amplifying your event using social media

AMPLIFYING YOUR

EVENT USING SOCIAL MEDIA

DR HELEN DIXON

If you want people to talk about your event

Social media is no longer OPTIONAL

So here are some tips to point you in the right direction

1. PUT SOMEONE IN CHARGE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE EVENT

But encourage everyone involved to make suggestions

•You can find them at http://go.qub.ac.uk/socialmedia

•If necessary, prepare specific guidelines for those involved

•Contact socialmedia@qub.ac.uk for advice

2. MAKE SURE EVERYONE READS THE SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY AND GUIDE

3. DECIDE WHICH SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS YOU ARE GOING TO USE

Which tools do your intended participants use?

Does your School or Directorate have an existing account you can use?

Twitter is one of the best ways of amplifying your event!

4. CREATE A UNIQUE HASHTAG FOR THE EVENT

Something that will be easy to remember

Keep it short – remember it will count towards your 140 characters#eventhashtag

And encourage others to use it too!

Include it anywhere you can

#eventhashta

g

Tweets

Websites

PostersSlides

EmailsBranded items

#eventhashtag

5. CREATE AN EVENT ON FACEBOOK OR GOOGLE+

Include event details and images

Post regular updates to maintain interest

6. GET SPEAKERS OR EXHIBITORS INVOLVED

Mention them in posts

Ask them to include the hashtag or link to the event in their posts

Post links to their blog or online profiles

7. PLAN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT IN ADVANCE

THINGS TO INCLUDE:

•Information about speakers

•Photographs/maps of locations

•Links to online resources

•Updates during the event

•Acknowledgements

8. USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO ENGAGE

Ask questions

Continue

discussions

Share resources

Solicit feedback

9. STAY INFORMED USING SOCIAL MEDIA MONITORING TOOLS

SOME SUGGESTIONS

HOOTSUITETWEETDECKSOCIAL MENTIONTAGBOARD

10. RESPOND TO QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS QUICKLY

Prepare answers to FAQs and have a plan for dealing with complaints

11. CHECK IF SPEAKERS ARE HAPPY FOR YOU TO ‘LIVE TWEET’ THEIR TALK

Ask them to suggest key points that they would like to be amplified

Are they happy for photos to be posted?

12. MAKE YOUR EVENT AVAILABLE ONLINEWHERE APPROPRIATE

Share video clips of talks or demonstrations

Upload slides to SlideShare

Or you can use Storify to collate Tweets, images, videos and links

and share the

story of

your event with the

world

FOR MORE ADVICE ON USING SOCIAL MEDIA

•Visit our website at http://go.qub.ac.uk/socialmedia

•Like our page at facebook.com/socialmediaqub

•Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/socialmediaqub

Images courtesy of pixabay.com