ASIS 2014 Proves Social Media Works

I understand that parts of the security industry are rather “hush-hush,” and can’t and shouldn’t be discussed openly; however, it seems that the security industry as a whole is coming out of its shell a bit, at least on social media platforms, Twitter in particular.

As most of you know, I am an avid tweeter and quite frankly, I love it. It’s amazing to connect with people from all over the globe who I may have never gotten the chance to meet. And, as I walked around the ASIS 2014 showroom floor, I was happy to see a large number of security professionals tweeting, some for the first time ever.

Some companies were tweeting about their new products while others were taking pictures of their booth and tweeting it for the world to see. Still others were tweeting selfies with their company’s hashtag attached. All of these strategies, extremely effective; however, one strategy stood out to me: tweeting directly to journalists, inviting them to their booth.

I received several tweets from companies using my twitter handle (@GingerHill13) personally inviting me to come by their booth to check out their new products or even grab some free swag and rest for a bit. (By the way, a booth with fluffy carpet and a comfy chair is the BEST thing companies can offer to journalists running around the showroom floor.)

So, why was this strategy so smart?

When you receive a personal invitation, it’s difficult to say no. As companies invited me to come by their booths, I felt a bit obligated to at least stop by and say hi. When I did, I would usually take a picture of the booth or a selfie and tweet this to my followers. The company got exposure to about 10,000 people that they may have never come into contact with between my Twitter followers and Security Today’s Twitter followers.

Don’t be afraid to step out of the box and try something new. Twitter can be overwhelming and a bit scary, just like anything new, but by developing a strategy, this gives you a goal to accomplish which will help drive the types of Tweets you tweet!

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • 2025 Gun Violence Statistics Show Signs of Progress

    Omnilert, a national leader in AI-powered safety and emergency communications, has released its 2025 Gun Violence Statistics, along with a new interactive infographic examining national and school-related gun violence trends. In 2025, the U.S. recorded 38,762 gun-violence deaths, highlighting the continued importance of prevention, early detection, and coordinated response. Read Now

  • Big Brand Tire & Service Rolls Out Interface Virtual Perimeter Guard

    Interface Systems, a managed service provider delivering remote video monitoring, commercial security systems, business intelligence, and network services for multi-location enterprises, today announced that Big Brand Tire & Service, one of the nation’s fastest-growing independent tire and automotive service providers, has eliminated costly overnight break-ins and significantly reduced trespassing and vandalism at a high-risk location. The company achieved these results by deploying Interface Virtual Perimeter Guard, an AI-powered perimeter security solution designed to deter incidents before they occur. Read Now

  • The Evolution of ID Card Printing: Customer Challenges and Solutions

    The landscape of ID card printing is evolving to meet changing customer needs, transitioning from slow, manual processes to smart, on-demand printing solutions that address increasingly complex enrollment workflows. Read Now

  • TSA Awards Rohde & Schwarz Contract for Advanced Airport Screening Ahead of Soccer World Cup 2026

    Rohde & Schwarz, a provider of AI-based millimeter wave screening technology, announced today it has won a multi-million dollar award from TSA to supply its QPS201 AIT security scanners to passenger security screening checkpoints at selected Soccer World Cup 2026 host city airports. Read Now

  • Brivo, Eagle Eye Networks Merge

    Dean Drako, Chairman of Brivo, the leading global provider of cloud-native access control and smart space technologies, and Founder of Eagle Eye Networks, the global leader in cloud AI video surveillance, today announced the two companies will merge, creating the world’s largest AI cloud-native physical security company. The merged company will operate under the Brivo name and deliver a truly unified cloud-native security platform. Read Now

New Products

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.”

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings.