When you have an event to promote, what’s one of the first places you post it?
Probably most of you would answer Facebook. You might send out a tweet about it. You might announce it to members of a LinkedIn group. Heck, you might even spread the word via Pinterest.
One of the handiest features of Facebook is the Event Feature – both for posting events you want others to attend and for reminders of events you want to attend.
It is very easy to create an event on Facebook.
After you have created it, click on “Invite Friends,” and all your Facebook friends will appear.
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Go through your Facebook friends and invite those you think would be likely to attend the event.
Keep in mind that those you invite to this event, whether they attend or not, then can invite THEIR Facebook friends.
On the left hand side of the page for the event, you will see a list of names and photos of everyone who has responded they are coming and those who might be coming.
You can also see everyone who has been invited. This list includes those invited by other attendees (or those who can’t come but still promoted the event), plus those you have invited.
As people respond that they are coming, you can click on the “like” button under the announcement that they are coming to the event. Doing so lets them know that you are happy they are planning to attend.
As an example, I plan to attend a screening of the Speak the Movie. Here is a link to the event’s page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/events/471511229552369/?fref=ts
This documentary film features a Denver area Toastmaster Rich Hopkins, plus five other Toastmasters who compete in the World Championship of Public Speaking, the highest level of speaking competition in Toastmasters.
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I found out about this event through Rich and also because one of the organizers invited me to it via Facebook. Once I learned about it, I posted it as a status report on my profile and invited others to attend. I have also sent personal emails out to members of my Toastmasters clubs.
What kinds of events have you posted on Facebook? What events have you heard about via Facebook that you didn’t hear about any other way?
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Joyce Feustel, Founder of Boomers’ Social Media Tutor, helps people relatively new to social media to become more effective and comfortable in their use of this medium. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com
FB events are both over and under-used. Those who DO use them often abuse them – and invite people without cause. At the same time, not near enough people use them at all, leaving money on the table.
Rich,
I agree with you. There are times I am invited to events that aren’t even in my state and/or for which I have no interest at all. That said, I must admit that I have at times been a bit zealous when I have been inviting people to an event. It can be hard to determine whether it is appropriate to invite someone to an event. And I know there are times I could have used this feature and just forgot to do it.