To Social Network or Not to Social Network?
These days, polls are showing that more than 85 percent of all adults regularly use social networks. Everyone from elementary school students to grandmas are uploading pictures of their daily lives, not to mention parties, weddings, and other significant gatherings. But, it’s not always appropriate to use social networks to publicize your party, and you can bet that you’ll have a low turnout for your next event if you post not-so-flattering pictures of your guests once the music’s over. Here is a quick rule-of-thumb guide about using social networks for your next party.
Before the Party
Invitations
If you wanted, you could use Facebook as the sole means to invite guests to your party and to publicize the event. Unless the event is very low key (e.g., having a few buddies over for a super bowl party), however, do not rely on creating a Facebook event as the only means of inviting people to your gathering.
Why? For one, the informalness of the venue may leave people with the impression that your party is more casual or less of an important event than it actually is. This can lead to low turnout for an event that guests would otherwise not miss. If you want to forego paper altogether, an evite sent directly to their email is a better way to go; potential guests will know you’re trying to get their attention, rather than just “suggesting” that they come to your event. Not everyone checks Facebook or other social networks regularly, and only using a website like this to invite guests could mean that someone misses out on knowing about the event altogether.
But Do Use Social Networks for Messages
A friendly reminder about your party a few days before the event via Facebook message is a low-stress way to keep your party on your friends’ radar. You’ll only be messaging guests who have RSVP’d, and here the casualness of the venue actually works in your favor. Guests won’t feel badgered by a social network message, but it will ensure that those forgetful friends who might not have written it on their calendar not to let it slip their minds altogether.
After the Party
Thanks
Do use social networks to thank your guests for coming to your party. Whether you contact them via a message or a simple wall post, this small gesture is a polite way to let them know their attendance was appreciated. If the party was large, it’s okay to send a group Facebook message to all the guests at once. Just remember that if your party required a lot of effort on the part of your guests, like significant travel, you should thank them by mail or by phone as well.
Photos
Young people joke these days that a party didn’t happen if it isn't recorded on Facebook. If you have the time and effort, putting up an album of photos from the event can be a great way to make guests feel special and to entice them to come to your next event. Just make sure that you post only flattering photos of your guests—there’s nothing more annoying than logging on to see a tagged picture of yourself with a double chin and one eye closed. Putting up attractive photos of the party will remind your guests of the fun time they had, and it’s a nice way to commemorate the event.