Using Social Media in your event? Avoid these mistakes

When planning your events, surely you have a list of essential tasks that you cannot forget to do as you choose and book your venue , F&B , hotel and flights for the speakers or attendees … You must keep even the smallest detail in mind.

But are you taking the same steps with the organization and digital communication of your event? Social Media presence  is necessary to reach a wider audience. But beware: there are mistakes that come at a price. Do not miss this list of errors you should avoid in order to make your event a Social Media success too.

1 – Someone who is not specialized in Social Media

There was a time when Social Media strategy was assigned to the “geek” or the intern at the office, but this is all over. The professionalization of the business is unstoppable and there is a great variety of agencies and professionals that can help you. You can also choose someone from your team or do it yourself. Remember also that during the event you will probably need someone to create content in real time and to be aware of the buzz on Social Media  throughout the day.

2- No content strategy and planning

Just posting without focus is one of the most common Social Media mistakes  of companies and brands. Think about your audience: what social media channels your they use, what is they like and what they are interested in. Think about the tone you should use, the posting schedule and the kind of content: text, pictures, infographics, digital flyers, videos, audios, memes…

It is also key to arrange the hashtags that will be used during the event in time , so it can be printed on posters and presentations, which will promote its use among the attendees. Try to use few hashtags (better just one!). And those you choose, better be short, simple to write and easy to remember. You can use the name of your event or use something flashy that breaks with what is expected.

3- Not involving your speakers

Speakers and main actors of your event can also become your best prescribers. Their communication skills are a great opportunity for Social Media that is often wasted. Send them all the event information as soon as possible, hashtags and images in different formats for each social channel. It is also helpful to have a previous look at their speech with them and settle quotes and contents that will be shared in social networks before and during their participation in the event.

4 – No crisis management plan

We are optimistic by nature, but unfortunately things do not always come to perfection and criticism through Social Media is a real weapon of destruction for your reputation. So, you must be ready and act very fast. That is why you should have somebody exclusively dedicated to Social Media. Someone who does not miss a thing offline and online and rapidly reacts with extreme empathy to any complaint or crisis. It is essential to agree on a  Q&A with the maximum responsible for the event in advance and have direct line with the management during the celebration to solve unexpected situations.

5 – Not updating your social networks after the event

What is your impression of an outdated company Social Media profile? Awful, isn’t it? It shows neglection, lack of budget, lack of interest…  a very negative image of your brand. You should keep on publishing and give relevant information, whether notes of a previous event, or details about the future event. We also recommend sharing relevant news with your audience, proposing surveys or providing your company’s point of view about a current topic. All of this will encourage a real and continuous follow-up among your fans. It is better to have less but loyal fans who read, comment and share your content. Provide interesting information about your business and become a reference in your sector.

These are the five central pillars to achieve a successful strategy in Social Media, without setbacks and without crisis upraises. Remember that the success of your events is also measured in Social Networks!