It wasn’t long ago that Social Media hit the scene. It took some time after that for businesses to realize it was more than a passing trend. Connecting with a customer base online has become foundational to growing a business in the twenty-first century.
As the pendulum swung toward Online Marketing, however, it swung away from the face-to-face interactions that previously dominated the marketplace. Now that we know the power of online interactions, it’s time for that pendulum to make its way back, bringing this newfound knowledge with it.
Why Go Back at All?
Though the internet has been an amazing tool for engaging with people all around the world, it is still far from a comprehensive alternative to face-to-face engagement. As humans, we strive for in-person connection. When your business hosts an event, it offers its audience the special experience of meeting you and putting a face to a brand.
Events are also, in general, far more memorable than online interactions. At an event, you get to influence your audience’s entire sensory experience. The chance of their remembering where they were when they first saw your brand is much higher if it was at an event than if it was scrolling through Instagram on the bus.
In-person interactions also mean in-person conversations. The beauty of a conversation is that you never know where it will lead. Perhaps someone you meet will have a referral for you. Perhaps you will have a lead for them, transforming you from a simple salesman to a valuable resources in front of your guest’s very eyes.
Worlds Collide
Now that we have the ability to communicate online, it is possible to bring social media practices into the event space. All the benefits of in-person interactions can be compounded when you integrate your digital presence.
First and foremost, make sure that your audience knows about your online presence. This could be as simple as erecting a visible sign with your website and Instagram, or it could be something like a hashtag contest for the event attendees.
Live-streaming your event is also a great way to integrate your online presence. With the proper set-up, it’s easier than ever to film and post what’s going on at your event to social media in real-time. What’s more, Vimeo found that “67% of live video viewers are more likely to buy a ticket to a concert or event after watching a live video of that event or a similar one.”
Integrating real-time events with your online presence is more possible now than ever before, and doing it well can result in more visibility and conversion. So what are you waiting for? Host an event, get some real traffic, and don’t forget to live-stream! And of course, check out earthcoast.com/live to find out how we can help you get started.
