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

For those of you who don’t know what I do for my day job, I’m the digital media manager at Canada’s National Screen Institute.

This full-time job includes managing and producing content for their website. We redeveloped the site several years ago – which is when I started this blog so I could keep a diary of the project (hence, Diary of a Webgal).

I don’t work hard for accolades. I work hard because I love my job and I work with a bunch of brilliant people at the National Screen Institute.

Which is why it was extra sweet to hear that we’ve been shortlisted for two awards for our website and our annual report.

The PR News awards recognize the top nonprofit PR campaigns of the year and set the industry benchmark for excellence across all areas of nonprofit PR.

There are lots of people that have made the NSI website what it is today. Tactica Interactive Communications built the wireframe and the final design based on initial work by Doowah Design. Tactica help maintain some of the technical stuff. I manage the content with the excellent support of many of the NSI team and bloggers who contribute their expertise.

I’m super proud that NSI’s website is shortlisted. It’s not everyday that your work is recognised in this way.

And *cliche alert* I don’t mind if we win or not – we’re up against some excellent websites. I’m just kind of in awe and that’s enough for me.

In January, I delivered three lunchtime workshops – open to the public – on the topic of social media.

These were presented by my employer, the National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI) – a film and television training school based in Manitoba.

We’ve put together a highlights video showing the best bits from the sessions.

I cover a bunch of things beginning with my definition of social media. I talk about the importance of genuine communication online and why you would even bother to spend so much time working on all these social networking sites.

Credits: Four ways social media is changing business information from Mashable; Outposts graphic from ProBlogger.

I promised that 2010 would be a year of speaking presentations about social media. And damn it if that isn’t the truth.

I’ve already notched up four in Winnipeg and it’s only February.

I was approached by the lovely folks at the National Film Board (NFB) to deliver workshops to filmmakers in Edmonton and Calgary. And so in March NFB’s Content Manager Matt Forsythe and me will blaze a trail (of sorts) through Alberta, Canada with the aim of teaching filmmakers how to use social media tools to build an audience and promote their projects.

This is Matt Forsythe by the way

This is really exciting stuff (I work for the National Screen Institute, a Canada-wide film and TV training school). Best of all, these are FREE workshops.

I’ve been super fired up about new models of film marketing and distribution. Largely because the internet/social media tools and independent film distribution have come together in in a beautiful synchronicity that makes so much sense to me.

I don’t remember when I started noticing this but reading Jon Reiss’ book Think Outside the Box Office was a big thing for me which led to my audio interview with him.

Then the Sundance/Slamdance festivals generated lots of innovative thinking among filmmakers. Again, it was like, hallelujah!, this is life-changing.

This blog isn’t about film distribution so I won’t harp on about it but I want to acknowledge the coming together of two important things.

Wanna attend this free event for filmmakers? Visit the links on Facebook below and RSVP. We hope to see you there.

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• March 4, Edmonton

• March 5, Calgary

PS: At my last social media presentation I began with a story about finding a $4,000 day-long social media seminar that promised to teach you the secrets of social media. I promise that the workshops delivered by NSI and NFB will also teach you the secrets of social media. But it will cost you considerably less.

I’m about to deliver my final social media seminar in a series that I’ve designed for the National Screen Institute.

We’ve looked at Twitter and Facebook and this Wednesday I’ll tackle some of the other stuff that makes up a social media toolkit including blogging, RSS, FriendFeed, StumbleUpon and LinkedIn.

One message I’ve carried through these seminars is that social media is hard work. Bloody hard work.

I’ve been asked by seminar participants, ‘How much time should I devote to this stuff?’

And I’ve not been able to put a number on it. All I can say is work hard at it, be patient, consistent and you will eventually see results.

I think there is still a perception that having Twitter and Facebook accounts along with a handful of others is enough to tick the social media marketing box.

It isn’t.

You can’t do the social media thing half-heartedly.

You almost have to live it which means making it an intrinsic part of your everyday life.

This reminds me of something I recently heard …

Once upon a time we all had radio and TV came along. We had tapes and vinyl and CDs came along. We had VHS and Beta cassettes and DVD came along. People derided the new way. Soon the new way was the way. I think the same is true of the social web. It takes time for these behaviours to weave themselves into your life.

But I’m quite serious when I say social media is hard freakin’ work.

Making connections on the web is hard work.

Writing regular blog posts is hard work.

Keeping up three Twitter accounts is hard work.

Maintaining two Facebook accounts is hard work.

Delivering social media seminars is hard work.

But wait.

For me, hard work doesn’t mean ‘unenjoyable.’ It means I have to put my heart and soul into all that I do (and consequently sleep a lot at weekends!)

The social web and many of its parts are my passions.

Which is why I think social media isn’t necessarily for everyone.

If you don’t care enough, you’ll do a poor job of representing your company online.

If you’re gonna dive into this social media thing, do it with both feet and prepare for deep water.

Photo courtesy of ittybittiesforyou via a Creative Commons Licence

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 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.