Content Explored...Not so much sharing, more of an Entrepreneurial Exchange!

The 3rd in our series of "Content Explored" blogs

At recent presentations and speaking engagements, I've been talking a lot about the power of sharing and how much you get back by simply giving away information and sharing knowledge. As author of "New Rules of Marking and PR", David Meerman Scott said in a video he very kindly did for me, "The more you give, the more you get". This advice is also shared by other luminaries like CC Champan (Content Rules), Mitch Joel, (Six Pixels of Separation) and Chris Brogan (Trust Agents).

I certainly concur with their beliefs. Through the New Media Breakfast and our Social Media Podcast, fatBuzz share information and knowledge that leads to engagement, enquiries, referrals, and ultimately more work. The New Media Breakfast, the Social Media Podcast, our blog, and some other speaking engagements are the only real form of marketing we do at fatBuzz - all of them involve sharing knowledge. It is true, the more you give, the more you get.

However, after speaking at an Entrepreneurial Exchange Supper Club event this week it occurred to me that what we get back is much more than referrals and new business. The format of these events is a short presentation by the speaker (in this case me) followed by a round table discussion over dinner about the speaker's topic (in this case Social Media Defined and Proving ROI). Therefore, I get to engage with 15 entrepreneurs about social media; I learn their views, fears, experiences, concerns, expectations, perceptions and much more.

How valuable is that for me? These Entrepreneurial Exchange members are experienced and successful business owners, their opinions matter to me because they are relevant and probably representative of many other businesses. By listening to them, I have a much clearer understanding about what people want to know and what they want to achieve through social media marketing. So, I reckon I finished the evening learning as much, if not more, than they did, so in this case I got something back immediately. 

One of the first things I tell people about content creation is to look at your FAQs; what do people generally ask you? This is a great starting point; create content that answers the questions people normally ask you. By listening to the 15 Entrepreneurial Exchange members I have a clearer idea about the issues and concerns they have about adopting social media, I can now create content that addresses these points and I'm sure it will be relevant to many more than the 15 business owners in attendance.

So, the next time you're asked to speak to your local business networking group, careers meeting, industry conference or, graduate's boot-camp don't think of it as a chore, think of it as an opportunity. The questions they ask you are relevant to that community, they will help you understand what it is they need to know about you and what type of content is likely to engage them.

To the Entrepreneurial Exchange members who were present at the Supper Club meeting, thank you for open and frank discussion, I learned lots, and I hope you did too.

Our recent fatBuzz Social Media Day for Charities

NOTES:

• If you would like to find out more about social media marketing please think about coming along to our Monthly New Media Breakfasts - Details of the next one are here
• You can learn more about Entrepreneurial Exchange membership here
• CC Chapman has just published his new book entitled "Amazing things will Happen", if it's anything like the first book it will be well worth a read.  More details here 

If you would like to discuss your content strategy please give us a call or drop an email to hello@fatbuzz.com, we will be delighted to have a chat.

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November New Media Breakfast - Social Media Defined

The term “social media” is bandied around on a daily basis yet, more often than not, it is misinterpreted or misunderstood. We will define social media and how it relates to marketing and promoting brands.

We will also provide real examples that prove a healthy return on investment is possible when social media is fully understood and used in the proper manner. Likewise, we will provide examples that explain why so many organisations are wasting their time, and ultimately failing, with social media.

The November breakfast will explore what social media actually means. We will define social media in a business context and try to dispel some of the myths.

Most people understand what social media is on a personal level however, when it comes to business, the definition is less clear.

How do you apply the principles of social media to your business and how do you get a return on your investment? Hopefully we will be able to help you understand what social media marketing is all about and how you might be able to use it within your business.

We will also explore how you choose what tools to use and how you can become 'trend proof' if you adopt the right social media strategy.

THE SPEAKER
Gordon White, Managing director of fatBuzz Ltd will present the November New Media Breakfast.

HOW TO BOOK
Venue: 29 Member's Club, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow
Date: Friday 30th November 2012
Time: 7.30am for 8am
Cost: £10 +VAT

BOOK FOR NEW MEDIA BREAKFAST GLASGOW HERE:

No.29 MEMBERS GO FREE 

If you are a 29 Member you can attend the breakfast free of charge. Please email malcolm@fatbuzz.com with you membership number and he will add you to the attendance list.

We hope you can make it along to this event. If so, I look forward to seeing you on the day.

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Crowdfunding for Charities

Fundraising is tough at the best of times, but it’s increasingly difficult to raise money during a recession.

Which is why crowdfunding is shifting the paradigm, away from the usual sources of finance.

We all know it’s no longer enough to shake a tin and count on the patrons that have supported us in the past. We need to move away from this traditional route to fundraising to a more innovative, creative, wider reaching and longer-term approach to raising money.

Crowdfunding enables you to get creative to stand out from the crowd, extend your reach, encourage a new conversation with your supporters.

So, what is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is simply a new way of using technology to help people with an idea raise money to bring it to life, whether that’s a business idea, a startup, a community project, a charity or a social enterprise.

Did any of you do a sponsored event when you were at school – take the form home and ask your parents who asked their friends? You collected the money and took it back to school.

That was crowdfunding.

Do you remember your history studies? The Darien scheme back in the late 1690s, when a quarter of the money circulating in Scotland was pooled in what became an unsuccessful attempt to make Scotland a world trading nation by establishing a colony called New Caledonia in Panama.

That was crowdfunding.

Crowdfunding is a global phenomenon that provides an alternative route to donations – from an extended audience – it’s all about community and that truly lends itself to charities.

It’s the explosion in the use of social networking sites that has brought crowdfunding to the fore; as users of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn grow, so do the opportunities to reach out for support.

Crowdfunding is simply an extension of what people have been doing for centuries – patronage, supporting family and friends and the local community.

Millions of pounds, dollars and euros are donated every day to support exciting, innovative and life-changing ventures around the world. The impact on businesses, individuals, communities – and the economy – is significant.

But it’s not just about business and entrepreneurs, crowdfunding works for communities, social enterprises, charities, youth groups, schools and more.


Charitable crowdfunding – it’s not just about the money

Money is obviously important, but it needn’t be the only driving factor behind a crowdfunding campaign. Crowdfunding delivers more than just money.


Donor fatigue is a real issue, local communities will have regular supporters of charitable activities in the area, but it’s important to widen the donor pool.

Crowdfunding enables you to reach out to the diaspora, people who have moved away from the area but who maybe still have family there, or memories that keep them tied and supportive.

It means you can engage with young people more easily – Gen Y are not only engaged in social, they live it, breath it, dream it.

And then there’s the Corporate Social Responsibility opportunity for you to engage with large corporates to help them with their CSR – if you can come up with ideas or projects that could be crowdfunded, you could get their employees involved in the campaign, then ultimately ask the corporate to match the money raised. You get double the impact and a terrific community legacy.

Crowdfunding can often trigger matched funding, so it’s important to explore these options.

And even if your crowdfunding campaign is unsuccessful, you will have an up to date database of new backers to reach out to, and a significantly raised profile beyond your immediate location.

The legacy is a much more engaged community of supporters, and for those who haven’t engaged with social media effectively in the past, this is a great starting point

So how does it work?

Bring your community and build interest in advance of your campaign. Do your research, find out where your target market is consuming their data, spending their time, and go there, start to engage before you launch your project.

Create your project – it’s simply an online pitch, so tell your story, engage people, choose the amount of money you want to raise and a time limit – 30, 45 or 60 days. Upload images and video to illustrate your story.

Create rewards – a series of compelling, unique, exciting rewards will make it a much quicker and easier decision for strangers to your project to back you. So be creative, ask your patrons and backers to donate things, use any celebrity connections you have. They’re bound to be on social media and will happily publicise anything they’re involved in. You’re reaching their followers each time they tweet, ultimately extending your own reach.

Then the hard work starts, reaching out to your community and asking them to support you. It takes time and it takes effort.

Create a mini campaign plan and work hard. It’s not a one-off activity, this is all part of building your supporting community for the future.

At the end of the day you get out what you put in, there’s potential to raise much more than you initially ask for, and you can post as many different projects as you like.

Images courtesy of siteorigin.com and harrods.com)

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Christmas Hampers Charity Competition

As many of you will be aware, fatBuzz is running an exclusive Social Media Training Day for charities tomorrow - and we are happy to reveal that our goodwill doesn't stop there.

To celebrate our Training Day and to reward charity workers' continuous hard work and dedication, we are giving away not one, but TWO of Mitchells Dairy's luxurious Christmas Hampers.

If you think a particularly deserving charity worker has gone above and beyond the call of duty this year, or if you simply want to show your appreciation, we want you to nominate them for this fantastic prize.

To do so, you can nominate him/her on our Facebook page, on Twitter, or you can comment directly on this blog post.

And that's not all! If the person you nominate wins the Christmas Hamper, we will also throw one in for you for taking the time and effort to nominate them!

The competition will close at 12pm on Monday 5th November, so remember (remember) to get your entries in before then!

If you don't win this competition, but still want to buy Mitchells' Christmas hampers for your friends, family or colleagues, you can visit Mitchells' online Hampers Store by clicking HERE. 

Starting from the £35 Afternoon Tea Hamper and ranging up to the £140 Taste of Scotland Hamper, there really is a hamper to suit every taste and budget.

If you want to get in touch with Mitchells and order a bespoke hamper, you can contact them on: 01467 621389 or info@mitchells-scotland.com

Good luck everyone, and we hope you have a wonderful, educational and beneficial day at our Social Media Training Day.

PS. We will also be making an exciting announcement about further charity support later in the week, so make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find out the news.

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Social Media & Music - Creating a Song and Dance

Scottish band Biffy Clyro have been making waves in the social media world again this week, after inviting fans to reveal the artwork to their eagerly anticipated new album Opposites through Twitter.

Every time a fan tweeted #BiffyOpposites, a little more of the artwork was unveiled until the entire image, complete with subtle animated touches, was displayed.

After just 18 hours, the artwork was revealed; putting the final touches on a wholly successful social media campaign.

The campaign, and the subsequent buzz that was created surrounding it, got us thinking about other bands and artists that have embraced social media.

Obviously, there are particular artists that roll off the tongue when you think of social media; Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber are just two prominent examples.

However, we decided to cherry-pick other artists and bands who have embraced social media and utilised it in the most innovative and creative ways.

Hue and Cry

If you grew up in the UK in the 80s, you will no doubt be familiar with brothers Pat and Greg Kane, otherwise known as pop group Hue And Cry, however you might not be so familiar with their social media activity. 

In an article in Wales Online, Pat Kane explained: "We have a very active relationship with the fans through social media, through our own website Hue & Cry Music Club and all the other channels."

As well as embracing social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, Hue and Cry also have their own Ning social network, Hue And Cry Music Club, which they regularly use to interact with their fans. Impressive.

Radiohead

Radiohead's online presence is long established, but it is impossible for us to ignore.

They regularly market their music in a way that no other mainstream band has attempted before; back in 2007, they recorded 'In Rainbows' on their own and released it on their website as a direct download with the asking price of “pay what you want.” 

Fast forward to 2011, where they fully utilised social media.

Ahead of the release of 'The Kings of Limbs' album, they posted a tweet on their official Twitter account: “Thank you for waiting…”, which was followed by a link to www.thekingoflimbs.com, a website designed for the release of their new album.

Four days later, on Friday the 18th, Radiohead tweeted again: “It’s Friday…It’s almost the weekend…You can download ‘The King of Limbs’ now if you so wish!”

Cue social media frenzy. Simple, but effective.

Ed Sheeran

British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is perhaps one of the best examples of how powerful social media can be in music.

Sheeran's producer, Jake Gosling discovered him on MySpace four years ago, and he has since built a loyal following of 'Sheeranator' fans through YouTube. 

Having worked with grime and underground artists, Gosling had come to know Jamal Edwards, founder of online music channel SBTV, and rather than the traditional music media, it SBTV that propelled his song You Need Me to go viral and gain millions of hits.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Conor Maynard

Conor Maynard, like a lot of aspiring young artists, used social media and sites like YouTube to share his videos and after the R&B artist Ne-Yo saw his cover of his song 'Beautiful Monster' on YouTube, the two started Skyping, which led to a recording contract with EMI.

Once again, Maynard is tapping into his social media-hungry fan base to help him decide where in the United States he should perform this winter. To determine the five cities in which the 19-year-old will give free concerts, his label has created MayniacMap, which lets his fans earn points for their respective cities.

Users rack up points by connecting their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare and Tumblr accounts, and performing activities — such as following, liking, commenting and sharing. And for anyone who is remotely interested, New York, San Francisco, Houston, Detroit and Tampa, Florida have accumulated the most points so far.

Ellie Goulding

British singer Ellie Goulding has fully embraced social media.

Not only did she recently conduct the world’s 'first digital album signing' in a Google+ Hangout, she also unleashed a lyric video for Halcyon‘s lead single, 'Anything Could Happen', which featured fan-submitted Instagram photos.

Goulding had just joined the photo-sharing site in June before she asked fans to show her some Instagram love, and you can view the resulting video below.

Have you found this post interesting? If so, please share it with your online community using either the Twitter, Facebook and Share buttons below. If you can think of any other examples of musicians embracing social media, let us know. Thank You.

Exclusive PackshotBoys Offer

One of fatBuzz’s long-term partners, David Cadzow, has an intriguing new business venture - and he has a fantastic introductory offer for the fatBuzz community.

David, who has over 20 years’ commercial photography experience, has created PackshotBoys, a vibrant new packshot company providing high quality, low cost packshot solutions for e-commerce businesses across Scotland and the UK.

And if anyone is interested in taking advantage of David’s and PackshotBoys’ expertise, he is offering a fantastic 15% introductory discount, exclusive to the fatBuzz community.

For those unaware, packshots are still or moving images that are used to portray your products’ quality and reputation, whether through your website, digital advertising or traditional print media.

He can shoot product at clients' premises or in their purpose built studio, using the best digital camera and lighting equipment available to produce stunning quality images to do your products justice.

As well as running PackshotBoys, David also owns internationally acclaimed architectural & interior photography company, Cadzow Pelosi, alongside Joseph Pelosi.

David has also previously supplied photography to a major multi-channel retailer supplying both room-set lifestyle and creative photography, as well as fast turnaround, high volume packshots.

To obtain this offer, contact David directly on 01698 891 721 or email him at info@packshotboys.com Offer is valid until 16th November.

You can follow PackshotBoys on Pinterest and Twitter, or join them on Facebook.

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Social Media Podcast No.49 - Remember When Facebook's share price was $38, now it's almost half but they have 1 billion users!

We're back with Social Media Podcast No.49 and it's a slightly different line up from usual, Kyle had to take care of some urgent client work but we are joined by a couple of first-timers on the podcast.  Taking part in Social Media Podcast Episode 49 we have Gordon White,  Iain Murray  Derek Howie and Joanna Robb.

As usual, we have some lively debate and chat around the world of social media and we bring you some useful examples of social media campaigns that have gone well, and some that have not gone so well.

One of the things we discuss is the Friends Reunited #RememberWhen campaign run at a recent charity ball when they used disposable cameras and a hashtag to engage people both on the night and, on the Friends Reunited platform.  Here is a picture of the Friends Reunited cameras that were used at the Cash for Kids Ball which ultimately raised £250,000 ($403,000) for charity.

HELP US WITH OUR 50th EPISODE
The next Episode is No.50;  we would like to make it a special edition by getting some comments from you - these can be sent by email, Twitter or, posted on the Social Media Podcast Facebook page.  Better still, why don't you send us a short audio message and we'll play it on the podcast - send audio messages to gordon@fatbuzz.com

We would really welcome as many comments and contributions as possible so please send them to us as soon as possible.

Podcast No.49 is packed with great conversation and information from the world of social media - there's also the normal banter and light hearted fun you expect when the Social Media Podcast  team get together.

There's a lot in this one including:

• Audi's ProgressIs campaign - What lessons can we learn from the competition and the two finalists, John Garcia and Jet Set Brunette?
• The fatBuzz Training Day for charities, oversubscribed but we may have some good news for the charities on the waiting list!
• iPhone 5 - Leaves its mark, but is it different enough?
• Samsung vs Apple, the battle rages on
• Will Microsoft's phone be the next big player?
• Friends Reunited - their interesting #RememberWhen campaign
• Iain's a finalist in the National Geographic Photographic Competition - does he need our votes?
• 12 Principles of Social Media Marketing - we discuss an excellent blog post from Jeff Bullas
• Bing teams up with Klout - are these 'scoring' sites of any real value?
• Social analytics tools - are they an expensive luxury?
• ROI - Are your expectations and goals realistic?
• Facebook features strongly in our discussion including the following: Facebook Gifts, Facebook Offers, the alleged Facebook fail
• Facebook also loses a clients' Facebook page and they wont respond to us - is the real price of 'free'?
• TV hit series, Once Upon a Time's Fan Club adopt With Kids as a their Charity and raise lots of money online after watching a video of Robert Carlyle on YouTube.  We discuss the global donations for this small but worth while Glasgow charity.
• Facebook pass 1 billion users but are more than half their users still frustrated with Facebook's mobile experience?
• Pinterest - great for certain brands but are people realising the potential?

If you would like to donate to Gareth Hughes Once Upon a Fan campaign for With Kids, you can do so at the Just Giving Page here

We hope you enjoy the podcast, if you have any comments to make or topics you would like us to discuss please leave them here on the blog or on our Facebook Page.

Play the podcast here:

Subscribe/Download Social Media Podcast on iTunes

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