Tweetups are an opportune way to meet your Twitter contacts. These often impromptu get-togethers also provide a valuable opportunity to solidify online business relationships and create new ones, too.
Here are some tips to help you host a Tweetup of your own:
- Scout out an appropriate venue beforehand. Also, pick a location with wi-fi access. While the goal is to keep people focused on meeting other people, you don’t want to host an event for those who met through technology without providing them Internet access.
- Don’t choose a location that is too dark or noisy. Keep in mind that many guests will be meeting each other in person for the first time. Hosting a Tweetup in a dimly lit setting that obscures faces and voices would be counter-productive to forging new relationships. Also, excessive noise will make it difficult to conduct an introductory conversation with another Twitter user.
- Provide nametags and instruct guests to write their Twitter username followed by their real name. You’ll want to be able to identify and recognize people easily.
- Make an effort to mingle outside of the group you typically interact with on Twitter. Remember that people attend these events to be recognized and feel special. Most importantly they go to connect a face to an online personality — one they may feel they already know on a casual basis.
So the next time you find yourself catching up with your Twitter contacts while drinking your morning coffee, consider organizing a Tweetup to get to know them face-to-face.