The Podcaster

Archive for July, 2010

Over the last 15 months over 200 people have attended our ‘An Introduction to Social Media’ briefings. (Click here for more info on the monthly briefings September to December 2010).

We are regularly asked by attendees if we could build on the case studies covered by helping them practically take the next steps and start using social media. In response to these requests we have now developed a series of ‘How-To’ workshops each lasting 3 hours. These build on and expand the topics covered in the briefing session so enabling people to get started quickly and easily.

The three workshops address the main phases of planning, implementing and then enhancing a social media communications strategy.

Each workshop will last 3 hours and start at 10am and end at 1pm with lunch. Refreshments will be provided throughout.

They are held in our digital media studios in Southampton.

Each session will cost £45 + VAT.

Places are strickly limited to allow maximum personal attention and real ‘how to’ knowledge and skills transfer.

Each workshop is self contained so people can ‘pick and mix’ as required or they can be taken as a series of 3.

Workshop 1 – Analysis and Planning (September 15^th)

Many people start using social media before they really understand its true value to them and their organisation or how return on investment (ROI) can be maximised. We always recommend that before using social networking tools like blogs, Twitter or YouTube it is best to understand what is already happening with your competitors, others in the industry and even with customers. In this workshop we look at a number of the free and paid for search and analytical tools that can help you understand the online ‘buzz’. We look at how you can start to engage in the conversation by commenting on other peoples blogs and in forums before starting your own. This approach creates a firm foundation of knowledge and understanding before expanding your activities. In the month following the session you will be able to refine your monitoring and participation so that by the time of the next workshop in October you will have a lot of valuable knowledge.

Workshop 2 – Getting Active – using social media (October 12^th)

Using the knowledge gained in the initial Briefing Session and research and practice in Workshop 1 we start to prepare and practice your active use of social media tools. We initially audit  your current internal materials, programs and resources and the content that maybe created across different groups and teams within your organisation. We look at how to set up and start using LinkedIn, Twitter, blogs, Flickr and podcasts. We look at how to define and develop a company Social Media Policy and Guidelines and how to establish and engage with a ‘content development’ team across multiple company functions. We look at how others have done the same thing and see what ‘best practice’ we can learn from them. We also look at how to set and measure ROI especially linking to key words and web site SEO. This session is very hands-on and aims to give you enough knowledge and confidence to create and develop your own online presence and not simply comment/read others. 

Workshop 3 – Unlocking the power of Audio and Video (November 9^th)

The value of audio and video on web sites plus podcasts and webinars is well known. Audiences for online content are growing rapidly. The BBC announced a few months ago that the iPlayer now has over 100m downloads a month. YouTube reports monthly downloads exceeding 1billion. More and more organisations are using these tools to create compelling content for use by customers and employees alike. Building on our many years of experience of audio and video production we look at what it takes to script, record and edit a/v content as well as webinars. We look at how senior management, product management, HR and Customer Service can all generate and share content. We look at how content can be ‘curated’ so that its ROI is increased. We will look at how content can be used to help drive ‘web traffic’ as well as create real value for the community. We will look at what tools are available to help create and support a community. We will look at how social media and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems can be made complimentary. Even better – during the session we will use the audio and video studios to create some podcast content.

 To book your session please call Nicky Anderson on 023 8044 8822.

For details and dates of the ‘Introduction to Social Media’ click here.

After their use of social media in 2009 and 2010 to help launch the Ford Fiesta they are now planning to use it again for the new Explorer.

Late last year Ford asked the public for volunteers for the ‘Fiesta Movement’ which included a Test Drive program for 100 people.  80k people showed interest. Those selected were asked to engage in social media conversations about their experiences.

The result:  A lot of online buzz..

• agents traveled more than 1.4 million miles
• YouTube views were 6 million
• Flickr photo had more than 740,000 views
• Twitter had more that 3.7 million Twitter impressions.

In a press release dated December 2009 Ford annouced
* Ford is using the success of the first chapter of Fiesta Movement to create a second chapter by enlisting new agents to generate excitement for Ford’s new 40 mile per gallon car, the 2011 Ford Fiesta
* Selected agents will include 20 teams who will set out to complete a series of missions to create buzz-worthy content for the new Ford Fiesta
* Interested consumers can submit video applications on www.fiestamovement.com through the end of January
Those missions are continuing with new online adverts/promotional videos from the 20 teams available online. Click here.

Other businesses can learn from what Ford are doing. Rather than rely on traditional media businesses can use social media to reach and and engage in conversations with their customer base. This conversation can be public and in doing so expand the online brand. By engaging in ‘crowdsourced’ content marketing budgets can be stretched at the same time as generating online buzz.

 Here is a good summary of how other US car manufacturers in are using social media US to engage with their customers. Click here

For more information on the Fiesta campaign click here