Oh summer. You’re so fun. You make us want to get off the computer, get together with friends, get into teeny articles of clothing to go swimming at freezing cold beaches, and most of all, you make us want to plan lots of super fun parties.
For most charities, summer is the primo time for planning events. Galas, lemonade stands, marathons, book drives, local tweetups – whatever the occasion or fundraiser may be – it’s a time of fun in the sun and more importantly, a major opportunity to raise awareness and funds to support programs and initiatives throughout the year.
So, what can you do to ensure a successful event that will get people talking, sharing, and reminiscing for days to come?
Incorporate social media, of course!
While there are many social media tools and websites that help you plan and generate buzz about your event, this post is primarily geared towards incorporating social media DURING your actual event. If you’d like ideas or suggestions on planning tools, leave a comment and let us know. 
Since attendees’ commitment levels to your organization may vary, you need to make sure your event attendees feel welcome, connected, and most of all – that they are enjoying themselves.
So, without further ado, here they are:
Five Fun Ideas to Incorporate Social Media into Your Event!
- Photos = Instant Social Media Promotion
Don’t stress about twitpic-ing or facebook album-ing every single moment that happens. Instead, focus on telling people where they can find the photos. Hand out cards, bracelets, whatever it takes to get them to remember. People love seeing photos of themselves, so make it as easy as possible for people to find them when they get home, and be sure to personalize each photo description and tag your guests if possible.
- Hold a Mini Video Contest
Here’s an idea. Instead of having someone in your organization video record the event, turn the responsibility over to your network. Nowadays, many people carry iPhones, FlipCams, and other devices with which they can easily create (quality!) videos. Challenge them to give their own event wrap up, interview a fellow attendee, vlog about the event, or anything else along those lines. Think they’ll need incentive? Reward with recognition – you can promise that you’ll post the video on your nonprofit’s homepage, show it at your next event, etc.
- Create a Virtual Presence for Virtual Attendees
You can do a number of fun things to make those not able to attend feel connected. Livestreaming your event (Ustream anyone?), setting up a formspring page so people can ask a speaker or celebrity questions, blogging or tweeting about the event while you’re there, these are all ways you can make others feel a part of the fun.
- Take Advantage of Foursquare
Are your supporters using Foursquare or Gowalla? Maybe, maybe not. Encourage them to start by setting up the location ahead of time, and be sure to tweet it out. People will catch on. You could take it to the next level by partnering with a local restaurant to create a giveaway, or even better, a donation. “Whoever is the mayor at 4PM gets to choose where this $1000 donation from X’s restaurant goes!”
- Create a Physical Twitter Wall/Stream
A Twitter Stream is fun when you have a concert, or any event with a large crowd gathered in a central location. You basically set up a #hashtag that lets people view any tweets that use that particular hashtag – and you display it live at the event. Trust me, people will get creative with it if you encourage them to.
It’s important to realize that there’s no replacement for face-to-face contact, and events are still (rightfully so) all about making that personal connection and engagement. These ideas can only serve to enhance the experience, and get people to continue talking to you (and about you) after the event. Cheers to a great summer full of fun, learning, and generosity!
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Tags: charity event, Facebook, foursquare, fun social media ideas, fundraisers, parties, physical events, social media, summer time, Twitter
Cool tips re: Foursquare and Gowalla. They hold a lot of power for events, fundraising and charity/cause-related activities.
Thanks, Kerri! I hope I’ve covered all the bases for NCVS next week. Fingers crossed! (Though now I’m hearing that wifi and 3G in NY are iffy… DOH!)
Awwww ya don’t say! I can’t wait to watch all the action unfold at NCVS. I wish I was going! Volunteers ROCK!!!!