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FACEBOOK TO PROMOTE YOUR MEETINGS
With over 175 million active users, Facebook is one of the largest social networks in the world. See below for more information about how it can be used to promote your meetings in Columbus.

Return to the Social Media Toolkit home page or download the full Social Media Guide (PDF document). WHAT IT IS If you visit Facebook.com, you'll find that the site bills itself as a place to "help you connect and share with the people in your life."

Facebook makes it incredibly easy for users to share information with each other. As a result, Facebook has become a powerful tool for marketing anything (including meetings). WHY IT MATTERS Consider these statistics, provided by Facebook (if you're interested, you'll find even more stats here):
  • Facebook has more than 175 million active users
  • Over half of Facebook users are outside of college
  • The fastest growing demographic on Facebook is 35 years old+


Not only are a lot of people using Facebook, they're using it quite actively - more than 3 billion minutes are spent on Facebook each day. HOW TO USE IT TO PROMOTE YOUR MEETINGS 1. Drive your attendees to the Experience Columbus Facebook Page. The page includes photos, videos, and the opportunity for your attendees to connect with other Columbus visitors and local residents.

Fans of the page often post news about events, ask questions about what there is to see and do, and talk about their Columbus experiences. This allows your attendees to tap into a large group of people who love Columbus and are happy to suggest their favorite things to see and do in our city.

2. Create an event on Facebook. Some reasons this option is worth a look:
  • An event allows you to provide the details of your meeting and can drive attendees to another Web site for more information or official registration.
  • When a user RSVPs to an event on Facebook, it may appear on that user's Facebook profile (this is dependant on user settings). The user's friends see the RSVP and as a result, awareness spreads about the event.
  • Users can help promote events by inviting their Facebook friend lists.
  • You can send messages to guests. You can also opt to send specific messages to specific groups - a message can go to everyone, to only those attending, to only those not attending, or to only those who have not replied.

For more information on how to create a Facebook event, click here.

3. Create a Facebook group or page for your organization or association to give your members a place to gather, connect and interact. Groups and pages are also a great way to build awareness for your organization and mission.

It's common to not know whether to start a page or a group, and there isn't one right answer. To help decide which is right for you, take a look at some of their characteristics:

Pages
  • Can only be created by an official representative of the organization being represented.
  • Can be customized with interactive applications.
  • Allow page admins to keep personal profiles "hidden." If you're an admin of a Facebook page and you interact on the page, the interaction appears to come from the page as opposed to your personal profile.
  • Allow admins to send messages to an unlimited number of fans. Messages sent to fans appear as updates (they do not appear in user inboxes).
  • Allow access to be restricted to certain ages or locations.


If a Facebook page is your best fit, click here.

Groups
  • Can be created by any Facebook user about any topic.
  • Cannot have applications added to them.
  • Don't allow admins to be "hidden." If you're a group admin and you interact in the group, the interaction will come from your personal profile.
  • Allow admins to send messages to every member of the group, if the group is under 5000 members. Messages sent to group members appear in a user's inbox.
  • Allow for more restricted access. If desired, a group can require new members to be approved.


If you decide you'd like to start a Facebook group, you'll find more information here. FEEDBACK Contact us with your questions, tips or success stories on using social media to build attendance.