In what is a game changer for Company Page events, LinkedIn has rolled out a new Events option to all company pages as part of its efforts to assist companies dealing with the impact of COVID-19.
With so many in-person industry events and conferences either canceled or postponed as a result of the pandemic, the new LinkedIn Events feature is helpful for connecting and promoting virtual events to your followers, such as meetups, coffee breaks, happy hours, CLE programs or webinars.
LinkedIn Events was previously only available on selected company pages, but now, any company administrator can create an event and track RSVPs on their LinkedIn company page.
LinkedIn Events provides members with an easy way to create and join professional events that interest them. This feature helps grow your professional network and build relationships.
To create your own LinkedIn event, use the company page administrator tools on your desktop or mobile device.
Once you create an event, both organizers and attendees can issue invites (only if the event is public) to promote it. You can also engage with attendees in the Event feed as well as create private events (more on that later).
The following roles are available in LinkedIn Events:
To create an event:
- Tap your profile picture in the home screen.
- In the panel that appears, scroll down to the Events section and tap “Create Event.”
- In the pop-up window that appears, enter the required information in the fields provided.
- Tap “Create.”
Once you create an event to plan your professional gathering, you can manage the event’s details at any time. Learn more about setting your event privacy settings.
Both organizers and attendees can send invitations to connections to attend an event. Note: If an event is private, the organizer will need to provide permission for attendees to invite their connections. In addition, the event organizer can withdraw an invitation or remove an attendee if they change their mind.
Once you’ve accepted an invite to an event, the feature gives you access to a list of LinkedIn members who will be attending the event with you. This is a great place to start interacting with other attendees, as you can invite them to connect before the event. You can also participate in discussions with other attendees by posting and joining conversations in the event feed.
As with any new enhancement that was quickly rolled out by LinkedIn, there are some hiccups.
Sometimes I can see the feature on the company pages I manage, sometimes I cannot. Refreshing usually helps, but it can take longer than a day for the events to reappear. Just be patient with it and always also post an event on your website/social media channels, as well as send an email invite, which in my opinion, is the most direct and powerful way to reach your audience.
This is a welcome enhancement to LinkedIn at a time when we need all the help we can get with developing relationships. Stay safe.
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Stefanie Marrone helps law firms effectively tell their stories and find their unique voices. Over the last 18 years, she has worked with some of the most prominent and innovative law firms in the world, developing and executing global revenue generating business development and communications strategies, including media relations, branding, and multi-channel content marketing and social media campaigns. She is very passionate about using social media for lead generation and brand building. She has a diverse range of experience in both Big Law and mid-size/small-law firms. Connect with her on LinkedIn and follow her latest writing on JD Supra as well as her blog The Social Media Butterfly.
