Scan the event organizer’s website, social media profiles, and any pre-conference communications to gather intel on the use of social media during the event.

• Make note of the conference hashtag by scanning the organizer’s Twitter feed or conference correspondence.

• Scan the agenda and determine which sessions you want to attend, speakers you may want to connect with, and attendees you hope to meet.

• Compile a list of their Twitter handles that can serve as an easy reference during the event.

• Consider the technology you will need to engage live on Twitter. For example, do you prefer to tweet from your smartphone, tablet, or laptop?

Sharing your conference plans with your existing network––including your RWJF colleagues––can help uncover new opportunities for connections and amplify your attendance.

• Let your program teammates know you are attending this conference and what you hope to get out of it. They may have recommendations or connections worth sharing. Check in with your Communications Officer to see if there is strategic value in calling out particular work, message points, or resources from RWJF or its grantees during your time at the convening.

• Consider posting to the Foundation’s Chatter groups to see if others outside your team have attended this conference in the past and have insights to share.

• Another way to inquire if anyone in your network is attending the same event is to post an update to your Connections on LinkedIn. From the LinkedIn homepage, click the “Share an update” button and Share with: Just your connections.

Tweeting with the event hashtag early helps increase your potential visibility among other attendees. And monitoring the hashtag before and during the conference can help you identify people with whom you’d like to connect, and provide the opportunity to engage them in conversation.

Consider using your first few tweets en route to share what most excites you about the event, or what you’re most looking forward to learning. Don’t be shy about sharing your interest in making new connections, or getting people to attend your presentation.

Once you’re at the conference, remember that the quality of your tweets matters more than the quantity. Keep the following best practices in mind:

• Be social. Strive for a good mix of original coverage and engaging with others, with an eye to engaging with those who matter most to your networking strategy.

• Relay important insights or interesting quotes. While in a session, listen for strong ideas and inspiring sound bites you can Tweet and attribute to the speaker using an @ mention.

• Make the connection between great dialogue from the event and the Foundation’s work.

• Broaden your reach. Consider the subject matter of your tweets as you may want to include one topical hashtag in addition the official conference hashtag.

• Take photographs at the event of people, places or things you can share. And don’t be afraid to get out of your seat to snap a photo of a speaker from a good angle, then head back to your seat to crop, apply any finishing touches, and Tweet.

• Connect with speakers and attendees. Seek out opportunities to follow and connect with others by retweeting or replying to tweets.

• When users interact with you on Twitter, respond or return the favor. You may choose to reply, send them a direct message, retweet or favorite relevant contributions, or thank them for a follow a few days later.

When you’re at the conference, remember you have two audiences––people who are onsite with you, and those who are following you on Twitter but not attending the event.

• Your onsite audience is interested in what others are saying about the conference and meeting people who are in attendance.

• Your offsite audience may not be interested in the conference, but may be interested in the lessons you’re hearing that may be applicable to their work.

• Think of both audiences as you tweet, but capitalize on the in-person and digital energy of the conference to make connections.
  
  
• Avoid transcribing an entire panel discussion on Twitter. Instead focus on sharing high-level inspiration, breaking news, or new ideas. If you hear a compelling quote from a speaker, check the feed to see if someone has already tweeted it before you and, If they did, simply like or retweet their tweet.