How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference?

We’ve recently witnessed a couple of incredible healthcare conferences taking place, #himss12 and #TEDxMaastricht, both ground breaking in their impact of healthcare social media. Today marks the last day of another huge healthcare conference, #tedmed, which of course have inspired us to have a another look at our database to see if putting numbers into context can tell us a story.

For us who live and breath healthcare social media, it’s a given that a social media presence for any conference can be incredible powerful and valuable when done right, but we are often approached by conference organizers who want an anwer to “how valuable?“. They may be a bit new to healthcare social media (hey, who isn’t?), but they have recognized that social media has a part to play in their conference, so the question quickly becomes, “how much resources should we put into this to make it right?” That’s a fair question, and the answer will obvisouly vary widely depending on the nature of the conference and your audience.

 

A Redefinition of Healthcare Conference Participants

No, your confernece audience is not the people in the room. It’s much larger than that. The knowledge and the stories want be spread around, and today it is – in real-time. So how big can the real-time audience of healthcare conferences be? Putting our data into context shows that the real-time audience can in fact be much larger than the people physically there.
healthcare conference participants

The Social-Physical Conference Participant Ratio

healthcare conference physical vs social ratio
Note that the social participants data is pulled from the actual days of the conference. One should really include a time period after the conference in order to get a more accurate picture of the amplification as information takes time to spread. The ratios will be greater. On the other hand, TEDMED also had live video feeds to select locations increasing their “physical participants” number.

With outcomes like these, how valuable is a social media presence for a healthcare conference?

Symplur - @symplur

Symplur creates products purpose-built for healthcare to make the move from insight to action as simple as possible.

134 Responses to “How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference?”

  1. lucien engelen

    Thanks for the heads up on this and great insights.
    There is one aspect that might be of importance as well. On TEDxMaastricht we have chosen NOT to provide WiFi to the audience. Might be a bit controversial, since for all our other conferences we did and do. But due to the format of the conference (TEDx) we wanted everybody to have full attention to our speakers. Only one backrow gave the option to use (cabled) internet. IN comparing conferences that might be relevant.
    Once again thanks for your great work.

    Lucien Engelen
    Founder & Curator “the future of Health” (2011 & 2012 TEDxMaastricht)
    4-2-2013 in Nijmegen

  2. Audun Utengen

    It is truly an incredibly achievement to create such a social media impact even without available of WiFi!

    Putting TEDxMaastricht into perspective with another conference with a similar record social media impact, #himss12, can bring additional insights into the magnitude of the value.
    #himss12 had similar record peak tweet volume day of about 6,500 as did #TEDxMaastricht. But they had around 37,000 physical attendees, vs your 900!

    In other words, with 40 times fewer physical participants, you managed to accomplish comparable healthcare social media impact.

    Thanks for you comment Lucien!

    Audun

  3. HealthCampRDU

    RT @symplur: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/9eJMuKaN #SXSH #SocPharm

  4. Christi Waarich

    RT @symplur: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/9eJMuKaN #SXSH #SocPharm

  5. Albin Paul

    RT @symplur: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/T0Y8Yzc7 #hcsm #TEDMED #TEDxMaastricht

  6. Albin Paul

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/RmDee8dL #hcsm #TEDMED #TEDxMaastricht

  7. Medgadget

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? – Symplur http://t.co/O3huqYSS

  8. kathi apostolidis

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/FnMeMmc7

  9. MedCom Solutions

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/4cjF57FR #hcsm #TEDMED #… http://t.co/nUxJfEsg #hcsm

  10. Science Stream

    RT @DigMedCom How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/Ie3BJh4r #hcsm #TEDMED #… http://t….

  11. PenelopeM

    Like this! How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/r0zT0w38 via @symplur #TEDMED

  12. Science Stream

    RT @CalliopeCo Like this! How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/JD8TKNtN via @symplur #TEDMED

  13. Little Dog Comm

    RT @symplur: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/9eJMuKaN #SXSH #SocPharm

  14. gary levin

    Top story: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/JJpRVFEK, see more http://t.co/fvHSW2vp

  15. Neelesh Bhandari MD

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/4cjF57FR #hcsm #TEDMED #… http://t.co/nUxJfEsg #hcsm

  16. Neelesh Bhandari MD

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/4cjF57FR #hcsm #TEDMED #… http://t.co/nUxJfEsg #hcsm

  17. MedCom Solutions

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/4cjF57FR #hcsm #TEDMED #… http://t.co/Cf7BeUQP #hcsm

  18. MedCom Solutions

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/4cjF57FR #hcsm #TEDMED #… http://t.co/Cf7BeUQP #hcsm

  19. Science Stream

    RT @edrneelesh RT @DigMedCom: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/Ie3BJh4r #hcsm #TEDME

  20. Science Stream

    RT @edrneelesh RT @DigMedCom: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/Ie3BJh4r #hcsm #TEDME

  21. Science Stream

    RT @DigMedCom How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/Ie3BJh4r #hcsm #TEDMED #… http://t….

  22. Science Stream

    RT @DigMedCom How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/Ie3BJh4r #hcsm #TEDMED #… http://t….

  23. MedCom Solutions

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/4cjF57FR #hcsm #TEDMEDhttp://t.co/Cf7BeUQP #hcsmin

  24. Science Stream

    RT @DigMedCom How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/Ie3BJh4r #hcsm #TEDMED… htt…

  25. Sarah Amani

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/heCN7j45

  26. Erick Kinuthia

    Nice stats Utengen. Social media presence in a conference is a good way to even include those participants who are not physically present in the room.

    Erick Kinuthia
    Team MDwebpro

  27. Claire OT

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/heCN7j45

  28. MedCom Solutions

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/RFm76GHq: How valuable is… http://t.co/BKww96jO #hcsm

  29. VictoriaBetton

    @S_Amani: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/5Q7Ee8ix” < @AndrewSimsCtr will be interested?

  30. Lisa Chalkley

    @S_Amani: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/5Q7Ee8ix” < @AndrewSimsCtr will be interested?

  31. MedCom Solutions

    @S_Amani: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/RFm76GHq” < @Ahttp://t.co/7I04wQS0 #hcsm

  32. Sandeep TC

    Medical conferences in the social era. http://t.co/j2gOBW8w

  33. Ali Mondragon

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/heCN7j45

  34. Howard Luks

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/XH6CYrFP via @symplur

  35. Judy Neiman

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/XH6CYrFP via @symplur

  36. MedCom Solutions

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/aOQM3FWQ via @symplur: Ho… http://t.co/39mHBBLk #hcsm

  37. mariaburpee

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/XH6CYrFP via @symplur

  38. PhysicianDigital

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/XH6CYrFP via @symplur

  39. Robert Blount

    RT @hjluks How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/fwS8JzsO… via @symplur #hcsm

  40. Gayle Tuttle

    RT @symplur: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/9eJMuKaN #SXSH #SocPharm

  41. Brian Kalis

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/XH6CYrFP via @symplur

  42. Alex Djuricich MD

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/XH6CYrFP via @symplur

  43. MikeBoehmer57

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/MShQIJHz via @symplur #mccsm #hcsm

  44. MikeBoehmer57

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/MShQIJHz via @symplur #mccsm #hcsm

  45. AHP Media

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/heCN7j45

  46. Angel Gonzalez

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/ROkP8Ou4 via @symplur #hcsmeu #hcsmeuES #Ideagoras #Pharma

  47. Angel Gonzalez

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/MDqqy7r2 via @symplur #hcsmeu #hcsmeuES #Ideagoras #Pharma

  48. Salma Patel

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/XwwOLrNQ via @symplur #nhssm

  49. Rosa Nieto

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/MDqqy7r2 via @symplur #hcsmeu #hcsmeuES #Ideagoras #Pharma

  50. MedCom Solutions

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/I53KGX68 via @symplur #hchttp://t.co/0Z6zdygf #hcsm

  51. Thomas M. Lee

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/rGUcpUrt #hcsm

  52. Michael Fisch

    Social/physical participant ratio:RT @tmlfox: How valuable is a social media for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/5XCGQ6qQ #hcsm #bcsm

  53. Peter Grant

    I am interested in the role of social media in healthcare conference.

  54. Matthew Ray Scott

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/tAvHYoqD via @zite #ASPS

  55. Amara Nwosu

    Social/physical participant ratio:RT @tmlfox: How valuable is a social media for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/5XCGQ6qQ #hcsm #bcsm

  56. Steve Davies

    The value of social media for healthcare conferences http://t.co/ZEcVEpye

  57. DCPatient

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/u7pQa6wf via @zite

  58. Chewmongous23

    It's still hard to tell! RT @symplur: How valuable is a #socialmedia presence for a Healthcare Conf? http://t.co/IS21DxUB #SXSH #SocPharm

  59. Infusion Nurse App

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? – Symplur http://t.co/O3huqYSS

  60. MedCom Solutions

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? – Symplur http://t.co/RFm76GHq: How v… http://t.co/HaHDoL6F #hcsm

  61. Medlog

    Hoe waardevol is social media bij/voor een medisch congres? http://t.co/9ZGWWiov

  62. Henri Post 

    RT @medlog: Hoe waardevol is social media bij/voor een medisch congres? http://t.co/8rZy467a

  63. DSSH

    Hoe waardevol is social media bij/voor een medisch congres? http://t.co/9ZGWWiov

  64. Elizabeth Georgescu

    RT @symplur: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/9eJMuKaN #SXSH #SocPharm

  65. PHARMAMEDIX

    Healthcare Conference e Medicina 2.0: la partecipazione “social“ triplica la partecipazione “reale“ http://t.co/tCxAI8dY

  66. INNOVA ET BELLA I&B

    Healthcare Conference e Medicina 2.0: la partecipazione “social“ triplica la partecipazione “reale“ http://t.co/tCxAI8dY

  67. INNOVA ET BELLA I&B

    Healthcare Conference e Medicina 2.0: la partecipazione “social“ triplica la partecipazione “reale“ http://t.co/tCxAI8dY

  68. INNOVA ET BELLA I&B

    Healthcare Conference e Medicina 2.0: la partecipazione “social“ triplica la partecipazione “reale“ http://t.co/tCxAI8dY

  69. INNOVA ET BELLA I&B

    Healthcare Conference e Medicina 2.0: la partecipazione “social“ triplica la partecipazione “reale“ http://t.co/tCxAI8dY

  70. INNOVA ET BELLA I&B

    Healthcare Conference e Medicina 2.0: la partecipazione “social“ triplica la partecipazione “reale“ http://t.co/tCxAI8dY

  71. INNOVA ET BELLA I&B

    Healthcare Conference e Medicina 2.0: la partecipazione “social“ triplica la partecipazione “reale“ http://t.co/tCxAI8dY

  72. INNOVA ET BELLA I&B

    Healthcare Conference e Medicina 2.0: la partecipazione “social“ triplica la partecipazione “reale“ http://t.co/tCxAI8dY

  73. Howard Luks

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/XH6CYrFP via @symplur

  74. elle

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/XH6CYrFP via @symplur

  75. SusanCarr

    RT @hjluks: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/JHdsdWN5 via @symplur

  76. Natrice Rese

    RT @hjluks: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/JHdsdWN5 via @symplur

  77. S2N Health

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/XH6CYrFP via @symplur

  78. Nancy Shepherd

    @hjluks @symplur Of course conference audience is much greater than those in room, but thx for data http://t.co/GY4YgcRT Infer xtra impact?

  79. Mark Browne

    RT @hjluks: How valuable is a social media presence for a #Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/9HFHgHuP via @symplur #hcsm

  80. Bunny Ellerin

    Good article. RT @hjluks: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/xQISrH4j via @symplur

  81. PhysicianDigital

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/XH6CYrFP via @symplur

  82. Jason Boies

    RT @hjluks How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/GSXUSziQ via @symplur

  83. Rob Cronin

    RT @hjluks: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/JHdsdWN5 via @symplur

  84. Harris Lygidakis

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/iDLTyXkz #hcsm #vdgm @rqgb @rigon_sara

  85. A. Patrick Jonas, MD

    RT @hjluks: How valuable is a social media presence for a #Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/9HFHgHuP via @symplur #hcsm

  86. Pedro Montalvo Sr

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare … http://t.co/hYvM0D1Q

  87. Tweet Guy

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare … http://t.co/jVo5mEx8

  88. Shanti Luis

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare … http://t.co/hllzjLyv

  89. Franzanize

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare … http://t.co/40vQSIqj

  90. anggi Dwika

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare … http://t.co/7u7uBhYl

  91. anggi Dwika

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare … http://t.co/Sl7oR7Mz

  92. Tommy Hermawan

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare … http://t.co/QnVExLDX

  93. Ferry Ardiansah

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare … http://t.co/pqlexTv6

  94. Money News

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare … http://t.co/4BLtMR7e

  95. Yuri Kesna

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare … http://t.co/tpL0hQ9U

  96. Money News

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare … http://t.co/4BLtMR7e

  97. Yuri Kesna

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare … http://t.co/tpL0hQ9U

  98. Go! Healthcare

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare … http://t.co/jVo5mEx8

  99. Shaymaa Adel

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/0AMM8uRp via @symplur #SM #MKTG

  100. Lisa Fields

    Topic 3: What r the Pros/Cons of Pts live tweeting during Keynote or breakout sessions during Med Conferences? http://t.co/wlAFGV81 #s4pm

  101. Dr. Bronwyn Hemsley

    Attention @ISAAC2012 @speechpathaust @AGOSCI – ratio of 'in person' and virtual attendees in Conf: http://t.co/YYRheB0o #Internets #Impact

  102. Dean Berg

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/LgxxBHYB #hcsm #hcmktg

  103. Harmony Turnbull

    Significant stuff! MT @bronwynah: ratio of 'in person' and virtual attendees in Conf: http://t.co/UUyvdf4A #Internets #Impact #AGOSCI

  104. Audun Utengen

    @PracticalWisdom Here's the blog about the value of conference tweets: http://t.co/gAKyk1dk #s4pm :)

  105. Lupus Advocate

    Thanks for sharing! RT @audvin: @PracticalWisdom Heres the blog about the value of conference tweets: http://t.co/ksxo2bWr #s4pm :) #s4pm

  106. Lupus Advocate

    Thanks for sharing! RT @audvin: @PracticalWisdom Heres the blog about the value of conference tweets: http://t.co/vWdlHg07 #s4pm :) #s4pm

  107. Dr. Bronwyn Hemsley

    Significant stuff! MT @bronwynah: ratio of 'in person' and virtual attendees in Conf: http://t.co/UUyvdf4A #Internets #Impact #AGOSCI

  108. Dan Baxter

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/DTjoinJi #socpharm #pharma

  109. Dan Baxter

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/2f9ElfQF #socpharm #pharma

  110. Dean Berg

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/FOCejntK #hcsm #hcmktg

  111. Dan Dunlop

    Nice post. RT @deanberg: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/2ucyzJyK #hcsm #hcmktg

  112. Erin Schmidt

    Holy amplification! RT @deanberg: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/4uS28tA7 #hcsm #hcmktg

  113. Evan T Howell

    Nice post. RT @deanberg: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/2ucyzJyK #hcsm #hcmktg

  114. Lisa Gualtieri

    Nice post. RT @deanberg: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/2ucyzJyK #hcsm #hcmktg

  115. Evelyn McElhinney

    #Research2012 RT@dandunlop: Nice post. How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/3WzUAkKO

  116. rqgb

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/iDLTyXkz #hcsm #vdgm @rqgb @rigon_sara

  117. MedCom Solutions

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/tNFrbBLG #hcsm #vdgm @rqghttp://t.co/sRbBuBr0 #hcsm

  118. MedCom Solutions

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/tNFrbBLG #hcsm #vdgm @rhttp://t.co/sRbBuBr0 #hcsmin

  119. HP Healthcare

    Extremely! RT @hjluks How valuable is a social media presence for a #healthcare conference? http://t.co/oKEpILcX (via @symplur) #hcsm

  120. Dana Smith

    Nice post. RT @deanberg: How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/2ucyzJyK #hcsm #hcmktg

  121. Esther Louw

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/yZJQDWvS via @symplur

  122. Go! Healthcare

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/yZJQDWvS via @symplur

  123. Thomas M. Lee

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/yLdQJWxY #hcsm #hcsmca #hcsmeu #hcsmeuES

  124. Al Lautenslager

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/yLdQJWxY #hcsm #hcsmca #hcsmeu #hcsmeuES

  125. Laura Starr

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/yLdQJWxY #hcsm #hcsmca #hcsmeu #hcsmeuES

  126. Ali R. Jalali

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/0nk0dgi6 via @symplur

  127. Go! Healthcare

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/0nk0dgi6 via @symplur

  128. Kent Robinson

    How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference? http://t.co/0nk0dgi6 via @symplur

  129. Ali R. Jalali

    @bronwynah @amcunningham @PDarbyshire Not sure: C 1st cmnt: "to have full attention to our speakers." http://t.co/0nk0dgi6

  130. Mike Pascoe PhD

    How valuable is a social media presence for a #CSM2013? http://t.co/1Dg19l3x

  131. Alexander Chan

    How valuable is a social media presence for a #CSM2013? http://t.co/1Dg19l3x

  132. Intersurgical

    'How valuable is a social media presence for a Healthcare Conference?' via @audvin http://t.co/sWTFj6nL #FOAMed #dascardiff #das2012

Comments are closed.