Hosting an Event – Using Twitter

 
If you are hosting an event – conference, sales meeting, any business event – you can build buzz around your event on Twitter. Here’s how…

Search on Twitter

Look for everyone involved in your event, through Twitter Search or Twitter advanced search You also need to find everyone who may be interested in it and start chatting. Start this even before your event is announced so that your information on the event, when you choose to start publicising it, isn’t coming “out of the blue” so to speak!
Once your event is announced, create a hashtag, set up searches for the hashtag and also for any mention of your event.

Create Twitter Lists

Lists are a great tool in Twitter for keeping in contact with a group of people with similar interests and jobs. Creating an open list on Twitter of event attendees that everyone can subscribe to will break the ice and help everyone to “know” each other, especially if they haven’t met before.

Create A Hashtag

The easiest way that people can keep a tag on your event is through a hashtag. Make sure that it’s not too long, is easily understandable, and hasn’t been used for anything else. If it’s made up of initials or two words then check that they don’t make a new unsuitable word and it’s always worthwhile to run it through Urban Dictionary (may be NSFW according to what’s on their front page!) to check that your event won’t become well known for something that you don’t want it to be!

Storify Event Tweets

Storify is a great tool for curating tweets, You Tube videos and mentions of an event. You can create different social stories on Storify on different topics and tweet them out. This also notifies the users mentioned in the tweets, and is a great way to curate a useful conversation or a series of tips.

Build The Buzz

Tweet pictures of preparations, ask questions, drop hints of what will be happening. Think about how you can give away tickets in a twitter “Follow and RT” competition, or give away promotional materials.  All of this will help build visibility for your event.

Watch Your Twitter Streams

If you are heavily involved in the actual event, you may have to delegate monitoring of the hashtag or mentions of the event.  People will be tweeting questions (anything from wondering of they could borrow a phone charger to follow ups on the event) and there will be comments all the way through the event. Some of these will need immediate action, some will be suitable for a Retweet and some will spur conversation with those who are not attending.
For more Twitter tips on running an event take a look at Becky Gaylord‘s Site, Framing What Works for more information on using Twitter when hosting an event