How Twittering Helps Grow Business? The Party Aficionado Weighs In

Event Specialist Cheryl Lawson answers the question. How Twittering Helps Grow Business?

I received this question via email from someone who wanted to know how event leaders specifically were using Twitter. Since I thought more people might have the same question. Below is my response.

Twitter, like any other social networking site brings like minds together to network and share ideas, deals, links, etc. I think Twitter was first used in an event environment to allow the audience to ask questions to the speaker live!

Let's say you have just completed a presentation as a speaker at a large conference. Smart phone and laptop users can log in at the end of the talk and put in a hashtag that associates with your event, and ask the speaker questions… live for a very interactive Q & A session. No need for microphones (and staff roaming through the audience) this video from Ted.com speaks to how Twitter is being shaped by its users. An example of how Twitter is used in an event is displayed towards the end of the talk.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/evan_williams_on_listening_to_twitter_users.html

The speaker can then log on to Twitter search page, and look up all of the tweets with the conference tag on it. See examples of rally day tweets here.

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=rallyday

I have used just about all social networking sites for events.
One of my client's attendees was 18-24 year old female dancers. From 2005 - 2007 Myspace was where they lived! Having a site set up for the event drew in thousands of fans of the client. As a result, attendance grew and the audience expanded.

Twitter, can be used in a similar way to:

1. "tweet" about a particular event or events. I and Many people "tweet" live from conferences or events to share experiences, information, etc.

2. "tweet" a website link that you find important or interesting. (And yes even funny)

3. Just recently, I used twitter to save $50.00 per night on a hotel room for my brother's vacation in Miami.

I often tell people; if you use twitter (or any social network) to talk about when you’re going to the bathroom or what you're eating at the time. That's what you'll get back. But if you use it to find resources and/or to become a resource, that's probably what you'll get back!

Like any other Marketing strategy, before you start using Social networking sites, you should have a strategy.

Determine what you want to achieve with the social network. Are you attempting to connect with attendees, clients, industry professionals, people who share common interests, or advocates for a particular cause? Regardless of your choice, you’ll likely find someone else interested in the same things.

I really do believe that people prefer to do business with others whom they share social experiences. It’s not just a catch phrase.

So if the social experience is online or in person, networking is networking.

I hope that helps.

Cheryl Lawson

Learn more about Event Specialist, Cheryl Lawson by visiting www.Theperfect-date.com
or follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/partyaficionado