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Online Networking: Virtual Meet and Greet

November 15th, 2008
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 At almost every industry event lately, there’s at least a mention of show managers utilizing Web 2.0 tools to grow the show.
Among those most frequently mentioned by name are the social media Web sites – with LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube getting the lion’s share of the attention. It’s no surprise. Many industry events have sessions on how to attract millennials – that younger generation just now joining the workforce – to face-to-face events and to work in the tradeshow industry; it’s members of that younger generation who are the early adopters and majority of users cruising the Internet as a social outlet and a way to network.

The Biotechnology Industry Organization’s Margaret Core, director of sales and marketing, and Susan Cato, director of online communications, recently gave a presentation about social media tools at an Intl. Assn. of Exhibitions and Events luncheon. One of the points they made was that traditional communication only happens in one way – show manager to attendee – while social media is more inclusive: It allows people to engage in the conversation and brings together that sense of community that has become so important in the industry to take the show beyond just the show dates and have year-long impact.

TSW Senior Assistant Editor Stephanie Corbin has compiled a glossary of social media tools to help show managers identify what might work for them.

LinkedInGenerally viewed as a networking tool, LinkedIn allows people to connect with current and former colleagues and classmates, network to find new job opportunities and ask advice of their network.

But perhaps the best tool LinkedIn provides event organizers is the new events beta, launching in the fourth quarter this year. It allows people to add events to LinkedIn, and people can see who’s going and important event information. It doesn’t have to be the show organizer who adds the event, but there is an option for that person to manage the event details. To add events, go to events.linkedin.com.

FacebookIf you haven’t heard of Facebook, you’ve probably been living under a rock.

Facebook started off as a social networking site for college students and has expanded to include everyone. People can share photos, Web site links, videos and more, plus create groups to link with like-minded Facebook users.

IAEE and the Professional Convention Management Assn. already have started groups to link their members on Facebook.

TwitterTwitter is a real-time short messaging service – under 140 characters – that answers the question, “What are you doing?”

For organizations and shows, it provides an interactive way to keep their communities informed with small breaking news items, about the same amount of information that fits in a text message. Plus, those receiving the news can reply, engaging all the Twitter-ers.

In addition, Twitter sends the updates to mobile phones using text messages.

YouTubeYouTube allows users to upload and share videos, as well as to post comments and response videos, building a visual community.

IAEE utilizes YouTube with a six-minute video about having a career in the industry, but other YouTube users have posted videos of IAEE events, including the panel discussions at the Southwest IAEE Chapter’s Day at the Races in February this year.

ASAE & The Center for Assn. Leadership has a YouTube page with videos from its annual meeting, on Web 2.0 tools and social responsibility.

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