Glasgow 2014 Using Social Media To Help “Take People On Our Journey”, Says Chief Executive

Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg believes that the effective use of social and digital media has been one of the main drivers behind the high ticket sales reported by organizers.

He claimed here at the Sport Events Management Conference here today that connecting with fans through Twitter and Facebook encourages them to “come on our journey.”

Grevemberg says that he wants next year’s Commonwealth Games to be a “connected Games,” believing that engaging with fans and the public online in the build-up to and during the event will create a much greater affiliation and appreciation in the hearts and minds of the public.

“The connectedness is very much focused on the social media,” Grevemberg told insidethegames. “That’s part of our digital strategy and that focus on connecting as many people as possible to get them talking about the Games and what the Games means to them. And that applies to our ability to get as much information to people as possible about our ticketing programs and around volunteering and touching all of those bases.

“It has been important in generating interest, generating a real sense of relevance and just asking people, ‘How are we are doing?’ and actually taking on board the feedback and standing back and saying, ‘Well how did that message go down?’ or ‘How did that decision go down?’, and from that standpoint it is almost a critical factor to success now to listen to audiences. I wouldn’t say it’s the soul factor but it is certainly one of the main contributory factors. There are a great number of people connected to us and following us.”

The official Glasgow 2014 Twitter page has just under 62,500 followers while the official Games Facebook page has almost 184,000 likes.