Social media has become an integral part of everyday life. People use social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to stay connected with friends and family, follow brands and influencers, and immerse themselves in online communities. With this level of social media engagement, it only makes sense for live events to integrate these platforms into their audio visual presentations and layouts. Doing so can amplify an event's message, engage attendees, and grow the event's visibility and reach far beyond the walls of the venue. In this blog post, we will explore different ways event organizers can thoughtfully integrate social media into their audio visual layouts.

Setting Goals for Social Media Integration

Before designing any social media elements into an AV layout, it is important for event organizers to establish clear goals for how social will enhance the live experience. Some common goals may include:

Drive event hashtags and conversations: Include prominent displays of official event hashtags to encourage real-time discussions and sharing from attendees.

Showcase attendee photos/videos: Curate and display photos and videos attendees are posting with event hashtags to give a live snapshot of the buzz and engagement.

Promote engagement through polls/questions: Pose questions or polls to attendees through social and display results in the AV layout to spark conversation and participation.

Stream sessions live: Broadcast select sessions or presentations through platforms like YouTube Live or Facebook Live to reach virtual audiences.

Thank/recognize attendees: Display shoutouts to attendees who are sharing, tagging the event, or spreading the word most widely on social.

With defined goals, organizers can then determine the right social elements and layout integration strategies. Clear goals will also help evaluate success.

Integrating Hashtags

One of the simplest yet most impactful ways to integrate social media is by prominently displaying official event hashtags. These help attendees easily find and join conversations about the event as they are sharing. Some best practices for hashtag displays include:

Include hashtags on intro/transition slides between sessions for high visibility.

Feature hashtags on main stage screens and screens in common areas where photos are often taken.

If livestreaming, include static Hashtags on all streaming pages/videos to encourage shares.

For multi-day events, consider rotating multiple hashtags (ex: #EventNameDay1, #EventNameDay2) for better tracking.

Use large, easy-to-read fonts and consider placing Hashtags on brightly colored graphic elements for high contrast.

Proper hashtag placement and visibility throughout AV layouts is key to driving engagement and reach on social platforms.

Curating Attendee-Generated Content

Another powerful way to integrate social media is by curating and displaying attendee-generated photos, videos and comments within the event's AV presentation. Some strategies for this include:

Set up a dedicated screen/display cycling through attendee posts containing event hashtags.

If possible, create a live feed pulling in posts in real-time to a display (requires proper permissions).

During breaks, replace speaking slides with attendee content to cheers/applause.

Thank/call out attendees who are contributing the most engaged content.

Create Twitter walls or walls of social handles of attendees to encourage connection.

Curate a highlight reel of top posts each day to share out after the event ends.

Showcasing user-generated content engages attendees and gives a live peek into event buzz and conversations and highlights.

Live Streaming Sessions

For hybrid or completely virtual events, live streaming key sessions or allsessions is a must for inclusive participation. Consider:

Set up adequate equipment (cameras, mixers, streaming computers) to produce high quality broadcasts.

Promote stream links widely before and during the event on your website and social platforms.

Integrate live chat so virtual audiences can interact and ask questions.

After event, share full session recordings for those who couldn't attend live.

Streaming provides invaluable access and allows those unable to attend in-person to still be a part of discussions.

Tracking Analytics

To understand your social integration efforts' true impact, track key analytics both during and after the event. With tools like HootSuite, Sprout Social or built-in platform analytics, gather data on:

Total event hashtag uses and impressions
Most engaged/shared content pieces
Peak times for social activity
Locations and demographics of your social reach
Engagement metrics for any livestreams
Follower/mention growth for your brand
Armed with these insights, you can optimize social strategies for future events. Thank attendees who drove the most buzz, too.

Key Takeaways

In summary, thoughtfully integrating social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube into your live event's AV layout and presentations offers huge benefits. By prominently featuring official hashtags, curating attendee content, live streaming sessions and tracking analytics, events can exponentially grow their reach, spark engaged conversations and give both in-person and online audiences memorable experiences. Social media, done right, is a powerful tool to leverage in any live event experience.

Read More:- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/common-mistakes-avoid-audio-visual-layout-design-virginia-greens-qs8sf