BlueSky Business Aviation News

Jennifer Szambecki, associate vice president, Greteman Group, a marketing communications agency in Wichita, the Air Capital.

Get Social at Heli-Expo 2013


f you’re thinking about whether to tweet or not to tweet at Heli-Expo 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 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.

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

Push out dates and times for events and announcements in your booth.
think about if your company or organization is looking to develop an app.

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.
Network with more people than you ever could face to face.

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, remember #EXPO13 and @GretemanGroup for Twitter. Follow, join in and check out my as-they-happen Vine videos.

Showcase products and benefits.

click to visit Greteman Group
www.gretemangroup.com
1425 E Douglas
Wichita, KS 67211
316.263.1004
©BlueSky Business Aviation News | 28th February 2013 | Issue #213
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