Speak Media Consulting

Top Trends on YouTube

2010-07-28T18:14:00.005-06:00

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

2010-06-17T14:04:00.004-06:00

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

2010-06-15T08:01:00.007-06:00

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

2010-05-06T11:33:00.005-06:00

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

2010-05-05T11:53:00.005-06:00

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

2010-04-28T08:48:00.005-06:00

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

2010-04-27T03:10:00.002-06:00

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

2010-04-26T03:01:00.003-06:00

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

2010-04-23T10:32:00.009-06:00

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

2010-04-07T05:34:00.007-06:00

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

2010-03-31T03:06:00.000-06:00

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

2010-03-29T08:51:00.003-06:00

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

2010-03-24T03:48:00.001-06:00

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

2010-03-23T03:26:00.001-06:00

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

2010-03-22T09:12:00.001-06:00

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

2010-03-04T15:20:00.003-07:00

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

2010-03-01T13:16:00.002-07:00

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...

2010-02-26T05:28:00.003-07:00

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

2010-02-24T02:35:00.000-07:00

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

2010-02-22T16:51:00.001-07:00

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

2010-02-19T10:57:00.002-07:00

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

2010-02-18T07:59:00.004-07:00

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

2010-02-16T02:05:00.000-07:00

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

2010-02-15T02:05:00.000-07:00

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

2010-02-12T13:19:00.007-07:00

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

2010-02-09T13:42:00.004-07:00

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

2010-02-08T03:05:00.001-07:00

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

2010-02-06T05:27:00.000-07:00

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

2010-02-05T04:22:00.000-07:00

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

2010-02-02T13:23:00.005-07:00

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

2010-01-27T05:24:00.000-07:00

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

2010-01-21T04:00:00.003-07:00

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

2010-01-20T04:05:00.002-07:00

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

2010-01-13T16:05:00.005-07:00

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

2010-01-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

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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Hey media, Look over here! Tips to building Media Relations

2010-01-12T09:11:00.004-07:00

12,000 fire victims receive warm Christmas dinner.

That grabbed your attention.

A strong headline is necessary to grab the attention of the media and the public, but you first have to grab the attention of the media to help you reach the public.

Building strong Media Relations
1) Who are you
It is very important to first know who you are, the product you offer and who is your target audience. From here, create a media strategy that will enable you to reach your consumer.

2) Know your Media options
Take a look at all the media organizations in your community, or if you are a national company, look at all your global media options. What media operations connect with your target audience? Take your time and do your research on this one. Media trends are rapidly changing and you need to be on top of these changes to effectively engage your audience.

3) Media contacts
In addition to knowing who to contact to place an advertising order with your local media outlets, it is also important to get to know who is in charge of content. News Directors, News Editors, Program Directors; these are all people you should reach out and network with. You can usually find their contact information on their company website or try a simple phone call to the main switchboard. Politely explain who you are and who you are trying to reach.

4) Offer something unique
Armed with your list of media contacts, give them a reason to contact you or become interested in your company and your product. Are you a specialist that could provide useful comment and content for their media operation? This is something that is unique to them and provides you with an opportunity to build a stronger relationship with your local media.

5) Leave them wanting more
If your company is launching a brand new product or service during a splashy media blitz, launch with your well planned statements, graphs, pictures and presentations. The key; less is more. Leave the media wanting more. To ensure the media has as much background and information about your launch, it is also wise to present them with printed documentation to support your company, product and/or services. Be sure each 'media kit' also includes a contact name and information along with a web site address.

6) Do not give up
Building a strong relationship with media is just like real life relationship building - it takes time. Be patient. Do not be offended if you have not received a returned phone call or email immediately after you first make contact with your media list. Have you seen the Kevin Costner movie "Field of Dreams"? Remember the famous line; If you build it, they will come. If you have something they (the media) can use, they will contact you.

To receive more tips and consultation on how to use the media more effectively, please contact me directly.

-Darren

What you say can and will come back to haunt you

2010-01-09T02:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I cautioned against publishing everything - the good, the bad and the ugly on social media sites. Everything you broadcast (publish) is viewed and shared with the world. It is also a reflection of your character and in some cases, can reflect your employer.

Thanks to a few readers, they have pointed me to similar updates and examples from a few other sources.

Lamebook is a site which gathers and publishes Facebook status updates that are, well, distasteful. Thanks to Lamebook for the picture you see above.

I also found Guyism which published a list of the 7 things you should never say through social media.

Face it, we all like to go out and have a good time, meet new friends and chat about our lives. Now with social media, there are a lot more people watching, reading, responding and reacting to your every word.

Thanks to Jon and Radana for their input.

-Darren

Social Media - The Effect on your Employer

2010-01-08T10:18:00.011-07:00

It is a simple rule to remember; what you broadcast on your social media sites is a reflection of your employer.

What? How can that be? Surely you are free to broadcast whatever you want on your personal social media sites without permission from your boss. Right? Yes and No.

With the global reach of the Internet, the content you broadcast, the pictures you upload and the tone of what you broadcast becomes a reflection of your boss and the company you are employed.

Still not convinced? Here are two fictitious scenarios:

1) John is an employee of a National Automobile company and is well known for his Sales records over the last 6 months. However, one night John got into an on-line discussion and released private information about the company that he is working for and mentioned in his conversation "do not buy a vehicle from us".

2) Jennifer is employed at a community coffee shop where she knows all of the local patrons by their first name. Jennifer likes to go out with her friends, have a few too many drinks and post pictures of herself and her friends in various states of intoxication.

If you were John or Jennifer's boss, what would you do when one of your best customers brought this to your attention and showed you the on-line postings?

In John's case, he would most likely be looking for a new line of work or would be removed from his current role as top sales person to janitor.
Jennifer, on the other hand, would most likely be in a better position to keep her job.

Just as this blog is a representation of my Company, what I broadcast 'after hours' is a reflection of who I am and my company.

Are your employees aware of this? Perhaps they should be reminded.
At the present, there is no legal precedent for social media and employee privacy in Canada. However many companies are adopting a social media code of conduct and require all employees to adhere to these guidelines.

Have a great day.
-Darren

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Where has all the good news gone?

2010-01-06T06:58:00.005-07:00

Surely there must be something good to talk about in the world today, or have we become trained by the media to read and hear only bad news?

When I say bad news, I am referring to stories about people losing their jobs, soldiers being killed, people dying in natural disasters, and even celebrity mishaps.

Sadly, the truth is; bad news is very effective for media. Bad news grabs the attention of readers, listeners and viewers to every media stream and it that creates revenue and ratings.

Where does that leave the good news? Media is looking for these stories - they just need a little help finding this content. That is where you come in.

Traditional media operations around the Globe are running with fewer and fewer staff members which means fewer people who are able to spend time sorting through all of the potential news stories of the day. As a result, some of the good news stories end up as trash because they either did not meet the criteria of that media operator or they simply ran out of time and resources.

In the online world, there are limitless opportunities to broadcast these good news stories. On your website, blog, video blog, email, and all the social media sites.

While I am not suggesting to turn your back on traditional media and create your own on-line media empire (which some are already predicting this outcome), use the tools available to you to broadcast your good news stories and share with the traditional media outlets. Engaging content no matter the source is always going to be engaging content. Create a reason for others to take notice and we will get to enjoy a little good news today.

Enjoy.
-Darren

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January Promotion: FREE Consultation

2010-01-04T01:02:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the start of a new year, I am excited to announce an exciting promotion for the month of January 2010.

Speak Media Consulting is growing. To assist you and your business develop stronger and more effective communication with your clients through the media, I am excited to announce a very special offer:

6 Hour FREE Media Consultation

Speak Media Consulting offers a variety of coaching and consultation services all to help you develop measurable engagement with your target audience. Do you want to learn how to use social media more effectively? Do you want to learn how to use the traditional media (Radio, Television, Newspaper) more effectively? Do you know how to manage the media in a crisis? Do you want to become a more effective public speaker and media personality? I will work with you and your staff and provide a FREE 6 hour coaching and consultation package, AND provide one month of email or telephone support.

This offer is available to you as a valuable recipient of my email newsletters. This offer is also available to all new email sign-ups in the month of January. On February 1, 2010, I will randomly select one name from my email database and award this coaching and consultation package. Approximate value: $2000.

Click here to sign up to be eligible for this special promotional offer.

Forward to a Friend BONUS:
At the risk of sounding like a Television infomercial, this January FREE offer gets even better! Forward this to a friend and you could also receive a free bonus.

On February 1, 2010 when I select one lucky winner for this January FREE offer, I will ask who referred them to sign up to this free promotion. If you were the person who referred the winner, you will receive a complimentary 1-hour FREE Media Consultation designed to meet the challenges faced by your current media messaging.

Sign up now to receive my email newsletter and take advantage of this January FREE offer.

Good luck, and thanks for reading.

-Darren

A new chapter in your book of Life

2009-12-31T09:47:00.005-07:00

I have no doubt that you (as well as I) have recently spent time reflecting on the year that was 2009 and the first decade of the new millennium. We are a little older and wiser, many people have entered and exited our lives as business associates or co-workers, and we have experienced a great deal of personal accomplishment and opportunity.

So if each year was another chapter in your book of Life, how will you start your next chapter?

Resolve to be the best you can be.
Resolve to take chances.
Resolve to never settle for mediocrity.

And if you must, sing this familiar song:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

Best wishes for a healthy and prosperous New Year!

-Darren

Effective presentation techniques

2009-12-30T10:55:00.006-07:00

If one of your New Year's resolutions is to become a more confident and effective public speaker, you will quickly learn it will take a lot of practise and persistence.

Not everyone was born to be a smooth-talking, confident and engaging public speaker. Phew. That should make you feel more at ease. However your roles may have changed and you now find yourself having to make presentations to the media, share holders or other interest groups. Are you prepared?

Effective public speaking is an art that can be learned. You must first take stock of your strengths and weaknesses.
Comfort Level:
Do you get nervous at the thought of standing up in front of others? Or, are you comfortable giving presentations?

Voice Tone:
Do you speak too fast or have a monotone delivery? Or, are you able to control your voice to make it the most effective during a presentation?

Presentation:
Do you stumble with a script that is written and prepared? Or, are you able to make a presentation as if you had rehearsed the script for days?

Audience Engagement:
Does your audience seem to lose interest after only a few lines of your presentation? Or are you able to draw your audience into your presentation and keep them engaged?

When it comes to audience engagement, use these words of advice from Author and Public Speaking Coach, Alan Stevens:
1) Insight. Your audience expects you to be well-informed on your topic. You need to be general enough to get your ideas across, but show that you have an insight that no-one else has come up with.

2) Analogies/Parallels. You need to be able to demonstrate how a current situation relates to one that has gone before. This makes it much easier for your audience to understand.

3) Evidence. It's no good making statements that you can't justify. You need to provide examples to support your argument, rather than to make your argument.

4) Endorsement. This is like calling an expert witness in a court case. If you can cite (other) acknowledged experts who agree with you, it makes your case much stronger.

5) Humour. This is not (definitely not) joke-telling. Leave that to the stand-up comedians. Your humour should be natural and in context with the speech.

And finally, a few tips that will help you feel more at ease with your next public speaking engagement.
- Prepare a script and rehearse it many times. Practise in front of objective but supportive friends or family members. Allow for a few minor edits along the way, but at least you will be prepared. Try to stick with the script as much as you can.
- Someone else prepared your script. These are the most tricky because the person writing the script is not familiar with your delivery. So take the time to personalize the script (within reason) and be sure the font is big enough so you can read it.
- Arrive early to your presentation. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the room and your surroundings. Even if there are only a few people in the room, test the sound system to be sure everything is working.
- Eye contact. It is very important to make eye contact with as many people in the room as you can. If you are too nervous, look to people you recognize in the crowd. This should make you more comfortable.
- Water is your best friend. Keep a glass of room temperature water close by. You will find other liquids like soda and fruit juices will create a lot of phlegm while coffee and tea can dry out your vocal chords. Just remember, too much water might cause the need to make a quick trip to the washroom just before your presentation.
- Control your nerves. Before making your presentation take a few deep breaths and slowly exhale.
- Slow down and focus on key words. If you find that you talk too rapidly, you must make a conscious effort to slow down. Take the time to stop on key words or phrases in your presentation. Allow the audience a moment to evaluate the point you are making.
- Open and close with your strongest statement. You need to earn their interest at the beginning and you need to leave your audience with something to remember at the end.
- Video tape or record your presentation. This one usually hurts to watch but if you want to become more effective in your presentations, you need to be able to critique your own performance. All the top presenters do.

Good luck and happy presenting in the New Year.

-Darren

To view Alan Stevens blog click here.

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6 steps to creating engaging content for Social Media

2009-12-29T09:45:00.010-07:00

What is the best way to engage people to your social media updates? Simple. Offer something that is real.

In my 25 years in radio both on the air and as a manager and coach, it was my job to create interesting content for my listeners. Each day prior to a 5 or 6 hour shift, I would spend approximately 2 hours to prepare my show with relevant information. And where do you suppose I gathered this information? By spending more time reading newspapers, watching TV shows, listening to the other radio stations and paying attention to what my friends and society were talking about.

The same principles should apply to you when you are preparing to post content on your social media sites.

Here are 5 easy steps to think about in the creation of engaging content for your sites.
1) "What's in it for me?". Think of content that reflects the wants and needs of the reader - not of yourself.
2) Celebrate your successes. Go ahead, brag about a success story but remember point number one just above; it is not all about you...there has to be a pay off for the reader.
3) Be current and relevant. Talk about your favorite television show or favorite newspaper columnist. It demonstrates that you are plugged-in to the real world.
4) Talk about other people. In radio we called this a 'shout-out'. Mention people you met today in person or online. Use their online name (for Twitter).
5) Be real. Your close friends know the real you. Now here is your opportunity for the online world to get to know the real you as well. Talk about things that matter in your personal life.

Here is one more.
6) Never be boring. A good friend and mentor named Valerie Geller has been coaching top media talent around the globe for years. This one point has always resonated with me and with the thousands of personalities that she has worked with. Never be boring.

Did you find these tips helpful? Once you employ even a few of these suggestions, I am sure your readers will find you more engaging and will return to your website, blog or social media site more often.

-Darren
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Even Santa Claus uses Social Media

2009-12-22T03:01:00.002-07:00

As a kid, I remember writing letters to Santa and leaving cookies and milk for the Jolly Old Elf on Christmas eve. Do you remember listening to the radio and hearing reports from NORAD who tracked Santa's journey from the North Pole to all the countries around the world as he visited all good boys and girls? I do not know about you, but it was all part of the magic of Christmas.

Times have changed and Santa and his staff have certainly stayed on top of all the new forms of communication.

You can find Santa Claus on Twitter.
You can add a Santa Claus application on Facebook.

And you can now track Santa online. Beginning at 2am Eastern time on December 24, Santa's location will be tracked all over the world.

With its partnership with Google in 2007, NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command) displays Santa's yearly journey in Google Earth and Maps.

Want to ensure your children are tucked into bed before Santa arrives at your house? Check his location at: www.noradsanta.org

NORAD will also videotape Santa inflight with animated video courtesy of its "Santa Cams".

On Twitter, follow the same Santa updates: NoradSanta.

With content provided by the Calgary Sun.

Merry Christmas,
Darren

Facebook, Twitter; How Linked-In are you, Part 3 of 3

2009-12-18T07:38:00.009-07:00

Where do you get started?

In this three part series, I have demonstrated the growing popularity of social media/social networking not only for personal use but also for business applications.

Click here to read Part 1; the statistics
Click here to read Part 2; the Phoenix Suns success story

And now in the final chapter, where do you and your business get started in Social media/social networking.

The important thing I recommend right away is develop a social media code of conduct for your business. Like a letter of confidentiality that employees sign when they first join your company, this code should be in place to protect you, your brand and your employees.
• Do not use foul language
• Do not slander or berate a competitor
• Do not publish confidential content or other proprietary information

Once you get started, do not let your social network sites get old and boring. I recommend updating your Facebook status at least once a day. Facebook users come to see information and updates from as many friends as they can. Do not bombard your Facebook fans with too many updates each day.
Conversely, Twitter is equivalent to a river of news. Twitter users expect to be up to date and the first to learn of exciting new trends, stories, offers and engaging content. Twitter accounts should be updated no less than once a day but update as often as you can.
Linked In can also be used as an individual or company to connect with other professionals, conduct surveys, and post and search for new career opportunities.

All of these social networks can and should be used in connection with your current business media plan. Do you blog? Use social media to broadcast your message and link back to your blog, which is an extension of your main website. Do you have a Loyal Client club? Use social media to connect with the existing members and reach out to new members. Create exclusive social media contests or offers.

Can you take a compliment? Can you take criticism? We all love the compliments but plan to receive comments that are not positive in nature. How you respond to them is the key. Everyone has an opinion.

And finally, do not panic if you do not get an immediate response. The key ingredient in social networking is 'social'. You have to develop a relationship with your followers; they have to get to know you and what you represent. However if you offer engaging content, your new followers will more than likely spread the word about you and your company. This will also bring more new followers to your social network.

The future is here. Now is the time to be creative and use the power of social media to your advantage.

-Darren
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Facebook, Twitter; How Linked-In are you, Part 2 of 3

2009-12-17T09:16:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I shared with you statistical data showing the increased popularity of social media and social networking.

To read part 1 of this series, click here.

Today, I would like to share a success story.

The most successful businesses are using social networking to;
-provide engaging content (information, offers, and opportunities) to their fans,
-showcase opportunities for new products and services,
-create two-way communication with their fans,
-exclusive ‘back stage’ offerings,
-broadcast a media release,
-conduct surveys and questionnaires,
-generate revenue by driving traffic back to the main website.

A great story I read from the Phoenix Suns who, just 18 months ago did not know what Twitter was. However their organization was very media savvy having won the NBA Web site of the year award in 1997 and had great success with YouTube and MySpace for additional reach to their fans.
To get the ball rolling, the Suns signed up 20 to 30 employees and players including Shaquille O'Neal to a Twitter account. Shaq now has over 2.5 million followers on Twitter.

Jeramie McPeek, the Suns vice president of digital offered this comment:
“We all fell in love with it for connecting with our fan base,” McPeek says. “We quickly embraced it. It was a shift of mindset. … Our fans were not necessarily coming to Suns.com, but they were pulling up Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube. We need to be in those places; we need to be where the fans are.”
With over 60,000 Facebook fans, The Suns use their Facebook account as well to keep their fans informed by not bombarded with too much information.

Tomorrow, in part 3, tips and suggestions how you can get started in social media.

-Darren
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Facebook, Twitter; How Linked-In are you, Part 1 of 3

2009-12-16T10:34:00.004-07:00

The internet world is all a twitter about the increase in popularity of social media.
Facebook tripled in size from 125 million users to 350 million.
Twitter grew from a mere 4 million users to 40 million users in 2009.
Linked In has blossomed to a group of 53 million experienced professionals around the globe.

Are you using these social networks to grow your profile and extend the on-line profile of your business?

If you have not yet added one of these social networks as an additional marketing tool for your business, you’re not too late.

In a study released October 27, 2009 by Ipsos Reid, close to 90% of all Canadians have internet access at home.

The study found that access at home is almost universal for those under 55 years of age as 89% of those aged 18 to 34 and 87% of those aged 35 to 54 have Internet access at home. In comparison, only 69% of those aged 55+ have access at home.

It goes without saying that more and more Canadians are using the internet at home to engage in social networking.

“Even in difficult economic times, Canadians understand that having Internet access is essential in today’s society,” notes study author Mark Laver, Associate Vice President with Ipsos Reid. “Internet access is critical to finding employment, it can be used to save money, for paying bills, finding deals, and as a form of entertainment. It has become so important to the lives of Canadians, that in some areas of the country, Internet access is almost identical to home telephone access.”

Tomorrow, in part 2, I will pass along a story of a sports team who are using Facebook and Twitter very successfully as an extension of their digital brand.

-Darren
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New Facebook privacy controls; do a quick check

2009-12-11T02:01:00.004-07:00

Facebook, the worlds #1 social media outlet recently made changes to user privacy control settings.
Founder Mark Zuckerberg made a statement last week indicating these enhanced privacy controls were requested by many of the 350 million users around the globe. These changes will put the control of who can access your profile, pictures and status updates in your hands.

The changes are great - but you should take a moment to check the privacy settings on your own account on the new system.
Click on Settings> Privacy Settings> Profile Information
This is where you can control who can see your account and how much information is visible, such as profile, information, pictures, etc.

Something you will notice; you have control over who can see your Status Updates. You now have the option to send your broadcast your Status Updates to everyone, to only your friends, or to friends of friends. Again, you can set this privacy control inside the Privacy Settings area of your account.

Another change; you can control whether you permit Facebook to publish your name as a 'fan' of a advertising banner. To check your settings, click on Settings> Account Settings> Facebook Ads.

One last suggestion while you are doing this little house-keeping, you might want to clean out (delete) any 'questionable' photos...you know the ones I am talking about. Sure, you can prevent non-friends from seeing these pictures, but what happens if your new boss becomes a new Facebook friend? I might have just saved you an embarrasing moment.

Click here to add me as a Facebook friend.

Questions or comments? Drop me a note.

Click here to sign up to recieve my free email newsletter

-Darren

Is anybody out there

2009-12-09T03:01:00.000-07:00

The answer is yes.
Ipsos Reid confirms in a Canadian study released October 27, 2009, 82% of all Canadians now have internet access at home.

From their media release:
“Even in difficult economic times, Canadians understand that having Internet access is essential in today’s society,” notes study author Mark Laver, Associate Vice President with Ipsos Reid. “Internet access is critical to finding employment, it can be used to save money, for paying bills, finding deals, and as a form of entertainment. It has become so important to the lives of Canadians, that in some areas of the country, Internet access is almost identical to home telephone access.”

The study found that access at home is almost universal for those under 55 years of age as 89% of those aged 18 to 34 and 87% of those aged 35 to 54 have Internet access at home. In comparison, only 69% of those aged 55+ have access at home.

Laver continues, “The older generation is the fastest growing segment of online users, quickly catching up to the younger generations in their adoption of the Internet. By comparison, in Q1, 2006 only one-half (57%) of those aged 55+ had Internet access.”

Everyday, more and more people are looking for you and your products. What does your on-line presence say about your product, your company, your business, your brand?

-Darren

50 reasons why your business needs a Media Coach

2009-12-08T12:06:00.004-07:00

What is a Media Coach?
How will a Media Coach benefit your business?

Here are (at least) 50 reasons why your business needs to hire a Media Coach:

1) What is your product and who is your target audience?
2) Are you only using radio, television or newspaper advertising?
3) Is your business on Facebook?
4) Do you do a lot of speeches and presentations?
5) How much traffic do you send to your website?
6) What is the key message of your business/company?
7) Who is preparing your media releases?
8) Has your business/company experienced a recent restructure?
9) Are you using E-mail marketing to reach your customers?
10) Who is updating your on-line content?
11) Who are your contacts at your local television stations?
12) Is your business on Twitter?
13) Are you an effective presenter?
14) When giving presentations, do you know how to use microphone to your advantage?
15) Are you on Linked In?
16) Do you have friends in the media?
17) How accessible are you to the media?
18) Who prepares information about your business, and is it current?
19) Do you Blog?
20) How many new customers/clients do you see at your business?
21) Are you sending the right message to your target audience?
22) How often do you update your on-line content?
23) How are you sending your media releases?
24) Do you have a Crisis management strategy?
25) Who are your contacts at your local radio stations?
26) Does your staff know what to say in a time of crisis?
27) Do you speak comfortably in front of media cameras and microphones?
28) Are you prepared to answer questions from the media?
29) What is your Social media policy?
30) What are you telling your media friends?
31) What is your staff saying about your business to their on-line friends?
32) Do you advertise on-line?
33) How effective is your presentations to the media?
34) Do you have a biography and picture to send at a moments notice, and is it current?
35) Is your business on Twitter?
36) How are you presenting your message at a media conference?
37) Do you have writers that prepare your presentations?
38) Can you read and understand what is written and prepared for you?
39) Who are your contacts at your local newspapers?
40) How often do you communicate with your local radio stations?
41) Are your media friends calling you first for comments on relatable issues?
42) Does your target audience respond to your current media marketing?
43) Do you advertise on Facebook?
44) How often do you communicate with your local television stations?
45) Do you post pictures of events or local media stories on your website?
46) Are you prepared to talk to the media about your business right now?
47) Does your website offer content that is easy to understand?
48) Do the media run audio and/or video clips from your media conferences?
49) How are you presenting your message to shareholders and partners?
50) How often do you communicate with your Facebook friends?

And one more for good measure:
51) When will you be calling Darren Robson at Speak Media Consulting?

The way we use Media is rapidly changing. How are you keeping up?

How social are you?

2009-12-03T12:17:00.003-07:00

How much are you using Facebook, or Twitter or Linked In?
Many people comment on my Social networking 'updates' and have said how much they enjoy the updates and how much they look forward to reading what I have to say. It is a simple solution: Engagement. Offer something interesting, interactive, current and demonstrates more about you and your brand.

Who cares about updates that state "I'm going to the Dentist", or "Sitting in traffic jam".
But what happens if you would have written:
"I wonder what color tooth brush my Dentist will send home with me today".

Or,
"Does anyone in Mytown know what's the hold up on Spooner street?"

These kinds of updates offer more insight on what you are thinking and, in these cases, will encourage others to join the conversation.

A friend of mine asked "How much time do you spend on Social Media sites each week?" My response; at least 2 hours a week, Monday to Friday.

Why? Because I am engaged to what other people have to offer. I find myself logging in several times a day and getting a quick update on what my friends are doing and what others are talking about.

How much is too much?
Social Media can be addicting. There is such a thing as being 'too' plugged in to sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
If you can update your Facebook status with something engaging at least once a day, you are doing well.
If you can update your Twitter account with an engaging Tweet at least twice a day, you are doing well.
If you are updating your accounts more frequently, I applaud you. Just keep them engaging.
Where you lose the connection with your social network is when you let your accounts go stale; no updates, no comments, no interest. Your account will still remain active however you will notice that others will not be paying much attention to you anymore.

The thing to remember, while sites like Facebook have been around for several years, there are people who are just now jumping on to that social networking train. Sometimes we forget to look after our new social friends. Invite them in to your social network, introduce them to the other 'cool kids' in your group. Who knows - they might know other interesting and social people that you will want to know.

Isn't that what being social is all about?

-Darren

Are you engaging or on autopilot?

2009-12-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

Greg Johnson is a Radio Programmer in Fort McMurray, Alberta. I have had the pleasure of working with Greg and have experienced his dedication and witnessed his creative mind. While this article was originally written for the benefit of Radio broadcasters, it has many applications for just about every employee of every industry, big or small.
Here is his article.

As I flew home the other day from Edmonton, Westjet reinforced some of the fundamentals of radio that have been preached since Marconi.

The BASICS.
The flight attendant came over the intercom - blasé and monotone (think Eeyore) - and delivered the spiel. You know: how to do up your seatbelt, how to suck oxygen in case of an emergency. As an attendant she's delivered that spiel 1001 times this week alone. But wait. What if I had been flying for the first time? I would have never heard the spiel before, and the information would be very informative and compelling. Plus, there were some new jokes that I hadn't heard before (something about turning off your electronic devices: cell phones, lap tops, George Foreman Grills). But, with her less than upbeat delivery, she glossed over all her jokes and the humour fell flat.

If you sound bored - you ARE boring. When they do the safety spiel, we think "blah blah blah". Listen to how it's delivered. There is no emotion. No attempt to make it sparkle ... therefore I'm making no attempt to listen. Think there's no way to make the safety spiel interesting?

What are you doing to make the basics leap through the radio? Make them count. Traffic & Weather. Time & Temp. Station ID and your Name. You'll deliver it endless times throughout your show. Are you blasting through them or giving the Basics their due? Someone has just gotten into their vehicle and is hearing it for the first time. Make it sound like you're saying it for the first time. That Rappin' Flight Attendant clip? Might have been the first time you've seen it. Betcha he's been doing that for 3 flights / day for months. But he delivered it like the first time.

Quite honestly, no one is worth listening to if they don't sound like they're having fun.

Don't LIE.
The weather was awful. Snow, slush & wind. I expected delays. All the Departure boards projected "On Time". The Captain made no mention of delays. When it came time to de-ice the plane, the Captain came over the intercom and said, "This should only take 10 minutes". Problem is, it didn't. It took 40 minutes. BIG DIFFERENCE. And not only did he lie about the time frame, there was no update on what the hold up was until after we were making our way to the runway.

If you're going to do something on the show, then DO IT. You are making a promise to the listener. Saying "a couple of minutes" or "in a bit" is not only vague, but has different meanings to different people. "@ 7:40" or "in 10 minutes" is concrete.

The other point is immediacy. The pilot is my information source. As passengers we were visibly agitated, and the pilot made no attempt to update us on our status. In radio, we are the eyes and ears - and we have the ability to provide up-to-the-second information. Don't ignore the needs of our "passengers". "Air Canada" is only a couple dial positions away.

Sometimes We Need to Be SERIOUS.
The Pilots introduced themselves as "Neil & Matt at the front of the plane". Call me old fashioned, but I'd at least like to know that it's "Captain Neil and Co-Pilot Matt in the cockpit". "Hey everyone it's Neil & Matt" … they sound like the new design team on HGTV. It irked me that the pilot was joking around. Was he going to do some rolls and loops in the sky?

Sometimes we need to be serious, human and sincere. Amber Alert … stick to the script. River Break 2009 … flooding is not funny. Ask Manitoba. Know your role in certain situations. People will come to us for serious information and a quick joy buzzer gag could kill all credibility.

If you went to see a new doctor and he came into the examination room and said, "Hey there -- I'm Rick!" … I doubt you'd even stick around to hear the glove snap.

Don't Be THAT Guy Who Reclines His Seat.

I'm sure I could find some radio analogy here … but the truth is planes are packing us in and we ain't getting any thinner. If you recline, you're a prick. I only wish I had my 2 year old with me to kick your seat for the entire flight.

Greg Johnson
Program Director
COUNTRY 93.3 / ROCK 97.9
Fort McMurray, AB
w. 780.743.2246
f. 780.791.7250
greg.johnson@rci.rogers.com

Thank you Greg.
-Darren

Tiger Woods not on par with Media

2009-11-30T15:08:00.010-07:00

Tiger Woods is undoubtedly one of the worlds greatest athletes. He is worth millions and is adored by even more around the globe. Now all eyes are on this fearless legend not by his actions on the golf course but because of his actions, or lack there of, following his car crash early Friday morning, November 27, 2009.

Allow me to quickly provide you with the timeline of events:
Friday around 2:25am; Tiger crashes his SUV into a fire hydrant and then a tree while attempting to leave his Florida home.
Friday afternoon around 3:30pm; some 13 hours later, news of this crash hit the media. Not many details of the crash were available and no comments were made by Tiger Woods.
Saturday; no comments from the great one, only a flurry of speculation by the media.
Sunday afternoon; Tiger releases a statement on his website stating the accident was his fault, his wife Elin was not to blame, and that this was a private matter and wanted to keep it that way. He even declined to be interviewed by the local Police.
Monday morning; Tiger announces his withdrawal from his own golf tournament this week and does not plan to play golf until the New Year.

Where did Tiger go wrong? Silence.
Recently, many celebrities including David Letterman have learned the easiest way to control a situation is to come clean, tell the truth and admit the mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. Own up to them and move on. Instead, Tiger's silence has opened the doors for more negative comment and more harm to his squeaky-clean good name. We are living in the 'now' generation. We do not want to wait for answers, we want them now. If we do not get the answers we are seeking, we will look to any source to provide the information. This is how rumours grow rampant.

In a time of crisis, follow these 5 steps and control the situation:
1) Use the media to your advantage
As soon as you are able, call a media conference and explain as much information as you can without getting into private details.
2) Prepare a statement
When giving your account of the crisis, you will be glad that you have prepared a statement in advance. Camera flashes, microphones and the excitement of the moment will be overwhelming. Be prepared.
3) Admit the mistake
If you are at fault, tell the truth and admit the mistake. Enough said.
4) Focus on your message
After giving your statement, be prepared to answer several questions from the media. Focus on your message and do not deviate from that message. Once you go 'off the script' you will be open to more questions and speculation (not to mention more expensive Lawyers)
5) Correct the un-truths
After you have provided the truth about the crisis, be sure to correct media operations that continue to publish incorrect information. Try first with a phone call. If that is not successful, have your Lawyer intervene.

Are you prepared to face the music when crisis occurs at your company or organization?

-Darren

Three tips to a successful career

2009-11-30T09:44:00.003-07:00

Ask any top executive about their career, and they are most always willing to share a few anecdotes about the good old days. I am certainly no veteran but I have had the privilege to learn from some great minds that have passed along bits and pieces of wisdom that I have carried with me throughout my career.

Regardless of title, rank or years of experience, I began to hear recurring themes from these great executive. They have been in the trenches, done all the back breaking work, and heard all the excuses. If it has worked for them it should work for me, right?

While coaching new staff or when asked to speak to University and College students I always refer to my “Theory of Three”. Three principles I have gleaned from watching, listening and learning from my mentors.

1) Take care of yourself
Sounds simple enough, yet one we tend to brush off.
As a manager we require staff to work at their peak performance level every day. However the moment a staff member phones in ‘sick’ (we’re heard every excuse in the book), it puts a strain on all the remaining staff who are required to fill the void. There are limits to everything but the more ‘sick’ days you take, the more apt you are to finding yourself taking an order at a drive-thru window. Take care of yourself. Drink lots of water, take vitamins, go to the gym, stop smoking, lay-off the all night parties - take care of your voice and take care of your body. Do not give your manager a reason to go looking for your replacement, because there are many fresh faces who want your job.

2) Never burn bridges
There are only a handful of companies in Canada.
OK,I know there are many more than three but think of all the people you know in your line of business. Now think about all the managers they know? In conversation with any Manager you will quickly find they know a lot of the same people you network with. They know two friends, and so on, and so on, and so on.
There are no secrets. We talk.
As a Manager who does reference checks when going through the hiring process I might phone one person on your resume. I will most likely check your Facebook page. Or in most cases, I will drop an email to another person who I know from that city, company or at your business. Like any Jerry Springer show, we will find the truth, without having to throw any chairs around. As I mentioned earlier, there are only a handful of companies in Canada. They should be your best friend. Network with other managers as much as you can. Make them your support team the next time you are looking for a new career change.

3) Always be accepting to change
This has happened to me, as it will happen to everyone several times in their career. Does this sound familiar? One day you are doing a dream job at a great company, the next day you are in the General Managers office being laid-off because of a company restructure or other major changes. It sucks. How could this be happening to YOU, the ‘star’?!
That is the nature of the business world. If you have followed the first two rules I listed then, in most cases you are not being fired because of something you have done. It is a decision out of your control perhaps made in a boardroom across the country, but you will survive. If you are lucky, you might find yourself transferring to a new position or to a new location because your talents are needed there. Be accepting to change. In today’s industry, most companies use words like centralization and shared resources. That boils down to fewer positions available in the work force. Which would you prefer; a paying job or that drive-thru window gig at the hamburger place on the corner of town.

Bottom line is: never give your manager a reason to fire you. There are many people who want your job. Do not get voted off the island.

I have offered three very basic principals that will affect you somewhere along the way just as they have for my journey.
We are all on a rollercoaster ride of a lifetime. Have fun and enjoy the ride.

Networking - How do you get others to notice

2009-11-26T08:54:00.007-07:00

When asked if I could give a presentation on Networking I immediately accepted.
In Calgary Alberta through SAIT's School of Business, they are holding a Business Development Workshop with Junior Achievement where 84 high school students will learn about Business. This is a great opportunity to showcase the SAIT School of Business students while allowing them to play a critical role in the success of the Junior Achievement participants.

My presentation: Networking
It is not about who you know now, but who you want to know tomorrow.

The most successful Business people in the world are always networking. Like most, they started with a small group of friends and supporters who helped get them to where they are today. How? By networking. Your 'network' of associates are connected to other successful associates, and so on.

Start with the people you know now; friends, family, business associates, competitors, interesting people you met at a training seminar, etc. From that list, create a second list with the names of the smartest, those with strong personalities and the most successful people you know. Once you have created your initial 'network', start contacting the people on your list. After you get through catching up on old stories be sure to let each person know what you are currently working on and where you see this project advancing in the future. Remember, you are not asking them for a job. You are simply updating your network with details of your new venture. Ask them to review the product and offer a second opinion. There is a good chance some people in your initial network might seem disinterested in your project but that is their opinion. They are still your friends. But from your initial network you will find those who will take your product and idea to their 'network' and pretty soon you will be introduced to others who share similar interests.

One of the key things about successful networking is keeping in touch. Once your network starts talking about you and the services or product you offer you can not afford to keep them in the dark. You have to keep in contact with them on a consistent basis. Either through telephone conversations or email updates, you need to keep your network up to date. The more engaging your network is, the more likely other people will hear about you and your product and want to join your network.

Do you have a website? Keep the content on your website fresh and offer opportunities to demonstrate your services and your product.
Do you have a blog? One of the easiest ways to drive people back to your website and introduce them to your network is through a Blog. It can be updated daily or weekly. Again, your content has to engage the reader to want to become a part of your network.
Do you send out regular email newsletters? Some might consider this to be spam marketing however the most successful email newsletters will be so engaging that it brings more new people to your network. There are several on-line companies that manage email data bases. I recommend Constant Contact.
Do you use Social Networking? Sites like Facebook, Linked In and Twitter are valuable resources to build your network. I use all three. Provide engaging content that others will find intriguing...the more intrigued they are, the more likely they will want to join your network.

What do you do with business cards you collect at social functions? When someone hands you a business card at a function it is an invitation to join his/her network. If you see this person a benefit to grow your network, add them. Get them on your email mailing list, make sure they see your website and read your blog to really get them excited about your network.

You're fired! Several times in your career you will invite people into your network who, after time, are not benefiting you or your business. Donald Trump has made a career out of firing people. At first, the notion of removing someone from your network seems harsh but it must be done in order to grow your network. At least every year, take stock of those in your network that have fallen silent and fire them. At the end of the day, you can still be friends with them if you want, but they have already demonstrated they are not interested in the growth of your company. Therefore it should not come as a surprise that you are removing them from your email list or special offers letter.

Who is on your network? Take the time to review your lists. You will be surprised at the outcome.

-Darren

H1N1 Pandemic; Fears before Facts – what you needed to know

2009-11-25T20:29:00.001-07:00

I am not a Doctor. I am not employed by any Medical company.
But because of the fears of the H1N1 ‘Swing Flu’ pandemic, I have had to do a lot of my own research to ensure that I remain healthy. And I’m sure you and many of your friends and families have done the same.

Why? Because the people who we elected to ensure the health and safety of the citizens of our country failed to do their job. They failed to control the message, they failed to provide reliable information on the flu strain, and they failed to inform me (the public) on the safety or effects of getting the flu shot. They simply failed.

Where could this have been corrected? Let’s start at the beginning.
The WHO (World Health Organization) has been talking about a Global Pandemic for years, but it was about 18 months ago when their tone changed. No longer were they talking about ‘if’ there would be a concern but ‘when’ there this would be a concern. And what were our Governments doing to prepare for this Global infection? From what we’re seeing now in many parts of Canada – nothing.

Surely someone started to prepare an Emergency Crisis plan. Surely, emergency meetings were called to discuss a crisis management strategy. What are we going to say? How are we going to get the messages out? How are we going to ensure that one message is being delivered at all times? How are we going to ensure the public will not panic? Was this done? Perhaps to some degree, but not to the extent that I needed to be.

As a Media Coach, my message to my clients is simple; communicate a message and do not alter from that message. Use every method possible to ensure your message is being delivered accurately and correctly. How do you think they, the people responsible for ensuring the health and safety of millions of Canadians performed? Failure.

From the moment the H1N1 ‘Swine Flu’ became a Pandemic concern, they needed to broadcast timely and consistent messages to everyone, everywhere. We’re talking about the lives of Millions of innocent people. Many of these people are also very web savvy and, like me, have had to look to the net to find useful, up-to-date information because it is not being provided by the traditional Media outlets. Think about it.
A newspaper only publishes daily in large markets – weekly in smaller markets.
TV stations only air Newscasts in the Morning, noon hour, supper hour and late evening
Radio stations run short news casts during the morning shows and very few through the rest of the day.
The internet provides content that is refreshed every second.

So how can you prevent panic when you’re only providing minimal updates to the conventional media when we, as citizens, want updates NOW?

You have to be willing to think outside the box – re-invent the box if you have to, but you can do so while still controlling the main message. First of all, you have to build a team of people that understand the importance of message development and message delivery. Once you get a plan in place, you can then begin broadcasting your message to the ‘web’ of Media that will turn to you for comment. Remember, if you don’t provide the information the public wants when they want it, they will find anyone standing on a street corner to give them the information they are looking for at that moment.

So before Crisis strikes your organization, are you prepared?

Marketing and Promotion on a shoe-string budget

2009-11-25T19:25:00.002-07:00

How can you create a successful event with very little budget?
I recently attended a fundraising event in my small hometown in central Saskatchewan. For a once thriving community that supported the local farming and ranching families has been reduced to only about 100 residents. The grain elevators are gone, the skating rink has disappeared and the school I once attended is now the community grocery store. But one thing that has not changed is the small town spirit of "community".

While I have always stayed in contact with my family and friends in this small community, I witnessed an event that would make Marketing, Promotions and Public Relations specialists proud. The success of this event was not the result of a major advertising campaign. Not at all. In fact this sold-out event was the result of 10% advertising and 90% old-school social marketing; the telephone.

What I have failed to mention so far is the fact that in this quiet town of approximately 100 residents, many were engaged by the fundraising initiative and picked up the phone to tell their friends and family. Many of those contacted also talked with other friends and spread the word to a more far reaching group of engaged family and friends. After the home cooked meal, the speaches, video presentations and music, more than 200 people attended this small town fundraiser - a sell-out event. Money raised will be provided to purchase a piano and other musical instruments for the residents of a local Seniors Lodge.

Why was this a success? Good old fashioned two-way communication...the telephone.

When planning your next event or promotion, take a page from my friends back home:
-the event must have a worthy cause,
-the event must have a solid base of supporters who believe in the event,
-the event can be 'advertised' through conversation and networking,
-follow up with guests prior to the event to remind them the importance of their attendance,
-do not give up the cause.

In memory of my Uncle, Don Lynch.
"Any day that you don't laugh is a wasted day."