How Google Reader Changed My Life

 I manage social media accounts for multiple organizations and have found that using Google Reader has changed my life and if you're not using it or one of its equivalents, you are probably losing valuable time.

As part of being part of the community of the organizations I serve it is imperative that I stay up to date on industry news from national/regional sources as well as be aware of what is happening within the local landscape of similar organizations.  I use Google Reader to do this.  I track keywords, subscribe to feed from trusted sources and follow relevant blogs.  Google Reader delivers all this information in an organized format right to one place.  No more random searches, no more navigating to each and every pertinent website.  I save valuable time because they all come to me per my specifications. 

If you don't use it, it is quite simple to set up.  First you need a Gmail account.  You can set one up at https://mail.google.com/.

Then go to www.google.com/reader to get started.  It will prompt you to select keywords to help you get started.  Then, as you visit your favorite websites and blogs, subscribe to them via Google Reader.  How and where the subscription opt-ins are will vary by site, but look for it, it's there.

Following your favorites on Facebook and Twitter is also a way to learn good information but it doesn't happen on in your own time.  Stay current, save time and be a leader within your industry with a little assistance from Google Reader.

Quick Guide for Social Media Beginners to Contribute to their Organization's Strategy

Not everyone within an organization is a social media savvy as the next person.  The following provides a guide for those who wish to contribute to the social media presence and strategy of an organization.

When implementing a social media strategy each member of an organization (Board Members, employees, etc.) has a responsibility to participate and interact and further the efforts of that strategy.  This means "liking" a Facebook page and "liking" posts written on the page as they appear.  This allows your friends to see those posts and make a decision as to their opinion on the subject matter and business.  If they decide to "like" that page then their friends are now presented with the same opportunities and the viral possibilities go on from there.

On Twitter, the process starts with "Following" the organization and "Retweeting" its posts so that those "Following" you can see the original posts.  You can also tweet a message back to the organization and include its name in your tweet to, again, put that organization's name in front of your followers.  This is done by using the @username format. 

If you are new to Twitter and don't have many followers, your first order of business should be to go find those individuals or businesses that interest you and "Follow" them.  In turn, they may in turn follow you.  Be careful not to only focus only on national brands and personalities, look at local businesses, organizations, personalities and entertainment options from your community.  Also, remember to use that account and tweet about things that interest you.  You need to be interesting to grow your follower base.

In Summary:
"Like" Facebook fan pages
"Like" Facebook posts
"Follow" on Twitter
"Retweet" posts
Tweet to the organization using @username

Not Wanting to Meet Customers Face to Face = Bad Business

Note actually left on a business door as seen and photgraphed by a friend of mine.  They won't be in business for long with this attitude.  If your clients want to see you face to face, make time and show up.

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines

NASCAR rolls right around the corner from me into the California Speedway this weekend.  Millions are spent by corporations on sponsorships each year.  Do they pay off?  You betcha!

Check out these studies:

http://www.hlglicensing.com/nascar.htm

http://jimc.medill.northwestern.edu/JIMCWebsite/2003/corbett.pdf

http://www.performanceresearch.com/nascar-racestat.htm

Social Media Strategy: Do you have one?

I've recently taken on the responsibility of developing and maintaining the social media strategy for a local non-profit arts organization of which I happen to be a board member.  As I have started organizing and strategizing it has become apparent that not many local and regional arts programs have social media strategies.  Many have Facebook pages, but they are poorly utilized.  Many only post around peak times and events.  Here are a few key pointers to keep you on track and engaging your audience.

• Consistently post to your Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc. accounts.  Your audience wants to stay in touch or they wouldn't follow you in the first place.  Post behind the scenes snapshots of rehearsals, set building, load-ins or share interesting facts about your artists.  Anything to "touch" your audience on a regular basis.
• Connect with other arts organizations in your community by following their Twitter accounts and "liking" their Facebook pages.  By supporting each other you'll strengthen the impact the arts have on your community and beyond.  You'll also stay informed of what they are doing and maybe gain some ideas.  Re-tweet and share their posts to show you're support.  I'm sure they'll do the same for you.
• Send direct messages to your followers; let them know that they are appreciated.  Building relationships and good customer service goes a long way.
• Get creative.  By implementing fun contests you can grow your audience and reward your current one.
• Keep your websites current.  You'll want to refer traffic back to your site so you can share complete information.
• Learn as much as you can about SEO, Blogging, Podcasting, etc.  You should try to incorporate as many of these into your strategy as possible.
• Be willing to spend money when you need to and be willing to try new things.  The landscape of advertising and marketing have changed.  The things you did 2 years ago may not work today.
• Get help.  If you're unfamiliar with social networking sites and tools, ask around or invest in a class at a local college.  The investment will pay off.

Digital Banner Ads

Digital advertising is becoming more and more important.  Are today's banner ads making a large enough impact to move the consumer into action?  Below is a sampling of price point and special offer ads.  Both the creative and placement will determine the success of any ad campaign, but what makes a successful combination?  Color, typography, clarity, branding, it truly is a complex formula.  Here are my pointers for a successful digital campaign.

• Simplicity - the ads have such a small voice on a page that you have to get your message to stand out clearly.  That means not muddling it up with too many words, pictures or messages.
• Clear Branding - the consumer needs to identify your brand on sight, if any time is required to figure out who this ad is for, you've failed.
• Call to Action - What's in it for the consumer?  Make it clear and you'll earn a click thru.
• Do your research - Define your target, seek to understand them, determine what will appeal to them and how to speak to them.
• Targeted Placement - You cannot create a market where one doesn't exist, place to target your core demographic. 
• Strategize - Determine your goals.  Are you planning to reach new consumer, target existing ones, promote a specific event or price point, etc.  But don't try to do it all at once.
• Commit- Be prepared to commit to enough time to allow your campaign to develop and to return results.

When in doubt, work with a professional and listen to the ad sales professionals.  They want your campaigns to be as successful as you do.

$49 iPhone from At&T

Great price point ad, and it's not just because it is for an iPhone. Sorry about the poor quality video, best one I could find.