How To Integrate Social Media Into Your Live Event
by: Meredith Darling | @merdar It is important for industries to understand that social media isn’t advocating the termination of traditional marketing events like conferences, conventions, and meetings. In fact, social media is a great tool for companies to extend the life of their live event. It also allows for those unable to attend get connected with the events.
Ways to integrate social media into your live event:
- Promote the event beforehand by engaging those registered on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn with polls, contests, group chats, reminders, and event advice.
- Create a live broadcasting stream and a hashtag (#). What are people saying about your event? Encourage attendees to use a hashtag so you can track the online conversation. Follow the hashtag stream and respond to inquiries, engage guests, and update them on event changes. Also, during presentations let viewers ask questions via Twitter with the hashtag. Display the hashtag stream on monitors around the event via sites like TwitterFall.
- Post signs at the event to remind people of your social media presence. Display your social media URLs and hashtags so attendees can easily find you online while they are networking in real life. You might want to include QR codes so smartphone users can simply scan and follow.
- Post photos and videos. During the event upload photos and video to social media sites and tag participants. Save some to promote the event after the fact. Get attendees to submit their own photos and videos. Set up a Flickr feed.
- Video stream presentations. Your audience isn't limited to those in the room, it extends to the world. Let people watch clips of the events online. Ustream is a great tool for this. Also upload presentations to the web via sites like SlideShare.
It should be noted that people respond to incentives. Reward people for their online participation. Give prizes live at the event, retweet, tag, follow, and like people/companies that interact with you. Be personable, and don't forget to use The Social Media Business Equation™.
What are some other ideas you've used to promote your live event through social media?