Encouraging attendees to post to your conference Facebook page can seem overwhelming — a bit like herding cats. However, with over 1 billion users and growing, it is a safe bet that most attendees have a personal Facebook account. With that many users, it would be unwise to ignore the power of this social channel.
Your goal is to request attendees to take a more active role on your fan page. The key is to encourage social conversations between those that are there and those that are not.
Buffer, a social media aggregater, recently wrote a lengthy blog post about Facebook statistics and what they mean to the average person. I have taken 4 of their ideas and applied them to the industry. Here they are:
Killer Way #1: Post Questions.
According to KISSmetrics, an organization that identifies and understands the metrics that drive online business, posts that ask questions receive 100% more comments than standard text-based posts. The most popular posts begin with the words:
- Should
- Would
- Which or
- Who
Applicability to your event: On your Facebook event page, ask questions. Perhaps hold a daily contest selecting a winner randomly from the pool of correct answers for the "Question of the Day". Ask attendees to pose questions for other attendees, speakers and sponsors to encourage two-way conversations.
Killer Way #2: Offer a Discount.
According to Socially Stacked, an organization that will customize your Facebook Page with promotions or contests, 42% of Facebook fans "like" a page in order to receive a discount or coupon.
Applicability to your event: Work with area restaurants and attractions to offer a discount or coupon that is only available through your Facebook fan page. Also, offer an early bird discount to next year's conference exclusively through your fan page.
Killer Way #3: Photos please.
According to KISSmetrics, photos receive:
- 104% more comments
- 84% more click-throughs and
- 53% more likes
than text based posts. According to Wishpond, a social lead generation company, photo albums receive 180% more engagement than your average post.
Applicability to your event: Ask attendees, sponsors, presenters and exhibitors to upload photos to your event page AND/OR ask them to email you the best photos of the day. Put them into a photo album and upload to FB. Prospective or virtual attendees can obtain a good overview of the day's events when a well thought out album is put together..
Killer Way #4: Create a Contest.
According to Socially Stacked, 35% of Facebook fans like a page so they can compete in contests. Their research also indicates that a contest such as "Caption this Photo" can bring in 5.5 times more comments than regular posts. According to Salesforce, contest related words like: winner, win, and enter are more likely to engage users.
Applicability to your event: If you have a multi-day conference, ask attendees to caption one or more of the photos from the day before and offer a prize to the best caption. Ask exhibitors to run their contests through your fan page and announce the winners on a video wall rental unit where attendees can stand by and see the results.
Are you event planning in California? Contact AV Event Solutions for great technology offerings including iPads, video walls and touch panel kiosks that can easily display all the activity on your Facebook Page!