Social Media & Events

It’s about Connecting People by Crystal Olig & Rachel Globus Event Solutions @sparklegem | @mediajunkette Social Media & Events:

Why does social media make sense for events?

How can event pros use social media?
To strengthen your events
To strengthen your career, personal brand, organization

How Facebook Can Strengthen your Events
Increase engagement
Invite friends
Post & tag photos
Post video
Create discussions about products, speakers, content
Discuss topics after the event — maintain brand engagement

Facebook Case Study: Event Solutions Conference & Tradeshow 2009

How Twitter Can Strengthen your Events
Ask prospective attendees for input
Get attendees connected for free
PR: Promote your event (before & during) and build buzz
Instantly message out information (before & during), materials
Obtain real-time feedback from attendees, pre- & post-event polling

Engage attendees through commenting on sessions, speakers
Attendees can follow more than one session
Provide customer service for registration, answer attendee questions
Quickly schedule meetups during conferences
Broaden event community
Increase engagement via Twitter feeds on-site
How Twitter Can Strengthen your Events

Twitter Case Study: Event Solutions Conference & Tradeshow

Started tweeting: Jan. 28, 2009
Followers: 2,700+
Event hashtag: #escs09

Live tweet Spotlight Awards, contests
Meet up during Conference
Share pictures from trade show floor
Spread the word to local community about show
Share video from Conference
Discuss lessons learned in education classes
Share breaking show news
Share ideas from trade show floor
Twitter Case Study: Event Solutions Conference & Tradeshow How ES09 Used Twitter

What We Got out of It
Twitter was no. 1 referring site to website during Feb. 22-26
Influential people buzzed about the conference
@GloNelsonCSEP 2,470 followers
@lvwedconcierge 343 followers
@danzisko 242 followers
@mattwarren 249 followers
= reach of 3,300 people

Continue engagement with brand after the show
Twitter is now no. 5 referrer to event-solutions.com

Twitter Case Study: BusyEvent

How BusyEvent Used Twitter
Pre-event promotion publicizes event Twitter account
Account used to publicize speakers, offer discounts
Attendees given option to follow event Twitter account at registration
Messaging at check-in kiosk screens, on badges, event staff shirts, swag bags, etc.
Digital signage shows conversation (“wiffiti”)

What They Got out of It
> 7,000 tweets, SMS sent during conference
Reduced check-in wait time from 7 min to 30 sec
Organizers stemmed significant issues immediately
Ad-hoc meetings
Communications costs halved (savings: $7,000+)
Twitter stream became a revenue source for producer (approx. $12,000)

Want to find out more? Brian Slawin @BusyEvent busyevent.com

Virtual portfolio for a visual industry: photos and video
Engage clients, prospects, partners in your brand
Connect with colleagues in a more casual context
Voice, voice, voice. Be a person people want to work with. Be yourself.
How Facebook Can Strengthen your Business/Career

Find new resources & ideas
Connect with a community of peers & experts
Get instant info for site selection, vendors
Find out what others are saying about your company, venues, issues, etc.
Add social media to skill set you offer clients
Market your experience to the industry
Connect with media
How Twitter Can Strengthen your Business/Career

But How Does this Get Me Business/Attention?
WOM.
Thought leadership.
It’s about catalyzing relationships.
It’s about nurturing relationships.
It should be part of your overall marketing mix.

Rules to Tweet By
Be useful .
Nurture relationships .
Tweet judiciously .
Retweet judiciously .
Content is king.
Don’t worry if you miss something.
There’s a tool for that.
Don’t go down the rabbit hole .

Industry leadership

Connect
Crystal Olig | Rachel Globus
@sparklegem | @mediajunkette
event-solutions.com
email: Crystal.a.olig@gmail.com
linkedin .com/in/crystalolig
facebook .com/crystalolig
slideshare .net/crystalaolig
blog: whygeny.wordpress.com
blog twitter: twitter.com/whygeny

Always leave ‘em laughing

Social Media & Events

by Crystal A Olig

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