Importance of Twitter at Tradeshows

Twitter’s well been known as a powerful networking tool and it’s time that you use this tool at your next tradeshow or conference. The following are some suggestions on how to use this social media platform to your advantage at tradeshows and networking events. To understand how you should use Twitter at a tradeshow, it’s important that you understand what Twitter is at its core. Twitter is a social media platform, that’s all about engaging with folks you have never met, but with whom you have similar interests or work in the same industry.

Start with the Tradeshow’s Hashtag.

A hashtag is a combination of words or phrases prefixed with a “#” and it is used to catagorize a tweet. Our Raleigh internet marketing team uses hashtags for just about everything, from describing their local city #Raleigh, to describing the return of Dr. Who #Savetheday. Hashtags have gotten so important in today’s world that they are now even more incorporated into the events that you and I go to. Networking is the main reason why you go to tradeshows and conferences, but with hundreds of people at some of these events it can sometimes be hard to figure out how to stand out among the crowd. That’s why it’s important when you go to your local tradeshow or conference, that you get on Twitter and use the event’s hashtag to engage others at the event. From an acronym such as #AMA to an event’s full name like #ISummit13, the hashtag of the event can vary but no matter what it is, it’s important that you use and engage with others who are using it early and often.

You’re Using the Hashtag – Now What?

Once you’ve found the hashtag, marketing on Twitter doesn’t stop there.  Here are some things you should do on Twitter before, during, and after a tradeshow. Build Buzz – Before you even go to the event, let people know that you’re going to the event by talking about it on Twitter and building buzz to it early. By being an early adopter and promoting the event, people will know where you are going to be and how they can find you. Find the Influencers – The search feature in Twitter is one of the most important things about it. Use it to find out who is going to the event and what influencers you can meet once the event has actually begun. Create a List – By creating a Twitter list before going to the event, you can easily manage a way to track all of the attendees who are going to the event. This way you can even reach out and talk to those that you missed meeting after the event. Build Relationships – Last but not least, don’t forget to build relationships! It’s important that you reach out and engage with people, early and often. Encourage them to meet you in the coffee line or to sit down with you at the keynote lunch, and build upon that relationship that started online.

Tags: Digital Marketing • Inbound Marketing