What do you need for an online event? A lot!
BlogWorld New Media Expo 2009 has a post about what you can do to follow and (sort of) participate in the event if you can’t make it to Las Vegas this October. Five things on the list, do you have access to them all? Would you be able to use them yourself to keep track of an event or to promote and report on your own event as it happens?
1.Twitter – Tweeting has become as popular as Facebook but it’s much simpler and cleaner. I think of it as Facebook stripped down to the bare bones as just a simple way to communicate with others.
2. Blogs – No link here as blogs are everywhere, there is no one blog I would link to. But if something is going on you can be sure you will find it reported in blogs all over the world and in all kinds of topics/ niches. You can even try to get bloggers to link to your event and make a report about what they find if they are attending themselves.
3. Podcasts – Podcasts are like the old ham radio, but online. You need to find software or something online that works for you, but you can have a live report, a play-by-play on everything as it happens. Look for podcasters to report the event before, during and after even if you make your own podcast. The more voices the merrier. Have a look at BlogTalkRadio.
4. Flickr – Podcasts are the sound but Flickr has the visual, with commentary on the photos or video feeds. Not everyone is keen on video posts to Flickr so you might consider that as you work out how you will post. Others will post their photos too.
5. YouTube – Famous for home made movies. In the end, it’s a combination of the podcasts and Flickr posts, the sound and the fury.
Do you know how to use the sites and software above? If not you should find out, even if you aren’t creating or hosting an event. It’s important to keep up with the popular media.