Six Ways to Promote a Writers Conference Online
The Internet Provides Great Opportunities for Publicity
Jun 24, 2009
Promotion of a writers conference online is essential to its success. Using the internet to promote a conference reaches a greater audience than local or regional promotion. Here are six ways to promote a conference online.
Website for Round the Clock Publicity
A website allows the conference planners to provide up-to-date information around the clock. Potential attendees can access the site to learn about upcoming conference attractions as well as past conference highlights. The website should provide visitors a clear answer as to why the conference is appropriate for them. It should also provide contact information to direct questions as well as access to register for the conference. The website is one of the best ways to attract attendees and speakers alike if used wisely.
Blog to Increase Visibility
Writers conferences can benefit from using blogs in a couple of ways. The conference planners can guest blog on relevant blogs. In these articles, the planners should always find a way to reference the conference as an example in the blog, but the main focus of the blog should be to provide information or tips to potential attendees. The planners can also create a blog where the conference’s former and upcoming speakers discuss topics related to writing that will appeal to the conference’s target audience. A blog of this type provides a continuing service to speakers and attendees as well as reminding readers what they can expect from the conference. One example of this type of blog is the Murder in the Grove My Space Blog. Because blogs offer more than advertisement, they are an excellent chance to build a relationship with those interested in the conference attracting new people and connecting them with speakers and former attendees.
List the Conference
There are many online lists of writing conferences. Shaw Guides is quite well known and including a listing is free. Writer’s Digest and The Writer both provide conference listings on their websites. Some writers groups like Sisters in Crime provide conference listings that will be of interest to their members. Many newspapers will also allow conference planners to list the conference on their online community listings. Listings should include, at a minimum, the conference website, contact information, conference dates and location. Other pertinent fact should be included there’s room. It’s important to list the conference only on sites where the target audience is likely to visit.
Social Networking
Conference planners can use their social network pages like Facebook and My Space to promote the conference by talking about their conference related activities. Another option is to create an actual page for the conference on social networking sites. This page offers a chance for conference attendees and speakers to befriend the conference, show their support, and make comments providing the opportunity for people considering the conference to learn more about what people think about the conference. It also provides another place to make announcements regarding the conference. Friends of the conference can also find one another through the page and develop their relationships.
Online Writers Groups for a Targeted Audience
Many writers belong to online writers groups. Writers in those groups are always interested in conferences, so sending a short announcement about exciting things happening with the conference is usually appreciated. Posters should be sure to observe the individual group’s rules for postings tweaking the original announcement as needed. Announcements should be enthusiastic, offer to answer questions, and provide a link to the website. If the conference sponsors a blog, announcing the guest blogger and topic is a terrific way to provide information about the conference while providing a service to the group. Posters should also participate in other discussions. Those who are only using the group to push a conference will be noticed and possibly ignored.
Email to Stay in Contact
Attendees and speakers should always be able to contact the planning committee through email. Email provides a quick and easy way to answer questions, address concerns, and accept comments. Email can also be used to send reminders to former attendees and speakers provided they’ve given their permission. Email is an efficient way to update registrants of any changes or updates that need their attention. Press releases can be emailed to media who accept them by email. Email must always be used judiciously to avoid becoming an annoyance and having the appearance of SPAM.
The internet is an essential tool in promoting and publicizing a writers conference. It provides the opportunity for the conference to attract a diverse group of speakers and attendees, be more beneficial to attendees, and grow. To learn about other ways to promote a conference, read Six Ways to Promote a Writers Conference.
