Why Sharing Post Event Photos Can Boost Engagement

To have a stand-out event, you need to keep attendees engaged before, during and after. Taking photos during your event can boost post-event engagement. Sometimes, however, organizing a marketable and photogenic event is half the battle. If you can share event photos, however, you can ensure top-quality engagement strategies and long-term success. Below, we’re covering the ins and outs of post event photos—straight from the inside of events, themselves.

Photos and Social Media Engagement

A March 2014 research project published through eMarketer recorded a 75-percent roundup of all content posted across worldwide Facebook pages. From the social media user’s perspective, photos are one of the most engaging content types in social media. Boasting an 87-percent interaction rate for fans, photos receive a majority of attention.

Social media and experiential events go hand in hand. Consumers want to be recognized—and so does your brand. To share photos which’ll interest your target audience, you’ll need events worth capturing. Because today’s Newsfeed is laden with random pictures, advertisements and profile updates, a little excitement can go a long way.

High-Quality Photos Stick Out

The key, here, is to offer exciting photo opportunities. By posting photos reflective of your event’s greater aspects, you can highlight your brand’s attention to detail. Plus, you’ll show Facebook-lovers why your business was born to be remembered.

Event photos needn’t be entirely under your control, either. Fan engagement is worth a thousand words, alone, and “caption this” photos can directly increase engagement while holding true to your brand’s image. Post funny post-event pictures, and ask fans to create cool, or funny, captions. Avoid selfies when possible, and hire a visual content creator or designer to engage your social media team.

Crossing into the Twitter World

Social media users engage differently with every tweet. That said, adding a photo to a tweet URL can boost retweet power by as much as 35 percent. Like Facebook, Twitter engagement is powered by visual media. You’ll need to tag event-goers, sure, but Twitter’s tagging mechanics allow for a 10-person tag. You can additionally share up to four photos per tweet. It’s a new Twitter feature, but it’s a powerful one nonetheless.

Shares and Engagement

Social media, for some, is the Wild West of marketing. Comments and shares have surpassed likes on Facebook, in terms of importance. Brand engagement is at an all-time high, and Facebook comments are steadily increasing in number every year. On the flip-side, likes are decreasing in importance.

Fan comments and shares result in engagement. So, you’ll need comments and shares to influence ongoing visibility. Fortunately, Facebook event and business pages are conducive to shares and comments. Engagement begins in the social media world, but it ends with cross-channel brand marketing. Just make sure you’re replying to all fan comments.

As a takeaway: Post your event photos on a Friday. Friday is the social media world’s highest engagement day, and it’ll spike fan attention if it’s used to your advantage. The visual promotion trend is much more than a trend. It’s a cornerstone of modern marketing.

How to Map Out the Perfect Pop-up Tour

How to Map Out the Perfect Pop-up Tour

Digital communication rules the world, so how do companies make that personal connection with their target audience? They "pop-up" in some very special places, so their marketing plan is not just about promotion, but about appealing to the different emotions that drive consumers. Pop-up shops are all the rage right now because they grab their attention with hands-on interactions to dazzle them up close and personal. How can you map out your next pop-up tour to get the best ROI?

Establish Measurable Goals that Cater to the Audience

The moniker "know your audience" fits almost any marketing scenario including creating a successful pop-up tour. When Disney wanted to promote their Doc McStuffin show in the UK, they didn't set up Doc clinics in office buildings or on the street; they picked venues like Toys R Us and Smyths because they appeal not just to kids, but to parents, grandparents and aunts, too.

They took a multifaceted approach when planning their pop-up strategy. Their goals didn't focus just on increasing ratings for their show, but on retailing merchandise and creating a buzz for the characters, as well. The acted on goals they could track on social media, too, instead of just tallying up the revenue from event to event.

Find Spaces That Mesh With the Brand

Be a visual thinker when picking out venues. Visual space says something about a brand. Consider Supreme clothing stores. Each one has visual clues that related directly to the brand image such as the parquet floors and steel rails. They wouldn't think of opening a pop-up at a country fair or in a dirty warehouse because that is not the look they want.

Promotion, Promotion, Promotion

Marketing your pop-up before, during and after each event is the key to success. Adidas combined both a celebrity appearance and a fan challenge to get people buzzing about their D Rose Jump Store before it opened. Use every form of content marketing at your disposal from your website to the company Facebook page to get the word out. If sponsoring multiple pop-up locations, consider an app or map that fans can use to track each event.

Use some social media tactics to promote live as it happens, too. Trolli and 7-Eleven went with free giveaways at the beach to market both a new candy brand and the Slurpee inspired by it.

#slothsome

What's your hashtag going to be? Add some real-time graphics to make people wish they were there, too. Snapchat, Facebook Live, Vine, Instagram – set up one or more and appoint a brand ambassador to manage the show.

Before moving on to the next place on the tour, make sure people understand what they missed at the last one. Provide statistics if possible, lots of pictures and some videos of all the fun along with information for the next few stops.

Take Notes and Learn

When the final guest leaves and you pack up to go to the next venue, reflect on what you learned at this one. What worked and what didn't? Ask for feedback during the event and online afterward, too. Grow with each stop on your tour to make the next one that much more meaningful. 

Why You Need to Use Drones for Your Next Event

Who wants aerial coverage? We do, and you should too. Drones have made several appearances in 2017, and they’re popping up more frequently. You should invest, because they’re becoming a go-to resource for event marketers, brand promotion teams and event backers. If you want to have a successful, engaging event, take to the skies. Here’s why:

Outdoor Safety Precision

What? You don’t need a weather radar? Well, not exactly. You should still check the day’s forecast. You should also still invest in a security guard. Drones can pack high-end cameras, however, and they can hit regularly inaccessible angles. Whether you’re fearing crowd control issues or security breaches, a droned camera, really, is your best bet.

Facebook’s Favorite Livestream Tool

Facebook is already a popular event media platform. If you want to ramp up your event’s visibility, you should outfit your platform with a drone. Already, event marketers are using DJI drones to stream Facebook Live video. Let’s face it: Social media visibility is the best visibility. Live video via drone provides an immersive experience. It also offers an unrivaled POV.

Mobile-Controlled Mobile Hotspots

Strangely enough, you can use a drone as a WiFi hotspot for mobile devices. Drones can be makeshift cell towers, if you launch them correctly. If your WiFi networks are getting crowded, consider using a drone to boost patron reception. Your attendees will thank you.

Everyone Wants Quick Action

If you’re tired of wheeling around massive equipment, settle for something more agile. Today’s event drones weigh under 55 pounds, on average, and they’re capable of covering tight angles with the push of a button. Sometimes, the event area is too tough to cover, ground-wise. If this is the case, circumvent the headaches by using aerial coverage. Just makes sure you have FAA permission, first.

The Bird’s-Eye View

If you thought mobile-controlled drones were cool, you haven’t seen anything yet—literally. Pilots, now, can use specialized goggles to get a drone’s-eye perspective. You can also have a copilot who watches the physical equipment. Assuming you’re not understaffed, the combination makes for excellent footage coverage. A lot of todays’ event planners are hiring professional pilots to manage their drone activities. Yes, professional drone pilots exist.

At the end of the day, a drone is worth its weight in maneuverability. Before you invest, make sure you’ve got the gumption to repair, upgrade and replace when needed. Move your events at the speed of flight, and outfit your brand with a high-in-the-sky view.

How to Draw a Crowd to Your Live Stream

Live streams are invaluable marketing tools, but they’re constantly evolving. If you’re struggling to gain viewers, broadcast effectively and garner audiences, check out our tips below. Today, an impactful livestream utilizes relevancy, excitement and adaptability to succeed. If you want to boost your viewership, take charge with your creativity.

Tip One: Make a Scene, and Stick to It

While adaptability is important, you should still stick to a general voice. Consistency is key in growing a fan base, and it’s vital to your stream’s success. Be on time, and make sure you have at least 15 minutes set aside for early and late viewers. Your live steam’s predictability, overall, will determine its success.

Tip Two: Get High-Quality Equipment

Poor quality video deters viewers. You won’t sustain a long-term fan base unless you’ve directed your dollars into high-quality equipment. High-quality equipment circumnavigates server congestion, prevents viewing issues and assures good content delivery.

Tip Three: Make the Steam Easy to Find

Don’t try to control your audience’s viewing habits. Make your platform accessible—and make it adaptable. Hook it into Facebook and Twitch, and make sure viewers at all locations can sit down at a moment’s notice. As for location: Make sure it’s flexible. Few things kill a live stream like a rigid, inoperable filming location.

Tip Four: Shareability is King

Invest in engagement tools. If you’re like Toy Group—who’s shareable on Facebook, Twitter and everywhere else—you’ll make a difference. Instead of having thousands of shareable photos, you should align them with your video strategy. Shareable content is well-curated, beautiful and easily digested. Even if your content is text-based, it should be enticing for readers. In the social networking world, power is derived from enticement.

Tip Five: Prioritize Mobile Accessibility

In 2017, mobile access governs digital marketing strategies—and for good reason. If a media campaign is mobile-accessible, it’ll succeed. Don’t segment your audience by restricting mobile access. Instead, make sure mobile access is more than an option. Make it a primary avenue. Today, a large percentage of Internet surfers conduct research, use Facebook and share media via their smartphones. If you can secure a quality viewing space in the mobile world, you’ll succeed.

To draw live stream viewers, make sure your content is worthwhile. Nearly everyone is on a livestream, and modern livestream quality isn’t very high. There’s a lot of white noise out there, and you’ll need to surpass it to survive, thrive and become a sensation. Take your time, plan out your content and prioritize social media and mobile access.

How Virgin Atlantic Took to the Streets

January might be gone, but Virgin Atlantic’s flight attendant surprise event is pleasantly engrained in our memories. In promotion of its all-new Seattle-Tacoma International Airport departures to London Heathrow Airport, Virgin Atlantic hosted a recognition party in Emerald City. Emphasizing the airway between Seattle and London, the airline successfully highlighted its newest business routes.

The Reignmakers

The Virgin Atlantic campaign introduced “Reignmakers” which was a community reflecting London and Seattle’s “reign” and “rain.” We know, it seems a little forward. The display was, however, surprisingly poignant. All about cultural recognition, the Reignmakers hosted a massive, two-day party. Flight attendants zipped around Seattle in Virgin Atlantic labeled Mini Coopers, flying the airline’s flag.

Meanwhile, the event’s later hours hosted parties for the airline’s dedicated fans and passerby alike. Handing out swag to social leaders, radio stations, influential shop owners and small business owners, Virgin Atlantic connected consumers to industry trendsetters. High-traffic locations, naturally, were prioritized. In Seattle, refreshments were dished out on plane drink carts. Branded umbrellas and luggage tags were among the Virgin Atlantic swag collection.

Planes, Plans and People

Virgin Atlantic successfully aligned its newest business route with customers, prioritizing people above all. The approach might ambitious at first, but Virgin Atlantic has historically provided fantastic service. This time, indeed, was no different. The airline’s relationship with its customers has always focused on the incomparable Virgin Atlantic experience, and the Reignmakers honored such a tradition.  

Virgin Atlantic paired its consumer base with media influencers, hosting private breakfasts with big-time travel and lifestyle impactors. Hosted at Seattle’s The London Plane, the dinner dished out more branded gifts, exclusive messages from the airline’s founder Sir Richard Branson and even free onboard flight opportunities. Here, the airline’s goal was twofold: Eventgoers could experience the Virgin Atlantic hospitality while prepping for a high-end blogging experience.

Taking to Social Media

Reflecting the Virgin Atlantic attention to blogging detail, it pushed for additional promotion via social media. Seattle played host to the airline’s Reignmakers contest, and visitors could nominate their favorite brand supporters. There was heavy consideration of Virgin Atlantic visionaries, and rewards were given to those who subverted typical Virgin Atlantic ideologies, presentations and displays.

The contest took place until February 28, giving the Reignmakers ample time to get prepared, get social, get visible and—of course—party. A Seattle-based Twitter campaign gave eventgoers a place to post photos, link to Instagram and type their favorite tags. All around, the Virgin Atlantic experiential marketing approach was highly visible. It’s rare to witness such a social-heavy airlines marketing campaign. It’s also comforting. Virgin Atlantic displayed an uncanny knack for social relevancy, and it highlighted its most profitable marketing segment while remaining relevant to others—which is always a difficult hurdle.

It's Back! Great Food And Fun To Combat Childhood Hunger

South Florida's Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry is back and better than ever for 2017. Held at our beautiful event space Soho Studios for the second year in a row, this premier culinary event brings some of the nation's top chefs, mixologists and wineries together for an evening of food, drinks and entertainment for a cause: ending childhood hunger in America. Hosted this year by CBS4 morning news anchor Marybel Rodriguez and Froggy from Elvis Duran and the Morning Show, the cultivated event of gourmet food and wine features chefs and tasting dishes from more than 50 of South Florida's top restaurants.

For almost 30 years, Taste of the Nation has been highlighting some of the greatest culinary stars who donate their time and skills in the kitchen for a good cause. Organized by Share Our Strength, a national non-profit committed to fighting childhood hunger, Taste of the Nation is designed to raise funds for the organization's valuable community work and food programs, donating 100 percent of all proceeds from the event to support their mission.

Guests are invited to indulge in a feast of innovative menus designed by this year's participating restaurants with accompanying wines, spirits and beers. A silent auction will also take place with irresistible culinary themed items and experiences. Citi offers a bespoke lounge for attendees to sample a curated bar menu while taking in the festivities.

This year will feature cuisine from:

3030 Ocean

Artisan Beach House

Cosair Kitchen + Bar

Kuro

Malibu Farm

Market at EDITION

Pao by Paul Qui at Faena Miami Beach

R House Wynwood

Red, the Steakhouse

Sarsaparilla Club

SushiSamba

The Salty Donut

and Zest among many, many more.

Participating breweries, wineries and spirit makers include:

Afrohead Rum

Barefoot Wine

Biscayne Bay Brewing Company

DiSaronno International

FIOL Prosecco

Funky Buddha Brewery

Hatfield & McCoy

Hill Family Estate

Hiro Sake

M.I.A. Beer Company

Orvino Wine Imports

Rhum Clement

and Vineyard Brands among others.

Soho Studios is proud to be the event space home of the 2017 Taste of the Nation. Our 70,000 square foot multi-purpose space in Miami is the perfect backdrop to cater to this and other functions, large or small. Our industrial set-up provides a blank canvas to bring any idea to life and has been the top choice for brand managers, marketers, advertising agencies, event planners and others to showcase their services or host parties in the South Florida area. Soho Studios has previously been used for corporate events and conferences, fashion shows, art fairs, film and TV shoots, concerts, product launches and charity functions.

Our strategic partnership with Taste of the Nation is one example of our capacity to provide production, decor, catering, travel and event logistics services to clients through a fully staffed, hands-on team to assist with every element of planning and execution.

Get a taste of our exceptional facilities and services and enjoy an evening of food and fun while helping the community at Taste of the Nation. Tickets are selling fast and can be purchased here.

Facebook Fit comes to Miami

This June Facebook comes to the best event space in Miami to invite businesses to experience an exceptional line-up of speakers and breakout sessions. Every attendee will get $50 in Facebook Ad credits to put their new learned knowledge to work.

Join Facebook this summer as we host events across the U.S. to help small businesses achieve success. With leaders from Facebook, Intuit, LegalZoom and Square, you’ll get tips on marketing, legal services, finance management and more.

Plus we’ve teamed up with best-selling author Rhonda Abrams and technology expert Mario Armstrong, both of whom are passionate about helping entrepreneurs and small businesses grow. Whether you’re just getting started or are ready to take the next step, Facebook Fit events are designed to serve all types of small businesses.

Tickets are $25. Space is limited, so register today. We look forward to seeing you!

Agenda

The Morning (AM) and Afternoon (PM) sessions will be exactly the same.Please choose only one at checkout.

Here’s what to expect at both sessions: Keynote - Dan Levy, Facebook Small Business Panel Facebook Workshops (details below) Partner Workshops (details below)

Facebook Workshops - select one at checkout Getting Started: Start using Facebook for your business In–store Sales: Optimize Facebook to bring more people into your store Online Sales: Use Facebook to increase sales on your website

Partner Workshops - select one at checkout Intuit Quickbooks: Six tips to grow your business Square: Learn how to increase sales LegalZoom: Legal help for your small business