Social events

Copyright © 2011 Constant Contact Inc. 1

Social Media and Event MarketingTips for making your event “go social”


Making an event “social” isn’t more important than creating a great event, but it helps!

Making an event “social” helps throughout the lifecycle of an event

1. Pre-event

2. During the event

3. Post-event


Before you get started…

Not every event is destined to go social…

Are your desired attendees engaging on social media?

Do your speakers and sponsors have a social presence?

Do you have the bandwidth to add another channel?


Before the eventUse social media to help build buzz and drive attendance for your event


1. What networks do you have at your disposal?

Everyone involved in an event wins by increasing attendance

Find out what your speakers and sponsors have for social networks and talk to them about whether or not they are willing to promote the event

2. Share the event details with your network

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Inform the people in your network with a custom message to encourage attendance and a link to register.

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2. Share the event details with your network (and grow your network)

3. Promote sharing


Ask registrants to share the event information. Jump start the word of mouth buzz around your event.

Once registered, let attendees spread the word about the event by sharing on Facebook or Twitter.


4. Use a hashtag from the beginning

If your attendees are likely to be on Twitter, set up a dedicated hashtag right from the beginning and include it in every promotional material

This gives you a way to track the conversation, see who is talking about the event, and whether or not there is any buzz around the event before it happens (and during and after)


The Power of the Hashtag

#Words preceded by a # sign (i.e., #ctctsocial) can be used to tie various tweets

together and relate them to a topic, be it a conference, TV show, sporting event, or any happening or trend of your choosing.

Twitter automatically links all hashtags so users can search for other tweets using the same tag.


5. Stagger your content

There are lots of great things about your event and you don’t want to say them all at once.

Like any topic, content is king so each post must be compelling

You want to create a steady stream of content that people will consume and share on and across social networks


Promote each speaker


Thank each sponsor


Encourage word of mouth


Show enthusiasm

Send reminders (and reach new people)

Reminder communications

Increase % that show

Show count down until event

Include a link to a pre-event survey or poll, then near event start date or at start of event review results

Provide hints to guess secret guest speaker/feature

Tweet event information and include event #hashtag in the tweet

Share event details on your Facebook wall

Make it easy to share with “Forward to friend” link and Social Share button

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6. Start the conversation

Use questions to see what people are interested in most… (and if on Twitter, don’t forget the hashtag)

7. Set up a check-in

FoursquareHow can you use it? Do you have a venue? Create a

location to check in. Co-marketing with local

business? Drive traffic to each other.

Leave a tip about your event Leave a To Do about your event Scavenger hunt around event-

– Hints in tips area

Understand interests of people checking in-profile info


During the eventEngage attendees in person and online


1. Make attendees’ feel social

Remind them of the #hashtag and put it on promotional materials and slide decks

Add twitter handles to name tags (as appropriate)

2. Encourage live-tweeting

Encourage attendees to tweet about what they are experiencing during the event under the event #hashtag.

People who are interested and could not make it can be part of event following a twitter feed.

Encourage attendees to post photos and videos from mobile devices to Twitter with tools like Twitpic

3. Encourage and reward check-ins

FoursquareHow can you use it? Watch how many and who

has checked in.– Know when the people you

want to connect with have arrived.

Watch the comments, tips and to do’s left by attendees. – Gain a clear understanding of

what popular/trending in your event.

– Run a contest

4. Consider using QR Codes to keep the interaction going

Get feedback via a poll or short survey that people can access via mobile device

Post video content that is complementary to the event objectives to view via a mobile device

What are your thoughts about Geek Girl Boot camp?

How do I build? -http://bit.ly/Add- .qr at end of shorten url


5. Promote sponsors and giveaways

Use the live stream to mention booth contests, fun activities and share pictures


Warning: Don’t make your event too “social”


Warning: Don’t make your event too “social”


After the eventUse social media to continue the conversation

1. Share images and videos


2. Thank sponsors again


3. Share speaker content


4. Get feedback

Post and promote a short survey to engage fans and followers and drive engagement

Review the comments and conversations on your Facebook wall.

Review the comments via Twitter about your event by searching under the event #hashtag.


5. Promote the next event


6. Consider creating a LinkedIn group

Best Next Steps

Try Online Event Marketing For Free

http://www.constantcontact-event.com/

Check out a Live Product Tour

Register for the live “Event Marketing Product Demo”

http://www.constantcontact.com/learning-center/webinars/live/index.jsp

Questions? You have a consultant here to help at 1-855-816-6508

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Copyright © 2011 Constant Contact, Inc.



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