Improving company culture and uniting your team helps workers avoid retreating into cliques and developing their own subcultures. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with finding a group of like-minded coworkers to confide in. However, when your team feels united they are better able to engage with each other (and their work) in a healthy, collaborative manner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More resources you might like:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n- How to Plan Your First Virtual Conference<\/a><\/li>
- 7 DIY Employee Gift Ideas with Free Printables<\/a><\/li>
- How to Create & Print Personalized Gift Tags<\/a><\/li>
- 9 Best Tips for Holiday Mailing & Shipping<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
1) Start planning your virtual office holiday party the same as a regular party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Even with a virtual holiday party, some of the core aspects of party planning will remain the same as planning a party in real life. You will still need to organize a guest list, determine a budget and create a theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Confirming a headcount is an important first step. Once you know how many people you are hosting you can start making decisions on how much you can spend on gifts and what activities will work best for your group. You can then determine a fun holiday party theme to tie everything together perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/img.avery.com\/f_auto,q_auto,c_scale,w_600\/web\/ideas\/article\/virtual-office-holiday-party-tips-2\")
Send personalized treat boxes to attendees ahead of time so they can enjoy them during your virtual party. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n2) Keep in mind online options while planning your holiday party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hosting a virtual holiday party will require thoughtful planning if you want to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. Here are a few things to keep in mind while you’re in the planning stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Choose the right video chat app<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIf your team already uses a chat app then try to stick to that app if you can. Various chat apps such as Slack<\/a>, Zoom<\/a> and Discord<\/a> provide different benefits such as a more modern look, easier accessibility and higher quality video but very few will beat the ease-of-use of the app that everybody already has at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\nMake it easy to join the party<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nMake sure to send out clear instructions so that everyone knows how to sign in or create an account and attend. A holiday party is your team’s chance to display its inclusivity and efficiency and it will be a bad look if people can’t even get into the party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Share festive treats even without catering<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nSadly you won’t be able to host a holiday buffet but you can still send festive treat packs. Consider sending wine & snack boxes to everyone that can be enjoyed together over the video call. You can also print your own custom labels with your company branding to make each gift a little more personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Virtual](\"https:\/\/img.avery.com\/f_auto,q_auto,c_scale,w_600\/web\/blog\/virtual-office-party-4\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\nCustomize Nuts Label<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\nCustomize Wine Label<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\nCustomize Popcorn Label<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\nCustomize Chocolate Label<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nReserve a portion of your budget for holiday gifts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAlong with festive treats, you can also show your appreciation by setting aside some of your budget for holiday gifts. Services such as our sister company pc\/nametag<\/a> let you create personalized gift packages. While homemade gifts are always appreciated, professionally engraved and customized products are a great way to go the extra mile.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDon’t rule out live entertainment!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThere are many performers taking their gigs virtual<\/a> including musicians, escape room organizers, motivational speakers, magicians and more. Hiring a performer can be a great way to let a professional handle some of the entertainment for your party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Cookie](\"https:\/\/img.avery.com\/f_auto,q_auto,c_scale,w_600\/web\/ideas\/article\/virtual-office-holiday-party-tips-3\")
Ship cookie decorating supplies to attendees for a cookie decorating contest. It’s a great team activity because win, lose, or draw everyone gets cookies!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n3) Don’t forget team-building activities for your virtual holiday party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Nothing brings a team together like some good group activities, especially around the holidays. Here are some fun ideas that can be done virtually that will get your team laughing together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cookie decorating contest<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHold a cookie decoration contest and have everyone vote for their favorites during the party. You can package cookie decorating kits with custom shipping labels, a festive design for the inside and instructional cards. Make sure to ship them with enough time ahead of the party so that everyone has a chance to think of some fun ideas and bake their cookies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/img.avery.com\/f_auto,q_auto,c_scale,w_600\/web\/blog\/virtual-office-party-1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\nCustomize Box Label<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\nCustomize Instruction Card<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nUgly sweater party<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHave everyone dig out some of their favorite ugly holiday sweaters and hold a virtual fashion show to vote for some of the best (or the worst) designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Karaoke holiday classics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nHost a virtual karaoke session<\/a> with cheerful holiday songs to lift people’s sprits.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRaffle a prize for a good cause<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nChoose a charity and have participants earn one raffle ticket for every $5 they donate. At the end of the evening you can have a drawing for a fabulous prize!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4) Put seasonal twists on quick & easy team-building activities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You can also build on other remote team-building activities<\/a> by adding some seasonal flair. Here are three ideas that you can use as inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\nVideo chat bingo<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nCreate bingo cards with video chat snafus, holiday snacks or festive traditions and send them out to your team. After the party, you can use self-laminating sheets<\/a> and notary seal labels<\/a> to send out game winner certificates<\/a> for the winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\nShare online puzzles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1) Start planning your virtual office holiday party the same as a regular party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Even with a virtual holiday party, some of the core aspects of party planning will remain the same as planning a party in real life. You will still need to organize a guest list, determine a budget and create a theme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Confirming a headcount is an important first step. Once you know how many people you are hosting you can start making decisions on how much you can spend on gifts and what activities will work best for your group. You can then determine a fun holiday party theme to tie everything together perfectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hosting a virtual holiday party will require thoughtful planning if you want to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. Here are a few things to keep in mind while you’re in the planning stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your team already uses a chat app then try to stick to that app if you can. Various chat apps such as Slack<\/a>, Zoom<\/a> and Discord<\/a> provide different benefits such as a more modern look, easier accessibility and higher quality video but very few will beat the ease-of-use of the app that everybody already has at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure to send out clear instructions so that everyone knows how to sign in or create an account and attend. A holiday party is your team’s chance to display its inclusivity and efficiency and it will be a bad look if people can’t even get into the party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sadly you won’t be able to host a holiday buffet but you can still send festive treat packs. Consider sending wine & snack boxes to everyone that can be enjoyed together over the video call. You can also print your own custom labels with your company branding to make each gift a little more personal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with festive treats, you can also show your appreciation by setting aside some of your budget for holiday gifts. Services such as our sister company pc\/nametag<\/a> let you create personalized gift packages. While homemade gifts are always appreciated, professionally engraved and customized products are a great way to go the extra mile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are many performers taking their gigs virtual<\/a> including musicians, escape room organizers, motivational speakers, magicians and more. Hiring a performer can be a great way to let a professional handle some of the entertainment for your party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nothing brings a team together like some good group activities, especially around the holidays. Here are some fun ideas that can be done virtually that will get your team laughing together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hold a cookie decoration contest and have everyone vote for their favorites during the party. You can package cookie decorating kits with custom shipping labels, a festive design for the inside and instructional cards. Make sure to ship them with enough time ahead of the party so that everyone has a chance to think of some fun ideas and bake their cookies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have everyone dig out some of their favorite ugly holiday sweaters and hold a virtual fashion show to vote for some of the best (or the worst) designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Host a virtual karaoke session<\/a> with cheerful holiday songs to lift people’s sprits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Choose a charity and have participants earn one raffle ticket for every $5 they donate. At the end of the evening you can have a drawing for a fabulous prize!<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also build on other remote team-building activities<\/a> by adding some seasonal flair. Here are three ideas that you can use as inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Create bingo cards with video chat snafus, holiday snacks or festive traditions and send them out to your team. After the party, you can use self-laminating sheets<\/a> and notary seal labels<\/a> to send out game winner certificates<\/a> for the winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2) Keep in mind online options while planning your holiday party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Choose the right video chat app<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make it easy to join the party<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Share festive treats even without catering<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>
Reserve a portion of your budget for holiday gifts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don’t rule out live entertainment!<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3) Don’t forget team-building activities for your virtual holiday party<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Cookie decorating contest<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>
Ugly sweater party<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Karaoke holiday classics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Raffle a prize for a good cause<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4) Put seasonal twists on quick & easy team-building activities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Video chat bingo<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Share online puzzles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n