11/07/2024- If you organize events and want to harness social media for promotion and engagement, It’s not just about scheduling a few posts; with the right strategy, social media can transform attendees into content creators, foster authentic audience engagement, and extend the life of your event content. Considering that most attendees regularly use social media, it’s a simple yet powerful solution.
Establish an Event Hashtag
A memorable hashtag is crucial for leveraging social media as an engagement tool. It consolidates all communications about your event, making it easier to track conversations and spot attendee-generated content. It also helps your audience find important event information, engage in discussions, and, with the right incentives, create content for your brand and community. Choose a hashtag that’s easy to remember to avoid any posting confusion on platforms like Twitter or Instagram. Stimulate user-generated content (UGC) by creating engaging content that encourages sharing and featuring attendee posts—tagged with your event’s hashtag—on a dynamic social wall at your event.
Before the Event
Speaker Spotlights: Begin by highlighting your event’s key speakers. Create short video interviews or compelling bios that explore their expertise, the intriguing topics they’ll cover, and what attendees can expect from their sessions. This builds anticipation and establishes a personal connection between the audience and the speakers.
Polls and Surveys: These interactive tools can gauge what attendees are most excited about, whether it’s specific topics, speakers, or activities. This feedback helps you tailor the event to their preferences, increasing engagement and satisfaction.
Behind-the-scenes: Offer a glimpse into the event preparations with behind-the-scenes content. Share videos or photos of the venue setup, tech checks, or planning meetings. This transparency can build excitement and connection with your audience.
During the Event
User-Generated Content (UGC): Encourage attendees to share their experiences using the event hashtag. This not only amplifies engagement but also creates a diverse collection of perspectives that can be displayed on a social wall.
Live Q&A: Host a live Q&A session on social media with speakers or attendees. This interactive format allows for real-time engagement and adds an element of spontaneity to the event, fostering a deeper connection with the speakers and content.
Live Updates: Keep the excitement alive by posting real-time updates. Whether it’s the start of a new session, a notable speaker on stage, or unexpected developments, these posts keep your audience informed and engaged.
After the Event
Event Recap: Share a dynamic video or photo montage that captures the event’s key moments and highlights. This allows attendees to relive their favourite parts and shows those who couldn’t attend what they missed, generating interest for future events.
UGC Recap: Highlight attendee experiences by sharing a curated collection of their content from the social wall. This shows appreciation for their participation and reinforces the event’s community feel, encouraging further engagement and anticipation for your next event.
Key Takeaways: Share impactful quotes or surprising statistics from the sessions. This distils the event’s essence into digestible highlights, encourages continued learning and discussion, and maintains the event’s momentum.
By implementing these strategies, you can ensure your event’s social media presence is as vibrant and engaging as the event itself. Social media, when used effectively, can convert attendees into content creators, build authentic engagement, and extend the life of your event content.