Social media, online marketing hints, tips and advice - Liz Hover's Diary of a Web Gal (Winnipeg) » The Web

Video: What the hell is social media – in 2 minutes

Liz Hover — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:26:53 +0000

Tell me that you’re not STILL wondering what social media is?

If you are, you can do one of two things: hire me to speak about it; or watch this fabulous two minute video.

The Social Network official trailer

Liz Hover — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:05:09 +0000

As a social media gal it’s only natural that I would be interested in the people behind some of the world’s largest online businesses.

Like Facebook, for example.

Later this year – if you didn’t already know – a feature film called The Social Network will be released and this is it’s official trailer which hit the internet yesterday.

It’s a brilliantly dramatic trailer and I’m super excited to see the film.

This synopsis is taken from All Movie:

The remarkable story behind Facebook comes to the big screen with this Columbia Pictures production scripted by The West Wing‘s Aaron Sorkin and directed by David Fincher (Fight Club, Zodiac) .

The year was 2003. Computer programming wizard Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) was a Harvard undergrad when he laid the foundation for a social networking website that would revolutionize the way we communicate.

Six years later the ambitious entrepreneur made his first million – but that was just the beginning. Despite all of Zuckerberg’s wealth and success, his personal life began to suffer as he became marred in legal disputes, and discovered that many of the 500 million people he had friended during his rise to the top were eager to see him fall.

Justin Timberlake co-stars as Napster co-creator Sean Parker, with Andrew Garfield filling the role of ousted Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. Based on the book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich.

Social media guide & creating great digital content

Liz Hover — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:44:18 +0000

I recently came across two great resources that I wanted to share with you.

Both are insightful and practical and will help you with your social media strategy and your website content.

Adam Singer has crafted a great content marketing primer: How (and why) to create remarkable digital content, which I’ve embeded below. If you haven’t heard of Adam and don’t read his blog The Future Buzz, you should.

I’ve followed Adam’s blog for the last year or two and am constantly impressed by his perspectives. He’s put together a smart presentation here. If you’re even thinking about online marketing or social media you need to check it out.

How (And Why) To Create Remarkable Digital Content

View more presentations from Adam Singer.

The second resource comes via Scott Monty’s Social Media Marketing Blog in the form of a brilliant social media guide. I’ll let Scott tell you how he got it and why he recommends it in this post: The Social Media Playbook.

You can download the PDF file by clicking on the image below.

Prince: the internet is over

Liz Hover — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:30:08 +0000

As a web manager and internet fan it will come as no surprise to you, dear reader, that the recent comment from Prince – declaring the internet is over – made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

What is this dude on?

It doesn’t take a genius to see that the internet is well and truly not over. In fact, I would posit that the web has only just begun.

But like I said, it doesn’t take a genius to work this out which is why I’m so surprised at Prince.

Here is an artist so entirely out of touch with 21st century communication that I’m astounded he still has an active fan base – I guess we have Purple Rain to thank for that.

His comments left me wondering if dementia had set in.

Honestly.

No rational human could say things like: ‘I really believe in finding new ways to distribute my music,’ and in the next breath completely diss technology. What is he thinking? Carrier pigeons will fly copies of his CDs around the world?

Get with the times little man.

How to manage a Twitter crisis if you’re a major TV show

Liz Hover — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 13:46:30 +0000

I’m a huge fan of the Big Brother TV show set in the UK. I’ve been watching since the show started ten years ago.

Since moving to Canada seven years ago I’ve managed to keep up with it every year.

Clearly, Twitter has grown and more Big Brother fans use it than ever before.

2010 is a major year for Big Brother in the UK; this is the last series. Channel Four are cancelling it.

Last night was the first eviction – if you’re not familiar with the Big Brother format then all you need to know is that a bunch of strangers get put in a house for a couple of months and get to nominate each other for eviction every week. The whole thing is shown on TV and the general public vote to decide who leaves. In the end, the last housemate wins a major cash prize – like $100,000.

Channel Four broadcasts a highlights show every night of the week and Friday is always eviction night.

Eviction night is a major event for Big Brother fans.

So it was with nervous excitement that I ‘tuned in’ to the internet late yesterday afternoon to check on which of the three peeps up for eviction would leave.

I was on Twitter and also a Big Brother forum which I regularly check – obviously I can’t watch the eviction show live on TV because I’m in Canada so I’m relying totally on the internet to keep me up to date.

I’m scanning everything for clues about who will leave the house. That announcement is always made live on TV by presenter Davina McCall.

Until last night.

Someone at Channel Four messed up on Twitter by announcing the name of the person being evicted before it was announced live on TV.

In some cases this type of reveal is intentional – breaking exclusive news on Twitter. This was not one of those moments.

In addition to the main Big Brother show there are several supplementary TV shows which cover news, gossip and behind-the-scenes. Big Brother’s Big Mouth (presented at one time by Russell Brand) is one of them. They even have their own Twitter account.

Moments before the TV reveal Big Brother’s Big Mouth tweeted:

SHOCKER!!! Tell us what you think of Rachael getting evicted. Say what you really think!!!

Seconds later the tweet was deleted. I didn’t see it but what I did see were dozens of angry Big Brother fans on Twitter bemoaning the slip up.

But Big Brother’s Big Mouth did good.

Sure there were plenty of folks on Twitter proclaiming that the tweeter responsible would surely lose their job. I hope not because Big Brother’s Big Mouth did precisely what you should do in a crisis situation.

The listened. They acknowledged. They apologized.

The result?

Reactions like this one.

Honestly it didn’t bother me one bit but what it did do was underscore an important issue about handling yourself publicly when you mess up.

In the ‘olden days’ the PR approach was to act as if it didn’t happen, cover it up, not comment or comment with an excuse. I’ve lived through that – back in England as a press officer.

And that’s why I love the social web in 2010.

It forces you to be open, honest and genuine. I hope!

People will love you all the more if you can be those things. Even when you mess up.

Social media and old school PR approaches don’t mix.

This is something we can all learn from.

A taste of Liz Hover presenting

Liz Hover — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 02:23:32 +0000

I’ve kept this low-key for a while but I feel it’s time to share it with you.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to attend one of my presentations, check out my most recent which was filmed by the wonderous James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot of Blink Works - a Winnipeg boutique production studio.

This video was shot during my presention for PechaKucha Winnipeg.

Note: some strong language.

Video: Katie Paine on measuring social media

Liz Hover — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:37:40 +0000

My colleague pointed me to this video about social media measurement.

And, if you have an hour to spare, it’s well worth watching.

I’d never heard of Katie Paine and I read extensively so I’m not sure why she’s never come across my radar before.

From Social Media Breakfast Seattle on YouTube: Katie Paine of KDPaine & Partners, the acclaimed Queen of Measurement … explains why measuring social media is not about impressions or eyeballs but rather listening, engaging, and thinking like the customer. Instead of the platitudes on joining the conversation, measurement is about gauging the bottom line impact of these social conversations.

Guest post: Facebook Foto Friday – how a Winnipeg photographer used social media as a gift

Liz Hover — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 03:29:54 +0000

This post was written by Ian McCausland.

He’s a super talented Canadian photographer who I’ve know for a few years now. I’ve always admired his craft but was totally impressed when a message about ‘Foto Friday’ landed in my inbox a while back.

Ian decided to host Facebook Foto Friday. He would essentially be giving away a photo to anyone that turned up at his studio on the given date.

The catch?

The photo had to be used on all social networks.

Genius!

Of course I turned up with my husband and – obviously – I asked Ian to write about the whole thing. Why? Because Ian runs one of the first Winnipeg businesses I’ve seen using social media to effectively market his business. More than that. Ian absolutely embraced and understood the value in doing this. Golden rule of marketing: give before you take.

______________________________________________________

For years before any of this social media stuff – before the internet even – I’ve enjoyed gifting my work, usually to clients.

Clients who have kids get free baby portraits, for example. Or if clients wanted to enter their own design work in competitions, I’d shoot it for them. With the move to digital, it’s been even easier to gift my work.

Since Facebook, it’s been great to watch people respond to my work.

Whenever a portrait I’ve done is used on profile shots, people ask “who did this?” Clients who stand in for me while I set up the lighting, before the impatient CEO arrives, ask for the shot to be sent to them only for it to appear the next day as their profile shot!

Meanwhile a good portion of my 700+ friends on Facebook continue to use the worst photos imaginable as their profile shots.

Rather than waste time on creating a “fan” page for my work, I wanted to find a way for people to value my friendship on Facebook. Some of those friends were mere connections I had yet to meet face to face.

What better way than to give them amazing looking profile shots?

So an invite to the first “Facebook Foto Friday” event was sent. This is what I wrote:

My first ever Facebook Foto Friday

What is it?
It’s a opportunity for you to get a new Facebook profile photo. For Free. It’s only open to my Facebook friends as of now.

Why?
I dunno, thought it would be a fun opportunity to meet with some friends, and ensure everyone looks good on Facebook.

Whats the catch?
Simple stuff, really:
- Only use the image for profiles on social networks, Facebook, Twitter,Flickr, etc.
- Please don’t crop out my logo, and a credit would be nice.

How’s it gonna go down?
Drop by the studio between the times listed. Feel free to bring a few different changes of clothing or props. Please no guests, animals, children,etc. Keep it simple! We’ll take a few snaps, and one image will be selected and sent to you big enough to use as your profile image.

What if I want more than one?
Hmmm, well we’ll have to talk about that if that’s the case.

What if I can’t make it?
Don’t worry, I might do this again, if it turns out to be fun!

I have no idea why, but I cringed when I sent the invite. I felt nervous and scared to do this.

To give away what you do, the basis of your business for free, in any form is a scary thing. This was new territory for me and I had no clue what would happen.

Would all 700 friends show up? Would no one show up?

Fortunately right away my fears were dashed with the overwhelming response.

People seemed impressed that I felt strongly about their profile images that I would do it for free. Even people who weren’t able to make it still expressed their gratitude. The power in the gift doesn’t even rely on anyone taking you up on the offer. Over the next few weeks I reminded people with my status updates of the event. People who weren’t my friends on Facebook, but were on Twitter were asking if they could come anyway.

The day of the event, we had approximately 40 people show up.

It became not only a photo shoot but a networking event. Rather than mingle in the waiting area as I intended, everyone hung out in the studio to encourage each other, egg each on, and enjoy the antics.

Some people brought props, some sat for a photo when they hadn’t planned on it, some just hung out and chatted. Jamie and Lisanne of BlinkWorks shot a behind the scenes video which in turn, had people interested in their business.

Facebook Friday – Ian McCausland from BlinkWorks -James Swirsky on Vimeo.

For me the real pay off was watching the reactions and all over Facebook as everyone changed their profile pictures. For the last few days, the comments have been constant, the new friends adds about three to four a day, and the amount of goodwill generated is priceless. I will probably do another one down the road, Twitter Tuesday anyone?

Ian McCausland is a commercial photographer in Winnipeg Manitoba. He’s embraced the social aspect of the internet since 1992, before the web! (Check his URL. This man bought up the ian.ca domain before folks even knew what domains were). Find Ian on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.

Twitter marketing tips

Liz Hover — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:17:37 +0000

Thanks to the excellent Social Media Guide I just came across this. Sound advice from Twitter users.

140 Twitter Tips

View more presentations from Kyle Lacy.

Social media workshops in Winnipeg

Liz Hover — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 04:02:31 +0000

I’m at it again.

I’ll be doing two social media workshops in Winnipeg very soon. I love this stuff and hope to see you there.

- April 8, The Delta Winnipeg – International Association of Business Communicators / IABC (Manitoba chapter). Full details in the link.

- April 13, Aqua Books – Winnipeg Girl Geek Dinners (email me if you’re coming). I’ll be co-presenting this one with my pal Polly Washburn.

I’ll be giving practical examples of social media that you can put into practice immediately (or email me if you’re stuck). I hate jargon; fluff; nonsense. I like getting to the point.