Social media channels can be a great, low to no cost means of promoting an event prior to the event itself, engaging participants while on site and as a means of gauging success post-show. Here are some “brainstorming” ideas to help you make your event a success![more…]
Let me begin with the caveat that unless you’re hosting a reoccurring event (a large event at that), I’d recommend that you utilize existing channels rather than creating new event specific ones. For example, you are likely to get more traction from your existing Twitter account for your event by using an event specific hashtag rather than setting up a new account for your audience to follow.
With that said, let’s jump into the brainstorming!
Blogging
- Post regular updates on preparation leading up to the event.
- Include highlights from either the previous years event or from related events so potential attendees can anticipate what the experience will be like.
- Use your blog as a means to reach out to people to see what they’d be interested in seeing/learning.
- Partake in “Live Blogging” at the actual event. People who did not have the opportunity to attend or who might attend future events could read this for relevancy. Also a great tool for an event “postmortum”
- Develop a short, event specific hashtag.
- Promote tracks, speakers, news regularly.
- Use your Tweets to promote discounts or specials on registration fees.
- Target the key influencers among your followers and communicate directly with them about the event.
- Use tools such as twtpoll for electronic polling of your audience.
- Create a custom tab with venue info, summary of event, and link to event website and/or registration.
- Facebook allows for you to actually show content only to people who have “Liked” you. Post copies of select presentations relative to the event available for those who have “Liked” you.
- Use Facebook Discussion Groups on your page to engage possible attendees on your event content.
Video
- Have presenters create short videos as “teasers” or summaries of their tracks.
- Videos don’t need to be “professional” quality. Handheld cameras (Flip) or even a PC Webcam video can be a great, informal way of building a rapport with your audience.
QR Codes
- Place QR Codes on attendee badges so that users with smartphones can share data with one another.
- Have a QR Code on display at your booth and allow booth visitors access to a URL where they may download a piece of collateral for visiting.
Signage
- Ensure that Twitter hashtags are promoted on signage, program guide, website.
- Any display, whether electronic or print, can be used as an opportunity to advertise your social media properties.
I hope that you’ve found one or more good nuggets of information that you can use to help make your next event a success!
