Why should your event be social-media friendly?

In a recent post, I wrote about HOW to make your meeting or conference social-media friendly. A commenter then asked for more information about WHY you would want to do so.

I have covered the “why” elsewhere in my PodcastYourConference site and in various presentations and Webinars, but here is a quick list of the reasons why you should consider incorporating social media into your event planning.

• Running an event blog, or blogging about the event on your regular blog, will help to publicize the event among potential registrants.
• Tweeting about the event can do the same. In fact, Twitter, which encourages re-tweeting, may help your message spread even more quickly than will your blog. Of course your content has to be interesting. You can’t keep rebroadcasting the same “Hey we’re having an event” message.
• Ditto with building your presence on Facebook or any other venue where your audience gathers online.
• Pre-event podcast interviews with key speakers offer potential attendees, exhibitors and sponsors a glimpse of what they might be experiencing in your event's keynote presentation, workshops, breakouts or other sessions. You’d be amazed at how much interest you can generate with a 10-minute audio podcast.
• Suppose you’re running an annual event, and your members, employees or customers are traveling from all over the world to be there. Do you think this is an opportune time to capture audio and video conversations, presentations, event feedback and so on? In my humble opinion, YES! The cost of recording, editing and publishing this content is likely to pale in comparison to your total event budget. USE this content now and in the future. Repurpose it. Repackage it. Make the most of it!
• If you take a few minutes to create an event hashtag (such as #iabc09), you make life easier for those who are blogging and tweeting about you. You also simplify your own tracking of the conversations about your event. Do you care what people are saying before, during and after your event? You should. This feedback is real and unvarnished, and can help you to organize even better meetings in the future.

Social media can help you to create buzz, boost registration numbers, foster a sense of community among attendees, entice exhibitors, and create relevant content for your Web site and marketing efforts.

Remember: Conversations about your organization and your event are happening, whether you’re listening to them or not. Be a part of them. Doing nothing is not a viable tactic.

RELATED POST: Please see Conference Podcasting: Why and how

Comments

[twitter.com/b2bspecialist]

Donna, your post covers some of the many advantages of using social media.

Here's some more reasons why using social media makes sense.

Pre-event promotion: Use your blog, social network and existing content to promote your event. Use it as a channel to update people on how the event is shaping up. I guarantee that you'll reach more people this way then through traditional advertising means.

During event:Use twitter or twubs (make sure there is wireless at the event!) so people can update each other and those who couldn't attend. Using hashtags allows you to create a centralized event stream of information bullets, observations and links. People can read them in real time or refer back to the tweets later on. This creates a permanent record of the event and google will index this.

Post event: creating content, through tweetstreams and post event blog reviews is just the beginning! You could have also recorded the sessions for rebroadcasting. You can create a special wrap up podcast too.

The sky is the limit. The objective is to extend the event experience and provide ways for attendees and those that couldn't attend to get as much value from the experience and content shared at the event. The other key objective is to extend your reach to promote and expose people to the event.

[Donna Papacosta]

Excellent points, Chris. I agree with everything. Indeed, I love creating "highlight reels" or wrap-up podcasts.
I'm so glad you commented, because I know that you have had direct experience USING SOCIAL MEDIA for your events!
Thanks!

[Kristeen Sopeju Edwards]

Donna, as a newbie to social media, I appreciate your points. Between your blog post and the points that Chris has made, I know that I have a clear vision and a strategy now for using these mediums in relation to hosting an event.

Thank you and I look forward to reading your future and past blog posts

[Dave Traynor]

Great post Donna. I appreciate your tips and we'll be looking to implement them at one of our upcoming events here in Victoria. Keep 'em coming. Your thoughtful, well-crafted posts are real keepers. They're in my file already.

[Donna Papacosta]

Thanks for your kind comments, Kristeen and Dave!