Get ready to dive into one of the most powerful tools in your marketing arsenal: event photos. As a photographer who’s spent years capturing corporate events, I’ve seen first-hand how impactful event photos can be. So, let’s explore how you can transform those event photos into social media gold, driving engagement, boosting visibility, creating a buzz that lasts for weeks.
Instagram is all about visuals, making it the perfect platform for your event photos.
1. Create a Cohesive Story:
- Use Instagram Stories to share live updates and behind-the-scenes moments.
- Post the highlights on your main feed with engaging captions and relevant hashtags. Check out Hootsuite’s free hashtag generator for great ideas
- Tag and invite collaborate any relevant accounts (like sponsors!)
2. Utilize Carousel Posts:
- Share a series of photos, data suggests that Carousel posts get 40% more engagement!
3. Engage with Your Audience:
- Encourage attendees to share their own photos with a specific hashtag.
- Repost user-generated content to build community and show appreciation.
Facebook’s versatility makes it a great platform for both live updates and in-depth content.
1. Create an Event Album:
- Post a comprehensive album of the event to your page. This can be a great way for people to get a recap of the event afterward to keep the reach going!
- Tag attendees and encourage them to share the album with their networks.
2. Go Live:
- Stream key moments live and interact with viewers in real-time. This can be HUGE in creating FOMO for people who didn’t attend. You can start building excitement for the next event while still at the current one!
3. Boost Posts:
- Use Facebook’s advertising tools to boost your best-performing posts, reaching a wider audience.
X (formerly Twitter)
X is all about quick, engaging content. Here’s how to make your photos stand out:
1. Live Tweet the Event:
- Share real-time updates with photos, tagging speakers and attendees to increase reach.
2. Create Visual Threads:
- Post a series of photos that tell a story, keeping followers engaged. Think of it like a news feed for your event and use the most iconic event photos like the “cover story” on a magazine.
3. Use Hashtags Wisely:
- Utilize trending and event-specific hashtags to increase visibility. Trending hashtags can get new eyes on your posts while event-specific hashtags is a great way to group all your event images together in a searchable, public place. Check out what’s trending with Google to give you some great ideas on hashtags.
You can’t forget LinkedIn, especially if your event targets business professionals. So, check out these strategies on using your social media event photos on LinkedIn.
1. Create a Professional Album:
- Post a well-curated album of your event, highlighting key moments and professional interactions.
- Ensure the photos align with your brand’s professional image.
2. Share Testimonials and Quotes:
- Pair photos with quotes from speakers, attendees, or organizers to add credibility and context.
- Highlight impactful moments and positive feedback.
3. Engage with Industry Groups:
- Share your event photos in relevant LinkedIn groups to reach a broader, more targeted audience.
- Participate in discussions and encourage group members to view and share your photos.
4. Leverage LinkedIn Articles:
- Write a post-event article summarizing key takeaways, including high-quality photos to enhance the content.
- Tag relevant individuals and companies to increase visibility and engagement.
Best Practices for Optimizing Event Photos for Social Media
1. Resolution Matters:
- Ensure your photos are high resolution but optimized for quick loading times. I recommend the longest side of the image be 1024 pixels for smaller uses (like an X post) and 2048 pixels on the longest side for use in Reels.
2. Consistency is Key:
- Use a consistent editing style to create a cohesive look across your social media profiles. So, communicate with your photographer ahead of time to discuss the look and feel you are going for.
3. Add Captivating Captions:
- Pair your photos with engaging captions that provide context and encourage interaction. Asking questions and soliciting opinions/advice can foster a conversation in comments that will expand the reach of most posts.
4. Tag, Engage, and Collaborate:
- Tag relevant people and brands to increase reach and foster engagement. In the case of platforms like Instagram, you can even invite other accounts to collaborate on a post. Therefor, it appears in the main feed of multiple accounts at the same time. This can be HUGE for grabbing new followers.
Older generations are fond of saying “a picture is worth a thousands words”, but in the case of social media, the much more apt quote is, “Pics or it didn’t happen.” In other words, you can significantly boost your event’s impact by having a solid strategy for social media event photos. Make sure to work closely with your photographer to create a critical event shot list, and a have a plan to get the images quickly and put them to use!
Looking for event photography or video? We would love the chance to plan how to get the best images for your event. Contact Us HERE.
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