If you’re hard at work planning an upcoming event, you’re likely already relying on social media to spread the word. However, social media is also a great way to sustain the hype once your event starts, and having a successful strategy for executing social media during your live event can go a long way toward ensuring your event engages a wide audience (even those who aren’t able to attend in-person!).
Here are five strategies for executing social media at your next live event:
1. Schedule Posts Ahead of Time
Whether you’re throwing a small community gathering or a large-scale festival, there’s a good chance that you’ve already been promoting it on social media via teaser posts, event pages, and more.
While you’re working on these pre-event posts, if there any posts that you are able to schedule to go live during the event in advance, go ahead do it — it will mean less work on-site and minimize the potential for errors.
Examples of posts that can be pre-scheduled include sponsor shoutouts, reminders to attendees about logistics of the event, and safety information. Although these posts usually don’t take a lot of time to make, scheduling them in advance means you will have more flexibility for whatever curveballs come your way during the event itself.
2. Create a Content Plan
Although not all posts can be scheduled prior to the event, you can still prepare for in-the-moment content by creating a list of your “must-have” photos/videos to post from the event, along with social media copy to accompany them. An easy way to go about this is to create a master schedule as a Google Doc that you can keep on your phone to reference throughout the event.
Ideally, this document should include all of the in-the-moment content you want to be sure to capture, including photos of speakers, sponsors, and key moments from the event. Pre-draft as much social media copy as you can, and make sure to go ahead and find the social media handles of any accounts you know you’ll be tagging. This makes copy and pasting the social copy onto your desired social channels a much smoother process, and means you can spend more time out at the event gathering great content.
3. Leverage Hashtags
Live events are one instance in which hashtags really shine. A memorable hashtag for your event is a great way to ensure attendees of your event are able to stay connected with your brand as well as with each other. Once you’ve decided on an event hashtag, be sure to include it in all posts about the event prior to, during, and after your event.
Also — don’t forget to remind attendees to use the hashtag while they are at the event! Including the event hashtag and your brand’s social profiles on event signage is an excellent way to encourage attendees to get social and share their experiences from your event. Plus, it means even more people will be able to see all of the hard work you’ve put into the event!
4. Engage with Audiences
Social media is also a great way to keep FOMO at bay for your followers who weren’t able to make it to the event. Use Instagram and Facebook Stories to give audiences a look behind-the-scenes at your event, or post in-the-moment tweets of key quotes from speakers at the event.
Similarly, if attendees are taking the time to post to their own social channels using the event hashtag, be sure to engage with them to show your appreciation. You can’t be everywhere at all times during your event, so relying on this kind of “user-generated content” is an excellent way to provide different perspectives from your event.
It’s also important to monitor your social channels and engage with any questions or concerns that arise in real-time. For example, if you’re hosting an outdoor event and inclement weather strikes, attendees will likely be asking about how your event will be impacted.
5. Invest in an Extra Charger
No matter what kind of event you’re hosting, it’s important to be prepared for anything that may come your way. The last thing you want to worry about is scrambling to find a power outlet to replenish a dead phone battery when you could be using the time to gather great content.
With that in mind, investing in a portable charger (or two) is a wise investment. Just make sure to charge it in advance of your event so that you can keep the great social media content flowing!
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