The latest ROAR events group blog post is up on the Tradeshow News Network. Steve McGill talks about Using Facebook Pages as an Online Event Platform.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The rich media and conversation tools inherent with Facebook Pages offer a compelling canvas for executing an online event.
This type of event can be a cost-effective way to build a community for your face-to-face and larger scale online events, creates viral awareness of your brand in the Facebook universe and also can provide sponsorship revenue.
Content
The content can come from pre-recorded or streamed video from a thought leader or any one you feel is fit to engage an audience around a the topic. Content can also come in the form of new or re-purposed ‘text’ content. The key is compelling content that ‘fires up’ your fan base –leading to engagement.
Sample Topic
For example, let’s say that your audience is IT buyers, those who take bold stands on their preferred choice of particular technology application. A potential online event could be coined ‘Macvs. PC’ – Join the Debate! Wednesday, March 16th from 3pm to 4pm EST.
Sample Execution
~ Establish a Facebook Online Events button on your Web site- which links them directly to your newly created Facebook Online Event Page. (The cool thing is you can name the page whatever you like – as long as that ‘name’ has not already been taken.)
~ Post both on your site and Facebook Online Event Page ‘Wall’ the online event announcement: Mac vs. PC’ –Join the Debate! Wednesday, March 16th from 3pm to 4pm EST.
~ Post on your ‘Wall’ just prior to the online event start a pre-recorded video of no more than 3 minutes. (Streaming live video is also an option – as is, for that matter, re-purposed articles). The content’s purpose is to set the stage for fan base participation and comments on the event page ‘Wall’.
~ To incent pre-event fan participation – you can offer a drawing for pre-registered attendees (those who simply click ‘Like’ on your event page before the event). The prize can be provided by the sponsor if appropriate.
~ Sponsorship offerings like logo branding, white paper links, etc. can be sold and placed on your Web site page events button link, the Facebook ‘Events’ page, ‘’Discussions’ page – and, if appropriate, the contest/giveaway prize.
Follow these steps from this link to create what will become your Facebook Online Event Page:http://www.facebook.com/FacebookPages
Previous blogs by ROAR events on TSNN – A ’140 Character Partner’ for Your Virtual Event
