Yesterday we met with a couple of people from the mcmillan creative team to come up with a few things but most interstingly a video which we hope will spread across the world-wide-web not only because of its message but also because of its creativity.
The mcmillan agency is one of the premier ad and marketing agencies in Canada (in my opinion, anyway). They have a very different way of looking at things and come up with ideas that are leaps and bounds above competitors. Now, granted you're going to pay big bucks for this kind of creative genius but it's worth it. Their work has won numerous awards and if you watch any of the videos on the mainpage of their website, http://www.mcmillanagency.com/, you'll see why.
Not only will they take on the creative elements of a project or program they'll outline an entire communications and social media strategy around it! I don't know yet what they've got up their sleeve based on the minutia of information we gave them but I can't wait to find out. Our next meeting is probably going to be in a couple weeks and hopefully we'll have another good dialogue. And we'll all be inspired to tredge forward.
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Showing posts with label innovative ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label innovative ideas. Show all posts
April 19, 2011
Social Media Breakfast
This morning my boss and I attended the Social Media Breakfast on Social Media Trends at the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre; the speaker was Dave Fleet who works at Edelman in Toronto.
For information about SMB check out their site: www.socialmediabreakfast.com/ottawa
For information about Deve Fleet check out: davefleet.com/about
Your can follow both on Twitter, join them on Facebook, see what Dave likes to read on del.icio.us.
Dave's talked focused on the major trends in social media and best practices. Because the session is only an hour and a half (starting at 7:30 am - too early) he flew through a lot of the content but has provided his slides online here.
His website, from what I've seen, is also a huge wealth of information on all things social media and business. If you have the chance to see Dave Fleet speak somewhere GO. He knows what he's talking about and he's got a charming English accent.
But take some coffee if it's a 7:30 am session, he talks so fast it can be hard to follow without it!
For information about SMB check out their site: www.socialmediabreakfast.com/ottawa
For information about Deve Fleet check out: davefleet.com/about
Your can follow both on Twitter, join them on Facebook, see what Dave likes to read on del.icio.us.
Dave's talked focused on the major trends in social media and best practices. Because the session is only an hour and a half (starting at 7:30 am - too early) he flew through a lot of the content but has provided his slides online here.
His website, from what I've seen, is also a huge wealth of information on all things social media and business. If you have the chance to see Dave Fleet speak somewhere GO. He knows what he's talking about and he's got a charming English accent.
But take some coffee if it's a 7:30 am session, he talks so fast it can be hard to follow without it!
Social Media, Networking and Mobile Technology Summit
This has definitely been a do-it-all week!
I had a teleconference with TEC Edmonton about building a smartphone app which would give you the UV Index, temperature, etc for your location (within 10 km) and sun safety tips based on your skin type that you plug in along with other information during set-up.
Had another teleconference with pharma company about sponsorhing a public education campaign, which for the first time would include pre-planned social media elements (YouTube, Twitter, & Facebook).
Then headed off to Toronto for the Social Media, Networking and Mobile Technology Summit hosted by the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE). The speakers, Andy Steggles and Angelika Lipkin, covered a lot of material but still had some much that we're going to be having a webinar in about 6 weeks to address the extra content and allow for questions about things that may/may not be working.
The summit was great because it focused on social media and social networking for not-for-profits which incidentally is where I find myself. Part of the registration fee for the summit was Andy Steggles book "Social Networking for Nonprofits: Increasing Engagement in a Mobile and Web 2.0 World". Apparently the book is a great resource that many people find helpful. So much so that it was out of print at the time of the meeting but CSAE has said they will be mailing them out and I find that I'm actually anxious to get my hands on a copy.
During the meeting Andy and Angelika, from HigherLogic.com asked that we tweet about the session using the hashtag #CSAE11. People were tweeting during the sessions and Andy even tweeted a video from the karaoke night following the first day's session. Those Ontario Real Estate Association girls sure enjoyed the spotlight ahaha!
I had a teleconference with TEC Edmonton about building a smartphone app which would give you the UV Index, temperature, etc for your location (within 10 km) and sun safety tips based on your skin type that you plug in along with other information during set-up.
Had another teleconference with pharma company about sponsorhing a public education campaign, which for the first time would include pre-planned social media elements (YouTube, Twitter, & Facebook).
Then headed off to Toronto for the Social Media, Networking and Mobile Technology Summit hosted by the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE). The speakers, Andy Steggles and Angelika Lipkin, covered a lot of material but still had some much that we're going to be having a webinar in about 6 weeks to address the extra content and allow for questions about things that may/may not be working.
The summit was great because it focused on social media and social networking for not-for-profits which incidentally is where I find myself. Part of the registration fee for the summit was Andy Steggles book "Social Networking for Nonprofits: Increasing Engagement in a Mobile and Web 2.0 World". Apparently the book is a great resource that many people find helpful. So much so that it was out of print at the time of the meeting but CSAE has said they will be mailing them out and I find that I'm actually anxious to get my hands on a copy.
During the meeting Andy and Angelika, from HigherLogic.com asked that we tweet about the session using the hashtag #CSAE11. People were tweeting during the sessions and Andy even tweeted a video from the karaoke night following the first day's session. Those Ontario Real Estate Association girls sure enjoyed the spotlight ahaha!
Workshop Day
So today I went to an IABC Workshop called Evaluation Bootcamp lead by Caroline Kealy. For those of you unfamiliar, the IABC is the International Association of Business Communicators.
The session had absolutely nothing to do with social media but it was brilliant nonetheless. I am so pleased to find out that I'm not alone in the canoe with the hole. Regardless of the size of the communications departments we're all facing the same problems - time! The communications department at my organization consists of me, myself and I and I'm running into the same problems as companies with communications departments with hundreds of staff. Which is both pleasantly surprising (because I'm managing to survive) as well as a little disheartening (it may never get better).
A consent theme during the workshop was that many of us in communications have the evil time monster gnawing at us. We have only enough time and resources to create and launch our programs/initiatives but no time to evaluate their success. It brings to mind the idea of Santa's elves building toys, wrapping them up beautifully, throwing them out the window and starting again.
What Caroline pointed out in her talk is that we need to be vigilant when building our communications strategies to incorporate elements that are easily measureable and create benchmarks in the planning phase, thus making evaluation less of a tedious task.
AGREED!
The best part of the workshop was the easy to use templates Caroline provided and the links on her website, Ingenium Communications.
Evaluations is not such a big scary word anymore. Strategic development on the other hand ...... don't get me started ☺
The session had absolutely nothing to do with social media but it was brilliant nonetheless. I am so pleased to find out that I'm not alone in the canoe with the hole. Regardless of the size of the communications departments we're all facing the same problems - time! The communications department at my organization consists of me, myself and I and I'm running into the same problems as companies with communications departments with hundreds of staff. Which is both pleasantly surprising (because I'm managing to survive) as well as a little disheartening (it may never get better).
A consent theme during the workshop was that many of us in communications have the evil time monster gnawing at us. We have only enough time and resources to create and launch our programs/initiatives but no time to evaluate their success. It brings to mind the idea of Santa's elves building toys, wrapping them up beautifully, throwing them out the window and starting again.
What Caroline pointed out in her talk is that we need to be vigilant when building our communications strategies to incorporate elements that are easily measureable and create benchmarks in the planning phase, thus making evaluation less of a tedious task.
AGREED!
The best part of the workshop was the easy to use templates Caroline provided and the links on her website, Ingenium Communications.
Evaluations is not such a big scary word anymore. Strategic development on the other hand ...... don't get me started ☺
TimedRight....Is it?
Today I met with TimedRight, a group that has created a social networking site (of sorts) for the medical community. With them we will be creating a section for our members to use discussion boards, present/discuss case studies, continue with self-direct CME as well as interact with other medical specialties in open forum areas.
Our hope is to use this site to engage our members before the conference in June, during the conference and after the conference to poll them about the sessions and what take away messages were most useful to them.
The site itself is not unlike AlgonquinSocialMedia.Ning.com but not quite as social media heavy. You create a profile, join groups, start discussions. You can post documents or meeting minutes for circulation within a committee. I'm pretty sure you can even link your twitter feed.
What I'm not sure about is whether our members will use a site like this. As medical specialists their time is already quite tied up between seeing patients, maintaining their certification (CME), doing rounds, and journal study. Do they have time to join another networking site? Will they want to?
At what point do we say "enough is enough" and disconnect or go offline? For me that's right about now, it's been a long day.
Our hope is to use this site to engage our members before the conference in June, during the conference and after the conference to poll them about the sessions and what take away messages were most useful to them.
The site itself is not unlike AlgonquinSocialMedia.Ning.com but not quite as social media heavy. You create a profile, join groups, start discussions. You can post documents or meeting minutes for circulation within a committee. I'm pretty sure you can even link your twitter feed.
What I'm not sure about is whether our members will use a site like this. As medical specialists their time is already quite tied up between seeing patients, maintaining their certification (CME), doing rounds, and journal study. Do they have time to join another networking site? Will they want to?
At what point do we say "enough is enough" and disconnect or go offline? For me that's right about now, it's been a long day.
February 17, 2011
An amazing tribute
This is an email that I received today from a friend from years past. I think it's a neat way to optimize viral messaging to create social movement.
Kim's goal is to reach 1,000,000 viewers - please help her reach her goal and pass this on to all the amazing women in your life. Kim's goal is to reach 1,000,000 viewers - please help her reach her goal and pass this on to all the amazing women in your life.
__________________________________________________
This happened in Toronto's Eatons Centre!
For all my amazing women friends!
A Flash Mob Dance Video was organized by Kim MacGregor. Kim created this as a tribute to her best friend Erika Heller who died of colon cancer last
year. Each and every telephone conversation they ever had, Erika would end
by telling Kim "You're an amazing woman"! Well, Kim wanted to do something special to honour her friend and this is the result.
year. Each and every telephone conversation they ever had, Erika would end
by telling Kim "You're an amazing woman"! Well, Kim wanted to do something special to honour her friend and this is the result.
Kim's goal is to reach 1,000,000 viewers - please help her reach her goal and pass this on to all the amazing women in your life. Kim's goal is to reach 1,000,000 viewers - please help her reach her goal and pass this on to all the amazing women in your life.
Social Media Conference
The opportunity presented itself to attend a social media confernece at the end of March in Toronto and I'm jumping in head first. The conference is called Social Media, Networking and Technology Summit in case anyone is interested in checking it out as well; link.
The conference is being put on by the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) and it's all about how Associations can make use of social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, etc to most effectively engage people. It's going to be two days with fairly intensive knowledge transfer, which is going to include case studies about those who are doing in right and those who are failng miserably. I am hoping my organization doesn't pop up in the failing miserably category.
I think for the most part the conference will help me to build a social media strategy which will work even with my limited familiarity with most platforms. Hopefully, if I build a strategy that mirrors one that has proven to work it will, in a sense, buy me some time to learn the rest of my way around.
My boss has said that her vision for our association's strategy is to align ourselves favourably with a structure that is already working for a sister society but ultimately learn all we can to position ourselves ahead of the curve. My boss hopes to see us in the next coming years as the leaders in social media within the medical community. The group that all others look to.
To me these sound like fairly lofty goals, especially seeing as we are getting into the game on the later side of things.
The conference is being put on by the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) and it's all about how Associations can make use of social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, etc to most effectively engage people. It's going to be two days with fairly intensive knowledge transfer, which is going to include case studies about those who are doing in right and those who are failng miserably. I am hoping my organization doesn't pop up in the failing miserably category.
I think for the most part the conference will help me to build a social media strategy which will work even with my limited familiarity with most platforms. Hopefully, if I build a strategy that mirrors one that has proven to work it will, in a sense, buy me some time to learn the rest of my way around.
My boss has said that her vision for our association's strategy is to align ourselves favourably with a structure that is already working for a sister society but ultimately learn all we can to position ourselves ahead of the curve. My boss hopes to see us in the next coming years as the leaders in social media within the medical community. The group that all others look to.
To me these sound like fairly lofty goals, especially seeing as we are getting into the game on the later side of things.
Content Rules
My boss lent me a pretty interesting book:
"Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and more) that Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business" <- longest book name ever!
I haven't quite made it all the way through the book yet but so far it's intriguing and Chapman and Hanley's approach is unique. They discuss content in terms of their kids and how the small principles of nurturing are needed for new ventures (social media). And the way to keep the momentum going is to "feed the beast".
I jumped a couple chapters to the section about webinars for two reasons. First, a large part of my field includes attending webinars and web-based meetings. And second, because of the title "If Webinars Are Awesome Marketing Tools, Why Do Most Of Them Suck?" it totally sums up my opinion of webinars nicely. I find most of them tedious to sit through or frustrating because something always fails to work properly.
Anyway, the chapter defines what a webinar is and how they underperform on a regualr basis. But they also make sure to outline what you should consider when you do decide to put on a webinar.
Now I understand that webinars aren't the most appealing mainstream social media option but when done properly I think they are effective business to business tools. If tracking is done properly (number of registrants : number of participants : number of leads generated) webinars can be an effective way to monitor messaging and business growth.
Links:
Google Books "Content Rules"
C.C. Chapman
"Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and more) that Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business" <- longest book name ever!
I haven't quite made it all the way through the book yet but so far it's intriguing and Chapman and Hanley's approach is unique. They discuss content in terms of their kids and how the small principles of nurturing are needed for new ventures (social media). And the way to keep the momentum going is to "feed the beast".
I jumped a couple chapters to the section about webinars for two reasons. First, a large part of my field includes attending webinars and web-based meetings. And second, because of the title "If Webinars Are Awesome Marketing Tools, Why Do Most Of Them Suck?" it totally sums up my opinion of webinars nicely. I find most of them tedious to sit through or frustrating because something always fails to work properly.
Anyway, the chapter defines what a webinar is and how they underperform on a regualr basis. But they also make sure to outline what you should consider when you do decide to put on a webinar.
Now I understand that webinars aren't the most appealing mainstream social media option but when done properly I think they are effective business to business tools. If tracking is done properly (number of registrants : number of participants : number of leads generated) webinars can be an effective way to monitor messaging and business growth.
Links:
Google Books "Content Rules"
C.C. Chapman
February 4, 2011
CRAP! Someone stole my Audi!
Unfortunately, I am a little late with my post but I got wrapped up in a book more on that another day....
We've had an executive shift in my office and the new executive director has a lot of different ideas and is keen to fully integrate social media into our everyday public education/awareness activities. When I mentioned that I was taking courses to learn more about social media and how to create a business strategy using social media, she mentioned having seen an innovative use of SM for the launch of the Audi A3. So I went on the hunt.
Audi used social media and instant news reporting in a landmark move to promote the new A3 which began with a late-night heist. The "story"included surveillance footage, news reports, special investigators, TV commercials, posters seeking public input; eveything you could think of, all available online, in print, and via mass media. Bloggers worldwide heard about the heist of the A3 and the "story" went viral. I'm not going to give too much away because you really should watch the video below. But think interactive spy movie, Audi was actively engaging the public in seeking the missing A3 through ingenious multi-media cross platform advertising.
I think because of the format in which Audi presented the theft of the brand-new-state-of-the-art-not-yet-available-in-North-America A3 it became a thrilling story which people were following with fervent anticipation. The impact the launch of the Audi A3 had was such that 5 years later there still really hasn't been anything like it.
If you'd like to watch the case study about "The Art of the H3ist" I've included here, but you can also visit the ad company's website, http://www.campfirenyc.com/, to check out some of their other work.
Audi Case Study from Campfire on Vimeo.
On another note I love the CampfireNYC website, again, it's super innovative and unlike any other site I've seen. These are definitely people who know how to think outside the box
We've had an executive shift in my office and the new executive director has a lot of different ideas and is keen to fully integrate social media into our everyday public education/awareness activities. When I mentioned that I was taking courses to learn more about social media and how to create a business strategy using social media, she mentioned having seen an innovative use of SM for the launch of the Audi A3. So I went on the hunt.
Audi used social media and instant news reporting in a landmark move to promote the new A3 which began with a late-night heist. The "story"included surveillance footage, news reports, special investigators, TV commercials, posters seeking public input; eveything you could think of, all available online, in print, and via mass media. Bloggers worldwide heard about the heist of the A3 and the "story" went viral. I'm not going to give too much away because you really should watch the video below. But think interactive spy movie, Audi was actively engaging the public in seeking the missing A3 through ingenious multi-media cross platform advertising.
I think because of the format in which Audi presented the theft of the brand-new-state-of-the-art-not-yet-available-in-North-America A3 it became a thrilling story which people were following with fervent anticipation. The impact the launch of the Audi A3 had was such that 5 years later there still really hasn't been anything like it.
If you'd like to watch the case study about "The Art of the H3ist" I've included here, but you can also visit the ad company's website, http://www.campfirenyc.com/, to check out some of their other work.
Audi Case Study from Campfire on Vimeo.
On another note I love the CampfireNYC website, again, it's super innovative and unlike any other site I've seen. These are definitely people who know how to think outside the box
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