Sound n' Sight

4 Ways to Use Social Media to Engage Newbies at Conferences & Events

The following is a guest blog article by Kari Rippetoe of Tuvel Communications. If you are interested in guest blogging for Sound n' Sight, please read my guest blogging guidelines . And if you have any thoughts, please comment. Kari and I both would love to hear what you have to say!

We’ve all been in this situation: first-time attendee to a conference (or “newbie”), not quite sure where to begin and not really knowing anyone. That first time walking into the event can be a shock to the system; but social media can help relieve that shock.

We’ve worked on several conferences where social media helped us to engage and help newbies in a way that made them feel more at ease and connected ahead of their show experience. Here are 4 ways you can use social media to get new attendees involved with your event:

1 - Make conference newbies feel included

Reach out to new attendees via email and social media and make them feel like a part of the conference community. Get them involved in pre-show activities and promotions, like Twitter chats, discussions in online event communities, or the conference blog. Here’s a great post written for the 2011 NAB Show blog by a show newbie, providing her first-timer’s take on the show.

It can be especially daunting to attend a conference where you don’t know anyone. By providing ways for attendees to connect with each other before the event, you’re helping to make the experience much more enjoyable for everyone. If your event has its own attendee community platform, utilize it as a place for people to meet each other beforehand. Some conferences will build this functionality into a mobile app, where attendees can add friends and share itineraries.

Even if you don’t have something like this, create Twitter chats, attendee Twitter lists, Facebook and LinkedIn groups specifically for the purpose of connecting people.

3 - Provide helpful content

Don’t assume that attendees will be able to find their own way once they get to your event!  Provide content on your website that will help them know what to expect and plan accordingly. This is especially true with large conferences! You might have a Resources section on your website with information on things like wireless connectivity, bag checkpoints, flight check-in kiosks and ATM locations. Make sure your social media communities know about these resources ahead of the show!

A show blog would also be a great place to publish tips for everything from planning your itinerary to wearing the proper attire (comfy shoes!). You might even consider compiling a helpful video guide from past show footage that will give people a glance of the event (like crowds or size of the expo hall).

4 - Ask for feedback

This is something you should be doing with all your attendees, whether new or returning; however, newbies can provide a fresh perspective regarding conference content, website resources and other areas that may need improvement or clarification. You might find that many people who have never been to your event before are asking questions via your event social media outposts about something in particular that isn’t covered on your website or online materials.

What ideas do you have or have you seen for engaging event newbies through social media?

Kari Rippetoe is Social Media & Community Outreach Manager at Tuvel Communications, a Washington DC area-based digital marketing and communications firm specializing in social media and outreach campaigns for associations, events, non-profits and technology companies. She has managed social media and outreach campaigns for clients like the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB Show) and 1105 Government Information Group (FOSE and GovSec/U.S. Law Conference & Expo). Follow Kari on Twitter @KariRippetoe, as well as Tuvel Communications @TuvelComms

(Photo by rasdourian)

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