WD Conference Scene: Port Townsend, Sun Valley

Sidebar: Leveraging Social Media at Writing Conferences

Social media includes the word “social” for a reason. When used effectively, being active on social media during an event can help with personal branding, expanding your network, and getting more out of a conference in general. The people you meet can often provide the real value of attending, so consider these dos and don’ts when you want to stand out for the right reasons.

·  DO follow the event hashtag—this is a great way to discover influencers! Check the schedule for networking events that might facilitate more intimate and personal conversations.

·  DO engage with presenters and/or attendees found online beforehand. Use the event hashtag to search for attendees on Twitter, or share content on LinkedIn. Prior engagement can make it easier to nail down a face-to-face conversation at the event. Everyone is there to learn and meet new people, so don’t be shy.

·  DON’T abuse hashtags. Added appropriately, they connect your posts to others on that topic and categorize searchable content, increasing your online visibility. In excess, however, they look spammy.

·  DO follow all of the event’s (or event sponsor’s) social channels. You need to be active in these spaces in order to get noticed and make connections. Introduce yourself!

·  DO follow Twitter lists of speakers, or create one of your own (be sure to make it public to maximize visibility). Smartly crafted feeds can be a great tool for social listening.

·  DON’T be disappointed if you can’t strike up an online friendship/follow immediately after a session. Speakers can be mobbed with feedback after a presentation—especially at large events—and it may take them some time to get back to people. A connection through LinkedIn, with context, is an appropriate request.

·  DON’T sell, self-promote, or overshare. Post only things that are shareworthy that will add value.

·  DON’T post things with poor grammar or spelling errors. This hurts your credibility (especially at a writer’s conference!). Try reading your post aloud before sharing to catch any potential glitches.

·  DO be socially active at the event. The simplest way to do this is by engaging with influencer content while they’re speaking, mentioning them in your tweets, and asking them questions. Use the event hashtag, tag other attendees in your posts, retweet or reshare the content of others, and join conversations.

·  DON’T get so caught up in social media that you forget to be present. The rule of thumb is: one Instagram image per session and two to five tweets. If you’re in a small setting, put your phone away; you can post to social afterward.

·  DON’T write in all caps. This communicates alarm and is hard to read.

·  DO create visual content, including photos and live video (using apps like Facebook Live and Instagram). Remember to tag people you meet.

·  DON’T broadcast presentations live unless you have prior permission.

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—Writer's Digest | May/Jun 2020