Attending a Conference? Here’s Why and How to Share It on Social Media

Conferences are full of networking opportunities, industry insights and potential partnerships. But did you know they're also a great opportunity to boost your personal brand and digital presence? Here’s why attending a conference is a great reason to post on social media and how you can make the most of it.

The Power of Conferences: Boosting Professional Development, Networking and Social Media Presence

In today's digitally driven era, it's easy to underestimate the value of in-person events. However, attending conferences remains one of the most effective ways to propel your career forward. Not only do they offer a wealth of knowledge, but they also provide opportunities to foster relationships and amplify your professional brand, especially when combined with the reach of social media. Let's delve into the multifaceted benefits of attending conferences and the added advantage of sharing your experiences from them online.

1. Immersive Learning Experience

Conferences often bring together the brightest minds in the industry. Attendees get the unique opportunity to learn about the latest trends, tools and strategies directly from leading experts. These sessions can be invaluable in deepening your understanding and updating your skill set.

2. Networking Opportunities

Beyond the educational sessions, conferences are a melting pot of professionals from diverse backgrounds. Engaging with peers, mentors and industry leaders can lead to collaborations, partnerships or even job opportunities. The casual setting of coffee breaks, luncheons or after-hour events is perfect for forging meaningful connections.

3. A Break from Routine

Stepping out of the office and daily routine can lead to refreshed thinking. Being in a new environment, surrounded by stimulating discussions, can spark creativity and innovative ideas. It's a chance to look at challenges from a new perspective.

4. Visibility in Your Industry

By attending reputable conferences, you position yourself as an active player in your field. It's an opportunity to share insights, ask pertinent questions and even present. All these actions enhance your professional reputation.

Sharing Your Conference Experience on Social Media

While attending the conference is beneficial in itself, sharing your experience on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram can multiply the advantages:

• Personal Branding: Sharing insights, photos or notable quotes from the conference showcases you as a proactive learner and thought leader in your domain.

• Engagement: Posting about the conference can initiate meaningful conversations with your network, further deepening connections.

• Visibility: Engaging with the conference's official hashtag or tagging speakers can amplify your reach, making you visible to a broader audience, including industry influencers.

• Documenting: Social media posts can serve as a digital diary, helping you document and revisit key takeaways.

• Driving FOMO: Your posts might inspire your peers to attend future events, or they might reach out to you to learn more, fostering further networking opportunities.

Key Takeaways

1. Boost Your Professional Image: Sharing your conference attendance showcases your dedication to ongoing learning and staying updated in your field.

2. Visibility and Networking: Using conference hashtags and tagging speakers can get you noticed by industry peers, potential clients or employers.

3. Engage Your Audience: Your followers will appreciate insights, quotes and news from the conference, offering them value they might not get elsewhere.

Actionable Tips to Shine on Social Media

1. Announce Your Attendance Share your excitement about the conference a few days prior. Mention the main reasons you’re attending: Is it a specific speaker, workshop or simply broadening your horizons?

2. Use Conference Hashtags Before the event, research and find out the official hashtag(s) for the conference. Using the conference hashtag will increase the visibility of your posts to the conference organizers, other attendees and those following the event from afar.

3. Tag Relevant People Excited about a keynote speaker? Tag them and share your anticipation. Met a professional you admire? Share a selfie together and tag them (with their permission, of course).

4. Share Real-Time Insights Share memorable quotes or surprising statistics from the presentations. Give quick summaries of breakout sessions or panels you found valuable.

5. Behind-the-Scenes Looks Showcase the ambiance: the venue, crowd or any interesting setups. Sharing a bit of the 'human' side, like fun interactions or personal reflections, can make your posts more relatable.

6. Engage with Others Respond to comments on your posts. Engage with others' content by liking, commenting or sharing. This can foster real-time digital networking.

7. Post-Conference Reflection After the conference, share a recap or main takeaways. Reflect on what you’ve learned, and how you plan to implement it in your job.

8. Turn Activities into Posts Every session, networking session or casual coffee break is an opportunity to create a post. Remember, you don’t have to overdo it. Prioritize quality over quantity.

In conclusion, while the primary goal of attending a conference might be personal growth and networking, don't miss out on the myriad opportunities to amplify your experience through social media. Beyond the handshakes, panel discussions and workshops lies an opportunity to bolster your digital brand, connect with a wider audience and position yourself as a thought leader.

Not only do conferences help to solidify your learning by sharing your insights, but you also elevate your professional brand, engage with your community and maybe even make some digital friends and fans along the way!

Stefanie Marrone advises law firms of all sizes, professional service firms, B2B companies, recruiters and individuals on the full range of marketing and business development consulting services designed to enhance revenue, retain current clients and achieve greater brand recognition. She also serves as outsourced chief marketing officer/marketing department for small and mid-size law firms.

Over her 20+-year legal marketing career, she has worked at and with a broad range of big law, mid-size and small firms, which has given her a valuable perspective of the legal industry.

Connect with her on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, sign up for her email list, follow her blog the Social Media Butterfly and follow her latest writing on JD Supra.