Lets say that you are having an event, a grand opening, a special
party or something to create a local awareness of your business.
How can you use these mediums to attract more clients to attend or
be aware of what you are doing.
1. Blog about it.
Before, during and after your event, blog about it. Blogging
beforehand can alert others about your event and encourage them to
learn more or register to attend. Live blogging during your event
can create buzz and excitement for those who were unable to attend
(and provide them a snippet of what they missed, which will
encourage them to look for your next event). Blogging after can
provide a recap, as well as info on upcoming events. This is FREE!
2. Post Photos on Flickr
Everyone loves seeing photos of themselves (as long as they’re
flattering). By posting photos of your event on Flickr and tagging
them with people’s names, you can generate interest in your event
from the people who attended and those who follow them on various
social media channels. This is FREE!
3. Put it on Facebook
You can also post the photos and tag them on Facebook. The added
benefit of doing so on Facebook is that when you tag someone, it
appears on their wall. Anyone who is a friend of someone you tagged
can see the photo. The idea is that it will lead them to want to
learn more about the event (because hey, they want their photo put
on Facebook from a cool local event too). Note that you’ll only be
able to tag people that you’re connected to.
If your event or company has a Facebook Page, you can include
highlights from the event, like quotes from keynotes, activities,
awards or even faux pas from speakers.
For even more interaction, visit the profiles of those that
attended and leave custom comments: “Hope you got that wine stain
out of your blouse. Sorry about that!” “Great comment you made at
the keynote presentation!” Etc. This is FREE!
4. Post Photos to Twitpic
Twitpic is a great tool that allows you to take a photo with your
phone or camera and upload it directly (via a shortened URL) to
Twitter. Anyone following you on Twitter will see your tweet and
the link to the photo, and can click to view it.
During your event, what better way to show those not in attendance
what they’re missing than by taking photos and sending them in real
time? Save your hi-resolution photos to be processed later, but
upload snapshots from your phone instantly to create a sense of
visual live streaming as the event is underway. This is FREE!
5. Tweet the Event
Don’t overlook the best real-time tool in social media for your
event. Sending tweets out to your followers is a great way to keep
everyone updated on what’s happening. Whether it’s an awards show
where you can share the winners before journalists write about
them, or a conference where you can tweet soundbites, Twitter is a
great tool for connecting people on line and offline to your event.
This is FREE!
6. Use Hashtags
The easiest way to track tweets and other mentions of your events
on social media platforms is to ask all participants to use a #
with a designated keyword or phrase when discussing it.
For example, in 2009, BlogWorld New Media Expo used the hashtag
#bwe09 on Twitter to track all mentions of it. Many presentations
used this hashtag or one relating to a particular topic as a way to
field questions and comments during the presentations. For those
unable to attend, following the hashtag was a great way to stay
updated on soundbites from the conference. This is FREE!
7. Live stream Your Event
If your event is a conference or educational platform, consider
live streaming it via web video. Using services like Justin.tv or
Ustream.tv, you can broadcast your event live over the Internet.
This helps expand your audience and interact with them, even if
they are not present in person at your event. This is FREE!
Wrapping it Up
Remember that you can get the most out of these mediums if you
start long before the event. Map out a strategy that includes what
you will do prior to the event, during, and after. Ask employees
and attendees to assist you by posting their own take on the event
through their blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr accounts. Make
it as easy as possible for anyone to share their content and photos
of your event online. All of this is FREE!
Published On: 20th May 2011
