There are dozens of promotion ideas for conferences; it’s no surprise that a majority of these involve social media.
\nThere is hardly a scenario more disheartening to an event planner than having more than a handful of unsold conference tickets. Ticket sales reflect how well you market your event; it’s that simple. However, it’s easier said than done.
\r\nSocial media has nearly all the resources you need for an effective campaign. It comes down to how well you take advantage of the latest social media trends.
\r\nHere are five methods you should already be using or plan to use for your next conference.
\r\nIf you promote your event through social media in any capacity, then it’s a given that Twitter will be among your marketing resources. The social network, after all, has 317 million monthly active users worldwide. Come up with an event hashtag and use it for all event-related tweets and other posts.
\r\nEncourage staff and followers to do the same. Here are a few golden rules regarding hashtag use for events:
\r\nRelated Article: #MakeAStatement: 7 Creative Ways to Harness the Power of Hashtags
\r\nEvents should be livestreamed to reach out to a remote audience and anyone unable to attend in person. Conferences, in fact, make up 43 percent of viewed content that is streamed live.
\r\nRelated Article: Get Camera Ready: Live Streaming is The Future of Social Media
\r\nYouTube enables livestreaming and so does Facebook through its Facebook Live feature. This is really easy to do; just set up a camera on a tripod and begin shooting once the main lecture or presentation begins.
\r\nNew technology also makes livestreaming even more dynamic. You can, for instance, a film using a 360-degree virtual camera. This enables viewers to adjust the angle and tilt even as the event is in progress. The Cascadis Congress is one event that showcases a series of lectures filmed using a rotational camera.
\r\nYou can even promote the event by doing a live Ustream where you answer questions from social media. A lot of celebrities do this as a way of connecting with their fan base. Encourage followers to submit their questions through Facebook or Twitter and remind them to use the event hashtag.
\r\nSocial media marketing should go beyond just sending out posts here and there. Make the followers become active participants by creating some sort of contest. Try to keep the contest simple. An example would be a caption contest where you add a funny quote to an existing picture, which followers submit on their Instagram account using the event hashtag. The contest creates a fun activity for participants while promoting your conference in the process.
\r\nBe sure to include prizes. Perhaps this can be something like a free ticket or bump to VIP status for the winner and a small consolation prize for everyone else who participated.
\r\nContests can also involve sweepstakes. Automatically enter people into a raffle who perform some form of favorable action, such as liking the event registration page. This is really simple and does not require any games, judges or rules to be memorized.
\r\nRelated Article: Not Just a Game: Legal Considerations for Social Media Contests and Sweepstakes
\r\nWhat makes Snapchat unique is its self-delete feature. Some people find the notion ridiculous, but it’s catching on, especially with millennial social media users. Thirty percent of U.S. millennials are regular Snapchat users.
\r\nRelated Article: Snapchat Spectacles: More About the Latest Social Media Craze
\r\nHow can you use Snapchat to your advantage? You can use it to send regular posts and updates. The fact that it can only be viewed once gives it a for-your-eyes-only sense of importance. Here are some ways for using this popular network:
\r\nAside from Snapchat, Instagram also followed suit with Instagram Stories, which is essentially the same thing with posts that self-delete.
\r\nRelated Article: Before You Tackle Instagram Stories: 8 Tips for Improving Your Instagram Marketing Strategy
\r\nStats bring credibility to your industry. Collect multiple stats and use them to draw interest to your event. You can use Twitter to relay a stat every now and then. You can also create an infographic, which is far more visually appealing. Submit this infographic to your Instagram or include it on the main Facebook event registration page. Alternatively, you can create a stats video using whiteboard animation.
\r\nRelated Article: Go Visual: 10 Tips for Creating Truly Exceptional Infographics
\r\nInfographics and/or a stats video can be used to supplement a blog post pushing the event. The stats present a problem, and the blog post can lead the readers to the conference as providing a solution.
\r\nHere is an example of a cybersecurity event:
\r\nStat: 80 percent of smartphone users had their devices hacked in 2016. 70 percent of these users never even found out until more than 30 days later. (note: not a real statistic)
\r\nThe 3rd annual Cybersecurity Expo showcases the latest tactics utilized by hackers and the latest apps designed to block the malware.
\r\nThere are dozens of promotion ideas for conferences; it’s no surprise that a majority of these involve social media. Social networks are the way of the future. They allow you to connect with your audience in ways that pique their curiosity.
\r\n\r\n
Photo credit: PowerUp/Shutterstock
\n","docType":"article","guid":"articles_c2be6a5ff30e029cb65f8eadbd1f4aa9","lastModified":"2017-02-08T17:00:00.000Z","published":"2017-02-08T17:00:00.000Z","structuredData":null,"subtitle":"Ticket sales reflect how well you market your event","template":"v1","title":"5 Effective Methods for Promoting a Conference Event in Social Media","type":"article","author":{"avatar":null,"bio":"Dan has worked in the event management industry for five years and is currently an event manager for the UK-based company Venueseeker. His portfolio includes many successful event planning projects for companies across various niches. He is currently a regular contributor for his company’s blog site. Follow him on Twitter at @DanCarthy2.","name":"Dan McCarthy","image":null,"slug":null,"social":{"facebook":"","linkedin":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/dancarthy","twitter":"dancarthy2","website":"http://www.venueseeker.com/"},"status":"disabled","title":null,"type":"Old BDC Member","user":{"imagePath":"https://staging.business.com/images/undefined","profile":{"company":"i ROCK PROPERTiES","jobTitle":"CEO","website":"http://irockproperties.com/"}}},"breadcrumbs":null,"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Business Basics","slug":"business-basics"},"sub":{"name":"Entrepreneurship","slug":"entrepreneurship"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"There are dozens of promotion ideas for conferences; it’s no surprise that a majority of these involve social media.","title":"5 Effective Methods for Promoting a Conference Event - business.com"},"parsedContent":{"toc":[{"id":"1-#createyourownhashtag","title":"1. #CreateYourOwnHashtag"},{"id":"2-livestream-the-event","title":"2. Livestream the Event"},{"id":"3-create-a-social-media-contest","title":"3. Create a Social Media Contest"},{"id":"4-incorporate-snapchat","title":"4. Incorporate Snapchat"},{"id":"5-create-an-infographic","title":"5. Create an Infographic"}],"json":[{"component":"p","children":["There are dozens of promotion ideas for conferences; it’s no surprise that a majority of these involve social media."]},{"component":"p","children":["There is hardly a scenario more disheartening to an event planner than having more than a handful of unsold conference tickets. Ticket sales reflect how well you market your event; it’s that simple. However, it’s easier said than done."]},{"component":"p","children":["Social media has nearly all the resources you need for an effective campaign. It comes down to how well you take advantage of the latest social media trends."]},{"component":"p","children":["Here are five methods you should already be using or plan to use for your next conference."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"1-#createyourownhashtag"},"children":["1. #CreateYourOwnHashtag"]},{"component":"p","children":["If you promote your event through social media in any capacity, then it’s a given that ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.authorityhacker.com/practical-twitter-growth-guide/","target":"_blank","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["Twitter will be among your marketing resources"]},". The social network, after all, has 317 million monthly active users worldwide. Come up with an event hashtag and use it for all event-related tweets and other posts."]},{"component":"p","children":["Encourage staff and followers to do the same. Here are a few golden rules regarding hashtag use for events:"]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":["Use no more than two hashtags."]},{"component":"li","children":["Keep it discernable.",{"component":"i","children":[" #2017TechExpoNY"]},", for example, is more effective than ",{"component":"i","children":["#TechExpo"]},". The latter, while shorter and easier to remember, is too vague and can be confused with other tech events."]},{"component":"li","children":["Try to include the company name or the event name. Use abbreviations to prevent the hashtag from becoming too long. (i.e. ",{"component":"i","children":["#CKFashionShowNY"]}," instead of ",{"component":"i","children":["#CalvinKleinFashionShowNY"]},")"]},{"component":"li","children":["Remember to capitalize. #susanalbumparty was a popular hashtag in 2012 that became massively viral for all the wrong reasons. Some people read it as ",{"component":"i","children":["#SusAnalBumParty"]},", instead of ",{"component":"i","children":["#SusanAlbumParty"]}," to celebrate Susan Boyle’s album release."]}]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Related Article:"]}," ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"http://www.business.com/social-media-marketing/7-creative-ways-to-harness-the-power-of-hashtags/","target":"_blank"},"children":["#MakeAStatement: 7 Creative Ways to Harness the Power of Hashtags"]}]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"2-livestream-the-event"},"children":["2. Livestream the Event"]},{"component":"p","children":["Events should be livestreamed to reach out to a remote audience and anyone unable to attend in person. Conferences, in fact, make up ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://livestream.com/blog/62-must-know-stats-live-video-streaming","target":"_blank","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["43 percent"]}," of viewed content that is streamed live."]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Related Article:"]}," ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"http://www.business.com/social-media-marketing/why-live-streaming-is-the-future-of-social-media/","target":"_blank"},"children":["Get Camera Ready: Live Streaming is The Future of Social Media"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["YouTube enables livestreaming and so does Facebook through its Facebook Live feature. This is really easy to do; just set up a camera on a tripod and begin shooting once the main lecture or presentation begins."]},{"component":"p","children":["New technology also makes livestreaming even more dynamic. You can, for instance, a film using a 360-degree virtual camera. This enables viewers to adjust the angle and tilt even as the event is in progress. The Cascadis Congress is one event that showcases a series of lectures filmed using a rotational camera."]},{"component":"p","children":["You can even promote the event by doing a live Ustream where you answer questions from social media. A lot of celebrities do this as a way of connecting with their fan base. Encourage followers to submit their questions through Facebook or Twitter and remind them to use the event hashtag."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"3-create-a-social-media-contest"},"children":["3. Create a Social Media Contest"]},{"component":"p","children":["Social media marketing should go beyond just sending out posts here and there. Make the followers become active participants by creating some sort of contest. Try to keep the contest simple. An example would be a caption contest where you add a funny quote to an existing picture, which followers submit on their Instagram account using the event hashtag. The contest creates a fun activity for participants while promoting your conference in the process."]},{"component":"p","children":["Be sure to include prizes. Perhaps this can be something like a free ticket or bump to VIP status for the winner and a small consolation prize for everyone else who participated."]},{"component":"p","children":["Contests can also involve sweepstakes. Automatically enter people into a raffle who perform some form of favorable action, such as liking the event registration page. This is really simple and does not require any games, judges or rules to be memorized."]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Related Article:"]}," ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"http://www.business.com/social-media-marketing/legal-considerations-for-social-media-contests-and-sweepstakes/","target":"_blank"},"children":["Not Just a Game: Legal Considerations for Social Media Contests and Sweepstakes"]}]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"4-incorporate-snapchat"},"children":["4. Incorporate Snapchat"]},{"component":"p","children":["What makes Snapchat unique is its self-delete feature. Some people find the notion ridiculous, but it’s catching on, especially with millennial social media users. ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/snapchat-statistics/","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["Thirty percent "]},"of U.S. millennials are regular Snapchat users."]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Related Article:"]}," ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"http://www.business.com/social-media-marketing/jesse-boskoff-snapchat-spectacles/"},"children":["Snapchat Spectacles: More About the Latest Social Media Craze"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["How can you use Snapchat to your advantage? You can use it to send regular posts and updates. The fact that it can only be viewed once gives it a for-your-eyes-only sense of importance. Here are some ways for using this popular network:"]},{"component":"ul","children":[{"component":"li","children":["Submit a quick behind the scenes tour"]},{"component":"li","children":["Send a funny video, such as waking a sleeping staff member with a blaring horn"]},{"component":"li","children":["Send an inspirational quote, preferably from an industry-related figure"]},{"component":"li","children":["Send a quick see-you-there message a day or two before the event"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Aside from Snapchat, Instagram also followed suit with Instagram Stories, which is essentially the same thing with posts that self-delete."]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Related Article: ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"http://www.business.com/social-media-marketing/before-you-tackle-instagram-stories-8-tips-for-improving-your-instagram-marketing-strategy/"},"children":["Before You Tackle Instagram Stories: 8 Tips for Improving Your Instagram Marketing Strategy"]}]}]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"5-create-an-infographic"},"children":["5. Create an Infographic"]},{"component":"p","children":["Stats bring credibility to your industry. Collect multiple stats and use them to draw interest to your event. You can use Twitter to relay a stat every now and then. You can also create an infographic, which is far more visually appealing. Submit this infographic to your Instagram or include it on the main Facebook event registration page. Alternatively, you can create a stats video using whiteboard animation."]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"em","children":["Related Article:"]}," ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"http://www.business.com/content-marketing/go-visual-10-tips-for-creating-truly-exceptional-infographics/"},"children":["Go Visual: 10 Tips for Creating Truly Exceptional Infographics"]}]},{"component":"p","children":["Infographics and/or a stats video can be used to supplement a blog post pushing the event. The stats present a problem, and the blog post can lead the readers to the conference as providing a solution."]},{"component":"p","children":["Here is an example of a cybersecurity event:"]},{"component":"p","children":["Stat: 80 percent of smartphone users had their devices hacked in 2016. 70 percent of these users never even found out until more than 30 days later. (note: not a real statistic)"]},{"component":"p","children":["The 3rd annual Cybersecurity Expo showcases the latest tactics utilized by hackers and the latest apps designed to block the malware."]},{"component":"p","children":["There are dozens of ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"http://www.venueseeker.com/best-event-promotion-ideas-for-conference-events/","target":"_blank","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["promotion ideas for conferences"]},"; it’s no surprise that a majority of these involve social media. Social networks are the way of the future. They allow you to connect with your audience in ways that pique their curiosity."]},{"component":"p","children":[" "]},{"component":"p","children":[{"component":"i","children":["Photo credit: PowerUp/Shutterstock"]}]}]},"resource":null,"sponsorship":null,"thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/589/20e363187b121074ffbda/1500-0-","caption":"","isBlurred":false},"bestPicks":null},"related":{"relatedArticles":[{"title":"5 Effective Methods for Promoting a Conference Event in Social Media","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/dan-mccarthy-promoting-a-conference-event/","slug":"dan-mccarthy-promoting-a-conference-event","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/589/20e363187b121074ffbda/1500-0-","dek":"Ticket sales reflect how well you market your event","lastModified":"2017-02-08T17:00:00Z","published":"2017-02-08T17:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"5 Tools for Leveraging Your Next Networking Event AFTER It's Over","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/5-tools-for-leveraging-your-next-networking-event-after-its-over/","slug":"5-tools-for-leveraging-your-next-networking-event-after-its-over","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/542/5ba2dcb786b28ea8b45fd/1500-0-","dek":"You spend a lot of money promoting your company at an event, but what happens when it's over? Here's how to build profitability post-event.","lastModified":"2014-09-29T13:00:00Z","published":"2014-09-29T13:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"The Ultimate Holiday How-to for Social Media Promotion","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/the-ultimate-holiday-how-to-for-social-media-promotion/","slug":"the-ultimate-holiday-how-to-for-social-media-promotion","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/channel/marketing.jpg","dek":"Tis the season to be social! Take notes from brands that are using social media to engage, promote and sell this holiday season.","lastModified":"2014-11-24T17:00:00Z","published":"2014-11-24T17:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"The Ultimate Holiday How-to for Social Media Promotion","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/the-ultimate-holiday-how-to-for-social-media-promotion/","slug":"the-ultimate-holiday-how-to-for-social-media-promotion","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/546/fa75ac9786bfd1d8b47fe/1500-0-","dek":"Tis the season to be social! Take notes from brands that are using social media to engage, promote and sell this holiday season.","lastModified":"2017-02-22T23:57:36Z","published":"2014-11-24T17:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"Blast Off: 18 Stellar Online Marketing Tactics for Out of This World Success","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/18-stellar-online-marketing-tactics-for-out-of-this-world-success/","slug":"18-stellar-online-marketing-tactics-for-out-of-this-world-success","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/55b/8cb743287b1191e8b460a/1500-0-","dek":"These 18 tips involve the top online channels, platforms and tactics to get the traction you need to go from startup to established business","lastModified":"2015-07-29T13:00:00Z","published":"2015-07-29T13:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"Not Just a Game: Legal Considerations for Social Media Contests and Sweepstakes","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/legal-considerations-for-social-media-contests-and-sweepstakes/","slug":"legal-considerations-for-social-media-contests-and-sweepstakes","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5d1/6705d9c658adf548b4572/1500-0-","dek":"Businesses have relied on sweepstakes or contests to attract customers, build traffic, and increase brand awareness for decades.","lastModified":"2015-05-21T13:00:00Z","published":"2015-05-21T13:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"My “Friends” or Yours? The Importance of Establishing a Social Media Ownership Policy","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/my-friends-or-yours-the-importance-of-establishing-a-social-media-ownership-policy/","slug":"my-friends-or-yours-the-importance-of-establishing-a-social-media-ownership-policy","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/55d/48d223087b1c5678b458d/1500-0-","dek":"It is crucial for companies to implement a social media ownership policy across the board for any social media used by their employees.","lastModified":"2015-08-19T17:00:00Z","published":"2015-08-19T17:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"Not Just a Game: Legal Considerations for Social Media Contests and Sweepstakes","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/legal-considerations-for-social-media-contests-and-sweepstakes/","slug":"legal-considerations-for-social-media-contests-and-sweepstakes","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/555/e00ae3287b117738b4589/1500-0-","dek":"Before you launch a contest, understand the legality between the different types of giveaways, namely contests, sweepstakes, and lotteries.","lastModified":"2017-02-22T23:53:13Z","published":"2015-05-21T13:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"8 Mobile Marketing Tips for Small Business","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/megan-totka-mobile-marketing/","slug":"megan-totka-mobile-marketing","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/channel/marketing.jpg","dek":"Mobile marketing is constantly moving forward and evolving, stay on top of the trends","lastModified":"2016-10-26T18:00:00Z","published":"2016-10-26T18:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Content Marketing Done Right: What Works And What Doesn’t","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/content-marketing-done-right-what-works-and-what-doesnt/","slug":"content-marketing-done-right-what-works-and-what-doesnt","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/560/c35c53087b1fe248b458f/1500-0-","dek":"Content marketing can be such goldmine for your business. That is, if you're using it right. Here are tips to get on the right path.","lastModified":"2015-10-01T19:00:00Z","published":"2015-10-01T19:00:00Z","sponsored":null},{"title":"Social Media Stars: How Much Do They Really Make?","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/social-media-stars-how-much-do-they-really-make/","slug":"social-media-stars-how-much-do-they-really-make","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5ed/5554f7b43745d5d8b4571/1500-0-","dek":"Advertising agencies are increasing their spending on sponsored content from viral social media mavens, but how much do these stars make?","lastModified":"2020-05-25T19:45:00Z","published":"2015-08-05T18:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"8 Mobile Marketing Tips for Small Business","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/megan-totka-mobile-marketing/","slug":"megan-totka-mobile-marketing","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/580/e4dad3087b12f20a76f19/1500-0-","dek":"These 8 mobile marketing tips can help your small business.","lastModified":"2017-02-22T23:51:28Z","published":"2016-10-26T18:00:00Z","sponsored":null}],"relatedReviews":[{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5db752e25a215e277d8b4588/Invoicing_AndreyPopov_BDC.png","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/best-collections-agency-services/","title":"The Best Collection Agency Services of 2021","dek":"We've reviewed the best collection agency services for 2021. See up-to-date comparisons on features and the best prices for the top-rated agencies.","slug":"best-collections-agency-services","lastModified":"2021-03-17T16:34:00Z"},{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5e4edd837b437442548b456d/cash_Dutko_getty.jpg","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/small-business-loans-and-financing-options/","title":"The Best Business Loan and Financing Options of 2021","dek":"Many small businesses need funding to get started. Learn about the different financing options to decide which would work best for your small business.","slug":"small-business-loans-and-financing-options","lastModified":"2021-03-11T17:24:00Z"},{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5d4c65367b43741a258b4572/Laptop_Sfio_Cracho.png","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/crm-software/","title":"The Best CRM Software of 2021","dek":"Looking for the best CRM software? We have easy-to-read, expert unbiased reviews and feature comparisons of the best and cheapest programs.","slug":"crm-software","lastModified":"2021-02-24T14:09:00Z"}],"relatedSponsoredArticles":null}},"pageContext":{"displayModified":"2017-02-08T17:00:00.000Z","template":"v1","title":"5 Effective Methods for Promoting a Conference Event in Social Media","meta":{"robots":"index, follow"},"docType":"articles","slug":"dan-mccarthy-promoting-a-conference-event","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/articles/dan-mccarthy-promoting-a-conference-event/","skipTOC":false}},"staticQueryHashes":[]}