F2F & Online Events: Wrapping them Up Together

Did you know:

• 74% of nonprofits now have a presence on Facebook
• 80% have a full-time staff person spending at least 25% of time on social networking

The data comes from a recent survey sponsored by NTEN, Common Knowledge and ThePort and appears in a brief white paper offered by ThePort titled Best Practices: How Nonprofits and Associations Enhance Offline Events Using Social Networking. The Nonprofit Social Network Survey Report is available from NTEN with additional data and insights.

My take on the questions:

• How can online social networking support and enhance an offline event before, during and afterwards?
• How can social media create a more valuable experience for attendees and those who can't make it but are interested?

Timely questions since a group of us in Kansas are currently planning for a SPF SIG Community Sector Networking Event so this particular paper and these questions are perfect. What I took away from the paper is a a number of best practices pre- post- and during to support events. Ideas ...

• Open a conversation about the Conference or event where people can post questions for the event hosts, logistical staff and even workshop presenters
• Open a Forum on a conference topic and invite the presenter to join and talk about it
• Write a blog post about your experience as it relates to the topic
  
• During the conference, return to the discussion thread and add comments and notes from the session to support those unable to attend but are interested
• Blog your workshop experience
  
• Breakout the cell phone camera and take pictures and post them each day on your social networking site or on twitpic, flickr or other photo site, linking them to the Forum or blog post
  
• Use your flipvideo camera and post a video interview with a workshop presenter or group discussion on the topic
  
• Conference organizers and presenters can post links to or embed handouts, materials and slide decks from sessions
  
• Invite a presenter to join you on your social network to host a follow up conversation after the conference
  
• Find people you met at the conference on your social network (or invite them to become members) and friend them so you can stay in touch
  

The Paper has a lot more including ideas for generating revenue to support events and additional ideas for the wrap-around. I know that many organizations worry if they put the conference content online people will opt not to attend. I've long believed the reverse is true - as the paper also suggests.

...more online engagement equals more attendees at the planned event.

In these tough economic times I'm suggesting we can practice new ways to be virtually inclusive even when people can't afford to make the physical trip. The weaving of both online and offline networking, conversation and learning wind up creating a sense of belonging and people support a community to which they belong. Peter Block says:

The essential challenge is to transform the isolation and self-interest within our communities into connectedness and caring for the whole.

Seems to me we can actually use online interaction through technology with our offline events and bring people together in ways that strengthen relationships and widen the net(work). By interacting online we are helping to reduce the isolation and connect people in thoughtful, engaging ways.

How are you using social networks to engage people around your conferences and events? Any Tips or Best Practices you've discovered you'd be willing to share?

Social Network image Source: Gustavog