Social media marketing | Liz Hover's Diary of a Web Gal

As mentioned yesterday, I’ve signed up for Project52 – a year-long challenge to post at least one new article to my blog every week until January 2011.

I’d like to know what you’d like to see me write about over the next 12 months.

Is there a burning issue you want to know more about?

Does some part of the social web or this thing we call ‘social media’ confuse you?

Are you interested in my personal opinion on something?

Would you like to guest post with your own topic?

The social web changes frequently. So even if you don’t have an idea now, remember I’m doing this for 12 months so you’ve got plenty of time to get worked up about something.

I’m still angling for a guest post from one of the most interesting bloggers I read, Ari Herzog but we can’t agree on a topic. Do you know Ari? What do you think we should get him to write? This is a guy with some of the most unconventional ideas and behaviours I’ve seen in social media land. Always thought-provoking whether you agree with him or not.

So, over you dear reader. What do you want to read about in 2010?

First up – you want to know what the heck Project52 is, right?

From the Project52 site: Project52 is a personal challenge geared toward getting fresh content on your website. The goal is to write at least 1 new article per week for 1 year.

The project runs from January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2011.

I was checking out some new folks to follow on Twitter and came across a chick I’d never heard of before (or whose name I hadn’t clocked when reading Mashable articles) – Christina Warren – who writes for Mashable. Her Twitter handle is film_girl so naturally I was curious about her because of my role at the National Screen Institute.

In an effort to post more frequently to her blog, she’s taking part in Project52.

Well this made my heart all a flutter – earlier this year I took part in the ProBlogger one month blog challenge and found it hugely beneficial.

And now I’m super nervous because I’ve committed for one whole year. If I don’t do it you, dear reader, will be the first one to know that I have failed.

I have no idea how this challenge will be structured and if I’m expected to go it alone but I’ll write more here when I find out.

Gulp.

I moved this blog from Blogger to WordPress in early 2009 so this has really been my first full year building what I consider to be a professional online space – love Blogger but WordPress has given me so much more to play with.

I would like to thank YOU – yes, YOU reading this post – for your continued interest in the words I type. I have a healthy number of readers and am privileged to include you among them.

For me, 2009 has been a year of enormous growth. Beyond my wildest dreams.

I found my passion. Really found it.

Someone once said to me – when I was in my very early twenties – that I would fall into my career. It would just sort of happen.

And in a way, I kind of did.

It was an interesting journey that led me to all sorts of places. Over the years I’ve been a press officer, magazine editor, marketing and communications manager, movie contest co-ordinator, freelance writer, ad agency copywriter, publicist and many more.

Then about two years ago I found a way to turn my passion into my full-time career at the National Screen Institute when I became their website manager.

Most recently I was offered a way to share that passion (I am eternally grateful to you, Tutu Ilelaboye – I’m not even sure you know what you started).

One presentation for Canadian Women in Communications has led to a series of workshops for my employer, National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI).

I have a funny feeling there may be more.

I posted before that during my annual review with my boss I said I wanted to do more – share my knowledge with others. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to do that.

After all, this means nothing if I can’t talk about it with you.

So having celebrated early 2009 with a move from Blogger to WordPress I think I’m celebrating 2010 with in-person presentations.

With that, I look forward to meeting you in Winnipeg sometime during 2010.

Photo courtesy of ittybittiesforyou via a Creative Commons Licence

Adapted from an item in On Screen Manitoba‘ s newsletter:

With the overwhelming success of On Screen Manitoba’s inaugural All Access: The TV Edition in spring 2009, it was evident that Manitoba’s screen-based media industry wanted more.

On Screen Manitoba will deliver two conferences in 2010 – All Access: The Digital Incubator (January 28) and All Access: TV 2010 (April).

I’m particularly excited to attend The Digital Incubator which takes place on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at the Fairmont Winnipeg – Midway Ballroom.

This is a daylong interactive digital media forum which will highlight the different types of interactive digital media and how they are being used in film and television and vice-versa.

The day will consist of a keynote speaker, a panel discussion, guest speakers, round-table meetings, one-on-one meetings and networking opportunities.

The confirmed speakers so far are:

• Ken Bautista, CEO & Creative Director, Hotrocket
• Norm Bolen, President & CEO, Canadian Film and Television Production Association
• Mark Bishop, Partner & Producer, marblemedia
• Keith Clarkson, CFO, Xenophile Media Inc
• Rochelle Grayson, Social Media Consultant
• Alexander Manu, Senior Partner & Chief Imaginator, InnoSpa International Partners (keynote speaker)

More details will be posted on On Screen Manitoba’s website in the new year.

Adapted from a National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) press release

Bring your lunch and join the National Screen Institute’s social media maven Liz Hover (woo-hoo, that’s me!) as she breaks down the hurdles to understanding Twitter, Facebook and sets you up with your social media tool kit.

• Wed. Jan. 13 – What is Twitter and how can it help my business?

• Wed. Jan. 20 – How to get your message out through Facebook

• Wed. Jan. 27 – Your social media tool kit – it’s not just Twitter and Facebook

Where are the seminars?

NSI Aboriginal Training Centre – 400-141 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg.

When do the seminars take place?

Wednesdays (January 13, 20, 27) from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.

How much do the seminars cost?

$10 per session (Cash only, receipts available)

Should I pre-register?

Yes please, space is limited. Call Chris Vajcner at 204-957-2998.

What should I bring?

Your lunch and your questions. We’ll provide the coffee and the answers!

About the National Screen Institute

The National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) is a national training school widely known for its prestigious training programs for Canadian writers, directors and producers working in film and television. Most programs are part-time so students keep their day jobs while they train. Participants do not have to relocate – intensive training happens in one place and participants return home to work with a mentor for the rest of their program. All training is delivered by senior industry experts.

Back in October I gave a presentation about social media to Canadian Women in Communications.

As a result I was invited to talk about social media to the staff of On Screen Manitoba.

A colleague of mine attended my Canadian Women in Communications presentation and came up with an idea: to present a series of workshops delivered by me and hosted by my employer, National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI).

Beginning January 2010, the National Screen Institute in Winnipeg will hold three lunchtime workshops covering Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

This is the start of something I have aspired to do for a long time: to share some of my knowledge about all this internet stuff I read about and practice daily in my job as website manager and online content producer.

This blog is one place where I do that but I’ve learnt that I love to present in person and social media gets me pretty excited.

There are further plans in the pipeline which I’ll share when I know more.

I had my annual review with my boss last week. I told her how lucky I feel to have found my passion. Most of us wait a long time to discover a career we truly love. I’m so pleased to have found mine.