What are the best social media strategies for finding professional development events?

1 Use hashtags

One of the easiest ways to find relevant events on social media is to use hashtags. Hashtags are keywords or phrases that are preceded by a hash sign (#) and used to categorize and filter content. For example, if you are interested in social media marketing, you can search for #socialmediamarketing or #smm on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn. You will see posts from event organizers, speakers, sponsors, and attendees who are using these hashtags to promote or share their experiences. You can also follow these hashtags to get updates and notifications on upcoming events.

2 Join groups

Another way to find events on social media is to join groups that are related to your field, industry, or niche. Groups are online communities where people with similar interests or goals can interact, share, and learn from each other. For example, if you are a social media manager, you can join groups like Social Media Managers or Social Media Professionals on Facebook or LinkedIn. You will see posts from group members who are organizing, attending, or recommending events that are relevant to your role. You can also ask questions, give feedback, or network with other group members who might be attending the same events.

3 Follow influencers

A third way to find events on social media is to follow influencers who are experts, leaders, or celebrities in your field. Influencers are people who have a large and loyal following on social media and can influence the opinions, behaviors, or decisions of others. For example, if you are a social media strategist, you can follow influencers like Neil Patel or Gary Vaynerchuk on Twitter or Instagram. You will see posts from them about the events they are speaking at, hosting, or endorsing. You can also learn from their insights, tips, or best practices that they share on social media.

4 Use tools

A fourth way to find events on social media is to use tools that are designed to help you discover, filter, and register for events. Tools are applications or websites that can help you find events based on your location, preferences, budget, or availability. For example, if you are looking for social media events near you, you can use tools like Eventbrite or Meetup to browse, search, and book events. You can also see reviews, ratings, or comments from other attendees who have used these tools to find events.

5 Create alerts

A fifth way to find events on social media is to create alerts that will notify you when new events are posted or mentioned on social media. Alerts are settings or features that can help you monitor and track keywords, phrases, or topics that are relevant to your interests or goals. For example, if you want to find social media events in your city, you can create alerts on Google Alerts or Hootsuite to get email or app notifications when new events are posted or mentioned on social media. You can also customize your alerts to specify the frequency, sources, or languages of the notifications.