StoryTeller Media & Communications
Minneapolis/St. Paul Marketing and PR agency and video production company|StoryTeller
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What is Inbound Marketing, You Ask?
If Inbound Marketing Was Easy….
If inbound marketing was easy, everyone would do it. For years, businesses have clung to the outbound marketing concept - cold calls, advertising, billboards, direct mail. You know what I’m talking about, you’re doing it today in your business and have been for years. But do you balance that work with inbound marketing? If you’re not familiar with the term, “inbound marketing,” I ask you this - are you familiar with search? With google? Do you know why some businesses rank higher in organic search than others? If you are, then inbound marketing will come easy to you. If not, hang tight, we’re going for a quick and fast ride!
The Value of Media Producers in Digital PR
There have been some terrific posts written about the significance of video in online conversation and the value of former media people in the PR world. Respected blogger and thought leader, Arik Hanson wrote a great piece on tomorrow’s PR professional being media producers. Check it out here. While the idea of media person turning PR pro is not a new concept, what is new is the value now placed on the technical skills possessed by the media producer. In other words, the media producer mind is still critical, but becoming equally important are the hard skills - editing and shooting.
Quality Video is in the Quality of the Story
These are interesting days in video, especially for those of us who are producing video content. For a long time there used to be great emphasis on video quality, production value, etc. but YouTube has changed that. This is not to say that high quality production is no longer important - it definitely is still critical for many businesses/organizations. On the other hand, the general public has never been more willing to watch lousy video than it is today. Think about it.
Favorite Social Media Tools
If you are like me, there are days when I feel completely overwhelmed at the amount of social media “content” that traverses the internet on any given day. I am not a self-proclaimed expert by any means but I feel like never have we experienced a time where there is more content at your disposal to become more proficient at whatever it is you are trying to accomplish. I have come to the realization, however, that despite my appetite for learning, you can’t consume it all, you can’t know it all and you can’t apply it all. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is your social media strategy.
So, from time to time, I will share with you my favorite finds that I stumble upon in my research that I hope will enlighten you on a topic or two. I love to share when I find something I think is terrific!
If there is one social media community I am continually amazed by it’s Twitter! I have come across so many fantastic Twitter tools but FOLLOWERWONK stands out in particular to me. By entering the keywords of any topic you are interested in, Twitterwonk will aggregate a population of Twitter users who have the same key words built into their Twitter profile. A great way to connect with your targeted audience. Very cool!
More and more, we are encouraging our clients to delve deeper into the world of Facebook contests and sweepstakes. Like every brand trying to grow their fan base, we have found sweepstakes and contests as great enablers for helping grow their audience. A favorite recent find for helping create contests is an online form builder called WUFOO. They help you create contact forms, online surveys, and invitations so you can collect the data, registrations and online payments you need without writing a single line of code. Love it!
Finally, we have recently spent more time understanding what the BRIGHTCOVE video platform is all about. In case you are not familiar with Brightcove, they are a video platform provider that allows you to upload your videos, choose a player template, and publish your videos easily directly on your website. I spent some time on their webinar and found the system to be extremely intuitive, flexible and affordable. My favorite part of the platform is your videos are embedded directly on your website and the viewer does not have to leave your site to view on YouTube. The social sharing functions are excellent as well. We will be initiating our 30-day trial next week!
Let me know if you have a chance to check these services out. I would love to know what you think!
How Long Should Your Online Video Be?
We’re asked this question quite a bit and the answer varies depending on the audience, but by and large, we think brevity is the key when posting online content. For example, this video is a speedy 28-seconds!
Ed Heil is the owner and president of StoryTeller Media & Communications an inbound marketing and public relations agency and video production company based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Ed blogs on topics related to inbound marketing, social media, media relations, news media, video production and crisis communications.
Great Use of Editing and YouTube
A friend of mine showed me this video last week. Not only was I completely blown away by the way it was put together using stop motion, but it’s author, who goes by the name MysteryGuitarMan, has done an amazing job of working with the YouTube format. He posts regularly, every Tuesday and Thursday, and speaks directly to the camera in his videos, creating a bond with his viewers and giving the videos a very personal feel. Also, in each video, he has links to at least two of his other videos.
Check out his YouTube channel when you have the chance. It’s very impressive.
Mark Zuckerberg 2010 Person of the Year Validates Social Media
In case you missed the “big announcement” this morning on The Today Show, Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg is Time Magazine’s 2010 Person of the Year. Way to go, Mark even if the movie, “Social Network,” made you look less than sterling.
Nevertheless, when I heard the announcement this morning I was not surprised, but felt, in a way, legitimized. If you’ve been in the social media space for a while you may share my sentiments. For the last couple years or so we’ve been talking to our clients and prospects about social media including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. During that time, I’ve seen people look at me with great interest and also those with that grin that says, “you’re ‘B.S.ing’ me, aren’t you?” Over and over we towed the line and explained to anyone who would listen that a complete and total shift in communications is occurring right before our eyes. Even those who fell in line with us still questioned that basic belief.
So, today when Matt Lauer referred to the 26-year old Zuckerberg as an innovator who’s changed the way we communicate and when Richard Stengel of Time said Facebook is “effecting human nature like we’ve never seen,” I smiled. Just a little. Actually, it was more of a smirk, and then I began to wonder, what will the world of social media look like a year from now?
A High Schoolers Perspective of Social Media
As a small business owner in a space somewhat appealing to the high school senior, we are frequently asked to be part of a job shadow experience. This is a great opportunity for the up and coming business- minded high school senior, to get a peek in the box of how PR and Social Media impact a brands overall marketing strategy. Upon conclusion of our shadowing time together I like to get a perspective from the soon-to-be graduate, their take on what social media means to them. Here is Alex Altman’s point of you… the blessings and the curse. Good luck Alex, and thanks for your point of view!
The I Generation
Has anyone labeled this current generation of teenagers? I mean, we have Gen Y, Gen-X, Boomers, etc. How about this: Gen-I? It would be fitting, wouldn’t it? This group has grown up with the iPod, iPod touch, iPod shuffle, iTunes, iPhone and iPad. Heck, if they have $100 a year, they can even have a me.com account. My question is, will this be a generation that has the ability to think of anyone but themselves first? You say, well, at least there’s YouTube, but even their moniker is “Broadcast Yourself.”
When Talking is Better Than Texting
One of the longest running and biggest challenges of emails and text messages is inflection and expression. Sure, you can write in ALL CAPS IF YOU REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE A POINT and you can smile 
or wink;), but so much is still lost in translation. Then there are those who hide behind e-mail in communication. You know the people who do it, in fact, maybe you even do it. But why?
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- Video Production So Good You’ll Cry February 3, 2012
- 5-Video Production Tips to Avoid a Major Production January 18, 2012
- PRSA Re-Defines PR and It’s About Time January 2, 2012
- 2011 StoryTeller Highlight Video December 22, 2011
- Online Marketing Trends to Watch in 2012 December 22, 2011
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