The ROI of 5000 tweets

Once in a while I need a momentum to reflect on time spent, and to see if it was time spent well.

So there it is: almost 5000 tweets, not much for some, a lot for others.

How did I do on spending my time? And why did I start tweeting in the first place? Have to say, that ROI was not top of mind at first. Experimenting and learning was…

I started in the second half of 2009 wanting to find out if there were any conference and exhibition people out there, people I might know. Had no idea what to expect. Well, there were not many in the Netherlands but as soon as I found out how to search and navigate and who to follow things went their own way.

Investment:

Only time, but lots of it. There is no way I can say that it only took minutes. Evenings spent reading, looking at hashtags, following conversations, looking up links and searching for old and new friends. I did not document the spent time that well but at least an hour every single day might be right. Maybe more. And much more, if you count the time reading blogs and links.

Return:

A network of great people around the globe that are working in the events industry, sharing their ideas and views, giving an insight into their worlds and bringing up topics that are worth discussing in tweetchats or blogs. A world of knowledge that unfolds and presents itself, only if you are willing to participate. Communicate. And share as well.

Learning of events related initiatives, new events, organizers, networks, research, reports, all the trends in the meetings industry on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes by just asking. Often in a tweetchat.

New friends and a better understanding of old ones, finding it easier to start conversations with complete strangers.

Re-connecting in other networks by linking my tweets

The phrase “just do it” for a non sportsperson finally making sense: the start of this blog, encouraged by @jenisefryatt, and the start of a tweetchat for #euventprofs. The results are not always encouraging (last chats were pretty low on people) but the fact that you can just start something and see where it goes was a great revelation. Know what you want and see if it works. Just do it, dare to fail. And that is a pretty big lesson.

So was it worth it?   Personally? Oh yes. Professionally? Oh yes. Ready for my next 5000!

Dare to share ! (and a big THANK YOU)

When I ask my son about stuff at his school, he often doesn’t answer right away. Reluctant to tell his mother the full story, I guess. Not willing to share all discussions he has with his friends and classmates. I understand  that, and unless there is a real problem, this is OK. I do not need to know everything. Let him have his own world.

I am just like him, in a way. Often I try to find my own solution for professional challenges. I can spend hours and hours writing, planning, researching and summarizing. Knowing that I can get the job done. Often not realizing that maybe I can do a better job if I consult a few peers.

However, sharing your story can help. It  helps if you are a 10 year old struggling with a show and tell, but also if you are a meeting planner trying to find new conference formats .

Ask a few questions. Listen to a few different opinions. Share your own views. Dare to share.

Bottom line: if you dare to share your thoughts and ideas, you will benefit. It is that simple. Find listeners in colleagues, industry peers, neighbors, friends…different ears hear the same story in different ways, and will give you a diverse feedback that can help you find solutions you would otherwise not have found. Better still, share with people that you might not even know. To get a fresh view.

Why am I going on about this? Simple.

On October 3rd I will start a weekly chat on Twitter for European event professionals. Inspired by the event professionals community on Twitter, a great bunch of people that showed me that sharing ideas, views, thoughts and challenges in the events industry can be rewarding and inspiring. Can be provocative and scary. Can be hard and confronting. Can be caring and helpful. Can be fun and full of laughs. But always leave behind a few good ideas that can help you.

The chats by groups using hashtags such as #eventprofs, #engage365, #expochat, #assnchat showed me communities that are keen on educating and sharing experiences. Giving insights in events, organizers, exhibitors, venues, delegates, technology, you name it. From day to day routines to global trends. Open discussions, with people giving their opinions freely. No holding back.

Such a great learning experience… so a big THANK YOU is due.

And I hope that maybe we can follow your example.. by providing a platform for European event professionals to share their thoughts. Let’s give it a try. Dare to share! (by the way, #euventprofs will be the thing to look for…)