Twitter For Events

Twitter for Events

Tonia Ries

Modern Media

July 22, 2010

Agenda

What can events do with Twitter? Some examples. The benefits. Your event’s Twitter strategy.

1. The basics

2. Do some research

3. What to tweet

4. Engage: make it a conversation

5. Build the community

6. Ways to use Twitter onsite

7. After the event Bonus material: Some other resources to expand your network.

Events on Twitter

Some examples.

And what they’re doing right.

Events on Twitter http://twitter.com/DAVOS

Tell us who’s tweeting

Promote the hashtag

Tweet valuable content

Events on Twitter http://twitter.com/tedtalks

What’s the strategy that works for your event?

Events on Twitter http://twitter.com/clintonglobal

It may not work out. That’s ok – we’re all learning.

Events on Twitter http://twitter.com/Economist_innov

You’ve got to start somewhere.

Events on Twitter http://twitter.com/twtrcon

… and there will always be more to learn.

The benefits of Twitter for events… in increasing order of impact

1. Messaging

2. Finding new prospects

3. Customer service

4. Listening

5. Engaging your audience in a conversation

6. Enabling a conversation among your audience

Events on Twitterhttp://blog.twitter.com/2010/07/2010-world-cup-global-conversation.html

The largest global conversation ever.

7 Steps to Building Your Event’s Twitter Strategy

What to do now.

What to do before, during and after your event.

Your Event’s Twitter Strategy. Step 1. The Basics

Establish an account.

Even if you don’t plan to use it.

If you don’t stake out your account, someone else

might.

Your Event’s Twitter Strategy.Step 1. The Basics

Pick a name for the account.– Keep it short (for

RT’s!)– Make it consistent

with your brand

Pick a hashtag for your event– Short– Easy to

remember

Your Event’s Twitter Strategy.Step 2. Research & Listen

How active is your audience?– Speakers– Attendees– Sponsors– Press– Partners

What are they talking about?

The easiest way to find people on Twitter is

through Google search.

Your Event’s Twitter Strategy.Step 3. What to Tweet.

Event updates and promotions Speaker announcements

– use the speaker’s Twitter name if they’re on Twitter Links to resources that are

relevant to your target audience

Tweeting improves your search results!

Use bit.ly to shorten and track links.

Your Event’s Twitter Strategy.Step 4. Engage.

Follow– Find and follow thought leaders, speakers and prospective

attendees in your target market.– When someone follows your event, follow back.

Tip: To find sponsorship dollars or marketing partners, engage the

people who manage the Twitter account. They

know where the decision makers are and often have

their own budgets.

Your Event’s Twitter Strategy.Step 4. Engage.

Make it a conversation: monitor, respond and reciprocate– Use a client like Twhirl or

TweetDeck to monitor Twitter for mentions of your event

– Reply to @ mentions and DM’s

– Re-tweet when appropriate– Always thank people if they re-

tweet you

Use Twitter to get instant feedback and ideas from

your community.

Your Event’s Twitter Strategy.Step 5. Build the Community.

Speakers– Notify them of the event hashtag– Consider including their Twitter

accounts on the web site, in conference materials and on session slides

– Re-tweet them where relevant Marketing Partners and Sponsors

– Announce their involvement– Re-tweet their announcements

Press– Include your event’s Twitter details in

press releases

Share your influence. Your community will

reciprocate. That’s how you expand your network’s reach.

Make it easy for people to tweet about you!

Your Event’s Twitter Strategy. Step 5. Build the Community.

Prominently share your Twitter account and hashtag on your web site

Ask people for their Twitter handle when they register

Consider including a Twitter feed on your web site. The feed can include:– Your tweets– Tweets with your hashtag– Your speakers’ & partners’ tweets– Tweets from key thought leaders

and industry punditsSponsorship opportunity!

Your Event’s Twitter Strategy.Step 6. During the Event

Live Feed– In the room– On screens outside

the room

http://www.themarthablog.com/2010/06/attending-a-twitter-conference.html

Bringing Twitter to the event reminds participants to tweet

and increases the buzz. It can also offer more

sponsorship opportunities.

Your Event’s Twitter Strategy.Step 6. During the Event

Backchannel controversies Some tips for managing the

backchannel http://www.socialtimes.com/2009/12/8-tips-for-managing-the-twitter-backchannel-during-your-presentation/

The more you engage ahead of the event, the more likely you’ll be to have your community’s

support during the event.

Your Event’s Twitter Strategy.Step 6. During the Event

TWTRCON keeps attendees plugged

in for non-stop tweeting

Your Event’s Twitter Strategy.Step 7. After the Event

Keep the conversation going. Post links to press articles and resources such as slides, videos,

etc. Monitor mentions and re-tweet. Thank people. Solicit input. Keep building.

Bonus Material:

Some additional social networking resources you can use to expand your event network.

Expand Your Network http://foursquare.com/venue/3388994

Set up a Foursquare venue

for your event. Add some tips or

specials and encourage people

to check in.

Expand Your Network http://plancast.com/davemcclure

Plancast.com let’s you share what events you’ll be

attending with your network – and see who is attending

what events.

Expand Your Network http://www.beintheroom.com/twtrcon/

BeintheRoom.com lets you list events, tracks tweets and lets people rate

your event.

Thank You!

Tonia Ries

Modern Media

@tonia_ries

[email protected]

631-668-2697