With summer here, it’s easy to use the great outdoors to your business’ advantage. Whether that’s a 5K run fundraiser, outdoor concert or networking event, clients, donors and employees will love the opportunity to shake things up outside in nature.

To ensure your outdoor event is a success for your business, follow these guidelines.

1. Provide Ample Refreshments

If there’s one thing that can hold an outdoor event back, it’s the lack of drinks and food. With the summer heat dialing up, everyone will be drinking more beverages than usual to stay hydrated. It’s important that you prepare more backup food and drink than usual, so that you are ready for anything.

2. Utilize Shade

Your whole event does not need to be shaded, but you should provide your event attendees an option of a shaded space, whether it’s a tent, canopy or indoor area.

3. Implement Summer-Themed Giveaways

Tailor your event giveaways to the outdoors, and your event attendees will know you went the extra mile. Consider promotions like sunglasses, hats, sunscreen or even beach balls. You can get creative as you want—even branded BBQ tools are a great idea.

4. Include Outdoor Activities

(Image via Park Sun)

The best part about the summer is being able to do all these fun activities that you can’t do in the colder temperatures. Include a hike outside or a three-on-three volleyball tournament, or for those fancier events, select something like a fireworks display.

5. Choose Live Entertainment

When you’re outside, recorded music on a speaker just doesn’t carry the same way it does inside. Instead, choose a live DJ, band, etc., to take care of the crowd, and everyone will have a great time.