Being selected to speak at the NADA Convention is an incredible opportunity. It places you in front of the most powerful dealership decision-makers in the country. But here’s the truth: no matter how great your content is, if no one knows about your session, your room will be half-empty and so will your lead funnel.

To turn your workshop into a high-ROI success, social media marketing is essential. It’s where dealers scroll for insights, scan for opportunities, and plan their time on the show floor. The right social strategy can amplify your authority, drive booth traffic, and ensure your session is standing-room-only.

Here’s how to do it with expert insights, practical steps, and tools from Cactus Sky, the premier marketing partner for vendors.

Why Social Media Matters for NADA Promotion

Social media isn’t just for visibility, it’s for influence. Dealers attending NADA are:

• Researching speakers ahead of time
• Curating their schedules based on trending content
• Watching who’s showing up in their feeds consistently

A strategic, pre-show social campaign builds anticipation, trust, and engagement, making your workshop a must-attend event before the doors even open.

Best Practices for Personal Workshop Promotion

Your personal brand is your biggest asset in social media promotion. Here’s how to use it:

1. Start Early and Build Momentum

Begin posting 6–8 weeks before the show. Highlight:

• Your topic and key takeaways
• Why it matters to dealers
• A countdown to the session date

2. Use LinkedIn as Your Home Base

LinkedIn is where decision-makers live. Post consistently and engage in comments to stay top of mind. Share:

• BeHere’she-scenes prep
• Insights related to your workshop topic
• Speaker highlights and teaser clips

3. Incorporate Video for Engagement

Short, authentic videos (30–60 seconds) explaining what you’ll cover at NADA consistently outperform text posts. Keep it focused, passionate, and useful.

4. Pin Key Posts

Pin your workshop post on LinkedIn and X so it’s always visible on your profile—this increases visibility for every visitor.

How Your Company Can Promote You Effectively

If your company is sponsoring the session, social should play a central role in the campaign. Here’s what to do:

1. Create a Unified Hashtag + Visual Identity

Use a branded graphic template and consistent messaging across posts to build workshop awareness and visual recognition.

2. Launch Paid LinkedIn Campaigns

Cactus Sky can geo-target or industry-target NADA attendees with LinkedIn ads that promote your session directly in their feed. These campaigns drive:

• RSVPs
• Calendar adds
• Meeting requests

3. Amplify Through Influencer Networks

Peter “webdoc” Martin and other Cactus Sky influencers can share your session across their 12,000+ auto-focused followers to add trust and expand your reach.

4. Schedule a Pre-Show Social Series

Plan a series of 5–10 posts that go out leading up to the show. Cactus Sky creates and manages a complete social media content calendar, customized to your “session”.

Top Social Tactics for NADA Success

Whether you’re promoting personally or through your company, these are the tactics that work:

Strategy Why It Works

• Video Teasers Builds excitement and trust—dealers want to hear your voice.
• Carousel Posts Great for breaking down session content in digestible parts.
• Countdown Graphics Creates urgency and encourages shares.
• Speaker Features in Stories Highlight key messages across Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
• Polls & Engagement Posts Get your audience involved—ask what topics matter most to them.
• Recaps from Past Events If you’ve spoken before, share stats or testimonials.

Bonus Tactic: Use Retargeting + Social Sync

Cactus Sky connects the dots between your email campaigns, landing pages, and social media.

We use retargeting ads to continue promoting your session to anyone who:

• Opened your NADA email
• Clicked your LinkedIn link
• Visited your session landing page

That means your name stays in their feed, increasing familiarity, excitement, and turnout.

Post During and After Your Session

The social media impact doesn’t stop when your session begins. You should also:

• Post live from the stage (or have your team do it)
• Share photos and audience feedback afterward
• Post a thank-you note with follow-up links

Cactus Sky offers real-time social support and post-event engagement campaigns to help you convert leads after the applause ends.

Let Cactus Sky Fill the Room for You

You don’t have to do this alone. Cactus Sky has a decade-long track record of helping vendors maximize their investment at NADA, and that includes workshop promotion.

When you partner with us, you get:

• A proven multi-channel strategy that blends social, email, and influencer marketing
• A dedicated creative team to design your visuals, write your copy, and manage your calendar
• Powerful tools like LinkedIn ads, retargeting, influencer shares, and real-time social support

We’ve helped brands like Recall Masters, Dealer Merchant Services, and MarketPoint turn their NADA speaking engagements into packed rooms, booth traffic, and closed deals.

If you want your NADA 2026 workshop to be more than a speaking slot, if you want it to be a sales accelerator, we’re your team.

Contact Cactus Sky to build your workshop promotion strategy.