I gave a talk on Social Media recently to a tourism group. It was very difficult to know how much detail I should go into because I am mindful that a proportion of the delegates were probably never going to engage with many of the tools of social media. Twitter was a 'marmite' subject to that audience. Half of the delegates were more likely to be consumers of social media than contributors, probably unwittingly at that. So with this in mind I added into my social media talk a small plea. Would everyone please make one small change to their browsing habits? After reading, leave a comment. It matters to small business owners, in particular, to receive feedback. So why do readers hold back? Does is matter so much to travel the web incognito?
Here is this morning's reminder of my plea to the tourism group. I am running a small workshop on Thursday about blogging. This morning I was very encouraged to receive a Facebook comment from Joy, one of the registrants on the course. She wrote: "Very much looking forward to Blogging on Thursday. Can really recommend Catherine's Workshops @dovefarm as they are informative and helpful but at the same time friendly and relaxed."
I am very grateful to Joy for her testimonial. How lovely to receive positive feedback and what a great way to start the week. I am prepping the workshop with extra enthusiasm as a result.
So how about it? When browsing the web today could you spare a second to leave a comment... even if you would never, ever describe yourself as a social media user?
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts
Monday, 18 June 2012
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Facebook for business
Setting up and managing Facebook FOR BUSINESS
With more than 750 million users, you are likely already using Facebook; you may even fall in the 50% that log on every day. The question is: How well are you using Facebook for business … if at all? If you would like to know how to create a winning Facebook page, increase the number of “likes” and generate business leads with Facebook, this session is for you. You will learn:
Venue: Dove Studio, Dove Farm, Mill Lane, off Dove Street, Ellastone, DE6 2GY
Price: £15 + VAT
2012 workshop schedule and booking form
Other details: Please bring a laptop computer if possible and a note of password information to any applications (e.g. Facebook) so that you can access and make changes to your accounts.
This workshop is for a small group of people so we will do our best to answer individual questions and resolve issues.
“Catherine talks common sense when it comes to marketing, which is wonderfully refreshing for a small business trying to achieve top results on a tight budget. Her practical, down-to-earth approach is both reassuring and motivating. I found her social media workshop and her general advice extremely helpful.”
With more than 750 million users, you are likely already using Facebook; you may even fall in the 50% that log on every day. The question is: How well are you using Facebook for business … if at all? If you would like to know how to create a winning Facebook page, increase the number of “likes” and generate business leads with Facebook, this session is for you. You will learn:
- How to set up your Facebook page correctly
- How to manage events on Facebook
- Best practices and tips for creating engaging content
- Communications strategies for your fan base
Venue: Dove Studio, Dove Farm, Mill Lane, off Dove Street, Ellastone, DE6 2GY
Price: £15 + VAT
2012 workshop schedule and booking form
Other details: Please bring a laptop computer if possible and a note of password information to any applications (e.g. Facebook) so that you can access and make changes to your accounts.
This workshop is for a small group of people so we will do our best to answer individual questions and resolve issues.
“Catherine talks common sense when it comes to marketing, which is wonderfully refreshing for a small business trying to achieve top results on a tight budget. Her practical, down-to-earth approach is both reassuring and motivating. I found her social media workshop and her general advice extremely helpful.”
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Online Marketing Conference and Exhibition, #omce2011
Spent a worthwhile day yesterday at the East Midlands Conference Centre visiting the OMCE event put on by @ebizclub.
I always find with these sorts of events that you sign up to go because an aspect of it is tempting, then come the night before all enthusiasm to take a day away from the office has evaporated because a long 'to do' list is beckoning. On this occasion I stuck to my resolve because managing online marketing is a service we offer clients and social media for business is one of Henmore's popular training events. I needed to check we are on the pulse of all that is new and vibrant in social media for business. We are!
I particularly enjoyed the presentation by Andrew Grill (@AndrewGrill). He made exactly the same comment that I always use to open my presentations: "Am I a social media guru? In social media there are no gurus, just practitioners." Things evolve very quickly in social media and even quite minor-sounding changes have far reaching implications for online marketing. Take the Facebook business page change a couple of weeks ago for example. And Google's changes to its algorithm always puts the cat amongst the pigeons - watch out for Panda Farming and some Google house-keeping is coming up as @IanLockwood explained in his fab presentation on the future of search.
During the conference and presentations some of us were tweeting our thoughts. As @IdeasStrategies we were having some fun with @somecallme_Jem, @zaddleMarketing, @davedawes, @tom_geraghty, @AndrewGrill (and somewhere on another continent @hotelPRguy tweeted that his ears were burning).
I just did the #omce2011 search on Twitter again (this is the day after) and I see others have just joined the fray. I guess they are doing the same as me, blogging and sharing their views on the day.
Well, it was worthwhile. Check Andrew Grills slides and enjoy the notion of the Twitter Tax.
I always find with these sorts of events that you sign up to go because an aspect of it is tempting, then come the night before all enthusiasm to take a day away from the office has evaporated because a long 'to do' list is beckoning. On this occasion I stuck to my resolve because managing online marketing is a service we offer clients and social media for business is one of Henmore's popular training events. I needed to check we are on the pulse of all that is new and vibrant in social media for business. We are!
I particularly enjoyed the presentation by Andrew Grill (@AndrewGrill). He made exactly the same comment that I always use to open my presentations: "Am I a social media guru? In social media there are no gurus, just practitioners." Things evolve very quickly in social media and even quite minor-sounding changes have far reaching implications for online marketing. Take the Facebook business page change a couple of weeks ago for example. And Google's changes to its algorithm always puts the cat amongst the pigeons - watch out for Panda Farming and some Google house-keeping is coming up as @IanLockwood explained in his fab presentation on the future of search.
During the conference and presentations some of us were tweeting our thoughts. As @IdeasStrategies we were having some fun with @somecallme_Jem, @zaddleMarketing, @davedawes, @tom_geraghty, @AndrewGrill (and somewhere on another continent @hotelPRguy tweeted that his ears were burning).
I just did the #omce2011 search on Twitter again (this is the day after) and I see others have just joined the fray. I guess they are doing the same as me, blogging and sharing their views on the day.
Well, it was worthwhile. Check Andrew Grills slides and enjoy the notion of the Twitter Tax.
Monday, 11 October 2010
Is the customer king, more than ever before?
Do you remember that old phrase 'The Customer is King'?
It was an adage that businesses had to regard, because unhappy customers had the annoying habit of muttering their displeasure around the local community. The result was that businesses had to take note and make improvements, assuming improvements were necessary. Either that, or the community made an assessment of the mutterings, filtering out the ramblings of the odd unhappy customer on the basis they were probably maladjusted or had a personal vendetta. Easy enough to spot – then as now.
I was particularly interested in the TripAdvisor debate and the views of various commentators and phone-in participants. I was reassured that people said they'd ignore someone whose user name is something like 'ChocChipCookie' making a personally damning observation along the lines of “the hotel owner is aggressive and a sexist racist and you shouldn't stay in her/his hotel . . .”
True, Social Media does give King Customer an instant voice. These tools take us back to hyper local ways, albeit across a global economy. I was just researching the latest views on social media tools for this weeks workshops and was reading a blog article on Social Media Today on which I just had to leave a comment. It said:
“One happy and connected customer can start a spiraling of praise which can hyper accelerate building a global brand. And one maligned (or maladjusted) unhappy customer can put the breaks on a multi-million dollar campaign and bring pain to a huge company.”
I said I thought the author was exaggerating. Huge brands have so much consumer interaction that a few negative comments are drowned out.
Many would sign off their blog criticism with #justsaying (on Twitter) or Just sayin' (on a blog comment). This always reminds me of when people say “no offence, but . . .” It's fun this social media, isn't it? A couple of opinionated people on different continents having their say, jostling for position and recognition by being slightly critical but mainly in agreement.
The author's main thought, about the struggle businesses have on Social Media in finding their voice and putting on a face, is a point on which I wholeheartedly concur.
As I said, I am meant to be researching social media views in preparation for the workshops on Wednesday and Thursday this week when I was distracted by this blog post, and just had to leave a comment. . .and then had a coffee and thought a bit more about it and decided to write this blog on the subject . . . and have it feed through to facebook, twitter and LinkedIn.
It was a time-consuming distraction . . . . a sign of the times for sure.
It was an adage that businesses had to regard, because unhappy customers had the annoying habit of muttering their displeasure around the local community. The result was that businesses had to take note and make improvements, assuming improvements were necessary. Either that, or the community made an assessment of the mutterings, filtering out the ramblings of the odd unhappy customer on the basis they were probably maladjusted or had a personal vendetta. Easy enough to spot – then as now.
I was particularly interested in the TripAdvisor debate and the views of various commentators and phone-in participants. I was reassured that people said they'd ignore someone whose user name is something like 'ChocChipCookie' making a personally damning observation along the lines of “the hotel owner is aggressive and a sexist racist and you shouldn't stay in her/his hotel . . .”
True, Social Media does give King Customer an instant voice. These tools take us back to hyper local ways, albeit across a global economy. I was just researching the latest views on social media tools for this weeks workshops and was reading a blog article on Social Media Today on which I just had to leave a comment. It said:
“One happy and connected customer can start a spiraling of praise which can hyper accelerate building a global brand. And one maligned (or maladjusted) unhappy customer can put the breaks on a multi-million dollar campaign and bring pain to a huge company.”
I said I thought the author was exaggerating. Huge brands have so much consumer interaction that a few negative comments are drowned out.
Many would sign off their blog criticism with #justsaying (on Twitter) or Just sayin' (on a blog comment). This always reminds me of when people say “no offence, but . . .” It's fun this social media, isn't it? A couple of opinionated people on different continents having their say, jostling for position and recognition by being slightly critical but mainly in agreement.
The author's main thought, about the struggle businesses have on Social Media in finding their voice and putting on a face, is a point on which I wholeheartedly concur.
As I said, I am meant to be researching social media views in preparation for the workshops on Wednesday and Thursday this week when I was distracted by this blog post, and just had to leave a comment. . .and then had a coffee and thought a bit more about it and decided to write this blog on the subject . . . and have it feed through to facebook, twitter and LinkedIn.
It was a time-consuming distraction . . . . a sign of the times for sure.
Monday, 4 October 2010
Social Media for Business - marketing training event
Social Media - your business voice
Social media has revolutionised small business marketing. There ever never before been such a cheap and easily accessible set of tools. More and more small businesses are seeing the benefits of social media to help increase awareness, create and nurture relationships, generate new leads, increase search engine placements, monitor marketing effort ... all with reduced expense.
It takes thought, so many organisations are not yet effectively establishing and managing a strong social media presence, let alone keeping up with the ever-changing landscape of social outlets and tools.
Henmore's interactive, hands-on workshop session covers:
- Social Media Basics & Beyond: Understanding key social media outlets, emerging trends and new tools and communities to consider in your social media plans
- Creating Your Social Media Strategy: Developing and implementing a social media strategy that supports your specific brand voice and vision, takes into account your day to day realities, identifies which tools make sense (and which don’t) for your business.
- 5 Marketing Questions to ask yourself: What you need to consider before diving into specific social media outlets - and tips for making your effort worthwhile when you do.
- Tips, Tricks & Real-world Examples - ideas, practices and lessons learned from helping clients with their marketing on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Blogging, and more.
and tools to help you get started, grow and solidify your social media strategies.
2012 Social Media Workshops - schedule and booking
Friday, 2 July 2010
PR from an editors point of view
I have just read a great blog post written by an editor about how editors are treated and what they face day to day. I have pleasure refering clients and PR associates alike to this great post that explains what is acceptable and not acceptable to a modern editor of a trade publication.
I have been fortunate over the years to consider many editors as colleagues and our work has been mutually beneficial and enjoyable. It is not always easy, however, to build 'relations' when you work in Public Relations and to find the 'social' when you use Social Media, in the way this blog post suggests PR and marketing people should always do. I agree, however, that this is what should be done.
There are plenty of editors that build impenetrable walls around themselves. There are lots of journalists that enjoy proving to novice PRs that there is a imbalance of power to be remembered at all times - the power being in the hands of the journalist, of course. These are unhelpful attitudes but are a response, no doubt, to the unforgivable behaviour of too many PRs and companies that try to randomly promote stuff using the online equivalent of a blanket junk mail campaign. It's just rude behaviour all around.
Shh, don't tell anyone but . . . there are plenty of times when editors rely on PRs for relevant information, contacts and, of course, opportunites and transport to cover a story first hand - but PRs are never meant to openly acknowledge this side of the relationship as it hints at some sort of impartiality in journalism. Obviously I would never, ever suggest journalists can be swayed in any way, just that PRs and editors both have jobs to do and can help each considerably if they know how to make things a bit easier for each other. After all, I shall never forget that balance of power as long as I am in the PR business ;)
I like to think that this blog post from a real, live editor might restore the faith of a few hurting, novice PRs and provide some tips to anyone considering some DIY media relations. This blogger reminds us of a golden rule of PR: publications are approachable if we have applied serious thought to what each editor requires. It also reminds us of a golden rule of doing business: remember our manners.
I have been fortunate over the years to consider many editors as colleagues and our work has been mutually beneficial and enjoyable. It is not always easy, however, to build 'relations' when you work in Public Relations and to find the 'social' when you use Social Media, in the way this blog post suggests PR and marketing people should always do. I agree, however, that this is what should be done.
There are plenty of editors that build impenetrable walls around themselves. There are lots of journalists that enjoy proving to novice PRs that there is a imbalance of power to be remembered at all times - the power being in the hands of the journalist, of course. These are unhelpful attitudes but are a response, no doubt, to the unforgivable behaviour of too many PRs and companies that try to randomly promote stuff using the online equivalent of a blanket junk mail campaign. It's just rude behaviour all around.
Shh, don't tell anyone but . . . there are plenty of times when editors rely on PRs for relevant information, contacts and, of course, opportunites and transport to cover a story first hand - but PRs are never meant to openly acknowledge this side of the relationship as it hints at some sort of impartiality in journalism. Obviously I would never, ever suggest journalists can be swayed in any way, just that PRs and editors both have jobs to do and can help each considerably if they know how to make things a bit easier for each other. After all, I shall never forget that balance of power as long as I am in the PR business ;)
I like to think that this blog post from a real, live editor might restore the faith of a few hurting, novice PRs and provide some tips to anyone considering some DIY media relations. This blogger reminds us of a golden rule of PR: publications are approachable if we have applied serious thought to what each editor requires. It also reminds us of a golden rule of doing business: remember our manners.
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