How Do I Begin to Plan an Event Social Media Campaign?
Before the advent of such monoliths as Twitter or Facebook, it would have been nearly impossible for event coordinators to reach as many people as they are able to today. Since then, event social campaigns have made it easier then ever to publicize events and spread information among potential consumers. Travelling far faster and broader than any form of print or traditional word-of-mouth campaign ever could, it allows for refreshingly interactive and innovative techniques to ensnare new clients.
But how can you utilize it effectively? With the sheer amount of resources and varieties of mediums to choose from, it has never been easier for a humble event planner to become completely overwhelmed.
“So the possibilities are endless. That’s just swell, but where do I begin?” he asks himself. He knows that he has to somehow promote his event in such a way that the people he’s trying to attract will actually catch wind of it and be persuaded to come. In addition to this, he needs a way to keep possible consumers interested and involved enough to ensure their support. Fortunately for him, running a successful social media campaign can provide him with all of with the tools that he needs to accomplish his goals. The only problem is knowing exactly where to start if he wants to do so.
Use Hashtags
Creating a hashtag and using it extensively when making updates makes it much easier for followers to find information about your event while keeping track of any new developments. It also takes advantage of search engine optimization tactics, which makes it more likely that people searching for it will be more likely to find it. And while you’re at it, make sure to update frequently, making posts every time a new speaker or occurrence is confirmed.
Gather Client Feedback
You can do this by setting up polls and discussion boards to find out what exactly your clients want to get out of the event. Be sure to pay close attention to any contributors and interact with them – this way you can mold your conference before it debuts to fit the tastes of your consumers.
Encourage Attendees and Speakers to Mobilize Their Own Social Networks
Odds are that the people inside of these networks will more than likely also be interested in attending. They’ll also probably be more willing to attend an event when somebody familiar to them. Having attendees and speakers reach out to them will increase awareness of your event and can potentially create a ripple effect.
Promote Across a Variety of Media
Take advantage of the many social media bases as publish as widely as you can. Be sure to set up an event on Facebook on which clients can RSVP and find out basic information about your event, update Twitter frequently to keep followers up to date and excited, and link to YouTube videos of prominent speakers. To reach more professional audiences, you may also want to post links concerning your event to LinkedIn and Google+.
Find Advocate Groups
Having an aggregate of people who are all interested in the same thing (in this case, the specifics of your conference) can be extremely useful. By spreading news among them, you can find an incredibly dedicated base that will enthusiastically help promote your event among various social networks.
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