By Jessica Journey
Achieve Guest Blogger

One of my favorite social media activities is live tweeting at nonprofit events, like fundraisers and conferences.

I enjoy tweeting as the event is happening because I can connect with other tweeps in attendance, create buzz for a cause that I’m passionate about, and document important nonprofit happenings.

As the host organization, you have the opportunity to empower attendees to live tweet. Then, your nonprofit can benefit from the buzz and the connections developed through social media.

To encourage live tweeting at your next event, I recommend establishing a hashtag and communicating it with attendees.

• Keep your hashtag short and simple. That way, tweeps can remember it and can use those precious, limited characters for content.
• Search Twitter for the hashtag’s availability over a period of time. This keeps unrelated tweets from polluting the conversation.
• Go green by crafting a hashtag that can easily be recycled for next year’s event with a simple change of number. Why throw out a perfectly good hashtag?

• Introduce and re-introduce the hashtag on Twitter before the event. It’s your job to reinforce its meaning and its relevance.
• Include the hashtag and your username on every promotional vehicle you already plan to use. This includes print and online methods.
• Highlight the hashtag and your username in the event program, in rolling projection slides, and other on-site pieces.

• During registration, request Twitter usernames of attendees, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and special guests.
• Follow these folks on Twitter, create a list of these individuals, and mention them with a welcome and the hashtag.
• Recruit local influencers to live tweet at your event.

• Integrate tweets’ usernames in event nametags and the program.
• Showcase the live tweets on a projection screen. Tweeps will love seeing their tweets up on the wall.
• Create a special area for your tweeps. Include electrical outlets for charging mobile devices, provide iPads for their use, and give stress balls to stretch out their hands!

Remember, it’s your nonprofit that ultimately benefits from the buzz and connections created by live tweeting.