New Media
Unimaginable Possibilities |
It’s interesting to see how event managers with old-school traditional marketing knowledge are using social media in the wrong way. When it comes to social media, you need to have a complete mindset shift or else you’d end up wasting time and energy with little or no rewards.
People who don’t change their mindsets want to see immediate results, want to get immediate outreach (outreach doesn’t necessarily mean better branding), don’t have the right conversations with their potential customers (have to be two way), don’t let communities evolve on their own (by trying to control everything), are not open to criticism , don’t switch to online mediums completely (still rely on offline techniques more), can’t synergize different mediums for planning and marketing their events.
Of course, I do understand that it can be difficult to just switch a perspective that has been embedded in our systems for years. If you are having trouble adapting your thinking process around the latest and newest technologies, here are some things that may help:
1- Be in the know of what’s going on. Subscribe to different authority blogs in your industry. Get Google alerts for updates on happenings that can affect your business. It is mandatory to keep yourself constantly up to date.
2- Learn from others. When other industry thought leaders share their experiences and ideas - be sure to learn from them. Often times, those people who close themselves up to what others are doing become increasingly averse to social media.
3- Keep a watch on new tools. Spend time playing with them or analyzing them regularly. Follow the latest internet marketing trends (Brad Fallon’s freelinereport.com or our eventslisted.info are good places to start) and keep trying them out off and on to see how your events and businesses can be improved by using them. If you don’t like a tool, you don’t have to use it - but at least give them a try. There are so many cool free online applications that can benefit you.
4- If you think you are still not the social media type - get tech friendly people on your team and give them the space and leverage to get creative with social media marketing. This is a great way of bringing in new ideas into your business. If you think you are up for it, you can even hire experts to do your events marketing for you.
Whatever road you choose, try not to stay stuck with the old methods of marketing. Open yourself to unimaginable possibilities; be innovative and adaptable.
Simon U Ford (SUF.EDBD)
Today’s tip! To get search engine traffic you must own software that’s capable of showing you everything the search engine spiders see.
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Celebration Of Empowerment |
When New Media began to catch pace in 2006, we all saw the remarkable cover of Time’s magazine Person of the Year. You. Us. We. Our beautiful little ‘one’ world.
Lev’s words still ring in the ears, not because it was unexpected, but because sometimes we’re so engrossed in something the reality of it doesn’t really hit us. To quote Lev:
“It’s a story about community and collaboration on a scale never seen before. It’s about the cosmic compendium of knowledge Wikipedia and the million-channel people network YouTube and the online metropolis MySpace. It’s about the many wresting power from the few and helping one another for nothing and how that will not only change the world, but also change the way the world changes. We’re looking at an explosion of productivity and innovation, and it’s just getting started, as millions of minds that would otherwise have drowned in obscurity get backhauled into the global intellectual economy.”
(Source: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1569514,00.html)
Simon U Ford (SUF.EDBD)
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The New Paradigm |
New Media, as we see it, is a panoramic view of the ‘One World’ from a distance. It’s how different social networks are interlinked to form massive cross syndication networks. It’s the breakdown of communication channels from a river into mini streams. Content creation and sharing across networks. Collaborating and communicating with prospects. Following prospects or industry experts using handy tools. Communicating with audiences using blogs, videos and micro-content, forming communities, interacting directly with people, being a part of the community; genuinely understanding where the people are coming from.
The only difference between now and old times is that today we have the right kind of tools at our disposal to achieve all of that. New Media is a way of facilitating social interactions amongst people, and New Media tools help provide the platform for interactions and relationships.
Simon U Ford (SUF.EDBD)
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Content Distribution Dynamics |
Content distribution has shifted from the newspaper delivery model to a more complex model where everyone can share content with people of their choice; where anyone can second someone else’s content by sharing it across public networks like Digg.com and Stumbleupon.com for the world to see; where anyone can send off their content to aggregating sites.
Content distribution has changed. People decide what content is of value. People decide who to listen to. People decide the popularity and, consequently, the search engine rankings of content…
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Can Google be beaten at their own game? I need your help! |
The “experts” talk about YouTube like it’s the be all and end all for traffic online. Like you simply upload a video and you’re rolling in money.
I think we all know that’s not the way it works.
Truth is, most videos are lucky if more than a few people watch them, most videos never go viral (like you hoped).
In fact, of all videos published on YouTube;
79% get a min of 20 views
50% get more than 100 views
less than 20% get 500+ views
less than 10% get 1500+ views
3% of videos get more than 25,000 views
1% get more than 500,000 views
There’s only a hand full of ways to get lots of people to see your video on YouTube:
1. You already have a big email list you can send to watch the video.
2. You have a huge blog readership and you embed the video in your daily posts.
3. Someone *else* with a big list or popular website somehow finds your video and introduces his list/web site visitors to it.
4. You build yourself a big community on YouTube, this takes time.
Or
You get your video to the top of Youtube’s Search results.
Now, YouTube is the second most searched engine on the Internet after Google. Top rankings for competitive key words in YouTube will attract enough targeted people, who, if they like your video, will distribute it to their existing networks.
Now, I can hear you asking yourself,…”how the hell do I do that?”
My answer is the same as I give anyone who asks how to rank well in Google.
AVOID THE HOPE MERCHANTS AND LISTEN TO PEOPLE WHO CAN SHOW YOU THEY HAVE DONE IT.
Now, if your online today, you will know “Google Friend Connect” is a much talked about product at the moment. It’s Google’s Open Social widget they released a few months back.
I know it’s crazy to think anyone other than Google could ever secure top search ranking in YouTube for a phrase named after their own product. I mean, how do you beat Google at their own game. They only have 10 billion dollars to invest into the best brains and resources each year.
They own YouTube for god sake?
It’s not just Google you have to beat. It’s all the other Social Media gurus competing for the overflow that comes with any new Google product. These guys are the best at what they do, what they do well is rank above the rest of the online world. These people are more than happy to rank 4th or 5th after Google themselves.
Well, I have never been one to accept I cannot be number 1 at anything I do. What’s the point trying if you don’t believe you can win?
So hold onto your hats,…. With your help we are going to get my Google Friend Connect video to the number one spot in YouTube.
Now, I have got us off to a great start. My video is already sitting at number 6 for the phrase “Google Friend Connect”. The only video’s ahead of mine are Google’s video’s, now, bear in mind here, my video only went up 3 days ago, rest assured, I do know what I am doing.
Now, here’s where I need your help?
Mow before I go on lets make one think clear. I’m not going to pay you or I am not going to get your videos to rank number 1 for you. That’s feeding you fish. I’m going to teach you how to fish, I will teach you how to do this for yourselves.
That’s right, I’m going to show everyone who helps how to do this. Remember, I am shooting for a pretty tough phrase here, Ive taken Google on at their own game,… it’s their own product I am trying to rank number 1 for.
Here’s what I need you to do;
1. Log into your YouTube account and search the phrase “Google Friend Connect”.
You will see my video ranking 5, 6 or 7 depending on where you live. It’s got a Google map as it’s thumbnail, it was published 3 days ago by “EventsListed”.
2. Go to Google’s video sitting in the number 1 ranked result, open it, rate it, I personally think it’s only worth a 3 or 4 max, you be the judge. Then, close their video before it ends unless of course it holds your attention right through.
3. Search “Google Friend Connect” a second time. This time go down to my video in position 5, 6 or 7. Open it, watch it right through to the end, after you watch it, rate it the 5 stars it deserves. Now, be sure to leave a comment so we know you’ve done it.
That’s it!
Tell all your friends about what we are doing, Digg this post, bookmark it everywhere, share the video, ask your friends to help.
IMPORTANT: So I can send you a link to the training video that explains exactly how to do this with your own videos. I need you to subscribe to my “EventsListed” channel, otherwise I cannot send it.
If I see your comment on my Google Friend Connect video and you have subscribed to my channel, I will send you a video link within 3 weeks. Let’s give ourselves 3 weeks to get my video to pole position.
Also, if you’re comming to my channel to subscribe anyway, why not friend me and leave a comment on the channel whilst your there. I look forward to meeting you.
Simon U Ford (SUF.EDBD)
Today’s tip! YouTube’s the second most searched engine after Google. Because of the barriers to building a video centric community you often find they’re the best quality. Tubinator helps build your YouTube community faster!
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Old Media |
The world before the internet has changed so drastically, some of us just vaguely remember it. Media in its early forms was more of a one way message delivery channel more than anything else. With the inventions of TVs and Radios, companies could send messages out to masses for the first time. It was a good time in history - but as a marketing medium it had ample drawbacks. While TV and print haven’t disappeared from the world entirely, the mediums of watching, sharing and distributing have changed.
One of the biggest drawbacks of that medium was that we forget that there is an audience on the other side of the picture. People! People that want to be heard as well. Who want to communicate, discuss and collaborate - not just listen, hear and obey!
A thing to note here is that this isn’t necessarily a dichotomy of sorts, old media channels are catching on to the new media beat, where we see TV stations like CNN using social media technologies like Twitter and Facebook to interact with their audiences during their shows and also online. We see a rise in citizen journalism, which encourages collection of news stories from people onto mainstream channels. This is usually called “old new media” where channels use new media to get readers back to watch live shows on old media.
Simon U Ford (SUF.EDBD)
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New Media Scape |
I open my eyes and see a world unlike ever before. I see transformations and transitions unfold before me. I can trace the lines and curves of the path it took us before we got here. And I shudder to think about the future possibilities it has to offer. This is what I see:
Individuals turning into communities. Companies turning into people. Markets turning into virtual spaces. Technology turning into conversation enablers. Information turning into discussions. Silos turning into syndicated networks. Events turning into massive global phenomenon. The long tail becoming narrower as tinier niches come to life. Inhibitions being stripped away as millions of people face cameras for the world to see. Barriers being broken by collective wisdom.
I see geographical boundaries on maps and globes slowly fade away. Why do we keep fighting for a political “one world” if our world has already become one? If humans are designed to keep discovering and inventing, then I’m happy to think that social-media marks one of the biggest scale achievements in human history. This is a time when we discovered how to be millions of miles away yet in the same place. A time when we discovered how to say one thing and be heard by tens of thousands of audiences. A time when we can be in the most private place in our rooms yet be the most public online. A time when getting thousands of like-minded people together to work for a cause is as simple as clicking a button. And most importantly, a time when humans, at last, allow themselves to share knowledge and grow collectively rather than stingily holding on to the little that they know.
This is the world that we live in today, the ‘One world’. As event marketers and managers, we need to master our understanding of this world to be able to get the most out of it. Let’s face it, old school event marketing isn’t going to last long - the sooner we jump on this bandwagon the more ahead we will be in the race
A natural consequence of this ‘one world’ is that of content overload. When every person and child can become a producer of their own videos, a writer on their own blogs, a commenter of their own thoughts, a content distributor of their own like - it can become difficult to stand out in the crowd. Especially if you are just entering the online market as an event marketer or organizer. The way we see it, this world works pretty much like remarkable people that we meet in our lives. Have you ever noticed how truly remarkable people make everything around them slowly fade away into the background shadows while they steal away the limelight? In the real world you need to have the personality characteristics and aura to be that remarkable person; in the online world you need to be able to implement your networking, marketing campaigns in a way in which you can easily become that ‘remarkable person’ everyone wants to hear out or buy from. It’s not as difficult as it sounds; it just requires the right mindset, approach and strategies.
In this book, I’m going to share how you can embark on this journey, build social media platforms for your events, market and collaborate with the online world, syndicate your content across platforms, reach out to tens of thousands of prospects and enjoy being a New Media savvy event marketer. This will not replace your existing event marketing or management businesses, it will enhance it.
We’re seeing an immensely powerful move taking place in front of us. It’s powerful from sociology, anthropology, psychology, political, economic and marketing points of view. So whether you are launching a business, hosting events, marketing conferences or planning your kid’s birthday bash - you can learn brilliant new tactics and techniques that have proven and validated by some of the biggest names in internet marketing history.
First of all, if we’re going to talk about New Media and its impact on society, then we have to briefly look at the evolution of media to understand it better.
Simon U Ford (SUF.EDBD)
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Who builds online products? |
We do, of course. Do we? Despite the growing number of online consumers? Despite the easy interaction that we can have with them? Despite the platforms that we can use to collaborate with them during the development of our product?
If you can involve end-users into your development process somehow by early stage testing or feedback mechanisms, the value of your product is sure to increase manifold. Its equivalent to investing in heavy research. Its a better position to identify usability and UX design issues. Its the best way to get prospects on board and get them excited about the venture so that they can spread it from there.
So, who really builds online products? We come up with ideas. We hire resources. We get the business models and launch plans setup. But who really builds the products?
We need to learn to allow ourselves to stoop low. We need to allow ourselves to stop and listen. We need to learn to allow ourselves to put our ideas aside and give others ideas some weightage. We need to learn to allow ourselves to understand what is best for the people who will eventually use our products. What do they want. How do they like to work? What do they currently do? What are their frustrations? What are their aspirations?
Who builds online products? The engineers who design it? The developers who code it? The designers who lay it out? The copywriters who sell it? OR The users who will use it? Add that special ingredient to your product development cycle and you’re sure to hit the right needs and make it big.
Dont presume, assume or come up with baseless needs. DONT estimate. Be specific. Talk to people. Understand them. Implement what you learn from your customers into the solutions that your products are marketed to solve.
Who builds online products? The internet more so than any other medium has meant that we all do, we collaborate in carrying our collective endeavors forward at a rate that is 7 times faster in online businesses than it is in off line business.
If building products or services for any online economy you must understand trends and you have to rely on feedback through ongoing conversations with your audience. If you don’t, the chances of ever getting online products that your customers need, when they need it, are very slim.
Simon U Ford (SUF.EDBD)
Today’s tip! If you want to source the best JV partners in your niche, you need a software that sources those selling the most product’s in your niche!
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Social media and Ethics |
Markets today are better informed, smarter and they demand quality services. You cant fool them into buying into substandard stuff. You shouldn’t. Your consumers should be longterm community members and should feel like an active part of your organization. The more they are kept in the loop, the better decisions they can make - they more they will trust you.
I’ve seen people malpractice in internet marketing, thinking that they’ll get away with it - which they don’t. The interesting thing about social media is that people don’t forget and they hardly ever forgive anyone if they feel like they have been cheated in any way, most of the communication is on record so is easy to remember and pass on to others. One bad move can spread far and beyond and soon enough everyone will want to stay away from you. Being true to yourself and your network is the only way to go here.
The best way to do that is to have products and services that are actually worth talking about and soon they’ll spread by themselves via WOM. The social networking effect, if you get traction is flabbergasting yet real - and can not be faked. It has to happen naturally, if your stuff really is good then you can rest assured that there will be a stir. If it is not, then bring it to par first.
Traditional monologue advertising has less than 30% effect on people. People want to have real conversations with real interaction even if its online, they want brands that have things to offer of real value and they want social proof that what ever they spend their money on represents value. Be present. Be on social networks. Be real. If you offer a product or service that offers true value then you should Blog often to communicate yourself to your audiences. AND most importantly, don’t dodge, lie or deceive your readers. People don’t get a second chance here. Have good intentions and your actions will follow suit.
Social marketing is a very delicate business in that you are facilitating people’s emotions in the process of getting your message out. You need to be careful about how your messages are perceived. You need to be careful about leaning into practices that some may seem to be bordering on unethical or misleading. If you get it right and your message represents great value and happiness then people will broadcast it for you without cost, if your message is a negative one it will broadcast just as far except it will be at a considerable cost.
Heres a great presentation on social media to watch:
Simon U Ford (SUF.EDBD)
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Coordinating private social events with AnyVite |
How can any website that proclaims to be “the easiest way to invite people to an event” be anything but short of a miracle for event managers and marketers. Anyvite is one such nifty site with tools that help you coordinate private social events.
Though this site brings people together, yet it doesn’t claim to be a social network. It allows you to create real life events for free and keep your friends posted about them. You can put your contacts in different groups, thus making your life easier when it comes to inviting a certain group to a specific social do. Marketers and managers don’t need to sort out through their contacts in order to send invitations each time a new event is to be arranged.
The interesting thing is that you don’t need to send every member of a group separate invitations; once an event is created for a group, all the members will automatically receive an invite. This saves you loads of valuable time and you don’t need to maintain a checklist of guests.
Along with issuing invitations, you can start a discussion with any group about a related event. This feature provides a heaven-sent opportunity for event marketers and event managers. Pre-event arrangements can be made based on the suggestions and likes/dislikes of all participants. This active involvement of all players not only keeps them updated but also makes them feel special. It also saves the hassle and confusion caused by “reply to all” e-mails. You can keep in contact with all partakers through each and every stage of the event through the event feeder.
Another interesting feature is the SMS functionality. Whenever you create an event or are invited to one, you’ll get a text message. This ensures that you remain connected with your buddies even if you don’t have access to a computer.
You can have fun even after the event as the site allows you to share photographs, videos and views on all that happened. From a business perspective, this is vital feedback.
Websites like Anyvite go a long way in making the job of marketers and managers as stress-free as possible, their performance and results will undeniably profit from such ingenious and handy sites.
Simon U Ford (SUF.EDBD)
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