So the pandemic is well among us now and shows no signs of leaving soon. Lives have changed and the way we interact has changed too – including the way we do businesses. As you’re here, we know that you enjoy cooking and perhaps you think people can benefit from your knowledge. Cooking classes is the best way to share that knowledge, but then again, how do you do that with the Damndemic still looming around? Say hello to virtual cooking classes! With people hesitating and being advised to stay away from each other, virtual classes seem like the way to go. So let’s talk you through how to hold a virtual cooking class to expand your business.

1. Decide On A Theme, Format And Time

  • Finalize your target audience and define it. That way you will find it easier to attract your audiences.
  • If your target audience is helping working moms fix quick but healthy and tasty meals for their families as they juggle working from home and managing the family, you could give them a small recipe booklet of about 10 recipes that they can refer to and teach them how to create a weekly family meal plan.
  • With the online class format, the advantage is that you are not bound by geography and seating. Your reach can actually be global and that makes the reach factor amazing.
  • Prep and design your kitchen or your workplace so that you know what your audience will see. Figure out where you will place your camera or phone to shoot the class.
  • Ask yourself if you’ll be shooting the class yourself on a tripod, or getting a family member to help you or hire a professional videographer.

2. Promote Your Event And Get Sign Ups

  • Today, the world has got closer although everyone is working from home.
  • It is easier to design and plan activities like this that can get like-minded people to attend from the comfort of their homes.
  • Use Instagram stories, Instagram posts, Whatsapp groups and many such online platforms to promote your event.
  • Promote it on your website too and have an event landing page set up.
    • Share the details of your event via mailers.
    • Post about the event on social
    • Update information about your class on Facebook and share it with your network.
    • Get registrations done so that you know the number of people who are going to attend.
    • Decode if you want to make it a paid event or free event.

3. Organize, Plan and Shop

  • Since you are planning a virtual cooking class, you will have to inform the members a week or so ahead about what you will teach and the ingredients that they have to keep ready.
  • Will it be a cook-along? If it is, you need to share your menu and ingredients list so that your attendees and you can prep ahead of time.
  • Going live on Instagram or Facebook is certainly an option, especially if you have a large following there, although your audience does not have the opportunity to call in with video, only comment.
  • Zoom or Google Hangouts are also good options!
  • Set up early to check the camera angle, lighting, sound, etc. Even if you don’t have a professional setup, it’s okay. But being prepared will make your class hassle-free and your confidence up.
  • Request your spouse or a friend to co-host the virtual cooking class. You can make the class more engaging by discussing some common doubts with them. The co-host can also act as chat moderators, especially if the viewer list is high, and can mediate between the viewers and you while you’re busy cooking.
  • Considering it’ll be a live event, there’ll be long sections of relative inactivity while you’re waiting for the food to be prepared. Use this time to interact and engage with the audience!
  • The fun doesn’t stop once the session ends! Encourage your audience to share images of the dish they prepared and don’t forget to post them on your social media accounts. Giving a shoutout for the best cook and even sending them small rewards would make it all the more exciting!

4. Will It Be A Repeat Event?

  • Are you going to hold weekly classes?
  • Upsell your other services at the end of the class.
  • Give them ways to be in touch with you.

5. Bolster Your Social Media Presence

  • You cannot just have one online class and leave it there.
  • Work on your online presence every day, via Facebook, blog, YouTube videos, etc.
  • Keep creating content so that you have a sound digital presence and keep updating recipes and cooking tips so that your audience knows you are not just a flash in the pan kind of a teacher.

You could create different kinds of sessions, kids’ cooking classes, parent and child cooking classes, or cook-alongs with friends. The options and opportunities are plentiful if you would like to try and explore.

Related: Your Social Media Strategy Guide For Your Confectionery Business

See Also: Top 10 Websites To Get A Logo Done For Your Food Business| How To Start A Food Business from Home