And we have Social Media in the red corner...

With the recent New Media Breakfast topic - Social Media vs. SEO The Face Off - Saw two experts in their respected fields square off to see who would be the winner !! Both sides got their own wee digs in here and there, but i think everyone agreed they came away with some great tips from both sides.

So after having a look at what Tim Barlow of Attacat had in the SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) corner, it's time to take a look at what's happening on the other ring in the Social Media corner with Gordon White of fatBuzz.

The Hippo Syndrome

 This is something I came across recently that I found very interesting and certainly something I have witnessed all too often. HIPPO stands for Highest Paid Person in the Organisation Syndrome when they have to have their input because they’re the boss.

Don’t be afraid to tell those above you (who probably don’t fully understand social media) that they’re wrong. Argue your point and try to get them to think differently about the way we communicate. Demonstrate how others are doing it and convince them to let you run with it.

It's Not All About You 

All too often people focus their content on the brand, product or service and forget about the customer. You should create content that interests your customers and be aware this is not always about you.

ROI - Investigate the real potential

For this one I want to use the example of a company I went to see recently (It is Solar Panel Electricity although I don’t want to name them) The Sales and Marketing Director explained to me he knew exactly what return he will get for every £1000 spent with call centre tele sales staff. He said, “For every £1000 I spend I get 16 appointment and we convrt one in four appointments to sales”.

He then challenged me that if I could get more than 16 appointments for £1000 he would do any social media activity I suggested. I pointed out to him that this may not be the best way to look at it. Instead, how about if he invested £1000 a month in social media and I could change the conversation rate from 1 in 4 to 1 in 3 - he admitted immediately this would be the best £1000 that he invested.

For more videos from Gordon please visit the Social Media Section on the fatBuzz TV Channel. 

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August New Media Breakfast: Pixel Power - Are you making the most of images?

PIXEL POWER - Are you making the most of images?
Friday 31st August 2012

In times of status updates, tweets and blog posts, images are often overlooked in online communication; an increasing afterthought placed into content without any real thought or strategy.

However, images can be extremely influential in attracting attention to your content and engaging your community. In fact, images can also be very effective content in their own right.

This New Media Breakfast will explore how to make the best use of images and how to incorporate the use of imagery into your content strategy, as well as analysing prime examples where images are already being used effectively.

• We will look at some of the popular photo sharing platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest and Friends Reunited, and suggest ways that these platforms can be used effectively for business communication and community building.
• As we already know, the use of images is a major part of Facebook and Twitter, therefore we will look at how to make the most of your images on these major platforms.
• They say a picture paints a thousand words, and that may well be the case, however search engines unfortunately can’t see images. We will demonstrate how search engines interpret images and we’ll show you how to improve your overall SEO by applying images in the proper manner.

Of course, the use of images is not restricted to social media; we also use images in web sites, html email, and PDF documents. Therefore, this New Media Breakfast will explore one pertinent question...

Are you making the most of images?

YOUR QUESTIONS

The New Media Breakfast is all about sharing knowledge and helping to keep each other informed about the latest developments in new media, we would encourage you to submit any tips or tricks that you may have that you would like to share at the Breakfast. Or, you may have heard a tip for using images but you’re unsure about its effectiveness or credibility – please feel free to submit it to us beforehand and we can share the answers at the breakfast. Please send your tips or questions to @GordonWhite

THE SPEAKER
The Facebook Timeline breakfast will be presented by Gordon White, Managing Director, fatBuzz Ltd.

HOW TO BOOK
Venue: 29 Member's Club, Royal Exchange Square, Glasgow
Date: Friday 31stth August 2012
Time: 7.30am for 8am
Cost: £10 +VAT

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.

BOOK FOR NEW MEDIA BREAKFAST GLASGOW HERE:

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We have SEO in the blue corner...

With the recent New Media Breakfast topic - Social Media vs. SEO The Face Off - Saw two experts in their respected fields square off to see who would be the winner !! Both sides got their own wee digs in here and there, but i think everyone agreed they came away with some great tips from both sides.

So What our competitors have decided to do is record their heaviest hits into short videos to add to our series of Quick Buzz videos.

Today we will be having a look into the SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) corner with Tim Barlow of Attacat.

What is SEO ?

You’ve probably heard that SEO is about getting the right words into your pages and then going about getting other sites to link to yours. And it is, to an extent. But there is SO much more to it than that.

Good SEO

Getting the right words into the site involves looking at the site as a whole, the navigation structure, the user experience across the site and of course the technology behind it, frankly it can even mean changing the whole strategy behind the site sometimes. That's why SEO needs to begin when your site is just a twinkle in your eye.

 Create the No1 Resource

Want to be number 1 on Google. Simple: Create the best resource for a topic. Want to rank for employment law? Create the best resource you can on the topic of employment law. Want to rank for sheep dog breeders? Create the best site on sheep dog breeders. What could be more straight forward on that.

For more videos from Tim please visit the SEO Section on the fatBuzz TV Channel. 

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No need for a Hollywood Production

Video has long been a powerful medium for businesses to communicate and disseminate messages, but thanks to the arrival of 3G phones and tablet devices such as the iPad, it has become considerably easier to access and consume.

Consequently, it is essential to have a presence that will help people find your message online and enable you to raise awareness, build trust and reach potential customers.

However, when we discuss creating video content with our clients, one particular question keeps cropping up: ‘Isn’t video production expensive?’.

Well, the simple answer is no, it doesn’t have to be.

Our in-house video production team can produce video content for you; providing a total service from planning right through to syndication.

Importantly, we will work with you to find solutions that match your resource and your budget.

There are two main ways that fatBuzz approach video production:

• Content filmed, edited and produced by fatBuzz

• Content filmed by you and edited and produced by fatBuzz

Capturing the content, though, is only part of the process. We will then take a look at video syndication, promote your content and encourage people to watch and share it.

Video is traditionally uploaded onto video-sharing site, YouTube, and given the fact that it is officially the second largest search engine on the web, it undeniably represents an enormous opportunity to get your message out there.

However, it is also important to acknowledge that video can also be distributed on your website, blog, Facebook page, niche network, iTunes, Vimeo and Viddler to name but a few.

Many people have a perception that iTunes is specifically used for audio purposes, but it is important to remember that it also has a fairly large video directory. In fact, in certain instances, our clients have had four times the amount of downloads on iTunes when compared to views on YouTube.

So, whether you decide to use iTunes, YouTube, Vimeo or Viddler, one thing is evident - regular, video content is no longer just desirable; it is an increasingly, essential aspect of social media.

What do you think about video production? Is it a useful marketing tool? Should businesses embrace video?

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fatBuzz has got that little bit fatter

Derek Howie is a first-class honours journalism graduate, whose work has appeared in publications including The Scottish Sun, STV and tilllate magazine. He has been rewarded for his academic endeavours with many personal accolades, including the 2011 and 2012 UWS Court Medal for Journalism and the 2009 and 2010 Glasgow Metropolitan College HND Journalism prize. He also came runner up in the 2010 Write Stuff College Sports Writing award.

Throughout his time as a freelance journalist and student of journalism, he has learned many valuable skills which he will look to bring to the fatBuzz office, including the ability to build and maintain credible relationships and the ability to create regular, vibrant and effective content.

As well as his experience in journalism, Derek also has significant knowledge and understanding of social media marketing and website and social network site management. He is extremely passionate about social media and has written widely about its benefits and implications to journalists and businesses, as well as researching it as part of his dissertation study into journalists’ use of social media as a newsgathering tool.

Before he embarked on a career in journalism, and subsequently social media with fatBuzz, Derek previously played professional football for Dunfermline Athletic Football Club, where he ultimately spent more time on the treatment table than he did on the football pitch.

Away from the office, Derek considers himself as something of an 'electronic music aficionado' and during his time at tilllate magazine, he interviewed electronic music pioneers such as Pete Tong, Slam, Ellen Allien, Agoria, Markus Shulz and Breakage. Incidentally, Gordon has no idea who any of those artists are!

While studying at college and university over the past four years, Derek spent copious amounts of time on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WordPress, Blogger, YouTube and iTunes. He never imagined that four years later, that procrastination would prove so worthwhile.

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No rest for the wicked...but, some wicked results!

It's been all go at fatBuzz these past few months and there's no sign of it stopping anytime soon! Here are a few of our recent web design projects we've been working on.

The first is Chattelle Estates. This is a brochure website with a property search facility all built on a content management system which allows the client to change the website at any time.

As you can see below we have created an additional feature on Facebook which is built within an iframe tab where all users can carry out a property search without leaving the Facebook page. Click on the link below the image to view this Facebook functionality.

Chattelle Estates Property Search

The 2nd site is Packshot Boys. They are a vibrant new packshot company and this website predominantly focuses on product based photography for e-commerce websites.

Packshot Boys Website

On their Facebook page there is a tab feature which allows the users to look at some of the products and services that they have worked on in the past. As you will see within this tab we have integrated a slideshow function to display various product images. Click on the link below the image to view.

About Packshot Boys

We also designed and developed Principle Consulting website. This site was built with a strong focus on social media. For example, you can subscribe to the blog RSS feeds and view a variety of their social media channels from the one hub.

Principle Consulting Website

As you can see from above we have been designing and developing a variety of different websites for our clients. We would love you to give us some feedback on what you think of the sites and their features.

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Content Explored...Divorce, Extremists, Sock Drawers - It's all good stuff

The most common topic of conversation when we speak to people about social media is Content; people struggle with the concept of creating it and, they are unsure what constitutes good and bad Content. It is perhaps the biggest barrier to businesses becoming social yet, if they don’t get to grips with it their efforts are almost certainly doomed to fail.

Fear may be too strong a word, but certainly lots of people we meet have extreme reservations about their ability to create regular engaging Content. Some don’t fully understand what it is, others think no-one else will be interested in what they have to say, some are wary about saying the wrong things and, others still confuse Content with Copywriting.

A Copywriter is a person who writes the text for advertisements or publicity material; it’s a skill but it is very different from a Content Creator. The truth is we are all Content Creators; whether it’s a Tweet, blog post, caption on a picture, video footage or, a comment on a status update – it’s all content. In fact, curating and sharing other people’s content is also content creation.

One of the first places we advise people to start when thinking about what to say is their frequently asked questions; write content that answers the questions people ask you on a regular basis. Therefore, in keeping with our own advice, I have decided to start publishing a regular blog post purely about Content, we’ll call it ‘Content Explored’. To be more accurate, I will feature some content created by our clients; I hope it will give you a good idea about the variety of content you could consider and, hopefully some inspiration for your own Content.

For the initial Content post I would like to feature the a small portion of the content being created by Morton Fraser, a full service law firm with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. You may wonder what a law firm can say on social media without breaching client confidentiality or, risking conflict of interest or even incurring the wrath of the regulators. The cynical among you may even be shocked at law firm giving away free advice.

The truth is, Morton Fraser creates a vast array of content on a wide variety of topics – all of it interesting and engaging for the target audiences. I would also stress this is not advice - it is information and, lots of it.

It would be impossible to cover all of the content in a single blog post, it’s better you check it out for yourselves however, I would like to draw attention to a few things that will demonstrate the depth of their Content which helps them demonstrates the depth of their talent pool and expertise. I will also include some links at the bottom where you can see the range of Content they create.

Here is the selection I have picked out, I know you will also appreciate from this that they have also embraced the need to make content available in different formats to appeal to different audiences.

BLOGS
There are eight blogs on the Morton Fraser web site – yes 8! You must bear in mind Morton Fraser is a “full service” law firm so they work in many areas of the law. You may then expect each blog covers a different area of law but you would be wrong. You see, Morton Fraser realise it’s not all about them, they write about things that interest their target audiences rather than pushing services. Therefore, the Sport and Tourism Law Team currently have an Olympic blog with lighthearted summaries of each sport.

Austin Legal UK is a blog from Austin Flynn where he “thinks out loud” and includes “ramblings“ and “rants” – how refreshing is that form a high profile corporate lawyer.

“It’s a wonderful life” is the blog dedicated to the things you need to know at different stages of life, and so it goes on…

Each blog is very different – they’re meant to be. Each writer has an individual style – this truly helps to humanise the organisation. In short, the blogging activity is very successful – it works and, it makes enjoyable reading, I recommend you to explore them in more detail.

E-BULLETINS
If you’re involved in the property industry, it’s difficult to imagine a better resource than the Morton Fraser Property E-Bulletins. Morton Fraser realise the curation of content is also creation of content. The E-Bulletin is full of links to articles and news from the Property Sector thus making it a timesaving resource for others; all of the important stuff is available in one place – The Morton Fraser Property E-Bulletin.

Likewise, the Employment E-Bulletin is a comprehensive resource for the latest news and legislation about Employment Law.

PODCASTS
The archive of podcasts is growing very week and a quick scan of the precious episodes gives a quick insight into the diversity of the services available from Morton Fraser but, as with the blogs, these are not pushing services, they are a unique insight into the world of Morton Fraser.

The podcast topics range from the exploration of Rural Diversification to Proceeds of Crime and, Choosing a Divorce Lawyer to War, Extremists and the 2012 Olympics. The podcast entitled “Do you have a digital sock drawer?” is a fascinating look at what happens to your on-line stuff when you die! This clearly demonstrates their ability to create interesting and engaging content that highlights their expertise without actually selling you anything.

Podcasting is still a very popular form of content and should not be overlooked in any communication strategy. It is intimate; you talk directly into the ear of someone who has chosen to receive your information. Please take a moment to look at the range of podcasts topics Morton Fraser has already created Click Here. You may also wish to have a listen to our own Social Media Podcast Click Here.

This is just a very quick look at some of the content Morton Fraser create – there’s much more available on the site. I have included links to the main content here:

Blogs • E-Bulletins • Podcasts • Articles • Factsheets • LinkedIn

In addition to these, Morton Fraser is starting to make use of video content to introduce their team members in a less formal manner. You may also like to connect with them on their new Facebook pages at one of the following links:

Facebook for Morton Fraser Business

Facebook for Morton Fraser You and Your Family

Look at the ‘Who Are We’ Tab on the Business Facebook page; it’s a good example of the type of content you can include on a Facebook page.

Morton Fraser create great content; the variety and quality is testament to the depth of knowledge and expertise within the firm and, the fact they make it so widely available clearly demonstrates they are indeed a business that is truly social.

I hope you have found this a useful introduction to our ‘Content Explored’ blog posts. If you have found it interesting please use the share buttons below to tell others in your online community, remember sharing is a form of content creation.

Social Media Podcast 47 - Google+ has 250 million active users and Elvis IS alive and Tweeting!

Taking part in Social Media Podcast Episode 47 we have Gordon White,  Kyle Murdoch, Kirsty Hunter, Iain Murray however, this episode could well be renamed the Google Podcast because Iain was the only one who had done his homework.  Nevertheless, we do manage to get the odd non Google topic squeezed in!

As usual, the banter is good and the conversation moves along with good humour and, we hope, some interesting information from the world of social media and emerging technology.

We're fast approaching Episode 50; have you any ideas what we should do or, do you want to take part?  Let us know - email gordon@fatBuzz.com or kyle@fatbuzz.com.

Elvis gets a mention and, we chat briefly about Morton Fraser's fascinating podcast about what happens to your online stuff when you die.  We also pose some new questions for our friendly legal experts about using edited Tweets as testimonials in your marketing material - we will be interested to hear their opinion this!

There's really a lot in this one including:

• Google+ - Reposturing has begun and, 250 million active users?
• Introducing Nexus7 - Great if you like your tablet half baked!
• Google Play - Playing at being iTunes?
• NexusQ - Ideal for Androids
• Google Now - Big Brother's not watch you, he's directing you! 
• Microsoft Surface - Has it surfaced to soon?
• Waze - A great way to get people to your chip shop?
• Twitter - No longer feeding  to Linked-In - great news!
• Take some time to reduce the size of your community
• Mon.ki - A Google Chrome add on that enables relevant Twitter messages to appear on your search pages now out of Beta
• Google Analytics goes mobile
• Facebook Emails - Big bad Facebook have a glitch
• Elvis is alive and Tweeting!
• Morton Fraser's podcast - Do you have a digital sock drawer?  What happens to your stuff when you die
• New Media Breakfast - Who won the big Social Media v SEO The Face Off?
• Edited Tweets being used in Marketing material - one for our friends at Morton Fraser
• What length are your Tweets?

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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