Tag-Archive for » Twitter for events «
When used properly, high-tech networking can increase the quantity and quality of professional connections. But to accomplish this, you’ll need an ‘Extreme Networking’ technology strategy — which starts weeks before and culminates in the face-to-face event.
Helping grow a participant’s professional network is a sure-fire way to increase loyalty. Last month, we explored how to do this with low-tech networking strategies. Here, we look at a tech-based “Extreme Networking” strategy. Note that this will necessarily vary from group to group, depending on where your members live their online lives.
Rather than try to do everything, it’s best to choose a few of the following 11 high-tech options and spend the bulk of your time building adoption and engagement – if you do, pretty soon you’ll attain the enlightened state of Extreme Networking.
1. Collect IDs
Use optional fields in event-registration and membership-renewal forms to ask attendees for their blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter URLs. Explain the benefits of providing this information, and share your privacy policy.
2. Create event pages
Encourage attendees to RSVP via LinkedIn and Facebook event pages; updates and posts to these then will display in each person’s network stream. Provide fresh content that will encourage people to participate.
3. Use crowdsourcing
Online polling is a great way to engage your audience before the meeting. It also establishes a conduit for valuable input and a forum for attendees to meet one another.
4. Compare to connect
Some event-specific solutions allow attendees to compare their existing social networks against your registration list – and reaching out in advance to people you already know is an Extreme Networking best practice. Solutions that allow you to send a LinkedIn message, write on a person’s Facebook wall, or Direct Message Twitter followers are also very powerful.
5. Host Webinars and interviews
Schedule Webinars by conference speakers or locals from the event city who can give tips on restaurants and attractions. A pre-event Blogtalkradio series for speakers and Disney-lovers was a big hit for one association, whose attendees connected via Internet radio and text-messaging during the show.
6. Play matchmaker
Some solutions allow attendees to complete professional profiles and personal itineraries. Participants then use keywords and demographics to search for those with similar interests and schedule a time to meet. Some systems take this further and provide customized recommendations of people, sessions, or products.
7. Deploy PURLs
Powerful new solutions on the high-tech scene are personal Web pages (or PURLs) that aggregate links to session handouts, archives, exhibits visited, and attendees connected with. Oftentimes a proprietary device is used, although lead-retrieval and mobile-based solutions are quickly being adopted.
8. Monitor the hashtag
Some of the best connections come from watching others ask intelligent questions or provide insight on Twitter. Pick a unique hashtag (say, #pcma10), and ask attendees to use this when tweeting about the meeting.
9. Organize a “Tweetup” for Twitter-using attendees.
10. Game on!
Location-based apps with gaming components, such as Foursquare and Gowalla, help increase networking and connections. Encourage your hotels and local attractions to play along, and consider giving out awards to top connectors.
11. Share photos
Sites like Flickr allow attendees to deepen their relationships by sharing digital snapshots – and memories. For real-time memory-making, create a “Twitterfountain” that displays tweets and pics from the event as it’s happening.
Adoption Is Key
Too often, new technology isn’t utilized by enough participants to deliver desired results. Communication, education, and community management are the three pillars of success of encouraging adoption. As such, consider hosting a networking best practices Webinar before your meeting to teach attendees how to maximize their use of Twitter and take advantage of the power of the second degree on LinkedIn.
Reprinted with permission of Convene, the magazine of the Professional Convention Management Association. © 2009 pcma.org
Since 2007, people have gazed at Twitter and wondered how the Twittershpere developed into what it is today. It’s been the subject of much philosophical, religious and scientific discussion and debate.
People who have tried to uncover the mysteries of the Twitterville development include such famous researchers as Danah Boyd, Chris Brogan, Beth Kanter, Charlene Li, Brian Solis, and Dan Zarrella. Many of these researchers have developed their own Twitter birthing theories as they watched the tweeting continue to evolve.
Soon Twitter invaded conference, events and tradeshows. Albert Einstein, Steven Hubble and Stephen Hawking could not have predicted this social phenomenon. Yet, one of the most famous and widely accepted models for the Twitterdom’s development is The Big Tweet Theory.
Although The Big Tweet Theory is famous, it is often misunderstood. A common misperception is that Twitter, tweeting and the conference backchannel is mostly spread by geeks and Gen Y. That’s not quite right. It’s often some of the most influential thought leaders in your industry. People that can help make or break your conference.
Another misconception is that the Big Tweet Theory was a sudden explosion of blue bird tweets. Something that happens only in the wilderness by wild unruly Tweeps and that Twitter is unused by cosmopolitan, sophisticated conference attendees today. That’s not accurate either.
The Big Tweet Theory is an attempt to explain how it developed from the minds of some smart people and into many conference and tradeshow venues today.
Summing up The Big Tweet Theory is a challenge. It involves concepts that contradict the way we perceive traditional meetings and societal norms. It goes against the grain that attendees must sit passively in a ballroom, looking forward, listening to the presenter. The earliest stages of The Big Tweet Theory focus on a moment in which all the separate forces of the conference environment were part of a unified force. There, the attendees begin to experience similar emotions, feelings and thoughts. They turned to the backchannel to share those insights with others. They were dissatisfied with talking heads, script readers, no time for Q & A and boring lectures.
The Big Tweet Theory explains the various phases of what happens when people begin using Twitter for the conference backchannel.
Phase 1 – The Birthing Announcement: Hello Twitter. Look what I can do.
A conference attendee posts their first few tweets. The attendee experiences a range of emotions about using the backchannel. It seems new, odd, fearful, fun, stupid and exciting. People step into their first conference tweets with mixed feelings of apprehension and exhilaration. Many write their first tweets about their earliest impressions of using the tool. The Big Tweet Theory has begun.
Phase 2 – Sharing The Blue Bird’s Kitchen Sink: Here’s everything that’s happening.
As Tweeps become more comfortable with the Twitter tools and the backchannel, they post every detail of everything they hear and see. Their tweet flood overwhelms many that are following them. Tweets of conference foods, sights, smells and sounds along with word by word note taking of presenters may seem daunting to some. The Big Tweet Theory expands.
Phase 3 – Restraint And Insight: Communicating the good stuff
Tweeps have perfected the use of the backchannel and post bite-size highpoints from the conference. Often their tweets contain links to more detailed conference blog posts, additional resources and provocative thoughts. Followers begin to realize that their missing out on great education and networking. The Big Tweet Theory matures.
The Big Tweet Theory describes the development of the conference Tweep from the birthing announcement to a refined and eloquent communicator. It describes the development of conference Tweep as he or she came into existence in the Twittersphere and evolved into what it is today.
What’s your experience with The Big Tweet Theory? How have you seen conference attendees evolve into conference Tweeps today? Should we encourage or discourage The Big Tweet Theory?
So you’ve decided you want to help facilitate the attendee communication at your next event.
You’ve set a goal to increase your onsite attendee engagement with each other and the speakers during the event. And your goals include listening and responding in real time, when appropriate, as well.
Yet, you’re not sure where to begin or which tools to use.
Let’s consider one of the most popular backchannel tools today: Twitter.
Why has Twitter become so popular as a backchannel tool?
- Free
- Ease of use
- Short learning curve
- Fast
- Searchable
- Feels personable because thumbnail photos of those tweeting displayed
- Ability to attach pictures, documents, links
- Accessibility from smart phones and laptops
- Ability to facilitate ongoing relationships among audience members long after the meeting has ended
Here are 16 criteria to consider when choosing your conference backchannel communication tool so that it becomes as popular as Twitter with your attendees.
Adoption Rate
1. Popular
What online communication tools are the most popular today?
2. Setup
Is it easy or hard to setup? Can a new user sign on and setup an account quickly?
3. User-friendly
How easy is it for your attendees to use? What level of technical knowledge or skill do your attendees need to have to use it? Is it intuitive or do your attendees need training on it?
4. Learning Curve
What’s the learning curve for using it? Is it easy or steep?
5. Mobility
Can people use it on their mobile devices in addition to laptops?
Price/Value/ROI
6. Costs
What are the costs of using this tool? Is it free or fee-based? If free, will users be bombarded by advertisements and spam if used?
7. Archived
Do you want the communication to be archived or temporary? If you use Twitter, the information is typically kept for about two weeks. You can visit http://wthashtag.com immediately following the event and print the transcript for the event. This is great data to understand the adoption rate, value and ROI of the conference backchannel.
8. Displayed publicly
Will displaying the backchannel publicly extend the conference’s messages to a broader audience? Does a public backchannel increase the ROI and/or any potential risks?
9. History/References
What backchannel tools have other conferences used? Does the backchannel tool have any references or case studies?
10. Customized
Can you customize the look of the tool with an event logo? Can you change the settings for font size, color, style, etc?
Functionality
11. Character Limit
Does the tool limit the number of characters per comment or can attendees write their thoughts in long form? Is a character limit good for your audience?
12. Identified or Anonymous
Can the users be anonymous or do they have to identify themselves with a name, photo or other means in order to comment? There is a higher risk of negative or inappropriate comments from anonymous users.
13. Standalone
Do you want the backchannel to be a standalone, private communication tool or do you want it part of a public service like Twitter that can reach far beyond your conference walls?
14. Software or Web-enabled
Does it require a download of special software or is it web-enabled?
15. Monitored or Real-Time
Do you want the ability to monitor and approve comments before they enter the backchannel? Or are you open to real-time comments.
16. Attachments
Can users attach pictures and links to additional sources easily? Or is it rich text enabled only.
These are just a few questions to consider as you choose your backchannel tool for your next event.
What other criteria should be considered when choosing a backchannel tool? What are some of your experiences with the backchannel?
What happens at a TweetUp stays on Twitter…and the whole world knows.
PCMA 2010 held it’s first TweetUp on Monday, January 11, 2010 at the Aloft Hotel. Thanks to John Fuhr and the team from cmr, along with Aloft Hotel for sponsoring this event and providing Twitinis too. The PCMA Tweeps and #Eventprofs had a blast!
Here are some of the Tweeps that joined us.
Today’s conference attendees, armed with laptops, flip cameras and smart phones, are no longer sitting quietly taking notes during presentations.
They are using their new tools to document, take notes, check the presenter’s facts, search for resources, post and publish their reflections and connect with others in and outside the room. Millions of people use Twitter in a variety of ways, well beyond what the inventors first envisioned for it.
Some use Twitter to post updates on what they are doing or thinking–similar to the status updates in Facebook and LinkedIn. Others use it to publish posts that offer useful information or commentary on particular topics. Some share links to resources and photos as if reporting from the scene.
Twitter text posts, often called tweets, are restricted to 140 characters and demand a brief writing style which gets to the point quickly. Some people don’t see the value in tweets, especially in isolation. I believe that the value of a tweet lay in the eye of the beholder and the tweet’s meaning has to the author and reader. Following other Tweeps, as I call them, helps increase the value of Twitter as well. Following other industry professionals whom you respect, can help you learn and expand your circle of influence.
If you’re planning on tweeting at your next conference or event, here are some tips on creating Good, Better and Best Tweets.
Good:
Example 1: The Announcement
In this tweet, the user announces that they are leaving for an event. Using the hashtag, #pcma10, he’s identified his tweet as part of the discussion for the PCMA’s 2010 54th Convening Leaders Conference. This tweet is good, it shares user’s plans and where user is headed.
Announcement style tweets are good when you’re attending an event and others are looking for you.
Example 2: Information Sharing
Information sharing tweets are good when you share content, quotes or statements from others. This is a way to be a resource to your readers.
Better:
Example 3: The Announcement
In this tweet the user announces location, identifies the conference by the hashtag and identifies the speaker’s Twitter handle. User also shares a little about the audience providing context for the reader.
Example 4: Information Sharing
In this tweet, user identifies the conference by the hashtag, identifies the speaker’s Twitter handle and shares a comment from the speaker. This tweet provides content for the reader.
Best:
Example 5: The Announcement
User identifies the conference by the hashtag, identifies the speaker and speaker’s Twitter handle, shares info about crowd and shares a link to picture of session. This tweet provides context, information and gives the reader a snapshot of the event. Almost like being there.
Example 6: Information Sharing
User identifies name of session, conference hashtag, speaker’s Twitter handle, quote from speaker and link to speaker’s resources. This tweet is full of content and provides added resources for reader
Final thoughts
If you’re tweeting from a conference, think about your readers. Try to provide as much context and relevant information in the tweet as possible. When you provide tweets from the “best” category you are providing a valuable service by passing information about the event to those who could not be there in person. You’ve extended the conference content, experience and messages to an audience outside of the event’s four walls.
What tips do you have about tweeting from a conference or event? Share your experiences, best practices and thoughts with us.
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