All Entries in the "New Media" Category
Uncovering Hidden Value
In last week’s article, The Three Keys To Social Media Marketing For Orchestras, I asked readers what else of value, besides the actual music, do orchestras have that is interesting enough to potential ticket buyers and donors that it can be given away as a free gift. The responses were thought provoking and I want to use those suggestions as a starting point for continuing the discussion… (more…)
The Three Keys To Social Media Marketing For Orchestras
Hugh MacLeod published an article at his blog on 2/14/2010 entitled “the three keys to social media marketing.” If MacLeod’s name is familiar, that’s a good thing. He’s the author of one of my favorite books, Ignore Everybody: and 39 Other Keys to Creativity, which serves as source material for the series of articles here under the tag keys to creativity. In his blog post, MacLeod suggests that sincere gift giving leads to successful social media marketing. In his case, the gifts are his cartoons but that got me wondering how this could apply to the orchestra business… (more…)
Come On Cleveland, You’re Better Than This
Regular readers know that when we talk about orchestras and new media, one recurring warning is to resist the urge to use new media outlets for press release regurgitation. After all, that’s what press pages at an orchestra’s web site are for. Likewise, using the official organizational new media and social networking outlets to disseminate one-sided information about an ongoing labor dispute is not merely bad form, but ultimately self defeating…
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Who Else Wants To Know More About Analytics?
In the space of a few years, Google Analytics has evolved into one of the most useful tools an organization can use to help identify its website traffic. Described by Google, Analytics is “the enterprise-class web analytics solution that gives you rich insights into your website traffic and marketing effectiveness. Powerful, flexible and easy-to-use features now let you see and analyze your traffic data in an entirely new way. With Google Analytics, you’re more prepared to write better-targeted ads, strengthen your marketing initiatives and create higher converting websites.” Sounds just like what this business needs, doesn’t it… (more…)
The First Step Toward Cultivating The Fruit Of Social Media
On Monday, 12/14/2009, Marc van Bree published an article at his blog, Dutch Perspective, announcing the results from his Orchestras and Social Media survey. In addition to a downloadable copy of the full report, there’s an excellent slide presentation on the key findings and recommendations. Van Bree’s survey is the first I’m aware of that focuses on defining how orchestras use social media as well as collecting and cross tabulating details about budgets, resource allocation, and benchmarking… (more…)
Calling All Creative Types!
Following up on yesterday’s article, today’s post will provide a direct example for how to design and implement a social networking based project to increase outreach and participation in your organization’s new media activity. Feel free to use any or all of this example in your own efforts. So without further ado, let’s get to business… (more…)
A Step By Step Guide To Improving Outreach Through Social Media
Last Friday’s new media quick-start guide for Twitter was a BIG hit, thanks to everyone for the wonderful feedback. Ultimately, I’m very happy so many folks are getting something useful out of the advice. One of the questions that came in via email was if I had any ideas for using one new media platform to strengthen outreach efforts and build interest in a second new media platform. Yes. Yes I do… (more…)
A New Media Quick-Start Guide for Cultural Orgs: Twitter
I had a fascinating conversation with a colleague the other week that started off when she asked the following question: Which social media services should [our organization] jump into first? Although answering a question with a question is a bit cagey, my response was Why start with more than one? Following the latest Orchestra Website Review, it was hard not to notice that a number of orchestras included links to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, MySpace, etc. but the reality is most of those companion sites weren’t being used efficiently… (more…)
The Updated Naughty And Nice List For New Media PR
The always sharp Lisa Hirsch, author of the popular and long lived culture blog Iron Tongue of Midnight, recently updated her list of new media PR do’s and don’ts. In the new diminutive augmented form, Lisa dishes out sound advice for PR professionals looking to make a meaningful connection with the proprietors of new media outlets. As before, one of my favorite pearls of wisdom is “DO make sure the press release is relevant to the people you’re emailing. I am happy to read press releases for events all over the world, but not everyone is. On the other hand, I rarely read pop music press releases. That is, know your audience.”… (more…)
Why Performing Arts Organization Blogs Suck
Well, not all of them; in fact, some are downright terrific. But the reality is far too many are terrible simply because they fall victim to some of the most common blogging bear traps. I’ve been writing about these traps and how to avoid them for years now but sometimes it just seems to stick better when you hear the same advice from someone else. As such, I want to point out a wonderful blog post by Paul Boag, a UK Web designer, which was featured at smashingmagazine.com on 9/9/2009… (more…)
It’s All About The Details
Yesterday’s post alluded to the latest round of articles in Molly Sheridan’s Blogger’s Bok Club series. It’s a fascinating review of The Whuffie Factor: Using the Power of Social Networks to Build Your Business by Tara Hunt and each article considers the self-described premise of how the performing arts are embracing technology and social networking for better and worse. Granted, I haven’t read Ms. Hunt’s book, but the ongoing conversation has been fascinating and I wanted to chime in with some thoughts before I leave on vacation… (more…)
Following Up On The SFS Social Networking Site
As promised back in May, it is time to take a closer look behind the scenes at the San Francisco Symphony’s (SFS) social networking site, which was officially launched on May 6, 2009. In order to find out more about how the organization designed the site, how much it costs, and what sort of goals they have in mind, I contacted SFS Director of Public Relations, Oliver Theil… (more…)





















