4 Ways to Utilize Social Media to Amplify Your Presence at Conferences

In the United States alone, there are more than 1.8 million meetings, trade shows and  conventions held annually. Each conference has its own unique perspective. For some, it’s about messaging and roadmaps, while others dig deep into technical functions to help attendees get a better handle on their current IT needs.

AWS re:Invent from Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the largest customer and partner conference dedicated to cloud computing. This hybrid event features in-person keynote announcements, training and certification opportunities, technical sessions, and  after-hours events, as well as virtual access to keynotes and leadership sessions. Attendees have access to 1,500+ technical sessions, the Expo, after-hours events, and so much more.

The event will take place in Las Vegas across multiple venues from November 28 through December 2. The show gets bigger every year, and there’s no reason to expect this trend will not continue.

Below are four ways your company can utilize its social media strategy to amplify its presence at a conference like AWS re:Invent.

1. Have a pre/during/post event plan for social media

• Pre-plan: Research what past attendees have said about the conference. Read blog posts, reach out on social media, watch videos, and check for testimonials on the conference website. This is a great way to get a general feel of what it’s like to be there and whether attendees found it worth their time and money. Click here  to read reviews from past AWS re:Invent conferences.

• Examine the conference agenda two to three weeks before the event and reach out to the speakers directly on Twitter. Watch the event hashtag on Twitter in the days and weeks leading up to the event. If there is an associated LinkedIn group, spend some time there.

• During the conference: Develop posts based on your experience. In your post, highlight the key points that resonated with you and actionable steps others could take from the session/conference that day.
  • Be sure to use numbers in these posts such as “three key takeaways” or “five ways you can (fill in the blank).” This kind of LinkedIn post can also be expanded into an article or a blog post.

• Post-conference plan: Once you’re back in the office, share your new knowledge on social media. Organize your notes into a brief presentation of top takeaways. If you were able to download the presenters’ slides, pull the best ones together into a combined deck to give a presentation to your team, then allow for an open discussion.

2. Capturing content at the event

Do more than just attend the event. Immerse yourself in it, and you’re destined to get more value from it.

Be sure to capture the round tables, panel discussions, streaming presentations, or workshops. If possible, utilize live video on your platforms. Record video interviews of speakers. Also, write down interesting questions to ask 10 speakers or relevant attendees. Record the answers on your phone and later you can transcribe those answers into a post.

3. Tagging partners and leveraging conference hashtags

Use the conference hashtag to become part of the conversation. In addition, tag the company and conference organizer so they are notified when you create the post as well. They will likely repost it and like it, which will increase your visibility – a win-win for all!

4. Drive attendance at your company’s booth

Amplify any booths and keynote/speaking sessions your company might be participating in. Another important factor is making sure the right people are aware of your presence.

AWS experts and industry leaders  from the world of cloud computing will deliver special announcements, the latest product launches, and inspiring customer stories. If your organization is participating, it makes sense to amplify that fact and derive as much from the experience as possible. Leveraging on social media is the key to doing that.