Why you WANT to host a Tweetup

A tweet-up is a meet-up at a predetermined location, but with Twitter friends. Hosting a tweet-up for your followers, or a special group, builds a nice report within the community and can fill some traditionally slow nights or mornings with a little extra revenue. Tweet-ups are also a great way to put faces to Twitter names and get to know your fellow tweeters in person.

If you’ve never attended a tweet-up, find one in your community or industry and go.

If its a successful, productive tweet-up:

1. You’ll discover some of the heavy players in your own Twittersphere, some friendly competition, and meet people you’ll want to start following and vice-versa
2. There will be something to munch on and sip
3. The hosts will be mingling and making people feel welcome
4. Ideally there will be someone of community interest present, like a local celebrity, chef, wine maker, PR star or the like

What makes a tweet-up successful is also good marketing prior to the event, and the “thanks” and “good to see you” tweets afterward. That’s the kind of networking and community building that is essential to maintaining an active social media presence. Will the folks that go to a fun, organized tweet-up come back to that venue when the idea strikes? You bet.

Why would you want to take the time to plan and host a tweet-up at your restaurant or shop? Simple: sharing something that’s near and dear to you – your business – with the people that share your vision every day on Twitter. They spread the word about your establishment by conversing with you via social networking sites, retweeting you, by filling your seats, and by bringing their friends, family and colleagues to your place.

Hosting a tweet-up not only offers a chance for others who haven’t seen what you are all about, it shows your generosity and gratitude toward your community. The payback can be ten-fold or more. Who wouldn’t want that kind of reputation?

You’ll find tips about hosting your own tweet-up in the Twitter for Restaurants guide.

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