The difference between style and fashion is quality.
Giorgio Armani
Photo by BitPicture via Flickr
I am sure you’ve heard about Social Media in the past six months. Well, that’s a bit too late as it’s been around for at least 15 years, maybe more. In 1995 I used to post on forums, chat over IRC and yeah it looked lots like Facebook. But hey since the latest fashion is here, now you think your event needs a Facebook Group. Here are few reasons to prevent you from committing Social Media suicide.
10. You haven’t got a clue
You just don’t know what this all Social Media thingy is about. Well, it’s like learning a new language. If you expect to get it in a week, you’re out of sight. Get someone to do it for you or give it some time.
9. They don’t have a clue
And by ‘they’ I mean attendees. If they don’t care, why should you? If they think Linkedin is the latest Alfa Romeo model, just don’t waste your time. Think about making a better event
8. You haven’t listened
If your attendees have talked to you about it or have been asking for it, you need to know where they are. Each target has it’s own networks. Listen first, then engage.
7. You haven’t got a Social Media Policy in place
If you run several events you need to have a standard approach to begin engagement on different platforms. That also applies internally. What are you doing to train your employees to use SM? 54% of companies ban Facebook, twitter etc. If you are among them change that first.
6. You love control
No, I am not out of my mind. It’s tough to find an event professional who’s not a control freak. I am. But you have to let it go.
5. You don’t read about best practices
Is Mashable on your Feed Reader? If you don’t know what I am talking about, start a daily reading practice. You need to get yourself updated with the latest trends, new services.
4. You think twitter is the answer
twitter is the Holy Grail of the credit crunch. The paranoid rush in getting twitter done for virtually every service on the market hasn’t spared events. twitter won’t make your event better if your event is boring. It may be of help to amplify it if you have a great format, as much as a small Ning of 200 people can. So don’t focus on one network because you heard it on TV. Know your options.
3. The maximum technology you embrace is printed badges
There is plenty of technology you can adopt to make your event better. Technology and Social Media go hand in hand. If you don’t innovate with technology you won’t get any SM benefit. Have a look at our Event Technology category or read about Augmented Reality, which is gonna change events for good.
2. You think ‘BarCamp’ is a cool pub down the road
Social Media help new, innovative forms of events. Unconferences and user generated events above all. We have been writing about this for the past 3 years. Time to do some research.
1. Your event is not worth talking about
If it’s no good concept, neither SM or traditional media will help you out. Read Seth Godin every day, that will help a lot.
