Remember the days (I reminisce for a moment) when you booked your (usually expensive) ticket and rocked up to an event. You sit through all the presentations, you network, you fill a feedback form in at the end and you go home (or to the pub). You might have texted or emailed a few people to tell them how good or bad it was, or to moan that the speaker was crap, but that is as far as it could go. For the most part, people who didn't attend the conference, didn't get any information or output from the content (unless they were lucky enough to get a copy of the presentation!)
Social media has turned conferences on their head and changed the landscape of them forever (and created headaches for organisers at the same time!)
Now things are a little different:
- Full real-time feedback via twitter back channels (some of which are more interesting than the conference itself) using specific #hashtags to track all the conversation (note to conference organisers - please choose short hashtags!)
- Venues need to support free wifi to satisfy the proliferation of netbooks and laptops that are now prevalent at each conference for the expectant audience.
- Speakers can no longer hide. Poor content or poor delivery will be 'outed' very quickly in the Twitter back channel. Conversely good speakers and great content get wider recognition, as good feedback spreads fast.
- Live event blogging is now a regular occurrence (a new expense for the organisers!) and one that I hope continues.
- Live video streaming is now expected. The US conferences are better at this at the moment, but I hope the UK gets up to speed next year on this! If the conference really wants to tap into the power of social media then, they need to reach out to all the people who couldn't attend the conference, by giving a video feed.
- Information can no longer be restricted. The moment you share anything at a conference now, it can be spread across the social networks like wildfire. It really is a case now of, 'if you are not prepared to share the information, then don't mention it!'
- The rise of informality. We have seen unconferences take a huge step in breaking down the traditional conference format. They encourage debate, conversation and participation like never before. For me they are the biggest revelation in the way conferences are run, and should be integrated with every conference going forward.
- Expectation has changed. Attendees now expect all of the above, and to be honest, are disappointed when things like free wifi haven't even been considered. Organisers now have to really earn their ticket prices!
Please note: If you call yourself a social media conference then make sure you practice what you preach (and are charging for!) and ensure that hashtags are set up (before a conference), video is being streamed, external participation is encouraged via the web and you are transparent with all of this.
Social media conferences have spawned like rampant rabbits, with many people seemingly looking to make a quick buck. While many provide excellent speakers, content and knowledge there are now more that are simply doing it to try and make a quick buck!
Over the last year I have both spoken at and attended a good number of conferences in the UK, both large and small, as well as watching some on the Twitter back channel, and others like Recruitfest, Social Recruiting Summit and Sourcecon via live video streams.
In my opinion, it is no longer just enough to satisfy the attendees of a conference, ensuring that they have comfortable seats and good coffee (don't get me started on that one!). It is now important (and you could argue more important) for conference organisers to ensure the audience online has the ability to participate as well, via video, Twitter, Q &A widgets etc This is where the sponsors are going to really want the traction and visibility.
Conference organising was never easy, but now there is a another audience that needs to be considered!
If you have been to conferences this year, what other changes have you seen take place because of social media?
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