Social Media Marketing for Special Events and Festivals

Firestarter! Social Media for Event Marketing & Building

Community Sheila Scarborough - Tourism Currents

@SheilaS@TourismCurrents

What's In This For

You?



What To Do First:

STOP!


3 Basic Questions (yep, they still apply)

● What are your overall event marketing goals?

● Who is your market?

● Where are they online?



Overall Event Goals ● Before: awareness, registration,

anticipation of value …. “Can't wait”

● During: sharing (onsite & off,) excitement …. “So glad I came”

● After: sharing, excitement for next year …. “I was there, so glad I went”


HOLY COW, let me at 'em!

Is it social media time

yet?

Patience, grasshopper....


Avoid Drowning● Do your homework● Know where to find

your market● Get in front of them

by listening first....

● ….and have a plan


OK, it's time now....Boo-Yah!


BeforeDuringAfter


Social Media - BeforePossible goals before the event?

Raise awarenessWord-of-Mouth excitement

Encourage sharingConnect attendees

Support sponsors & Expo exhibitors




Social Media – Before

● Facebook Event pages

● Facebook status updates● On Facebook Pages● On people's personal profiles




Social Media – Before● LinkedIn Event Pages :(

● LinkedIn updates● On Company Pages ● On personal profiles● In Groups




Social Media – Before● Blog posts

● Your blog and others

● Speaker preview videos

● Photos & video from previous events




Social Media – Before

● Preview podcasts

● Conference venue info

● Conference town info




Social Media - During

Possible goals during the event?

Share content value among attendeesConnect attendees

Share with those not thereSupport sponsors & Expo exhibitors

Share fun social moments



Social Media – During

● Facebook updates continue● Live radio show on Blog Talk Radio● LinkedIn updates continue● Ustream live video stream● Tweets with hashtag

●Photos, photos, photos






Social Media - After

Possible goals after the event?

Share among attendeesShare with those who missed it

Help your industry knowledge baseSupport sponsors

Build more connections!


Share

The

Afterglow!



Social Media – After

● Summary blog posts & link posts● Facebook Pages & profiles● Tweets – save on Chirpstory/Storify● LinkedIn status updates & Group

discussions● SlideShare for presentations





Social Media's “Killer App” is....

….year-round discussion & community


Build A Barn!






Let's talk about Hutchinson, KS


What social media is ....

…. and is not.



Takeaways● It's networking & human relationships● Time + persistence = payoff● Social media is social communications● Meet your market where they are● Help attendees to share & grow

● Be more than a one-off event


Photo Credits● Deb Brown & Colton:

BJMcCray Flickr

● Stop sign w/rabbits: Nationaal Archief on Flickr Commons

● Rules: Gord McKenna on Flickr

● Mr. Miyagi: ampedAsia

● Don't drown SAR swimmer : DVIDSHUB on Flickr

● Yell practice: TX A&M Cushing Library on Flickr

● SoMeT tattoo: Anne Hornyak Flickr CC

● OK Regatta: katsrcool Flickr

● People mover: KS State Fair

● Build a barn: BJMcCray on Flickr

● Hutchinson blogger fam: BJMcCray on Flickr

● Cat + beer: pinguino on Flickr

● (all others taken by me)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjmccray/5833605806/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nationaalarchief/3118323158/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gord99/315490873/

http://www.ampedasia.com/article/Top-10-Fictional-Asian-Characters/3/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/4995992083/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cushinglibrary/3548374837/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/anneh632/5149591191/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/katsrcool/8041003666/



http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinguino/3078789610/


Thanks for your time!

Sheila Scarborough

TourismCurrents.com

Social Media Marketing for Special Events and Festivals

Business