Preparing for your conference or convention

General tips

1. Make sure your business cards and printed information lists your social addresses and icons.
2. Ensure your social pages are up to date
   • Build out the About section on Facebook and create relevant, timely posts
3. Update your bio on Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn
4. ‘Like’ your upcoming appointment contacts’ business page on Facebook
5. Connect with your appointments on LinkedIn and check their Klout score
6. Download a QR code reader
   • Check out RedLaser.com and/or Inigma.com
7. Update your Twitter profile
   • Upload a Header Image related to your brand message
8. ‘Like’ the Facebook page  of the conference or convention for all the latest news
9. Join the convention group on LinkedIn
10. Tweet in advance and pre-schedule tweets to run during the upcoming conference
11. Circle your contacts on Google+ for business
12. Ensure your most up to date brand image is on all your social sites
13. Set up a Vine account and update your Instagram account
14. Update your Klout profile to include all your social sites
15. Participate on Twitter and Facebook using the designated conference hashtag #
16. Convert to a responsive website for tablet & mobile users

Travel Agents

1. Update your social sites and let your clients know what conference you’re attending and how it will benefit them.
2. Use your social sites to build relationships with other conference attendees
   • Connect in advance
3. Conduct a poll of your client base to assist in future planning
   • Survey your e-blast readers using Survey Monkey or a similar tool
   • Base your appointments on your client needs
4. Use a QR code on your business card and referring people to your LinkedIn profile, mobile website or Facebook page.
   • Check out goo.gl and kaywa.com to create your own QR code
5. Update your blog to involve readers in the exciting plans you’ll be making at the conference
6. Make sure your blog appears on your Facebook business page.
   • Networked Blogs provides an app
7. Create Pinterest boards for destinations you serve
8. Create Pinterest boards to showcase your blog, relevant video and value-added materials
9. Pack your audio and video recorders and schedule interviews with your top suppliers
10. Set up a Google+ hangout to learn what destination your clients want to see

Tour Operators

1. Update your company social sites.
2. Use your Facebook and Twitter sites to build client relationships
   • Ask which destinations/hotels/sights your fans would love to visit
3. Conduct a poll of your client base to assist in planning new tours
   • Survey your e-blast readers using Survey Monkey or a similar tool
4. Use a QR code on your business card and referring people to your LinkedIn profile, mobile website or Facebook page.
   • Check out goo.gl and kaywa.com to create your own QR code
5. Create a QR code and include on material you’ll use at your booth.
   • Lead readers to your mobile website or Facebook page
   • Post a video of your hotel, destination or attraction
   • Develop a QR code taking people to an info sheet about your business
   • Print this QR code on your hand-out materials and use it in your follow up.
   • Create a QR code to link to an interview inviting trade to visit
6. Update your blog to involve readers in the exciting plans you’ll be making at the conference
7. E-mail top accounts to ensure appointments
8. Make sure your blog appears on your Facebook business page.
   • Networked Blogs provides an app
9. Create Pinterest boards for destinations you serve
10. Create Pinterest boards to showcase your blog, relevant video and value-added materials
11. Pack your audio and video recorders and schedule interviews with your top suppliers
12. Set up a Google+ hangout to learn what destination your clients want to see

Suppliers

1. Create a series of Vines or Instagram video showcases
2. Create a QR code and include on material you’ll use at your booth.
   • Lead readers to your mobile website or Facebook page
   • Post a video of your hotel, destination or attraction
   • Develop a QR code taking people to an info sheet about your business
   • Print this QR code on your hand-out materials and use it in your follow up.
   • Create a QR code to link to an interview inviting trade to visit
3. Ensure your company social & web sites are up to date
4. E-mail top accounts to ensure appointments
5. Consider starting a trade only closed group on your Facebook page
6. Create a trade only portal on your website
7. Create video and/or PowerPoint presentations and post socially and on your website for the trade. Check out SlideShare and embed into your e-blasts
8. Create Pinterest boards that are relevant to the trade.
   • Consider including shopping notes, hotel info, destination video, blog posts
9. Update your blog so that the trade gets an update from you prior to the conference
10. Consider creating a contest or special event revolving around the conference

Tags: Conference planning, Convention planning, Facebook, Facebookmarketing, facebookpromotion, Google+, marketing, marketingplan, Mobile marketing, Photos, Pinterest, Podcasts, social engagement, tourism industry, tourismbusiness, tourwholesaler, travelagent, travelindustry, Twitter, video, You Tube