Social Media and Trade Shows - Five Musts Before You Post

Are you apprehensive about incorporating social media into your event marketing strategy? Perhaps you're not sure if it's right for your company, or you simply don't know where to begin. Following are the first steps any trade show marketer should take before posting one word on a social media site.

1. Learn: It's easy to become overwhelmed by the many social media sites out there. Start by focusing on only one to three*:

Twitter - Considered a "micro blog," your posts are called "tweets" and are limited to a maximum of 140 characters in length, including any links you want to add. (Twitter has a new link-shortening tool, or you can use bitly.com to shorten a long link AND track how many folks have clicked on it.) In my own experience when implementing social media for my clients, I've found a higher number of Business to Business followers on Twitter. Here's an example of a good tweet:

This speaker is really nailing it. I think her slides are brilliant! #web2expo

• Note that this post included a "hashtag" (#). When you place a hashtag in front of a "tag" (in this example the tag is "Web2expo"), Web2expo will be able to see that someone read their post, and that helps with measurement. But remember, right now you are just observing. See how many others use hashtags and how they use them.

Facebook - On Facebook, you can post longer messages. To me, engagement is a bit easier and more transparent on Facebook.

• Both Twitter and Facebook offer ways to include website links, photos, and videos.

LinkedIn - Even if you never use LinkedIn for your company business, it is a great resource. You can join discussion groups (the EXHIBITOR group is one of many terrific active groups). As part of a group, you can put forth questions to the rest of the members, and give input when requested. LinkedIn is also good for job-seekers and those looking for qualified employees. And it's a great way to stay in touch with former and future colleagues.

* I chose not to include information about blogs in this article. Although blogs are another viable social media strategy, I decided to keep content as simple as possible for the beginner.

2. Observe: Even if you've never tried out any of the social media sites, you will find they are very easy to learn on your own, or have a friend or colleague show you. It's fun! At first, it might seem awkward but like anything else, once you play around with it a few times, it becomes second nature.

• Signing up on social media sites is easy, but be sure to read the small print first. It is very important that you read the Facebook Statement of Rights and Responsibilities and the Twitter Terms of Service. There are many legal issues with using social media, and these will help you get up to speed. This is important for your own - and your company's - protection. Work with your company attorney if you have one. (More about this in section 4.)

• Research what is being said about your company's area of expertise. Are your competitors out there? Industry analysts? Respected online and print press?

• Where is your target market? Are they following your competitors and/or reading industry blogs? See if there are groups devoted to your company's industry. There seem to be groups for everyone, from architects to volunteer fire fighters to green technology. Poke around and see what you can find.

A few industries are not there for myriad reasons including strong legal constraints. There is no point in posting to a non-existent audience. However, that's no excuse to keep from learning about social media yourself. There are enough exhibition industry resources alone on social media to make it worth your time.

• Consider taking a class about social media and the law, either through the EXHIBITOR conferences or perhaps a webinar.

• It's interesting to see How To Get Followers on Clubhouse  folks in other industries use social networking. See how they are able to incorporate the human element into their posts.

How do they get interactive conversation going? How often do they post? What do you perceive to be far too infrequent posts and what do you consider bombardment? Who do you think does it well? Prepare to be inspired!