It’s time to spread your wings and TWEET! Twitter is NOT about what you had for Lunch! Try it already!
Below was a Tweet sent out by my good friend Eric Kazekewski who's been a fantastic resource and community member in the #eventprofs network! He’s the Marketing Director for Echolon and is quickly becoming a fantastic ‘Thought Leader’ in the Social Sphere for young professionals in our industry. He sent it out while listening to a speaker at a US conference – Read this:
ericlukazewski Hashtags are filters for content management and community development. #ex10sm #exhibitor2010
How many event planners, managers, designers, coordinators, florists or sales directors know what this means? In the Canadian Event Industry – NOT MANY AT ALL! A low percentage of individuals are tapped in or can even SEE this!
For me and many other social media lovers, this is second nature! Tweeting without hashtags is tweeting BLIND! Almost a waste of time! It’s so engrained in my vocabulary that I forgot to look back at where I started with all this Social Media jargon and digital madness. I can’t blame others for not engaging, unless they have been given the proper direction or opportunity! I understand how event companies stick with what works and don’t find use for Social Media, but I truly believe professionals will be left behind unless they start now! It’s going to be a way of life and a major means of communication very soon! We as thought leaders need to make a better effort to teach others as we build our own personal brands, in order for this revolution to find its roots and to make a real impact in our industry!!
The tweet that Eric sent means ‘everything’ and instead of giving reasons why Social Media is great, it’s about time we SHOWED companies and individuals HOW TO. Twitter is the most confusing (so people say), so let’s begin!
Twitter 101
“Twitter describes itself as, “a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?” – Mashable, The Social Media Guide
Twitter gives the ability to send/post content, start a conversation, ask questions or post pictures, video and other media to a micro messaging platform. Most importantly, it’s a platform to build a community or join an already existing network of like minded individuals. Twitter gives the opportunity to connect to many, but also provides a stage to discuss YOU or your BUSINESS! Building on the concept of status updates, users have 140 characters to write ANYTHING! Successful Tweeters always have links to external content (your website, blog, pictures or articles) in order to provide followers with relevant information! Through the use of ‘hashtags’ (this means putting # in front of a word or phrase in order to make it clickable and searchable) users can associate their tweets to trending topics which makes it easier for people to find you and your content. You’re followers are those who enjoy what you tweet and your friends are those YOU follow. Tweets of your friends will show in your live feed for you to read, reply or re-Tweet, which becomes a viral conversation. Associating your tweets to people, is the best thing you can do! Sound confusing? Probably! Let’s move forward and give examples!
Eric’s Tweet: ericlukazewski Hashtags are filters for content management and community development. #ex10sm #exhibitor2010
Eric makes a great point on why hashtags are used and then he associates the Tweet to two different communities – ex10sm and exhibitor2010. These hashtags are event conferences and anyone tuning in via online, can now click and see EVERYONE tweeting in this network! The conversation with like minded individuals can move forward and you can build your online community!
Mentions, Reply & Re-Tweets
What I mean by associating your Tweets to people is this: If I wanted to Tweet a link to my new blog post and know that certain people really enjoy my writing, I will ensure to use their twitter handles in my Tweet (Your Twitter handle is your name – mine is @JaredGolberg). Here’s an example of association:
@EricKazekewski @LindsayFultz @Akthe5th you’ll enjoy my new {Blog} post re: #SocialMedia Rehab http://tinyurl.com/yg929ks #eventprofs
I’ve picked three individuals who I know would enjoy the information in my post. I have also put a link to the blog istelf and also hashtaged the eventprofs network and social media so other event professionals can read and join in! By associating people, you have now started a conversation (if these three people don’t know each other, even better – Building your community as a leader through introduction). This is actually called a ‘mention’. Knowing Eric, Lindsay and Aaron, all three would reply and also Re-Tweet the information through their own networks! This is where your content can receive further reach and become viral! Just ensure that the content you are sending is great and people will take notice and engage in conversation!
Re-Tweeting is a way to help get a specific point, article or content out further than the original Tweet. It’s what makes Twitter so viral! Here’s an example of a re-Tweet!
RT @LindsayFultz 6 Simple Ways 2 Give Older #Blog Posts Additional Exposure http://bit.ly/xKkwV via @flipbooks
By putting RT in front of this Tweet and sending it through your network, you are letting your followers and community know that you are pushing a point that is not yours! It’s common courtesy and social media etiquette. It’s appreciated and helps to build trust and friendship through your online peers. Without the RT, it’s almost like plagerism (it is). Always RT a few times a day and put a little intro to it. This let’s everyone know you have read the content.
#EIR Engages, Interacts & Re-tweets
The hashtag #EIR has become a sign for those who engage in conversation, who interacts on all levels and who re-tweets content. It’s almost putting a sign over someone’s head saying “I LIKE TO TALK AND DISCUSS – FOLLOW ME! FOLLOW ME”. People use this in order to inform other community members that this individual is a thought leader and can provide great content you can learn from and use. Example:
#EIR @EricKazekewski has a fantastic point of view on tradeshow marketing using multiple #SocialMedia platforms www.echolondesignin.com #eventprofs
I am letting other #eventprofs members know that Eric is someone to engage with and learn from! While also hashtaging social media (always a trending topic), #eventprofs can also figure out that Eric knows how to leverage multiple platforms. Finding great resources will help your journey and also build your trust online! Trust is your currency, so ensure you KNOW the people you engage with! Pick up the
phone, email and get to know your peers! That’s how social media works! Twitter works very well if you reach out rather then reach in – meaning, don’t just push out content. Associate your content to people and converse!
I leave this with you…
I hope this has been helpful for those in need of Twitter help! Through my research and discussion with individuals who have not engaged in social media, or Twitter to be exact, most say "I don’t get it!" Of course the information above is not the full POWER SESSION, but it’s a start to get your feet planted. I am always here to help you on your way and please feel free to connect with me on any of my personal platforms: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIN or WordPress.
Tips:
www.mashable.com is your online bible for Social Media. Anything you want to know about any platform is avaible in great articles and learning tutorials.
www.tinyurl.com is your link shrinking application. Keep it handy when you need to shrink links in order to fit into tweets, blogs and other digital mediums.
Interact, Engage & Inspire
Engaging consumers with ‘Ad-vertainments’.
I’m going to start this off with a bunch of questions (as I always like to do)! Would you stop in your tracks to play catch with an NFL quarterback, as if appeared from no where? Even if walking down a major city street looking for Starbucks on a major caffeine fix? I would (Hmmm… is he about to discuss Flash Mobs?). May be it could happen? Monster Media definitely thinks it could! Wait a minute, they made it happen! How? Let’s chat people…. You have a lot to learn about NEW advertising!
Eat this first! Then read on…
The attention span of an average human being today is similar to that of a humming bird. Flap, Flap, Flap, turn head, turn head, ohhh flower! With massive saturated clutter of Advertisements, billboards, television, digital networks and smart phones, businesses have a split SECOND to grab your attention to say “Look at me! This is Awesome!!” What does it take to engage the individual? Welcome the age of AD-vertaining! Where advertising meets entertainment!
Ad-vertaining, coined by the Monster Master, John Payne
President of Monster Media
Monday Night Football or… Digital Streetball?
ESPN wants fans to join in!
ESPN was looking for a new campaign that would get fans off their couches and into the game! Monster Media teamed up with Wieden + Kennedy and MacDonald Media to engage passers-by in a full-body responsive, real-time, street-level interactive ad where users can really get 'in the zone' and challenge a quarterback from the upcoming game. Through touch screen and sensor technology, people would ‘literally’ have a chance at playing virtual catch – on the street – with a billboard – in the middle of the day! The incredible part is that players can see their scores match up against players in other cities. A perfect concept that helps consumers remember brands and engage the conversation virally, a concept growing larger everyday in Social Media. These structural billboards were strategically placed in highly-trafficked locations in NYC, Boston and Chicago with incredible ROI – online and off. Want more? Here ya go…
What would you like to do before you die?
In promotion of MTV’s ‘Buried Life’
MTV partnered with Maude to create an impactful NYC storefront advertisement promoting 'The Buried Life'. The masterpiece was constructed outside the MTV building with full interactive touch screen capabilities, enabling the user to list what they want to do before they die. Monster Media took it a step further and programmed Social Networking capabilities and users lists were posted to Facebook walls. We just took Ad-vertaining from live engagement into the digital sphere. Imagine actually FEELING advertisements! Imagine PLAYING with advertisements! Now imagine TAKING advertisements and transferring it from out of home into the digital sphere! That JUST happened! John Payne says “Ad-vertaining is the cherry on the Sunday,“ but it is imperative to keep traditional marketing and advertising within your budget and overall strategic plan. Major markets across the globe are adopting new technology that has immediate impact on the consumer, but magazines, newspapers, billboards, etc. still have essential impact to all markets. Let’s face it, bad creative is bad creative whether it’s large scale moveable billboards or a full page add in Rolling Stone magazine. As a business, it’s a matter of expanding ideas, collaborating with others and finding ways to engage your target audience to experience your brand!
I leave you with this…
In all honesty, I was scared for a while! New technology, digital growth and the interweb have rapidly engrained into our sociology almost TOO fast. Kids are playing ultra sophisticated video games instead of playing hide and go seek or street hockey. Access to thousands and thousands of digital applications are literally at your fingertips and I was starting to feel our culture began to get lazy and complacent. It’s company’s like Monster Media that provide a new creative outlet to pull the user off the couch and experience a unique sensation. Even with the Nintendo Wii, we can get up, move and still play (had to throw this in, love the social implications of the Wii)! As the concept of Ad-vertaining begins to grow, it seems full integration possibilities with Social Media platforms are inevitable, but more so, John Payne thinks the integration of cell phones with television advertisements is something to begin accepting. You tell me….
@JaredGolberg / Interact, Engage & Inspire
Link with me via Twitter, Facebook & WordPress
DUB- Say Goodbye to Business Cards
The easiest way to exchange contact info
When you and another person open the DUB app on an iPhone, BlackBerry or Android and click the locate button, DUB will find both of you and prompt you to exchange info. The contact information is saved directly to your mobile address book.
If the other person doesn’t have DUB or is in the next city instead of next to you, just type their email address or mobile number and push send. They’ll get a message with your contact info and a link to create their card. Once they do, your info is saved to their mobile address book and theirs to yours.
It’s super easy and its always current. All your DUB contacts appear both in your existing mobile address book and under Contacts in DUB. Any time any one of your contacts updates any field (phone, email, address, adds LinkedIn, etc.) in DUB, the update is automatically made on your phone’s existing address book and under Contacts in DUB. You don’t have to do a thing!
Your back-up
Phone meets an untimely death or disappears? Just download DUB to your new phone and all your DUB contacts return to your mobile address book and under DUB Contacts.
Spectacular!
Welcome to Vocally Digital: Join The Round Table
How do you start off a brand new blog? Typical introduction? Who I am? What I do? Where I've been? This is a blog surrounding the trends and growth of Digital Marketing and Social Media so let's get right to it, shall we?
The event industry is calling out to the 1s and 0s and very little response has been made! Yes, the younger generation is online virtually everywhere/all the time, but what about the older generation within a SALES based industry? What are THEY doing to gain perspective in a world where digital networks grow daily and the ease of connection to fellow peers and clients literally is ONE click away? Do they really have to tap in? Does Social Media have ROI? I will answer these questions and hopefully help you with any fears you may have…. Don't be scared! We're about to have a LOT of fun!
OK FINE! May be a little background on myself would help!
I am the Community Marketing Manager for 5th Element Events, an event design firm in Toronto, ON. Canada. We handle full service event design including staging, lighting, audiovisual and full decor for many advertising and marketing firms across Canada. You are probably asking what an event designer is doing talking about digital spheres, networking and the OVER USED term – Social Media! Well, at 5th Element, I handle all marketing, branding and digital initiatives. I launched our Social Media campaign last year with extreme growth in less than 6 months. I was named COMMUNITY Marketing Manager in July of 2009 enabling me to engage in conversation with our online followers, peers and partners and exchange ideas that helped build our network and client list. I am a thought leader in the digital community and speak at various conferences and events on leveraging Social Media portals for Face to Face meetings & personal branding. I am a graduate of Ryerson Univeristy's Radio & Television Arts program and was the Marketing Coordinator for Wind-up Records Canada via Warner Music handling a lot of online initiatives for their artist roster from 2006 to 2008. I have always been a very 'DIFFERENT CHARACTER' with a lot of versatility and 5th Element Events has had great success with my endeavours and expertise – Which has lead me to Canadian Event Perspectives and my new role as a contributing writer.
What to expect from Vocally Digital?
As the digital sphere continues to grow and more and more platforms rise, I will be here to guide you and share ideas. I'll help you through your journey of connecting with fellow event professionals and potential clients! Each week I will provide you with background information and thoughts on topics like Ad-vertaining, engagement marketing, video chanelling and providing interviews with some of the best minds in Social Networking and marketing. If you don't understand Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Youtube, Vimeo, Viddler (the list goes on and on), I am here to tell you, it doesn't matter! We'll tap into the best platforms and learn how to use them successfully for YOUR needs… I am your resource and I encourage you to interact and connect with me!
I leave you with this…
This is a very unique time in history! Marshall McLuhan said we live in a global village through new technology, but I don't think he ever thought the world would literally fit in the palm of your hand by 2010! The aspect of human interaction has changed and I am here to tell you that it's up to YOU on how you use it. My job as a writer for CEP Magazine is to discuss the best ways to use new technology to enhance your business and I promise to do so with the best of my ability!
Cheers!
@JaredGolberg / Interact, Engage & Inspire
Connect with me via: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIN & WordPress
Its a Bird, Its a Plane, its…. Flying Brands?
Picture the
"It's a shock factor when you look up and there's a logo over your head," said Mr. Guerra, whose company, Snowmasters, also makes machines that churn out fake snow and foam.
HOW IT WORKS – A boxlike contraption produces a specially formulated white foam and forces it upward through a stencil. Once the foam is several inches thick, a metal cutter slices it and a faux cloud floats away.
THE NUMBERS -A single Flogo can travel as far as 30 miles and as high as 20,000 feet, says Francisco Guerra (below), and the machine can produce one every 15 seconds. The maximum width is 4 feet.
THE IMPACT -The foam is environmentally safe because it's mostly water, air and a soapy agent that creates bubbles, Mr. Guerra says. Flogos pop just like bubbles and disappear when they hit a tree or building, sometimes leaving a powdery residue that blows away.Experts weigh in
Note Kathleen Bergen, a Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman, said Flogos would probably fall under rules pertaining to balloon launches. She said a local FAA office would need to be contacted before a Flogos launch so that pilots could be notified about it.
Matt Leible of Generation Outdoor, a
SkyView by Afficom
Skyview from Canadian based Afficom is a brand new media format; it’s a like a giant floating T.V. with a wealth of static advertising space all around. Hanging, standing or helium-filled for “floating” indoor-outdoor presentations, the unit uses rear-view projection to display graphics and video. Sizes range up to 20 ft. with 17-ft. screen and three-projector capabilities to simultaneously play images on all sides.The spheres come in various shapes, colors (the white round is so space-age retro cool, though) and sizes that range from 6 to 17 feet and with single and multiple screen options on which it is possible to broadcast videos, images, flash animations, Powerpoint presentation or even live events.
Socialbees For Buzy Business Owners
Spotme Participant Communication Tool
Spotme combines social networking via a searchable photo database, messaging, people radar, unique "Spotting" function and electronic business card exchange,Serving events since 2001 and now in its 3rd generation, Spotme… opens new lines of communication and empowers people
is extremely intuitive – it takes less than 5 minutes to learn how to use. It is used at the highest-profile meetings in the world and is
is configurable and customizable to match any event's needs. Spotme delivers the highest feedback form completion rates with the least hassle for the organizer and includes the fastest photo-registration process. Spotme serves a broad spectrum of events and at an average event is used by more than 95% of participants, 20 times a day.
www.eventiq.com
Online Event Planning & Tracking Software to help you easily and affordably manage your event. Eventiq is a creative, exciting new online tool for the busy event planner. the Faster-Better way to invite guests and track RSVPs & registrations. They offer custom solutions for planning tasks, timelines, elegant, effortless and affordable e-newsletters, managing messages and membership lists, planning fantastic nametags, lanyards, brochures and professional on-site services, easy event software, organizing guests and get-togethers and even free wallet-sized team rosters. This site is state of the art, totally user friendly and basically reduces the need for using many different programs and websites. Its all here in one great website. Click www.eventiq.com and get started today.
