How to Schedule a Tweetup / How to Plan a Tweetup

My first time planning a tweetup for the Etiquette Expert. 
L-R: @MackenzieImage @MegsImageGuide, @EtiquetteExpert, @LizDeloach, @DianeGottsman, @Alesya, @LauraCatherineO, @AndrewCPetersen, @HeatherMueller

Have you ever wanted to schedule a tweetup? Have you wondered how to plan a tweetup?  I LOVE tweetups and think they are a useful tool to meet new folks and make new friends.  A tweetup is really just a casual gathering of twitter friends who often share similar interests.  It can be as big or small as you'd like it to be. It can be carefully planned weeks-out or put together just a few days before! The cost is little to nothing for most...simply show up and enjoy yourself!

Before I begin, if you're in/around Charleston, SC, be sure to join us next Friday (May 27) for our "Charleston Ladies Who Lunch" tweetup! Details:
http://twtup.com/chsLadiesWhoLunchMay.

My Experience Planning a Tweetup
Last summer, I created my very first tweetup.  International etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore was coming to Charleston, and I knew there would be plenty of wonderful Charleston folks on twitter who would love to meet her!  Jacqueline also brought along the fantastic Diane Gottsman of The Protocol School of Texas. 

Since then, a great group of gals in Charleston has emerged in the tweetup-verse.  We call ourselves the "Charleston Ladies Who Lunch".  We're not your typical ladies who lunch, which makes it all the more fun.  We are a diverse group, and are composed of ladies ages 25-65.  We're married, single, divorced, from Charleston, new transplants, biz owners, board members...you get the idea!

Creating a tweetup of your own for the first time can be a little scary, but it doesn't have to be!  I'm going to share the few simple steps needed for you to create your own tweetup!

How to Schedule a Tweetup
1. The first step for scheduling a tweetup is probably very similar to your first step in planning any event.  It's simply to select your date.  Make sure there aren't major scheduling conflicts for your selected date. You can usually do this by checking a few local online calendars or even by sending out a few tweets to those you'd like to attend to make sure the date/time is good for most.

@SeaStarArts, @AndraWatkins, and @DodelineDesign

2. Next, you'll need to select your venue.  Most of our tweetups take place at restaurants with plenty of seating.  You don't want anyplace too loud, either.  We've dined at a rooftop bar, taco boy, a Japanese restaurant, a local bistro, and are headed to a sandwich place next.  Keep in mind that your twitter friends will be coming from various parts of town, and may not have time to deal with parking challenges.  If possible, select a venue/restaurant with plenty of parking, that's easily accessible from various parts of town.  Or, if you're planning a tweetup that will take place at a conference, consider something within walking distance of the host hotel/convention center.

3. The third step is a little different than if you were planning an event traditionally.  This one involves creating your tweetup invite using twtvite.com.  Twtvite is a free resource that is super-handy for a few reasons:

• It allows you to create a customized URL for your tweetup.  
• It allows you to add a special hashtag for your event.
• It automatically sends out a tweet reminder to attendees before your event
• It keeps track of RSVPs for you
• It easily links to attendees twitter profiles in case others who are thinking about attending want to "check out" others who will be attending
• It keeps all tweets related to your event (via the special hashtag) in an easy-to-scan column
• It generates a tweet for each new RSVP that the twitter user may post to her/his wall
• See the benefit of Twtvite yet? :)  Simply visit Twtvite.com and click on "schedule a tweetup" to get started!

4. Now that you've got your Tweetup created in Twtvite, you'll have a special URL and hashtag handy.  It's time to tell your twitter friends about your event! I recommend sending out an announcement tweet about your Tweetup for all your followers, and then perhaps sending the twtvite to batches of select friends.  Try to space the tweets apart to avoid flooding the tweetstream (if you can help it).  The Charleston Ladies Who Lunch have a special Tweetup planned for next Friday.  Here's an example of the announcement tweet I sent out, and then an example of what tweets to friends may look like:

A few things to note:
The hashtag (#) is your friend!
By using a special hashtag, people can easily track the tweets that relate to your event.  For example, if you search for "#chsladieswholunch"  you'll easily see a display of the latest tweets about the event.

Cross-promote your tweetup on Facebook if you have time.  It never hurts to spread the news about your tweetup on Facebook as well.  A handy thing about Twtvite is that it allows folks to RSVP who are not on Twitter.

Plan at least a week (or two) in advance.  This will help increase the attendance for your event.  People are so busy and need time to plan.  If you have to throw a tweetup together faster than that, don't sweat it if you get a smaller group.  It will still be fun!

Consider an ice breaker for the group if it's your tweetup.  Remember to bring plenty of business cards.  Nametags are also handy, especially when folks write their handle on their nametag. Most importantly, have fun! Tweetups are casual and light-hearted. :)

You're Invited!
Charleston "Ladies Who Lunch" / #CHSLadiesWhoLunch #Tweetup Next Friday, May 27


If you're in Charleston, I hope you can join us for our tweetup next Friday, May 27.  Get all the details here: http://twtup.com/chsLadiesWhoLunchMay.This fun group of diverse ladies can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, and the web. 

Laura Catherine Otero is a marketing professional and blogger in Charleston, SC who has been active in social media since 2005.  If you enjoyed this post, please consider subscribing to this blog via Email or  RSS. Laura can also be found on Twitter (@LauraCatherineO), Facebook, and LinkedIn.