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

Facebook Case Study: Event Solutions Conference & Tradeshow 2009






How Twitter Can Strengthen your Events

1. Ask prospective attendees for input2. Get attendees connected for free3. PR: Promote your event (before &

during) and build buzz4. Instantly message out information

(before & during), materials5. Obtain real-time feedback from

attendees, pre- & post-event polling

6. Engage attendees through commenting on sessions, speakers

7. Attendees can follow more than one session

8. Provide customer service for registration, answer attendee questions

9. Quickly schedule meetups during conferences

10. Broaden event community

11. Increase engagement via Twitter feeds on-site

How Twitter Can Strengthen your Events

Twitter Case Study: Event Solutions Conference &

Tradeshow

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

How ES09 Used Twitter


What We Got out of It

1. Twitter was no. 1 referring site to website during Feb. 22-26

2. Influential people buzzed about the conference

• @GloNelsonCSEP 2,470 followers• @lvwedconcierge 343 followers• @danzisko 242 followers• @mattwarren 249 followers

= reach of 3,300 people





3. Continue engagement with brand after the show

4. 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

1. Find new resources & ideas

2. Connect with a community of peers & experts

3. Get instant info for site selection, vendors

4. Find out what others are saying about your company, venues, issues, etc.

5. Add social media to skill set you offer clients

6. Market your experience to the industry

7. 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

1. Be useful.2. Nurture relationships.3. Tweet judiciously.4. Retweet judiciously.5. Content is king.6. Don’t worry if you miss something.7. There’s a tool for that.8. Don’t go down the rabbit hole.

Industry leadership

Industry leadership

Connect

Crystal Olig | Rachel Globus@sparklegem | @mediajunkette• event-solutions.com• email: [email protected]• linkedin.com/in/crystalolig• facebook.com/crystalolig• slideshare.net/crystalaolig• blog: whygeny.wordpress.com• blog twitter: twitter.com/whygeny

Always leave ‘em laughing