning, and continue to drive pipeline when virtual events are saturated, wallets are closing, and people have other priorities.

10. Do the normal things: Create a webinar. Get your content out there. If they can't get there in person, give them a virtual option. It's quick, it's easy, it's the low-hanging fruit. Everyone's doing it, so why can't you?

9. Do the normal thing, but with more pizzazz! Make it an internet game show. Make it a Carpool Karoake. Make it a Hot Ones. Make it interesting, informative, and something that can be watched on demand. Make it edutainment!

8. Mail them something. Get home addresses for your customers and do a direct mail campaign. What is the most amazing thing that you need to be successful in a virtual world? A new Jabra headset? A bathrobe? A copy of Ready Player One? A Movie Night package (popcorn, candy, Amazon gift card). A custom board game! Offshoot - here's a few more of those ideas:

• Arts & Craft or Home Science box. Do your customers have kids? They don't have to in order to enjoy this gift! But if they do, all the better! Everyone needs a break from the screen every now and then. Sending a home activity kit might be the perfect way to help a family stay sane or give your customers a quick break.
• Toilet paper. Too soon? After 14 days in quarantine, you won't be thinking it's so silly anymore! Just a little gesture to remind your community that we're all in this shit together. (I've never cursed on LinkedIn before... is that allowed?)
• Outdoor play pack. Frisbee! Ball! Drone! Get your people outside!

7. Revitalize print. Never before have we needed paper so badly. Eye strain is real. Communicating in print is welcome. Now's the time to spin up that magazine you've always wanted to create. It will be a welcome respite from the virtual meetings.

6. Give them permission to take a break. Every working human needs to step away. Instead of monopolizing another hour of their eyeballs, set your one-hour webinar up, then get your content across in 10 minutes, and let your audience take that other 50 minutes to step away. Their calendar is blocked and protected for them. Now they can go do something. They'll remember you for it.

5. Host a Virtual HD Strategy Session. One of the core beliefs of HD is a tech-free, in-person, community experience. Well... Pivot! We have now successfully achieved a 4.5-hour strategy session digitally with 84 engaged participants, and we only lost 9 of them by the end of the day. That's pretty impressive! Let us help you create one for your customers, prospects, or community.

4. Start a book club. Grab your community, designate a topic of interest, and develop a full program where you send them a book and set up book club calls or video conferences to discuss and share.

3. Create an online game. There are some really interesting e-learning platforms that bring your online training to life. Give customers and employees a break from sitting and listening by having them go on a quest, complete a journey, or compete for the top spot on a leader-board with custom, content-based games like Game-Learn.

2. Podcast. Give the eyes a break and focus on the ears. Let your customers, prospects, and community take the dog for a walk or empty the dishwasher by filling their ears and their brains with thoughtful content.

1. Help someone. Retail. Events. Hospitality. Servers. They are now either unemployed or about to be. While we likely can't get them all trained and background-checked to be in our homes to help with our kids, but we could band together an do something: Can your company sponsor a virtual babysitter for a digital playdate? I bet there's some amazing people out there who would be up for reading books, leading science experiments, offering arts and crafts, or just leading a group chat with kids. Can you "gift" people as proofreaders for online content (since you and your customers will be creating a LOT of that!). Delivery services may be limited as everyone is requiring delivery. Can you employ someone to do some local deliveries of gifts, products, or supplies for you or for your customers?

We will create community, we will band together, we will come out the other side as even better humans. Let's start now.

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Liz Lathan, CMP is Chief Experience Officer at Haute Companies. Haute Companies is a family of companies anchored in human connection. From events to media (podcasts, videos, and more) to direct mail to talent management to strategy session facilitation, Haute Companies can support your goals with Haute Dokimazo, Haute Rock Creative, Swag Hub, Haute Spot, and Haute Rock Entertainment.