Today’s student is more active than ever on Facebook and Twitter, and at all hours of the day. Using tools such as Buffer (bufferapp.com) or Gremlin (gremln.com) allows you to set up Tweets or Facebook posts to go out at random or scheduled times during the day. Maximize your promotions by sending event information out at different times. Reach new audiences with off-hour posts they may be more receptive to.

Another useful role social media can play is as a means to share information. An example would be building closings, or limited access on part of the campus because it is in use for an event. Typically, this information is relayed via the student’s email account. Using Facebook to post and Twitter to Tweet adds an additional layer of communication for the students attending the campus. As you prepare for commencement, Facebook and Twitter can be excellent ways to send out updates, instructions and reminders to the graduates.

Lastly, social media can be used internally as an extension of information already available on your website. Use social media to link back to your website for student forms, menu plan information, training videos and anything else a student may need to know about regarding orientation, policies or procedures. Also, in an emergency, Twitter is an excellent tool for quick bursts of updated information.

As social media becomes a larger part of our everyday lives, there are many ways to take advantage of the levels of communication and promotion available for your organization.

Evaluate the Mediums

Second, evaluate the sites that will connect your brand with the clients you are trying to reach. Facebook should be your first “must have” followed closely by YouTube, Twitter, or a blog platform. Other popular social media platforms include Linkedin, Review sites such as Yelp or Travelocity, QR codes, and the new kid on the block: Pinterest.

Use Pinterest to promote event facilities, layouts or specialty items

Facebook is a strong medium in social media because it has the largest audience of users. Facebook is also the most customizable. It is easy to create a consistent brand with colors, pictures, content, and messages in order to mirror your brand both on the web and on your campus.

Youtube is great for sharing videos and has a great tool for analyzing video views and shares.

Linkedin is great for having your staff connect one-to-one with the clients. Linkedin is also a great tool to use as a virtual resume. The key with using Linkedin is to incorporate the recommendation function in your account. Recommendations are key, and they can be solicited from your previous coworkers, or you can give them out as well. For example, start giving out Linkedin recommendations to students that have worked for your university. The experience they have with is perfect for recommending them on customer service skills, trouble shooting, or even managerial experience. Linkedin is also best used when linking up to professional networks. Connecting with organizations, associations, or even previous colleges you attended will become a source of cross promotion for yourself and will help you stay connected.

Review sites are great for receiving recommendations that potential clients can see online. Encourage your current clients to submit an online review before they check out.

Once you have decided on your strategic goals related to social media and which sites to share your content on, you will need to begin branding your sites. Consistency is key when branding. Make sure the colors, pictures, logos, and fonts are consistent throughout your social media platforms. Clients should be able to click on Facebook and then click on your website with a consistent view of your venues’ brand.

Here is an example from GA Tech’s Twitter site:

Promotion

After your brands presence is established start promoting your sites through links in your email and on your website. Also include links on your promotional materials to encourage clients to move beyond your print advertisements to your social media presence. QR Codes are best used when promoting your sites and your web presence because they are easily customizable to be included on any promotional material. QR codes are an easy way to get your audience to click beyond an advertisement and onto your website in order to learn more about your operations. QR codes are effective in connecting with users on their mobile devices and clients on-the-go.

QR Code:

Having a social media presence allows clients to view your venue and accommodations before ever contacting you. This allows them to have a clear visual of what is offered on your campus and therefore peaks their interest in using your space.

The important thing to remember about a social media presence is that every move you make online helps to enhance your search engine optimization. The more frequently you update your Facebook, the more often your site will appear in the first or second slot of the unpaid advertising search section of Google. This is important so that you can ensure your potential clients are finding you quickly online therefore increasing your credibility and the likelihood of them choosing your venue. Ultimately, make sure you are referring back to your goals and purpose behind using social media to connect your brand with your clients.

Thank you, Mandy, for the excellent post and insight!

Mandy S. Volpe
As the Marketing Manager for the Department of Housing at Georgia Tech, Mandy’s main focus is on the marketing efforts of Conference Services and the Department of Housing specifically related to social media sites.  She also manages the lead process for new clients. Mandy frequently conducts seminars, presentations, and focus groups on social media trends and implementations for marketing. Mandy has been featured online as well as at the ACCED-I Annual Conference 2010 and 2012.

On to Mandy’s thoughts and tips!

The Importance of Social Media
Social media has become a part of the everyday routine for most people. Many users check Facebook as soon as they wake up and others check it before they ever look at their email. Social media is a way to stay connected in the personal world, however businesses are using this same medium to reach out to their target market. Over the past few years, social media usage for business has become a best practice, but the question is how do you transform the platform into a marketing medium for your company or product? Social media should be an extension of your brand through consistency in colors, logos, pictures, and the voice in which content is shared. Today I want to share with you a few of the best practices that are associated with a social media campaign and easy steps for you to take to move your company into the virtual world.

Define the Goal
First, define your goals for a strategic social media campaign. Why do you want to be on the social networks? Is it to connect with your clients? Is it so that you can update your content more frequently since you do not have a lot of control over your conference website? Is it to share new information or updates on your campus regarding venues or sustainability? Is it to ultimately drive traffic to your website? Define your goals for using this type of marketing in order to choose the right mix of sites to create a social presence.

In part II Mandy continues with brand promotion and evaluating the mediums, including new kid on the block Pininterest.

Watch the video for more detail, then visit the link to see which solution is right for you: http://www.kxsoftware.com/solutions/

For more customer feedback follow the link below:
http://www.kxsoftware.com/clients/#testimonials

Inside the conference is bustling. Following the opening keynote, an inspirational tale of survival from climber Jim Davidson, the conference and event planning sessions have focused on elevating venue services to new heights. The Kx staff attended an array of meetings, including working with staff to implement new technology, and the importance of training and communication during the busy season. Customer service, paying attention to what your customers want was another hot topic, along with informative sessions on marketing and using social media. Also on taking care of yourself, and ways to work out the stress of the busy times. Great speakers.

Saturday morning we had a focus group with our users, more to come on what was discussed there. Sunday night we attended the regional dinners with some of our users throughout the country, and Monday night’s mixer was a success. Great turnout and lots of fun! A sneak preview of the upcoming KxUsers Conference in Chicago perhaps?

The expo attendance was excellent. Lots of traffic both days. Familiar faces and many new ones as well. Kinetic’s Mark Wiliams and our customers Tony Rathgeber and John Nussear enjoyed their 15 minutes of video fame (about 2 min. really) when they were interviewed at the expo. Shameless plug can be enjoyed here. http://youtu.be/3TAPYx4LCcY

The conference is winding down, though the Gala banquet titled Denim and Diamonds should provide the last hurrah for the attendees. The Kinetic staff had a wonderful conference experience. We only wish all of our customers could have been there to share it with us!

Next year’s conference is in Toronto. Start planning today!

Kinetic’s own Mark Williams will be speaking on Sunday at 3:45 pm. His session on boosting the bottom line with new services is open to all. Dan Dykstra, our valued customer from Georgia Tech, is also speaking at the conference. His session takes place on Monday at 8:30 am. Dan plans to get into the nitty-gritty on profit margin evaluation with his ‘fully loaded’ budgeting perspective. Both talks promise useful insight for conference and event planning operations.

Safe travels for all that are attending. We look forward to exhibiting at the Expo (Booths 30 & 31) and seeing our KxUsers during the conference,at the expo and at our Monday afternoon reception. For those unable to make it this year, check in with the blog and the facebook page. We will try and share some of our experience at the event with everyone!

What does the KxB&B option do?

For venues that provide individual visitor accommodation, KxB&B provides a web presence for guests to search for accommodations and book them online. The page has the look and feel of your website, yet allows for some wizard editing such as updating room descriptions or images of the rooms. Rates and close out days are easily managed.

How does it work?

The KxB&B site operates in the same fashion as a hotel booking site. The client selects the length of stay and number of rooms and then is given the choice of rooms and pricing associated with their choices. After selecting a room, the customer follows the simple prompts to complete the transaction, ending with payment made via a credit card payment provider.

What will KxB&B do to improve my operations?

KxB&B can be a way to boost revenue with a small investment. The online presence means reservations are available 24/7,  and the simple process and direct link to the Kx back office means availability can be viewed in real-time. Behind the scenes Kx provides a full audit trail, with graphical booking stats so you can analyze your best opportunities. Because KxB&B is an annual license and not a per-transaction fee structure, developing a positive revenue stream is much easier to accomplish. KxB&B can be also incorporated in special promotions, or as an easy way for parents to find accommodations during their child’s university tour or orientation.

As online features become more and more prevalent in the industry, KxB&B is a great option to keep your operation competitive.

- The ability to double-click an event in the conference room for more details. A great time saver that also allows for quick access to an event’s editing screens with the click of a button.

- Screen enhancements to the Events Running screen. Selectable detail columns added for quote value, and the main room of the event.

- The Overdue Deposits report for an event’s financials.

- Concise function sheet updates that show distinct notes for each day of the event if needed.

- Booking Contract & Invoice – A quick  link to email templates.

- MASS PRICING UTILITY. Whew! Huge time saver for updating prices from year to year.

- A Housekeeping Report showing only the dirty rooms in the residence.

Great suggestions all, and more to come in future editions of Kx. If you have an idea, speak with your account manager and share your thoughts for improvement. Who knows, the next great feature everyone is talking about may come from you!

Thanks to everyone for attending the Kx New Release Workshops.

-Your Kx Team

What does the KxCalendar option do?

Like all Calendar programs, the KxCalendar is designed to give an
at-a-glance picture of the monthly, daily or weekly scheduled events. By providing a simple to use, web-based interface, KxUsers and other visitors can get a detailed picture of an events running time, the rooms that are associated with the event and other useful information they might need. Available rooms can also be requested via the application.

How does it work?

KxCalendar allows prospective clients to login and view the events taking place at your venue on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Once online, the person can search for available rooms and request a reservation.  The request will automatically feed into the Existing Inquiries screen in the KxConferencing Application, allowing any KxUser to pick up the request, check availablity and convert it to an event without having to re-enter the information manually.

What will KxCalendar do to improve my operations?

Like all processes, anytime one can eliminate steps or touches the operation gains in productivity. With the KxCalendar, by making the schedule available and giving the client the ability to make a request through the portal, the process of taking manual inquiries is reduced. The number of requests for spaces already booked is also minimized, while maximizing the potential to fill available rooms. KxCalendar adds a simple, yet important dimension to enhance your Kx Products and streamline production.