If AI is the future why is LinkedIn full of selfies?

My LinkedIn feed is easy to predict: it’s full of AI conversations and event selfies. One post talks about the latest generative AI tool reshaping social media content creation, and the next shows someone smiling beside a conference banner or posting clips from a panel discussion.

It’s the same for most marketers and I would say every LinkedIn user. For all the hype around AI technology, machine learning and AI-generated content, the LinkedIn posts that really connect are the ones showing a real person doing real people things: meeting, learning, talking.

Events aren’t separate from social media marketing anymore. They are social media marketing. Every talk, handshake, or quick selfie becomes social media content that can be shared across different platforms — a LinkedIn feed, an Instagram Reel, or a story on another social media channel. For small and medium businesses, events now act as ready-made content engines, producing brand content that supports brand awareness, feeds your social strategy, and helps maintain a consistent presence across social media platforms.

Events as a source of digital authenticity

There’s real power in showing up. Being physically present somewhere adds depth and credibility — something AI-generated images or automated posts can’t replicate. A photo of your team at a booth, or a short clip from a live demo, says more about your brand than the most polished ad campaign.

On social, authenticity wins. A behind-the-scenes photo or spontaneous video often outperforms a planned social media post or a templated content creation graphic. It’s real, unscripted and human, which is exactly what the algorithms reward. And for smaller brands, it’s a cost-effective way to show expertise, confidence and connection without a big production budget.

How events extend into digital life

The smartest marketing teams treat every event as part of their content strategy. What happens in a conference hall travels online within minutes and the best results come when it’s planned that way.

Before the event, your social media management tools (like Sprout Social) can help build anticipation: announcements, hashtags, speaker line-ups and invitations all signal activity and relevance.

During the event, content spreads fast. Attendees share photos, quotes, short videos and relevant posts that expand reach far beyond the room. Tagging other speakers or using event hashtags helps create a virtuous loop of engagement that builds visibility across social media channels.

After the event, the real opportunity begins. Every image, quote or demo becomes fuel for weeks of content generation. Recap blogs, video content, social posts and even snippets can deliver a solid content calendar for your Instagram account or YouTube channel. Events don’t have to end when the lights go out; they continue through your content creator’s workflow and across your platforms.

For tools to help you plan and deliver your event socials, contact us now.

Making events work for your online brand

Keeping up with social media content creation can be tiring. Planning shoots, writing captions and keeping your brand voice consistent all take time. Events solve part of that problem because they give you authentic material to use long after the day ends.

Capture content deliberately: team photos, audience reactions, short interviews and quick clips of demos. Afterwards, use AI models and generative AI tools to help sort, caption and schedule that generated content. With tools like Sprout Social, you can automate your posting calendar, analyse performance and extract actionable insights on what connects best with your target audience.

Those same clips and photos can become testimonials, influencer marketing collaborations, or mini case studies. They add proof, personality and consistency, which are all elements that make for strong social media marketing without the need for constant new shoots.

The new marketing loop: IRL, digital, repeat

Physical and digital marketing now reinforce each other. The event gives your brand something real to show. The social media posts keep the conversation going long after the event is over. That digital visibility leads to new invitations, partnerships and even influencer marketing opportunities.

It’s a virtuous loop. Each event gives your marketing strategy more to share, and each share strengthens your customer experience and credibility. One real-world action can deliver weeks of online visibility and measurable engagement across your chosen platforms.

Bottom line: The most human content wins over the algorithms

Yes, events have survived despite AI and algorithms. They came back in force after the pandemic. But more than that, they’ve become more valuable because of our digital life. As automated content creation grows, audiences value what feels authentic. A live clip from a talk or a team photo captures that human energy and keeps your brand grounded.

Algorithms reward authenticity, and nothing feels more genuine than real people, in real places, doing real work. As influencer marketing reports keep showing, the brands that perform best online are those that balance smart tools with human presence.

If your marketing strategy is built on data, give it something human to work with.