Social media for conferences and events

Our Social Media for conferences and events course focuses on the specific opportunities for conferences and events presented by social media tools and how they should be practically used to build brand awareness, brand understanding and engage event audiences. It examines how to create and evolve communities and harness and develop them into live conference participants without jeopardising relationships.

Social media forms & tools are explained and assessed, and their relevance to conferences and events evaluated. You will also learn how to set social media objectives, integrate social channels with content marketing and traditional marketing channels, and measure ROI on your efforts.

Course outline

The definition, evolution and purpose of social media

• Definition of social media – are events the original social media?
• Potted history – generally and for events
• Purpose of social media – branding, to drive traffic to your website and to build data organically

Creating a social media strategy that works with other communications tools and channels

• Setting social media objectives and creating your social media strategy – per sector, per brand and per event
• Agency v In-house?
• The different social media channels and how to choose the right channels for your event
• Joining up your social media channels with each other and other media/channels

How to use social media to build your event brand, your communities and a 365 presence

• How to use social media to build brand awareness, brand understanding and brand engagement with various event stakeholders
• The importance of social media profiles and top tips to optimise them
• How to use social media to build year-round communities and engagement with your event attendees and stakeholders
• How different functions (production, marketing, sponsorship sales, delegate sales and customer services) should use social media in their day-to-day working lives

Practical guidelines on the day-to-day use of social media

• The event timeline: best use of social media before, during and after an event
• Paid opportunities and budget spend?
• GDPR considerations
• How to measure social media effectiveness and ROI for events