2. The Social Media Trend
Why is social media important?
How is social media used?
Can we do more with social media?
What are effective ways to use social media?
What does the future role of social media in
events look like?
3. Why is this trend important?
Long gone are the days of pagers and flip phones we
have now entered into the era of the smartphone.
Smartphones and other mobile technology are a part
of daily life for over 1 billion people worldwide. Social
media is not simply a fad that will disappear in a few
years. It is a part of life. The platforms will change
while others become obsolete but better and more
comprehensive platforms will continue to emerge
replacing those left behind.
4. Continued…
In order to stay competitive in the ever-
changing world of event
management, managers must embrace
social media and exploit the potential
that lies within it. There is a lot more that
can be done with social
media, marketing and promotion are just
the tip of the iceberg.
5. How is social media
used by events?
Target marketing
Networking
Promotion
Registration
Information sharing (date, time,
location)
Multimedia sharing (photos,
videos)
Engaging audiences
Surveys (creation, feedback)
7. Event managers can…
Educate and brand events
Create event buzz
Offer deals and discounts
Sell tickets (pre-sale and at the door)
Connect with sponsors and vendors
Cross-promote with speakers/entertainers
Track attendance
8. Audiences can…
Check-in to events virtually
Connect with other attendees
Use QR codes to access special information
Participate onsite and online
Organize and participate in event related meet-
ups (Tweet-ups, Facebook events)
9. Effective use of social media
It’s not enough to simply have a presence on social media, as a
business or event manager you must find a way to consistently
(before, during and after) engage your audience in a fun and unique
way. This contributes to the overall reputation of your event.
10. Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival
Coachella.com allows the audience to register to gain access to special features such as the
user forums and Coachooser which allows you to create your own Coachella schedule.
Registering your wristband gains you access to enhanced customer support, social media
features, merchandise specials and potential upgrades. It’s even possible for people unable
to attend the music events in person to watch a live feed on the Coachella YouTube channel.
Coachella organizers have adapted to their audiences which has helped to sustain the
festival for the last 14 years. (http://www.coachella.com/)
11. South by Southwest (SXSW)
SXSW is a series of film, interactive, and music festivals and conferences held in Austin,
Texas. In 2011, SXSW launched it’s own social media platform that allows the audience to
connect with other attendees and allows them to find Twitter, Facebook and Linked In
contacts that are also attending. SXSW seem to be ahead of the curve when it comes to
social media but that’s no surprise since the creator of these festivals happens to be a
company that plans and executes conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Not
to mention the fact that SXSW is where the location-based social network Foursquare was
launched. (http://www.sxsw.com/)
12. What does the future look like?
Building on current uses of social media (networking,
marketing, promotion) this trend will continue to grow
become a larger, more integral part of events as a
whole. Attendance records, virtual check-ins, e-tickets
and electronic access to event maps and information
will become the norm.
There are already a number of events that are
incorporating social media, what are you doing to
incorporate it into your events?
13. References
Chan, K. (2011, April 6). Signing up: Smartphones and social media are proving to be growth areas in
event management. South China Morning Post, pp. 26.
Global mobile statistics 2013 Part A: Mobile subscribers; handset market share; mobile operators.
(March 2013). mobiThinking. Retrieved April 3, 2013, from http://mobithinking.com/mobile-marketing-
tools/latest-mobile-stats/
Goldblatt, J. (2000). A Future for Event Management: The Analysis of Major Trends Impacting the
Emerging Profession. Events Beyond 2000: Setting the Agenda (pp. 2-9). Australia: Australian Centre
for Event Management.
Social Media and Events. (n.d.). Social Media Breakfast Maine. Retrieved April 3, 2013, from
http://www.socialmediabreakfastmaine.com/archives/smbme-30-social-media-and-events/
Technology Expert Steve Dotto on Event Management. (n.d.). Speakers Spotlight. Retrieved April 1,
2013, from http://www.speakers.ca/2013/03/technology-expert-steve-dotto-on-event-management/
