NACAC’s 74th National Conference in Salt Lake City kicks off in just a few days and there are so many ways to get involved. As the social media manager for NACAC I might be a little bit biased, but I think getting involved with the conference on social media is a great way to meet new people and ensure you don’t miss a moment of the action.
Check out my top five tips to get the most out of your national conference social media experience.
- Follow our official channels and use our official conference hashtag — #nacac18.
Be a part of the conversation. Using the #nacac18 hashtag allows you to reach beyond your followers and audience and connect with fellow attendees, exhibitors, speakers, or even just those who are following along from home.
If you use a social media dashboard tool, like TweetDeck or Hootsuite, consider adding a #nacac18 stream to more easily follow the conversation leading up to the kickoff and to connect while you are in Salt Lake City!
Following our official channels will give you the most up-to-date information about the conference, let you know about prize giveaways for our followers, and will offer a peek behind-the-scenes at #nacac18. Stay tuned to our Instagram Story to see what is happening in every corner of the convention center and be on the lookout for Facebook Live videos that feature interviews with attendees and snippets from interesting sessions.
- Network online and in real life.
Using the #nacac18 hashtag is a great way to connect with your colleagues all over the world before the conference begins. But once we are together in Salt Lake City, why not take some of those online friendships offline? One of the benefits of the national conference is the opportunities it offers for networking. Lay the groundwork online and make plans to meet up in person. We even have a Social Media Spot in the Exhibit Hall where you can take advantage of free coffee and make new friends.
- Share your knowledge.
There are more than 160 presentations that you can choose from at the conference. You can’t possibly attend every session that catches your interest, but you can follow along with them online. You can also share what you’ve learned at a session with the #nacac18 community.
Hear the perfect quote? Tweet it out. See a great slide? Snap a picture and post it. Share your takeaways and read everyone else’s.
- Participate in the #NACAC18PHOTOCHALLENGE on Instagram or Twitter.
The national conference is extra photogenic this year, so we are offering prizes for people who participate in our social media photo challenge. There are 14 photo challenges and we have prizes for attendees who post photos of all 14, are the most creative, or who include the most #NACAC18 attendees in their posts.
This contest is available on Instagram and Twitter. I can’t wait to see the conference through your eyes!
- Enjoy the moment.
While there are so many ways to get involved on social media, don’t get so involved in your online life that you forget to enjoy the moment. You came to the national conference to learn and grow and to have fun, so look away from your screen and soak it all in.
See you in Salt Lake City!
Ashley Dobson is NACAC’s communications manager for content and social media. She’ll be presenting a TECH Lab session at #NACAC18 on using social media to connect with students. You can reach her at adobson@nacacnet.org.