Get Social at Heli-Expo 2013

If you’re thinking about whether to tweet or not to tweet at Heli-Expo 2013 next week, ponder no more. Just do it. And while you’re at it, be sure to post images and insights on your LinkedIn and Facebook pages. It’s never been easier – or more important.

Nearly half of all social media users access their social networks using their mobile devices. Tradeshows and conventions such as the one hosted March 4-7 in Las Vegas, Nev., by the Alexandria, Va.-based Helicopter Association International (HAI) afford an ideal opportunity to leverage social channels. Even the best mingler among us has no hopes of connecting face to face with all 20,000 people expected to attend the show, speaking to more than 650 exhibitors or covering all 1.5 million square feet of convention space. Using social media helps you communicate with other people at the show (and saves some precious steps). It also lets you push out information to people not at the show but interested in the goings on – be it a forum you’re participating in, a new product you’re unveiling or a meet-and-greet you’re hosting.

Plan Now to Play Later

Just a bit of planning now will facilitate your social sharing at the show.

• First off, load the HAI iPhone/iPad app.* https://itunes.apple.com/app/id600678230

  

  It puts all the Heli-Expo 2013 happenings in the palm of your hand. Keep up on late-breaking details, speakers, press conferences and updates. Learn more about the exhibitors. Map out your plan of action to optimize your time at the show. You can even get info on the host hotel. *Side note: With 49.4%of U.S. market share using Android operating systems on their smartphones, doesn’t it make sense to reach nearly 100% of your audience by developing your apps for both Android and iOS? Something to think about if your company or organization is looking to develop an app.

• Haven’t liked HAI on Facebook yet? Here’s the link: http://www.facebook.com/HelicopterAssoc
• Plan to take video at the show? Share it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/HelicopterAssoc
• Monitor convention news on Twitter, particularly @RotorNews and @Heli-Expo. Use the hashtag #EXPO13 to follow and take part in the conversation.

Time for Vine

We’ve been closely watching the hot, new microvideo-sharing app Vine to see if it has relevance for our aviation clients, and believing we need to practice what we preach, I’m going to be posting Vine videos throughout the show. These 6-second, looping videos can’t be edited, which is part of their real-time beauty. Shoot and post. Share moments as they happen.

• Follow my posts on Vine and Twitter under the #EXPO13 hashtag. And post some of your own on Twitter and Facebook.
• Download the app on iTunes. http://www.apple.com/itunes

Don’t Just Follow. Find.

If you’re at the show, find me and others. While social networking is great for sharing information, news and marketing information across the world – when “friends” on social media are in the same room, we should find each other. I’ve tweeted HAI several times to find out whether a Tweet-Up (a meet-up for active Twitter users) is planned, but have received no response. Perhaps I’ll just plan one of my own. Let’s Connect The world is going social and the aviation industry needs to get on board, too. If you have interest in Heli-Expo 2013, remember #EXPO13 and @GretemanGroup for Twitter. Follow, join in and check out my as-they-happen Vine videos.

*Originally published in the February 28 issue of BlueSky Business Aviation News.