Top Trends on YouTube

YouTube is a ferocious beast - but I mean that in a positive way.


A search conducted on July 28, 2010 of the 100 Most Viewed videos of all time on YouTube revealed:
Music videos and music parodies or tributes are the most viewed videos in the Top-100. Other popular videos include pets, people doing stunts, automobiles and animation.

Music Videos:
2% in the Top-10
8% in the Top-25
18% in the Top-50
39% in the Top-100

Music Parodies/Tributes:
4% in the Top-10
7% in the Top-25
15% in the Top-50
25% in the Top-100

Animals/Pets:
2% in the Top-10
5% in the Top-25
7% in the Top-50
7% in the Top-100

People/Stunts:
2% in the Top-10
2% in the Top-25
4% in the Top-50
12% in the Top-100

Cars/Autos
0% in the Top-10
0% in the Top-25
3% in the Top-50
6% in the Top-100

Animation/Cartoon:
0% in the Top-10
1% in the Top-25
1% in the Top-50
6% in the Top-100

Commercials/Movie Trailers:
0% in the Top-10
2% in the Top-25
2% in the Top-50
5% in the Top-100

Data collected July 28, 2010

The Top-10 most watched YouTube videos accounted for approximately 252.3 million views.
Videos featured:
Pink Floyd tribute: 36.8 million views
Jon Lajoie – Show Me Your Genitals skit: 32.5 millions views
Michael Buble – Haven’t Met You Yet music video: 28.9 million views
Justin Bieber Tickets (removed by record label): 26.6 million views
Justin Bieber – One Time video (removed by record label): 22.4 million views
Big Spider Tarantula on my hand: 21.9 million views
SNL/Justin Timberlake-Beyonce skit: 21 million views
Michael Buble – Everything music video: 20.9 million views
Sasha the dog cheers for USA: 20.7 million views
Lil Wayne song I Feel Like Dying (not music video): 20.5 million views

Who was featured the most in the Top 100?

Justin Bieber is featured in 9 videos in the Top-100; full music videos or music performances and interviews accounting for 130.6 million views on YouTube.
That’s an average of 14.5 million views per video.

Comedian Jon Lajoie was featured in 3 videos in the Top-100, including the parody “Show Me Your Genitals” ranked at #2.

Michael Buble, Drake, Black Eyed Peas and Bryan Adams all had 2 videos in the Top-100

All together, the Top-100 most watched videos on YouTube accounted for approximately 1.375 Billion views. That’s a staggering 13.752 million views on average per video.

YouTube Statistics:
People are watching 2 billion videos a day on YouTube and uploading hundreds of thousands of videos daily. In fact, every minute, 24 hours of video is uploaded to YouTube

You Tube Demographics:
The user base is broad in age range, 18-55, evenly divided between males and females, and spanning all geographies. Fifty-one percent of their users go to YouTube weekly or more often, and 52 percent of 18-34 year-olds share videos often with friends and colleagues.

Using YouTube as a tool for marketing, promotion, public relations and awareness is no longer an option for business. It is a must.

Email Marketing: Get People On Your List

Several years ago when the 'new message' icon used to pop up on your computer screen, it meant you had received a note from an old friend, family member or coworker. Today, more of that form of 'simple' communication is moving to Facebook, Twitter or texting.

As a business owner looking to create stronger relationships with clients and customers, do not forget the power of email marketing.

A new study released by ExactTarget found 58 percent of U.S. online consumers begin their day interacting with companies on email, compared to 20 percent who start their day on search engines and 11 percent on Facebook.

And with the increased number of mobile devices that can send and receive email messages, there is really no boundary to the time and location where you can remind your customers about the benefits of your business. A blog from MediaPost Publications said it best; your customers are your marketers in today's world.

What is email marketing?

In it's simplest form, email marketing is email data-base management. Several companies offer on-line email marketing solutions including the creation and distribution of your own newsletter or eBlast to subscribers. While some people get hung up on giving out personal information such as an email address for fear of being spammed, rest assured that the reputable email marketing companies have a fail-safe method to prevent this type of invasion of privacy. Email marketing is always a permission based subscription service. Once your customer does not want to receive information from you, they have the option to 'unsubscribe' from your list. Most reputable companies offer a simple one-click remedy for this while others make the user jump through several hoops just to be removed from a list. More hoops to jump through - the more upset your clients will be.

How to get started with email marketing

Start with the list of clients and customer who are 'regular' fans of your business. From there, add the names of first time visitors and people you have met at industry events. Encourage people who visit your website and subscribe to your social media site to join your email list. Even a simple piece of paper at a cash register to collect the name and email address of each customer is a great way to add names to your list. The more people on your list, the more valuable your marketing.

What do I send to my subscribers?

A weekly or bi-weekly Newsletter is a great way to stay in touch and remind your customers of special offers, upcoming promotions or special events they are interested in. Your newsletters can also include a video (linked from YouTube) showing a presentation you made at City Hall or a short clip demonstrating a new product or service. The key is to give your subscribers material that will be of interest or a benefit to them. Offer them something (information) first before it is available on any other source.

What else can I do with Email marketing?

Are you interested in sending out a regular email newsletter to your subscribers? Great. There are many companies that can help you.

Are you interested in combining your email marketing with event planning that will track respondents and collect money all online?

Are you interested in combining your email marketing with online surveys that you can send to collect valuable information about a product or service you are offering - without having to use another external source?

If you answered YES to one or any of those last questions, I recommend Constant Contact.

Yes, I am a very satisfied Constant Contact user.

-Darren

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Create Your Own Parade

Several years ago while I was still working in radio, a manager told me "Pick a parade and lead it". Sadly, because of cutbacks, lack of time or fear of failure, many traditional media outlets adhere to that motto. They (traditional media) do not have the time or resources to champion every new cause that is presented to them.
Newspaper outlets have fewer writers and reports available to research new story leads. Television is reducing staff and replacing more local programs with national news programs. And with automation, Radio stations can be staffed with fewer bodies allowing for more 'piped in' or voice-tracked programming.

So how can you create your own parade for the media to notice?

Remember the movie "Field Of Dreams"? Remember that famous line; 'if you build it they will come'?

If you build a big enough 'buzz', traditional media will take notice. Just ask Greyson Chance. Greyson is the 12 year old who posted a video of him performing the Lady GaGa song "Paparazzi" at a school festival. The video has been viewed more than 26 million times and caught the attention of many media personalities including Ellen Degeneres.

As I mentioned before, traditional media does not have the time to interview or talk to everyone who is seeking their attention. Not to worry. You can do this yourself.

Words on paper or on a computer screen are great - but Video is your secret weapon.
We (society) are actively seeking new information about our favorite brands. If we find something new that we like, we are very inclined to share those stories with our friends. For that reason, YouTube has become one of the most used search engines for new content. Type in any phrase on YouTube and there will be a video for that topic.

So, here you are. A business/company/brand with a story to tell. Go ahead - tell it.

Tell me your story.
Tell me about your company.
Tell me about your products.
Tell me why you had to reduce staff and cut services.
Tell me little known facts about your brand without giving away secrets.

Depending on your budget you can do this yourself, or seek help with the many on-line video production companies in your market. Or, simply throw a good HD camera on a tripod and have someone ask you questions (off camera). Create short 3 to 5 minute video clips about your company and tell your story - in your own words.
Once you've posted them on YouTube, link to them on your company website. Share the link on your Blog, Email Newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn - every Social Media outlet that you use. Musicians get this, and are using these techniques to market their products and more importantly - giving their fans a 'back stage' sneak peak, increasing the "wow" factor.

Creating your own parade will take time, but eventually, you will have people lining up to see what the buzz is all about.

Photo: Flikr, courtesy Doug Consul, 1962 Calgary Stampede Parade

Media Interviews: Tips to ensure your message is being delivered

Here is the scenario:
Your phone rings and it is the local newspaper looking for more information on a new product just launched by your company. 20 minutes later after you have hung up the phone you realize you forgot to mention the name of the new product and (gasp) forgot the name of the newspaper that called you. Whoops.

Preparing for your interview can take very little time, but those 30 seconds of preparation will make the difference in the delivery of your key message to the media.

How do you prepare for a media interview?
Here are a few tips and tricks from a Media Coach.

1) Who are you talking to?
Before starting an interview, be sure to get the name of the interviewer and who they are working for. If the person is calling from another city, get their location. Write down the information and keep it in front of you so you don't accidentally thank the wrong person, the wrong media outlet or say the wrong city. Very embarrassing.

2) The clock is ticking
Media outlets are always on a tight deadline. Therefore it is important to show up on time for a scheduled interview, or if they give you 3 minutes to explain your product you should stick to the time allotted. It is always a great idea to ask the interviewer ahead of time how much time they will give you. Respect their time and it will go a long way in ensuring a return visit from the media the next time.

3) Know what you are talking about
What is the product you have just introduced and how will it effect the lives of the consumers? The most effective presentations will avoid technical words or phrases that are not familiar to the general public. Stick to the facts and use real words that people will remember.

4) Speak in short sentences
Media outlets are always looking for the most effective sound byte that best describes the story or situation. In most cases it is a bold statement that is shorter than 15 seconds. Prepare your presentation using short responses - each providing valuable information and promotion about your product.

5) Show off your product
It seems obvious, but if you have just launched a brand new product you had better show it off to the media. You would be surprised how many people forget to put their new product in the spotlight. This could be the unveiling of a new logo, new vehicle, new staff member, etc. Show them off to the media.

6) Big finish
Remembering that you only have 15 seconds or less to make an impact, how will consumers find more information about you? This is where you have to decide to give your phone number, email address or web address. Pick the strongest ONE and stick with ONE. If you are crafty, you will find ways to include mentions of your website, blog, or social media sites within the body of the interview.

If you can master these techniques you will become much more effective in the delivery of your message to the media.

-Darren

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Three Steps For Effective Crisis Management

The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has quickly become an environmental disaster, one that appears to have caught a few people sleeping on the job.
While Government Officials continue to point fingers, more have become extremely critical of the slow reaction and response from British Petroleum, the operator of the oil rig. Almost two weeks after an explosion sunk the off-shore oil platform, BP is now taking responsibility and beginning the process of damage control.

Has your company been given the proper training in crisis management if it happened tomorrow?

There are three basic rules to remember when controlling a crisis situation.
S: state the obvious and admit to the mistake or crisis
O: offer support and assistance to victims
S: signal the steps your company is taking to correct the mistake

As important for you to understand how to react and respond in a crisis, it is also critical for all staff members to do the same. Who is your company spokesperson?
Only the company spokesperson should be permitted to release information to the media - that means an immediate control of all messages your staff members are broadcasting to the world via social media.

Immediate and responsive actions are vital in times of crisis as they can turn a potentially damaging situation into an ability to demonstrate leadership and strength within your organization.

A few days of Crisis Management training could save weeks, months or years of embarrassment and shame for your company.


-Darren
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Say What You Mean To Say

Have you ever sent an email or said something that was followed by the comment "what do you mean"?

It happens to the best of us.

Messages can be deciphered into many different points. What is lost in an email or text message is tone and direction which is why I am a fan of picking up the phone and talking directly with the person I am trying to glean information from, or to pass along important information.
The key for successful communications is clear direction and core message development.

Here is another example.
Today is April 28 and my home city of Calgary Alberta is bracing for heavy rain and snow (yes I said snow) for the next 48 hours.
What did you hear in that message?

Did you hear that it's going to be cold, wet and miserable in Calgary for the next two days?

Or, did you hear that Calgary is finally going to get some much needed spring moisture?

Effective message delivery to the Media is just as important.

Before broadcasting a message through all forms of media, start with a clear direction (objective) of what you are trying to accomplish. If you are unsure of your key message, you are not ready for your moment in the spotlight.

Are we clear?

-Darren

Media Releases: What Not To Say

Can I tell you a secret?

Never use those words to someone in the media.

As a Media Coach and Consultant, I am often called to assist companies connect with the media and offer coaching and training for a major media event.

While there are many things you should tell the media with either a well written media release or media conference, there are numerous words and phrases that you should not say to the media.

There are so many stories I could tell you (and bore you) about my 25 years in the Media, so I called upon a good friend who has spent even more time in the Broadcast News business.

George Gordon is a Media pro who has spent a lifetime writing, editing and reading News stories. He is currently the owner of Be Heard Communications and the author of "What's Your Story.

I asked George several questions about effective communication with the media.

Question: What should never be said to the media or included in a media release...but still do?
George Gordon: 'No Comment' is the absolute worst and most common thing people say, even if it's not a bad thing they are calling about. You could be missing the opportunity to be "the authority", "expert" or "go-to person".
Stay away from giant words and inside talk or phrases that will make the reader or listener feel left our. And avoid attacks on competitors or antagonists. Speak your trust and it will set you free or at least make you look like a high road rider.

Question: What are the must-haves in an effective media release?
George Gordon: Use power words like 'you' and 'your' when talking about a subject. Use absolute statements, not waffling phrases. Example:
Wrong = "the situation is not so good".
Correct = "It's a BAD situation".

Question: How much does the News Media rely on social media for tips and updates?
George Gordon: Too much and not enough. Those who ignore social media do so at their own peril. One Twitter posting on something going on may not mean a lot but several tweets means you've just been given the heads-up on something going on. Like all tips, they need to be followed up, confirmed and verified.

Question: Do you see News Media and Social Media as competitors or allies?
George Gordon: Ally. Any medium that delivers a message needs to be used. Twitter, Facebook and MySpace should be used carefully as a tool to draw listeners, viewers and readers to your main platform. Using twitter to throw out a teaser about a big story is like throwing out the hook and drawing people to your net before anyone else can get them. Example: "Cop arrested for selling drugs, caught on film. The exclusive story coming up at 10". Today's reality; every medium has a web page with alert functions and the ability to upload video and audio on to a site from their own people or from the people on social media using new wireless devices.


-Darren
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Business Marketing with Twitter

Social Media has revolutionized the way Business connects with customers. No longer are your hands tied to a single advertisement in a Newspaper, or a radio or TV commercial that was produced a week ago. Social Media allows real-time communication to your customers.

One of the newest social media players is Twitter. While Facebook continues to grow, so does Twitter.

Simply put, Twitter is like high school - you always hung out with the cool people and other cool people hung out with you.
Twitter is all about following people you find interesting and people following you who find you interesting.
You can learn what is going on in the world and you can also educate your followers. The more interesting and engaging you are, the more people from around the globe will find you and start following you. Do not be afraid. It's cool to be cool.
For Business, Twitter is a resource for:
-Promotion
-Marketing
-Customer service
-Customer relations
-Surveys
-Research
-Drive traffic back to your Website or blog
-Employment opportunities (looking for new staff)
-Competition review
-Immediate two-way communication with customers and clients

If any of those aspects interest you, I recommend creating a Twitter account and start connecting with prospective new clients. Before creating your account, I also recommend the creation of a Social Media Code of Conduct that is reviewed by all staff members to ensure the proper content is being shared by all staffers.

So, what is a 'Tweet'? A tweet is a 140 character message that is viewed by your followers. The most effective tweets include a call to action or give the reader a reason to visit your business. In the beginning it might not appear that your 'tweets' are effective but do not give up. Try to tweet several times a day and keep your messages consistent with your business model. Try different types of messages and eventually you will find certain messages receive more attention.

There are so many business uses for Twitter to broadcast and connect with clients and reach out to new customers.

What is also great about Twitter, it can be added to your mobile device allowing you to update and send pictures to your followers from events and immediately respond to followers.

For starters, here are 5 Twitter tips for building your business.

Take a deep breath. You will get through this. Just start slowly and soon, the whole world will be at your fingertips.

Find me on Twitter.
-Darren

Speak Media Consulting offers coaching and training for all your media needs, from understanding the inner workings of traditional media to effective uses of social media.

Writing Effective Media Releases; tips for attracting Media attention

Before you launch a new product, introduce new programs or announce details of a recent incident at your business, you need to gain the attention and support from the media. If you are lucky, you have already built strong relationships with your local media outlets and know who to call. However, knowing what to say and how to deliver your message to the media is a challenge for many people.


George Gordon is a long time friend of mine who has spent many years in Broadcast News in Canada. He is also the Owner of Be Heard Communications, and author of "What's Your Story". In his role in an active News Room, George has seen the best and worst stories across his desk. Responding to a few questions, George shares his insight below.


Question: What are the most important elements to include in an effective Media Release?
George Gordon: The title must have the hook. For TV, what is the visual? From a print perspective, what will there be to write about "tomorrow".

Peel the onion to what your release is all about. It is said when people feel the pain, they are looking for who ever has the cure. Are you going to provide a better, faster or cheaper service?

Example: Your municipality has banned backyard or "cosmetic" pesticides and you fear for your lawn. The smart lawn care or pest control company with the remedy has a great opportunity.

Your Media Release could look like this:
The Hook: Save your lawn without big killer. Ace Lawn Care introduces the Nematode.
Company
Contact Person
Phone Number
E-mail

Context: The new City law and the dilemma it creates for home owners with pretty lawns.

Unfolding the story: How many acres of lawns affected, which pests are likely to be a problem. Look for actual figures to quote.

Building the momentum: What evil bugs will now be free to devour your lawn? What will it do to the appearance and value of your property?

Climax: Ace now has trained lawn technicians who will treat your lawn safely and effectively using the natural predator of most grubs. The Nematode is a tiny organism that eats the grub larvae but will not harm other insects like bees.

Big Finish: Call Ace Lawn Care today about their Green solution for a green lawn. We will explain the process and give you an estimate on what this investment will mean for you.

Question: How effective is this style or format for a Media release?
George Gordon: The bold letter component titles are from a formula I used to help reporters focus. If your release makes it easy for a reporter or editor to see the story merits you have a better chance of being used. I also like to see the contact coordinater up top. Don't make the harried (or lazy) person at the desk have to look for it.

Question: As a News Director, what was most effective in catching your eye and making you interested in the story?
George Gordon: A good release has empathy for the people affected and words like 'you' and 'your' are more powerful in connecting with the eye and ear. Keep language plain and simple. People are not stupid but are bombarded with information and can't always grasp every message.
Another thing; try to avoid negatives. Like: "The politicians have decided to take away your weapon against bugs". Provide the positive: "Ace is leading the way in the environmentally friendly way to...".
One last thing - if your name is on the release, make sure you are ready to take the call or answer the email immediately.



Next week, check back for insight on what NOT to say to the media, and the impact of social media on news reporting.

Thanks for reading.
-Darren

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How To Cut Through The Noise

Let me guess; one of your earliest childhood memories was learning the letters of the alphabet. Since then you have lived your life confident in the knowledge that "I" comes before "U" in the alphabet. Guess what - you are WRONG.


Before you write a letter to your Grade school teachers or to the Sesame Street gang, let me explain.

For years, marketing and advertising campaigns were designed around the values and experience of the business to demonstrate the products or services being offered. Essentially, consumers were told what was good for them, and for quite some time we believed them. Call this the "I" method of communication.

Then a number of marketing and advertising agencies began to shift the focus of attention towards the consumers to demonstrate how each product or services would impact the lives of the consumer. Call this the "U" method of communication.

Today more than ever, you need to explore how to put your consumers needs ahead of your own.

Think for a moment how many messages you sift through and prioritize each day with email, text messaging, telephone calls, newspaper columns, magazine articles, blog posts, TV news, radio commentary, billboard advertising on buildings, buses and street benches, website click throughs, social media (Facebook and Twitter, etc), meetings, letters, fliers stuffed under your windshield wiper and even bathroom stall advertising. Yes, there are so many ways to broadcast your message. Now, quickly think about how many of those messages do you remember at this moment. Which messages did you respond to and which messages did you discard?

How do you cut through the noise?

As a Media Coach and Consultant offering effective solutions for message creation, delivery and engagement, I am constantly being asked to create communication links (dialogue) between clients and business. Effective messaging, either with media releases, marketing, advertising, even email and blog posts, should focus on the impact of your consumer. Answer their questions: "What's in it for me?", and "How will this effect my heart, health or wallet?".

Start with re-arranging your business priorities by putting the needs of your clients and consumers ahead of your own. In other words, re-arrange the alphabet and put "U" ahead of "I".

-Darren

Did you find this useful? Leave your comments below.

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Linked In for Business

Over the last few weeks I have shared with you the power of Social media for Business.
Read my reports on:
Blogging for Business
Facebook for Business

In this Speak Media Consulting blog you will learn the power of using Linked In for Business.
Linked In is the Professionals networking tool. Unlike Facebook where users go to share stories and experiences of their lives, Linked In is an exceptional networking site.

With Linked In you can:
-Sign up and develop a profile online that highlights your skills and
achievements
-Grow your network by adding to your contacts
-Use it to find prospects, employees & suppliers
-Use it to do reference checks
-Use it to ask questions and get answers
-Join groups or form your own groups
-Search for people in targeted fields, positions and ask them to join your network
-Keep in touch regularly with your contacts
-Build a great online database
(with content provided by BizLaunch)

Linked In also allows you to rebroadcast your Twitter and Blog posts directly to your Linked In account.

Watch this video tutorial on Linked In.

How are you using Linked In?
-Darren

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Spring Cleaning; Tips to Increase Engagement with Customers and Clients

Not only does the arrival of Spring mark the end of the Winter 'blahs', it is also a perfect opportunity to do some spring cleaning of your own to prepare you for an even more successful year.

For businesses big and small, I present the Speak Media Consulting Spring Cleaning check list:

1. Review and update Marketing tools. Ensure all new data is correct and updated to reflect the changes in your market
2. Review and update your Website. Time to update content on your website. Add new staff pictures, be sure all contacts are still employed and all links work correctly.
3. Review and update Media contact list. Media people come and go as often as the seasons. Make calls to your ensure your Media contact list is still current.
4. Clean up your Contact List / email Data base. Each year, people come and go from your life. Nothing personal - it is just time for a purge.
5. Update your Presentations. If you do many public speaking engagements, take a few hours to ensure you have all the current information. Update graphs and slides with the most relevant information. Or if you're really daring - rewrite the entire presentation.
6. Create a new Business card. If you are not restricted by corporate design templates, create a new design for your business cards. Borrow examples from other smart looking cards you have collected over the last few months.
7. Make contact with a long lost friend or former associate. We all live busy lives, but staying in touch (networking) with an old friend might lead to new contacts and a year filled with great rewards for you and your company.
8. Wardrobe. If it has been in your closet for more than 6 months and you have not worn it, get rid of it. Donate all your gently worn clothes to Goodwill or other collection agencies.
9. Update your work space. I am not suggesting you hire a Decorator - take time to freshen up your work space. Clean off your desk, get rid of clutter, update pictures of your family and throw out whatever is growing that funky mold in the back of the refrigerator.
10. Be great. Your clients and customers are looking to you for confidence and charisma. Go out there and be the best you can be each and every time.

-Darren
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What's In It For Me? Effective Email Marketing Tips

In my presentations as a Media Coach and Consultant with Speak Media Consulting, you often hear me use the phrase "what's in it for me?".

To have effective engagement with your customers and clients, you must answer the number one question they have each time; "what's in it for me?".

If you are using email marketing to reach your consumers, are you answering that question?

Is your email marketing still bragging about your 'stuff' and not focusing on the wants and needs of your consumer?
Or have you realized that effective marketing - just as effective communication - you must put the needs of your consumer ahead of your own?

When it comes to email marketing, the trend has always been to use strong words such as "save", "gift", "free" and "now" in the subject line.

From eMarketer.com, the most powerful words for email marketing subject lines are "you" and "your". Finally, the consumer is been recognized as the most important element of the campaign.



Read the full report from eMarketer.com.

Today's consumer is busy and your message has to cut through all the noise created by other effective newspaper, radio, television, email, text, web and Social media messaging.

You read through this message. Something must have grabbed your attention.
Thank you for stopping by. I hope you found this useful in creating your own effective connection with your clients and customers.

-Darren
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Social Media; The Next Addiction

For Smokers, there is the 'patch' that is supposed to help you curb your craving for a cigarette.
Soon there may come a day when Pharmaceutical companies release the Facebook or Social Media patch for those of use hooked on these sites.

How often do you check Facebook, or Twitter, or Linked In?
Once a day? Several times a day? All the time?

From eMarketer.com, Social Media sites are addicting - so much so that a large percentage of users (of social media) check their accounts when they wake during the night and more have to start their day with a check of their social media accounts. So much for having a healthy breakfast.



This report from eMarketer.com also shows that the majority of social media users can go the full day with only checking their account once. That puts me in the minority as I crave Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites as often as a dozen times a day.

Hi, my name is Darren, and I am addicted to Social Media.
Glad to know I am not the only one.

-Darren
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Effective Communication In Harmony With Your Favorite Song; It Engages You

What is your favorite song? Why is that your favorite song? Most likely, your favorite song is one that captured a moment in your life that you continue to relate to today. A great songwriter has the ability to craft lyrics that are consumed by the masses much the same way great communicators are able to win over the public and their consumers will well crafted presentations.










(photo courtesy Canadian Music Week)

Recently, I was fortunate to attend a Songwriting Showcase in Toronto held in conjunction with Canadian Music Week. On this panel were legendary songwriters Dan Hill, Don Schlitz, Dave Stewart and Paul Williams.
Each of them have written songs you are very familiar with - songs that still connect with you today.

Dan Hill wrote "Sometimes When We Touch" when he was 19 years old to try to win back the heart of a girl. That is just one of many big songs he has written for other performers.
Don Schlitz wrote a song when he was working as a computer programmer at the age of 22 living in Nashville that took 6 weeks to craft until he had it finished. Ever hear of "The Gambler"? That was just one of over 50 Top-10 hits written by Don Schlitz.
Dave Stewart has written many incredible songs like "Sweet Dreams are Made Of This" for the Eurythmics, and other huge hits for Ringo Starr, Tom Petty and Gwen Stefani.
Paul Williams' repertoire includes many of the Carpenters hits like "We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainy Days and Mondays", Barbra Streisand's "Evergreen", "The Rainbow Connection" from the Muppet Movie and even the theme from "The Love Boat".

These songwriters are more than just master word-smiths. They are master communicators.

But do not think that writing a hit song and communicating with your target audience can be completed overnight. The process takes courage, creativity, insight and more importantly, it takes time.

Effective communication starts with a well thought out plan and is always focused on impacting and engaging your target audience - your clients or customers.

Ready to write a hit song today?

-Darren

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Facebook for Business

A few weeks ago on the Speak Media Consulting Blog, you read about the importance of using a Blog for your business. Read that story here.
Today, tips on using Facebook to increase awareness about your business and also connecting with your customers on a one-on-one basis.

There is an increasing number of stories these days about the growth to Social Media sites like Facebook and Twitter and Linked In. The reason; be where your clients and customers are. In this case, a large percentage of that group ARE using social media to learn more about you and your company.

Simply put - Social Media will help:
-Grow Traffic to your website
-Increase lead generation
-Increase Sales
-Improve search engine rankings (Google)
-Improve Brand recognition


So why Facebook?

With over 400 million users world wide, it is no wonder that over 1.5 million businesses now have their own page on Facebook. By the way, by the time you read this, the number of users will have grown.
Over half of Facebook users are logging into their account once a day. If you are like me, you are checking in several times a day. The average user will spend about 55 minutes each day on Facebook reading status updates, posting comments, and reviewing engaging information shared by companies and businesses that are important in their lives.

And for Business, more than 20 million people become fans of Pages each day. That is a lot of engaged people.

With Facebook you can:
-Start a fan page for your business and invite people to join
-Include a link to your website
-Encourage discussion
-Answer customer questions
-Ask customers for their opinion
-Allow people to share your content
-Include events, videos, photographs, blog articles
-You can do very targeted advertising on Facebook

(with content previously published by BizLaunch)

Can you do all that with a Newspaper advertisement, a Radio commercial, or a Television campaign - EVERYDAY?

Download my FREE tutorial for getting set up with your own Facebook Business Page and discover a whole new way to connect and engage with your clients and customers.

Was this helpful?
Post your comments below.

-Darren
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Make Each Moment Count

Whether it was the grueling 50 kilometer cross country ski event, or a short track speed skating event, each athlete that competed at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver had to make each moment count.

The Olympics are very much like communicating to your clients or customers. You hire and train staff who are capable of delivering under pressures such as deadlines, split second decisions and risk of failure.

Are your staff worthy of standing on the medal platform, or are they better keeping the bench warm?

When communicating to your clients and customers through the media, you have one chance to make a lasting impression. What you say and the manner in which you say it goes a long way in earning the trust and respect from a prospective customer.

Each time you use media, regardless if it is on-line, radio, television or newspaper, make each moment count. Your team (company) is counting on you to put in your best performance every time.

-Darren
Speak Media Consulting

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2010 Olympic Winter Games: Did You Know...

Random facts about the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, Canada:

The Olympic Torch travelled more than 76,000 kilometers across Canada in over 100 days on it's journey to Vancouver.

There were 1.8 million tickets available for the games.

Prices ranged anywhere from $25 to $1,110 per ticket. Tickets bought at the last minute for some of the key Hockey events were selling for much more.

Estimated revenue from the 2010 Games: $1.3 Billion.

Number of Athletes and Officials: 5000.

Number of Volunteers at the Games: 2500.

The gold and silver medals are made of 92.5 percent pure silver, and the gold medal must be gilded with at least six grams of gold.

Because BC Place stadium is a stadium with a solid roof, it is the first time that the Olympic torch will be lit indoors.

The theme song of the Games, "I Believe" was co-written by Glass Tiger front-man Alan Frew.

Fastest event: Luge and Skeleton racers who travel up to 40 meters per second, or 143 kilometers per hour.

Over 100,000 free condoms will be available for the Olympic and Paralympic athletes and staff. It amounts to about 14 condoms per person.

The granite used for the majority of curling rocks comes from a single island, Ailsa Craig, off the coast of Scotland.

Estimated number of Media who told the stories to the world: over 10,000.

Number of tears shed by you and I when a Canadian stands on the Medal platform: too many to count.

Enjoy the rest of the Games.

-Darren

Secret Election Weapon: Social Media

President Barack Obama proved the power of social media as a secret weapon during his election campaign. Now everyone wants to follow his lead. Or, do they?

My office is located in Calgary Alberta where long serving Mayor Dave Bronconnier announced this week (February 23, 2010) he would not be running for Calgary's top job for a fourth term.


Photo courtesy CBC Calgary

At his state of the city address on Tuesday, Bronconnier said he wants to give all challengers enough time to mount a proper campaign for the October municipal election.

So let the fun and games begin. The gloves are off and the posturing will begin shortly as individuals begin to declare their candidacy for the Mayor's chair.

Who will be the winner in this race?
The candidate who shakes the most hands and does the most speeches?
The candidate who takes out a full page newspaper advertisement to display his/her resume of good deeds?
The candidate who complains about the short comings of his/her opponent?

NO

As a Media Coach and Consultant at Speak Media Consulting, the winner will be the candidate that displays the most creative and engaging dialogue with his/her candidates primarily through the use of an effective Social Media campaign.

Step One: Create a community of supporters.
Use online programs such as Constant Contact to collect the names and email addresses for everyone who visits your website.

Step Two: Create two way dialogue with your community.
Use your email data base (citizens in your region) to ask specific questions on how THEY would like to see the community grow. Send them information and ask for their response. If they are engaged with your messaging, they will invite other friends to your list and they will be more willing to offer financial support to grow your campaign.

Step Three: Get on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Blogs.
Use Social Media to distribute information to your fans, grow your fan base and most importantly - allow your followers the forum to criticize. Every speech, every event, every ribbon cutting, set up social media appointments in advance of each event, send updates just prior to event and post every picture and video of these events on social media after these events.

Step Four: Get a Website
Be sure your web developers and content providers are on top of their game and are able to update content professionally and quickly. Be sure every stitch of Social Media is linked back to your website and is always being updated.

Step Five: Use Traditional Media to promote Social Media
Make appointments to appear in as many Television, Radio and Newspaper stories and articles as you can. Each time, promote your website or Facebook. With traditional media, you will be given a short 15 to 20 second sound bite (quote). Find creative ways to promote your website or Facebook Fan page.

Step Six: Never Give Up.
From the day you launch your website or social media campaigns do not stop promoting them. They will start to grow as your profile continues to reverberate through the community. Besides, people want to see who you are and get to know that you are looking out for their needs...and not your own.

To the candidates - good luck in October.
With background content from CBC Calgary, CTV Calgary and 660News Calgary.

-Darren
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Media Tips for Small Business

When it comes to gaining Media attention for your business there are usually two methods of accomplishing this:
1) Create an environment or community where the Media will want to participate, or
2) Create a disaster.

Option two is the easiest way to gain Media exposure for your business but not what you wanted to hear.

So how can you create a community or environment the Media wants to be part of?
1) Know your target audience.
2) Find the Media outlets that cater to your target audience.
3) Purchase advertising with the Media outlets that reach your target audience.
4) Contact key personnel at these Media outlets and share your success stories.
5) Offer Media outlets your opinions/views/comments within your expertise to big events in the news.
6) Use Social Media to connect with Media outlets and more importantly, connect with your clients, customers and 'fans' who are already following your messaging on Social Media.

Building relationships with those in Traditional Media takes time, just as it does with Social Media. However you will find many more people through Social Media that are more interested in learning about you, your business and what you can offer them.

At Speak Media Consulting, I have been working with many clients to help them bridge the gap between Traditional Media and Social Media.

Another company that offers great resources for Small Business (in Canada) is Biz Launch. You may have read my earlier Blog posting about this company. Andrew Patricio is Co-Founder of Biz Launch and the moderator for several helpful Webinars aimed to help Canadian small businesses with tips for marketing, networking, finances and taxes, and time management just to name a few. Andrew and his team are promoters of using Social Media to gain publicity and promotion for all businesses.



Each week, the Biz Launch team offer many hour-long Webinars aimed to help you - the small business owner understand how you can grow your business and become more profitable. Best of all, these Webinars are free.

Visit their site to learn about their upcoming Webinars.

Thanks for reading.
-Darren.

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Tiger Speaks - A Lesson in Crisis Management

Today, February 19, 2010, Tiger Woods - one of the most recognized sports celebrities of the times broke the silence about his affairs with many women and the impact it has had on his personal and professional life.

In his 13 minute Media conference today Tiger appeared composed while reading from his prepared statement. Following his comments he did not take questions from the Media.

As a Media Coach and Consultant that offers training in Crisis Management, Tiger's appearance today was text book. However, about 3 months too late.

In the days that followed the November 27, 2009 incident outside his Florida home; the crashing of his SUV into a fire hydrant around 2:30am and his rush to hospital, Tiger remained silent only releasing short statements through his web site but never talking to the Media who were starved for answers. In the days that followed, the Media were quick to unveil some of the facts surrounding the story. Did the Media have a field day with this? You bet they did! Did Tiger lose credibility in his fans, sponsors and the Golf world? You bet.

The key to understanding how to deal with Crisis is knowing HOW to react and WHEN to react. The more proactive you are the more likely you and your staff will be able to handle the Crisis. It is your opportunity to turn a potential damaging situation into an ability to demonstrate leadership and strength within your organization.

Take care of the victims. No matter the incident, there are victims. Be sure you put their safety, security, well-being ahead of your own.

Admit to the mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. While they might not like what you have to say, the public wants to know that you are human.

Fix the problem. Now that you have admitted there is a problem, what are you doing or what have you done to fix the problem.

Inform stakeholders, employees or key public features. Depending on the magnitude of the crisis, you will want to inform key people within your company before calling the Media and releasing the information.

Respond to Media calls. To ensure you are in control of the story, it is important to return all calls to the Media as quickly as possible. The longer you stall, the longer the Media will continue to 'spin' the story based on the limited information provided and write the story based on their preconceived views.

Ease public fears. People watching or reading information from your Media conference are asking the question "Am I safe?". Be sure to address that and ease the fears.

Do you need to review your Crisis Management Plan for your Company? Contact me at Speak Media Consulting for a free consultation.

-Darren.
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Social Media Has Not Killed eMail

For the last six months there have been many blogs, articles and ramblings about the 'death' of email due to the popularity of Social Media.

Speak Media Consulting found this study that indicates email usage is still very much alive and well with Social Media's strongest users.



This is great news for the small business owners and large company CEOs alike. As email marketing continues to grow, this indicates the majority of Social Media users are still using email for daily communication with other friends, co-workers and other business and marketing opportunities.

Read the full report from eMarketer.

Thanks for reading.

-Darren
Media Coach and Consultant
Speak Media Consulting, Calgary AB

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Social Media; A Journalists Best Friend

A recurring message to my clients is the importance of using Social Media to connect with new clients and customers. I am not surprised to learn the results of a recent survey conducted by Cision and Don Bates of The George Washington University, found that an overwhelming majority of reporters and editors now depend on social media sources when researching their stories.



Of the Journalists surveyed for the October 2009 report, almost all (89%) reported using Blogs for story research.

When it comes to publishing, promoting and distributing what journalists wrote, almost two thirds (64%) reported using Blogs followed by Facebook, Linked In, Twitter and You Tube.



Journalists also report using Google as the main tool for on-line research, with Wikipedia rating as the next favorite, followed by Firefox and Yahoo.



Sure, Social Media sources might be less reliable for news reporting. It is still one of the best ways to build an on-line profile for your business and build Media Relations with your local media outlets.

So think of this; when you send a media release or are making a big corporate announcement, the majority of Journalists and News reporters will use the Internet and social media to do their research. Perhaps it is time to really take a good look at what your website and social media sites are saying about you.

Contact me directly if you wish to view this full report.

-Darren

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Blogs for Business

I recently participated in an exceptional Webinar hosted by Andrew Patricio of the Toronto company BizLaunch. His session: How to use Social Media to Market your Business.

While much of this content was not new to me, it served as a reminder to the power of Social Media and how some businesses are still missing the opportunity to increase their on-line profile and profits.

Simply put - Social Media will help:
-Grow Traffic to your website
-Increase lead generation
-Increase Sales
-Improve search engine rankings (Google)
-Improve Brand recognition

And what smart business owner does not want those things to happen?

Using a Blog, you can:
1) Share your expertise and communicate daily with your customers.
2) Build a 'buzz' around your business and the media may pick up your stories.
3) Easily update content.
4) Promote your Blog using Facebook, Twitter and regular marketing tools.
5) Get your Webmaster to put your Blog on your Website. Google loves Blogs.

Where do you start?
-Chose a Blog service that suits your needs (Blogger, Wordpress, Blogspot, just to name a few)
-Develop a great name for your Blog
-Develop a Blog strategy and Blog regularly (at least 3 times a week)
-When Blogging, use great headlines and include strong keywords
-Develop tags for your Blog posts
-Allow people to share your Blog posts

Other points of interest that were presented during the BizLaunch Webinar:
Rule of Three:
-Blog 3 times a week
-Stick to 300 words per Blog
-It will take up to 3 years for your Blog to really grow traction.

Are you ready to develop stronger relationships with your customers? Blogging is just one of many great Social Media tools that are available to you right now.

For more assistance setting up or managing your personal or company Blog, please contact me directly.

Additional content previously published by BizLaunch.ca

-Darren

Canadian Musicians Produce Song for Haiti

I have been very fortunate to be part of many exciting project launches in my years. The most recent: Heartbeat For Haiti.

On January 12, 2010 – a magnitude 7.0 earthquake reduced Port-au-Prince, Haiti to rubble. In the days following this catastrophic event, many individuals and organizations came together to provide comfort, aid and support for a country in need.

Responding to the cries for help, the Calgary music community banded together to create and produce a song in support of Haiti relief efforts. HEARTBEAT FOR HAITI features the contributions of local emerging artists representing a full spectrum of musical genres, from Pop to Rock, Folk to R&B. Proceeds from sales of the song “(I Wrote You) A Song” and supporting compilation CD will go to World Vision Canada and the Canadian Red Cross.

The song “(I Wrote You) A Song” has been distributed to every radio station in Canada for airplay consideration. To support the radio release, a website has been launched where you can learn more about the HEARTBEAT FOR HAITI project and more importantly, where you can purchase and download our fundraising song.
www.heartbeatforhaiti.com

Who is HEARTBEAT FOR HAITI? Produced at The Beach Recording Studio in Calgary, Alberta, this song was written by local emerging artists Amy Heffernan, Jessica Day and Steve Dodd. It is our contribution to the rebuilding of Haiti and also an opportunity to expose the exceptional talent of our local music scene.

How can you help? Call your favorite radio station in Canada and ask them to play the song. Tell your friends about Heartbeat For Haiti. Spread the word on your Social Media sites.

You can find us on Twitter and on Facebook.

And why is a Media Coach in Calgary Alberta involved in this project? The answer is simple: my desire to help the citizens in Haiti, my passion for music, and the thrill of working with so many talented emerging Artists from the local music scene.

-Darren
Executive Producer - Heartbeat For Haiti
President - Speak Media Consulting, offering innovative and effective communications solutions

E-mail Marketing for Small Business

Perhaps a better title for this post might have been "Build Customer Loyalty through E-Mail Messaging".

Either way, e-mail marketing (Newsletters) can be a very effective way to communicate to your clients and build stronger relationships with your customers. However, too many messages can often be deleted and not enough messages can be forgotten. So how do you find the happy medium? How do you know your messages are being delivered, are being read, and are creating a call to action?

There are many programs available that can handle e-mail marketing and database management. One I have had tremendous success with: Constant Contact.



Recently featured in an on-line article from MediaPost, Constant Contact has seen a nearly 50% revenue increase and has increased staff.

Constant Contact is much more than just E-mail Marketing for newsletters and communication with your clients. Their services also include On-line Surveys to track customer feedback, and Event Marketing that allows you to manage and promote any size event with online registration, payment capture and RSVP management.

The great thing about E-Mail marketing; you can and should use e-mail marketing in conjunction with your current social media marketing;
-Blog
-Facebook
-Linked In
-You Tube
-Twitter

The same principals of social media marketing apply when using E-Mail Marketing.
-build a community
-share expertise
-discuss business issues
-build your brand
-establish yourself as an expert
-and build a database

How much is TOO much and how much is too little?
I recommend to my clients to send out an e-mail newsletter at least once a week. If time and content is an issue, look at communicating with your clients every two weeks or once a month, but do not let more than 4 weeks lapse between each newsletter or you will lose the engagement with your clients.

Feel free to sign up to receive my free e-mail newsletter.

If you would like to know more about creating a successful E-Mail Marketing strategy for your Business, contact me at: darren@speakmediaconsulting.com

Thanks for reading.
-Darren

4 minutes that will change your view on the Power of Social Media

As a Media Coach and Consultant, I spend a lot of time each day reviewing material to assist the success or my clients. This is one of the most powerful presentations I have seen.



Please - I beg you - share this link with an employer who insists that Social Media is still a fad.

-Darren
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Social Media Marketing; it works

Would you be interested in a product that:
-makes you more credible?
-increases referrals?
-fosters new relationships?
-demands higher prices?
-provides outstanding visibility?
-familiarity?
-trust?
-offers your product or service?
-you are perceived as the expert?

Of COURSE you are!



Republished material from Upside Down Iceberg

-Darren

Is this information on Social Media helpful? Let me know.
Email me: darren@speakmediaconsulting.com.
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Customer Service: on-line vs. off-line

How much time, effort and resources are you (your company) spending on customer service? Are you providing quality customer service, or simply assigning those duties elsewhere?

Providing great customer service starts with listening.

Your sales people on the showroom floor are customer service representatives for your company. So are the in-home installers, your receptionist, the CEO, even the brand new staff member you just hired in shipping.

In today's environment, your clients and customers are looking for information about you and your company from every level of staff member you have employed. What are your customer service representatives - your staff - saying about your company, your brand, your reputation? I am not suggesting you put a muzzle on everyone, nor am I telling you how to run your team. However, if you want to create the groundwork for great (or expectational) customer service, it must first start with a staff of great listeners. Empower your staff to be less defensive when someone provides negative feedback about your company or a product you provide. Hey, everyone has their right to an opinion. Instead of barking back a response, one of the most disarming phrase a great customer service representative can offer are the words "thank you for your feedback".

These guidelines should also be applied to your on-line customer service. In fact, social media is one of the best places to provide customer service and build positive relationships with your clients and wanna be clients.

You have probably heard how Domino's Pizza turned negative comments about their product into a very creative and successful advertising campaign. I applaud them (Domino's) for this tactic. While many were quick to point out all the negative comments that were being posted on their website and social media about their product, Domino's Pizza were able to diffuse the situation by turning it into a positive campaign.

You know it all to well. Clients either like you, do not know about you, or do not like you. What are you doing on-line and off-line to build stronger relationships with your "A" list of clients, and more importantly, what are you doing to gain the trust, respect and financial rewards from the other groups?

Providing exceptional Customer service goes a long way both on-line AND off-line.

-Darren
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Call in the reinforcements

One of the greatest things you will discover with social media is the ability to ask for help - to call in the reinforcements.

One such group I often call on is Ulistic, a Calgary based Internet Consulting company. This A-Team consists of David West and Stuart Crawford who not only speak the language of everything 'Internet', they also take their time to explain everything using a language you and I can understand.

If you are struggling with an out of date website, or want to learn to maximize your impact using Social media, make the first call to Ulistic.

Over the next few weeks, the professionals at Ulistic will be holding a number of
seminars in Calgary to help grow your footprint in the on-line world.

Take note of these events:
February 23, 2010: How to become Googleable

February 25, 2010: Social Media Training Course
Topics include:
1.The importance of Social Media
2.An overview of the top Social Media sites and how to use them.
3.Hands on setting up your Social Media accounts.
4.Preventing the fatal mistakes with your online communications.
5.Build your Social Media followers – how to get good followers.
6.How to position yourself as an industry expert with your followers.
7.Reach people with practical online videos that tell your story & how to syndicate your videos.
8.Automate… how to manage your Social Media strategy for multiple sites with one tool!

Does this sound like a commercial endorsement for the crew at Ulistic? I hope it does. As I mentioned earlier, I have no problem reaching out and contacting other Social Media specialists to find solutions for clients. Not only will you find your competitors using social media, but you will also find many others that are able and willing to help you get a 'leg up' on your competitors. All you have to do is ask.

-Darren
Speak Media Consulting
Media Coach and Consultant
Calgary, AB

Tell me what you want - what you really, really want

That Spice Girls song popped into my head when I was looking for a title for today's posting. Sorry!

But seriously - when it comes to connecting with your customers either through your website, email marketing, social media and even face-to-face conversation, you have to offer them more than just a 'deal'. Today's consumers are concerned about the price points but they are also very interested in a developing a stronger relationship with products and services you provide. Is your company offering this kind of engagement with your clients and customers?

As a Media Coach and Consultant in Calgary, Alberta, I encourage clients to use Social media as a tool to create this kind of engagement. Social media, when done properly is key in developing deeper relationships with customers.

eMarketer.com just published this interesting statistic from the US:



Notice how customers want to know about specials, features and services. This information is like currency to your customers.

If you have read any of my Blog posts, you will see a recurring theme: use social media. Social Media may not be the primary solution for the success of every business, but it can bring new customers through your doors - and I am pretty sure you want that to sustain the growth of your business. Some companies are fortunate to have a full-time staff of social media experts who are responsible for creating and implementing these new forms of social media engagement. However if your company is new to social media or struggling to understand how to maximize your footprint in this new media, you simply need to look around and ask for help. There are many social media experts who are willing and able to assist you with your learning curve.

So tell me what you want - what you really, really want.

-Darren

Social Media: The Mothership for Local content

For many years, I used to prepare my local radio show using information I found in newspapers, television shows I watched and stories I learned from my friends. This was many years before the home computer and the world wide web. For many years, the traditional media employed similar methods to locate and source content for their respective operations.

In case you have not noticed, we are not in Kansas anymore!

You do not have to wait for content to be delivered to you via radio, television or newspaper. We have rapidly become reliant on the high speed access to content at our fingertips.
You want pizza delivery, order online from their website.
You want to find a review from last nights concert that was not in the newspaper, check to see what your friends are saying on Facebook.
You want to find if your friend arrived home safely, send them a text message.

Social Media is the 'mothership' for local content. Social media has empowered each and every user with the ability to communicate and broadcast a message without time or editorial restrictions like traditional media. I agree there is a lot of content being published on social media that I constitute as rubbish, but one persons trash is another persons gold. And just like traditional media, we have the ability to flip the page or change the channel if we find something we are not interested in.

Am I suggesting that the new on-line Social media will replace all current forms of media and make radio, television and newspaper extinct? No.

The new on-line media is creating interesting new challenges for traditional media but they, too, are faced with a unique opportunity for rebirth and continued life.

Imagine; your 'daily newspaper' delivered fresh to your desktop or smart phone but instead of just one paper, you are able to view many real time updates from news organizations you have preselected. This is a reality.

Imagine; your favorite radio station not only plays what you want but creates on-line engagement by responding and reacting to topics being published by their fans (like you) on Facebook or Twitter. This is a reality.

Imagine; you can contribute a story to the television news by recording a video on your smart phone from a local community event and emailing it to the television station. This is a reality.

Traditional media outlets are looking for new ways to find engagement with their audience. Might I suggest taking a serious look at the impact of social media. There appears to be a lot of engaged people around the world...all broadcasting and rebroadcasting local content each and every day.

Social Media = two words
Social - to create two-way communication
Media - the ability to broadcast to the masses

-Darren

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Selecting the most effective spokesperson

Congratulations. With your new Promotion comes the extra responsibility of being your company spokesperson. Are you the right person for this job?

The transitioning economy brought many of these changes to the workforce in recent months and created a need for many companies to look for the perfect candidate to be the new company mouth-piece. In some cases, companies who were once fully staffed with Public Relations and Communications departments are now looking within to find replacements to these positions after corporate restructuring and downsizing. So, who is the right representative for your company?

At quick glance, you can easily discover those who love their new position and are engaged with other staff and departments, but they are not necessarily the perfect candidate. Surely there must be someone that has a pleasant speaking voice and presents well in the public. Perhaps the person that is best suited in the role as company 'spokesperson' is (in fact) you.

Who is best qualified to be a spokesperson at your company:
1) Someone who is keenly aware of your company's operations or the department they represent.
2) A person who speaks confidently and is respected be their peers for their communication skills.
3) An individual who remains calm during crisis and will most likely deliver your key message to the media under pressure.
4) The multi-tasker. I call this person 'the one who knows just enough about what is going on to be dangerous'. Yes, this is similar to point number 1 above.
5) Someone with a flexible schedule. As a spokesperson, you may have to make presentations to media or shareholders at times that are not convenient to your regular schedule. Being available during 'off-hours' goes a long way in demonstrating and improving your company's customer service.

Take a look around your office. Take stock of your surroundings and the talented staff you have working with you. I am sure you will find the right person for the job as your new spokesperson.

-Darren

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How you can support the citizens in Haiti

I have quickly gathered a list of organizations who are accepting donations to help in the efforts in Haiti following the devastating earthquake on Tuesday January 12, 2010.

Red Cross Canada

Red Cross US

Salvation Army Canada

World Vision

Ofxam

Yele

Yele Haiti is a movement led by Wyclef Jean that is helping to bring hope back to Haiti. Projects are designed to make a difference in the fields of education, health, environment and community development. Yele Haiti (previously known as the Wyclef Jean Foundation) is a 501 (3) tax exempt charitable organization

Musician Wyclef Jean, who grew up in Haiti is using social media to reach out for support. His plea on Twitter has been broadcast around the world.

wyclef: Help Haiti Earthquake Relief Donate $5 by texting YELE to 501 501 right now

While that number is working in the United States, it is not available in Canada. MuchMusic offered this alternative on Twitter:

MuchMusic: 501501 doesn't work for Canadians, but you can still donate on the Yele website, or $5 to the Salvation Army by texting 'Haiti' to 45678

If I have missed any other legitimate organizations that are collecting financial aid for citizens of Haiti, please leave a comment.

Thanks for your support.
-Darren

I am not a spokesperson nor do I endorse any of the organizations listed above. This is just a small way of lending my support.

How to get out of a sticky situation

We have become fixated on celebrities in the news; Britney Spears, David Letterman, Tiger Woods. Some have been successful in negotiating their way through a sticky situation - others, have not.

Are you and your employees prepared to defuse a 'situation' or crisis when it occurs in your business or organization?

In November, 2009 all eyes turned to the Tiger Woods story and his refusal to make comment other than a few statements on his website. Instead of stepping forward and using the media to his advantage and taking controlling the situation, Tiger went deeper into hiding while the story exploded around him. Read my blog posting from this event.

You do not want this to happen to you.

John Baldoni is a leadership consultant, coach, and speaker. He is the author of eight books, including Lead Your Boss, The Subtle Art of Managing Up. And John writes a blog for Harvard Business Review.
Click here to read his blog on how you can recover from bad communications.

When crisis occurs at your business, use the media to your advantage and acknowledge the problem. Hiding from the truth will only delay the agony of the truth.

-Darren

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