All Entries in the "New Media" Category
An Ugly War Of Words
No, this isn’t about any of the current labor disputes. Instead, this is about an online feud between Greg Sandow and Heather Mac Donald. If you aren’t aware of what’s going on here’s the 10 second synopsis: Mac Donald wrote an article titled Classical Music’s New Golden Age (meaning now) but Sandow didn’t like what she had to say so he wrote 5,413 words (most of which were entirely unflattering) over five articles to explain why. Shortly thereafter, Mac Donald fired back with a scathing retort… (more…)
Two Google Items You Should Know About
Undoubtedly, Google products and services are a wonderful asset to any nonprofit performing arts professional. Each year, they seem to add some new app that makes us wonder how we ever got along without it. Likewise, upgrades and enhancements to current offerings make good apps even better but there are two Google related items that should be on every arts manager’s radar… (more…)
How NOT To Use New Media
If you’re looking for a good example of how to use a new media platform in the worst possible way, American Federation of Musicians (AFM) International President Thomas F. Lee provides the best example I’ve come across to date with a series of videos the AFM released on YouTube. Everything in this video from the complete absence of production qualities, patronizing tone of his voice, ill-fitting suit, and circa 1962 copy (that’s only cool in Mad Men) is a gruesome train wreck of a product. But wait, there’s more… (more…)
Tasty Transparency Treats
The 2010 Orchestra Compensation Reports are only two weeks away but that doesn’t mean you can’t get in on some of the data goodies ahead of time. Following in the successful footsteps of the 2009 Orchestra Website Report pre-publication tweets, I’ll be tweeting an ongoing string of compensation review tidbits along with a number of miscellaneous facts that rarely make it into the regular reports due to lack of space. Thankfully, Twitter serves as an ideal medium to dish out these tasty treats, the only thing you need to do is follow @Adaptistration… (more…)
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…
(more…)
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…)





















