Simply put, social media marketing (SMM) is the process of creating a promotional attention or buzz through social media platforms.
People are continuously talking about your business online on social sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Using your smartphone, you only need to tap a few keys to share your experiences with your friends across social media networks, there is no need to make those long phone calls.
In order to harness the power of social media to get more engagement, attract attendees, engage responses and extend the life expectations of such events, you must have the right tools in place.
Many brands use social sites as a promotional technique.
How?
By following specific social sites in the local area to advertise special offers and deals. By doing so, the business encourages the locals to follow them on the social site to receive promotional deals. This process allows the business to be seen and this is referred to as Brand Visibility.
The main purpose of using social media is to make it easy for those interested in your product or service to communicate with you. Your products are also visible to the public and to the users who have knowledge of these products.
Having the right social media marketing strategy gives you an advantage because you understand all the determining factors such as knowing the audience, what motivates them and why they should take part.
Today, SMM and event promotion go together. SMM is a valuable tool for marketing and can drive networking and boost attendance, but only when used well.
The following are the six main keys to event promotion:
Create a Facebook Event
This is enticing because it invites your followers to attend.
You can also update your events with vital information.
Run a promotion of event details on your page.
Add promotional blurbs, images to your Facebook company banner.
Consider a small or targeted Facebook ad campaign.
Use Hashtags
An original hashtag is a good way to post about your event because it boosts the visibility of the event on social media.
You need to promote your hashtag before, during and after the event.
Come Up with a Tweet for Attendees on Twitter
Create a dedicated Twitter account for larger events.
Create a unique hashtag for the particular event.
Promote the # hashtag on your registration pages and invitations. The hashtag should also be included in your promotional marketing material.
Encourage people to tweet about the event.
Tweet and use the hashtag as a promotional tool.
Create Content around Your Event
Write a press release in blog format for the particular event.
This is an incredible way to generate content that is related to your event and share it on all your social media networks.
Your content will engage a conversation about your event.
Update your LinkedIn Page
Combine all your event promotional marketing materials and update your company pages.
LinkedIn is one of the best marketing tools because it allows you to send direct messages to your connectors and engage them to attend.
You should consider starting a small targeted LinkedIn ads campaign.
Engage a unique response.
YouTube
Share and remember to tag the best event videos.
Create shareable video content about the event. You can upload the video to your Facebook groups and link to Twitter too.
Show highlights.
Build a community of loyal followers – especially if it’s a yearly event.
Vine and Instagram all photos of the event.
Create a Google+ events page as it allows you to send auto email invites and access event reminders that can be synced into Google calendars.
Social networking tools are important for your marketing strategies. You can use all or some, just follow your preferred method to get your intended event promotion goals.