She Fancies

Tweetups – people and companies are becoming more and more interested in learning about them, participating in one, and perhaps hosting one,  but beware, they aren’t as turn-key to execute and do require work.

@Sami Ari, formerly known as @tokyofan on twitter, is one of the most social tweeters I’ve met. He loves meeting new people, initiating conversations and overall just wants to be your friend. (She definitely Fancies when people are social and outgoing!) He’s recently been nicknamed “Mr.Tweetup” because he’s put together quite a few noteworthy tweetups this year. The previous week, I went to one of his tweetups and had a great time. It was the first time attending a tweetup I haven’t personally organized.

See what Mr. Tweetup had to say when I asked him some questions about his experience with tweetups and why they are so popular right now.

"Mr.Tweetup"

Name: Sami Ari

Twitter handle: @SamiAri

Bio: Started #ShakespeareSaturday. Watch great films, sometimes write about them. Left handed. Japanese learner. Interested. Chicago & art addict! There is no better place to live in than Chicago, it really is an amazing city with even more amazing people. Always interested in everything that life has to offer and share my thoughts with you. Meeting Chicago tweeps, one tweetup at a time!

Phone and application you use to tweet: I have an Android phone and frequently abused 4 different Twitter clients. Is that normal? Although a few weeks ago I got HootSuite and I’m in love with it.

How long have you been tweeting?
Created my Twitter account March 24th, 2009.

How did you get the name “Mr. Tweetup”?
Actually I don’t even remember how it came to exist. After the #preSpringTweet someone mentioned that they would give me that nickname. I guess it’s not a bad name to have.

In your own words – what is a tweetup?
Simply put, a tweetup is the hybrid of two words: Meetup and Twitter. It’s a way for people on Twitter to connect IRL (in real life).

Why do you think tweetups are so popular?
Because it’s an amazing opportunity for people who have been talking to each other online to finally meet IRL and a great way to connect with Chicago tweeps (Twitter people) that you haven’t met on Twitter yet! We are no longer restricted to 140 characters to have a conversation and not limited to our profile image.

What is the best part about a tweetup?
The sense of community that is established inside the space housing the tweeps.

How long should tweetups last? Should people plan for an afterparty?
I normally don’t put an end time on my tweetups. That said, tweeps usually start to head out 3 hours after the tweetup start time. Because tweetups usually involve drinks for the most part, few tweeps plan to head together to dinner afterward and carry on the conversation over great food. The best part about attending a tweetup after-party is that you never have to plan it. Things happen organically and before you know it, you’re sharing a cab with 5 other tweeps you just met that night, going to a late night sushi spot.

What should people know when planning or attending a tweetup?
Planning a tweetup requires time and passion. If you’re not ready to give both then leave it to someone else.
Here are few things to keep in mind when planning a tweetup.
1) Find a venue that’s in a central location that will be easily accessible to tweeps.
2) Contact the venue and make sure they are ready to handle the amount of tweeps you expect to show up.
3) Create an invite that tweeps can RSVP on. I personally like tweetvite.com because it allows Facebook users to RSVP as well. Why does it matter since they’re on Facebook and not Twitter? It’s a great way for people not on Twitter to come and see what it’s all about and learn first hand why it’s so much fun to be a tweep! I know I’ve “converted” few and they created a Twitter account during the tweetup!
4) In your invite be sure to include a bio of the venue so attendees know what to expect in term of drinks, food, what to wear, etc. Also, let tweeps know what the event is all about. Why are they attending? Any special occasion? Just for fun? Create a hashtag for the tweetup so tweeps are easily connected to each other once they are at the tweetup.
5) If possible have a screen with a live streaming of the tweets that include event’s hashtag. It’s an exciting way to keep tweeps engaged. Twitter offers a widget that does exactly that for you.
6) Make sure you arrive 30 minutes before the tweetup’s start time. It’s good to make sure all the small  details are taken care of. Also, there will always be early comers and it’s nice to be there once they arrive. You never want to be late when you’re the host.
7) When you arrive early, make sure there are markers and name tags for tweeps to write their Twitter handles. It’s a great way to break the ice and it’s always a nice surprise when you read someone’s handle and realize you’ve been exchanging tweets for a while on Twitter.
8) Greet tweeps who come in and enjoy the party!

Attending a tweetup doesn’t require much work. Make sure you do RSVP for the tweetup whether you think you’ll attend or not. It’s a good way for the organizer to keep track of the statistics to make sure everything is well prepared.

Most importantly, show up, don’t be shy and meet tweeps!

Why do you think more and more brands are participating in tweetups?
Businesses are realizing the power Twitter carries. It’s a great outlet to connect with their consumers and learn more about their specific habits, needs, etc. It’s also acts as a way to meet prospect clients and talk to them about your brand.

What makes a tweetup successful?
The tweeps attending of course!

If you could organize or attend any tweetup in the world – what would it be or look like? (if money were no object)
I’m in the process of planning a tweetup in Tokyo during my visit there this summer. I don’t know yet what would it look like but I’m excited to start something in that part of the world and challenge myself to connect people on Twitter in Tokyo to each other. I am very interested in learning about how different and similar the dynamic will be compared to the tweetups I’ve hosted in Chicago. I know it will be a great party!

Anything else to share?
Have fun with it, be creative and spread the Twitter love! People have misconceptions about what Twitter is so try to encourage a friend who’s not on Twitter to tag along to meet tweeps and realize that we’re a fun group of people that love meeting new people.

Each tweetup will be a bit different depending on the purpose it serves so don’t be afraid to change the rules a little bit.

Thanks to Sami aka Mr. Tweetup for sharing his insights on tweetups!

Have you been to a tweetup? Have you hosted a tweetup? Let me know!