Podcast by Gillian O’Neil from Moviecom.tv
Podcast by Gillian O’Neil from Moviecom.tv (www.moviecom.tv). Gillian gives an overview of the video channel and how it can promote your business globally using user generated content and affordable advertising. You can also watch to this on YouTube (www.youtube.com/6degreesnetworking).
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Podcast by Gail Bryden on achieving your true potential during uncertain times
Whilst we may not be able to control the events that happen to us, we can choose how we respond. Gail Bryden is a Mind Body Coach based in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. (www.yourtruepotential.co.uk). She empowers individuals to achieve their true potential by removing negative emotions, limiting beliefs and ineffective behaviours. This podcast can help you increase your awareness about what’s currently holding you back and inspire you to achieve your true potential.
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Andrew Forbes from The Rhetorical Company explains how to get your message across effectively when speaking in public
In this podcast, Andrew Forbes from The Rhetorical Company in Edinburgh (www.rhetoric.co.uk) explains how to communicate your message effectively when speaking in public. Since only memory affects behaviour, Andrews offers advice on how you should use this to your advantage, along with other techniques, such as the regency effect. Andrew’s tips are practical for large audiences, small groups and one-to-one meetings with colleagues, prospects, clients, etc.
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Podcast by Julie Barnett from Nuevo HR Partnering, Glasgow about terms and conditions of employment
In this podcast Julie Barnett from Neuvo HR Partnering (www.nuevogroup.com) Glasgow, UK gives an overview of terms and conditions of employment. Some of the topics discussed include: types of contracts, intellectual property, staff handbooks and smoking in the workplace. Please note that the regulations discussed relate to Scottish employment law.
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Podcast by Derek Mair from Action Coach
In this podcast, Derek Mair from Action Coach (www.actioncoach.com/derekmair) explains how strategic changes in a business can significantly increase profits. You can also watch a video of this talk on YouTube (www.youtube.com/6degreesnetworking)
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Podcast. Why do businesses go to networking events?
Craig McKenna from The Growth Academy (www.thegrowthacademy.com) questions why businesses go to networking events and what attendees should do at the meeting. This podcast was recorded on 2 February 2010 at Centotre, Edinburgh.
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Podcast on top ten search engine optimisation do’s and don’ts
Equator (www.eqtr.com) are a one of largest web design agencies in Scotland and have been in the online business for over ten years. Martin Jordan from Equator gives advice on how any business can improve their website’s ranking on search engines, especially Google. This podcast was recorded on 1 December 2009 in Glasgow.
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Podcast on email marketing by Cubic Design
Stephen Ng from Cubic Design (www.cubic-design.co.uk) Motherwell, Scotland, gives practical advice on how to create effective email marketing campaigns. You can view a video version on YouTube (www.youtube.com/6degreesnetworking).
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How Web 2.0 can benefit your website and business
On the 3 September 09 the 6 Degrees team were guests at the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) seminar at The Royal Scots Club, Edinburgh, Scotland. The seminar was presented by Mark Hunter from Tartan Media Productions and the subject was Web 2.0 websites and podcasting. Below is some of the main points from the seminar along with 6DN’s design agency’s experiences of using these channels.
For those who don’t know, Web 2.0 is the name for a relatively new website technology. Chances are you are probably using these websites: YouTube, Facebook, Linkedin, Bebo, MySpace, Twitter, Wikipedia, to name a few. Such websites basically allow you to interact with the content or add your own content such as photos, videos, music and text. This is also known as social media.
Podcasting is also another means of delivering video and speech online. Apple’s iTunes is one of the most popular channels for downloading podcasts. 6 Degrees Networking’s podcasts can now be obtained from the iTunes store and this blog (see podcasts category). More podcasts will be available soon.
Blogs
Blogs are a great way to attract traffic to your website, especially if its updated with new posts every week. Google loves blogs and many viewers often find your website by visiting your blog first. Marketeers are savvy to this and a good example of maximising this is the blog written by Bill Marriott, CEO of Marriott Hotels. Mr Marriott writes succinct posts about issues he cares about and his travels. As a result the blog has proved popular and had generated business for the hotel chain. Many readers will no doubt have the blog in their RSS reader to keep up-to-date.
YouTube
Having a YouTube channel is a great way to drive traffic to your site and create awareness about your company. Most of you will have noticed while using Google to search for something YouTube videos appear in the results. Google owns YouTube so it naturally wants the videos to appear highly in the results. YouTube generates advertising revenue for Google so it wants as much traffic as possible.
Simply posting videos is not always enough. Very often the views will be less than a 1,000. The videos need to be compelling in some way and inspire the viewer to share it on Facebook, Twitter or simply email the link to someone else. This viral effect is something marketers should try to achieve with their content.
I know from experience that YouTube channels take time to establish (3-4 months at least) and the content must have a decent production values or work well on an emotional level. 6DN are establishing their channel at present.
Below, is one of the most popular YouTube videos of all time. It resonates because the parents have unwittingly filmed their sons just being natural, yet it is very funny and endearing. It was only posted on YouTube for fun but to date it has been watched over 100 million times. Any business would love this level popularity but it is very difficult to create on demand.
However, some brands have been created a buzz on YouTube. Cadbury (confectionery brand) was able to reverse it’s fortunes after a health scare in some of it’s chocolate brands. The series of adverts show on UK television were quickly posted on YouTube by the public and watched around the world. There is no dialogue in them so their appeal is far ranging.
YouTube can also be used by the public to vent their anger after receiving poor service from well known brands. Some might argue that there is no such thing as bad publicity. Perhaps Comcast have improved their customer service due this incident being posted on YouTube by an angry customer.
The desire to be successful with YouTube has lead to some companies and organisations to create videos that are essentially deceptive propaganda, this is known as astroturfing. Obviously, if a company is guilty of this the damage to their brand would be enormous.
Twitter
Twitter has received enormous publicity in 2009. While some are sceptical about its merits, companies can use it as an effective marketing tool. The website Twitter 101 gives various case studies. Dell computers use Twitter to publicise sales and discounts on their products, thereby increasing business as a result. 1 in 30 web hits comes from Twitter. The UK high street furniture chain Habitat got into trouble recently for exploiting Twitter in an unethical way. Read more here.
Finally
Thanks to Carl Gardiner from CIM for inviting us to the seminar and Mark Hunter for the excellent presentation. If you are concerned about the use of social sites affecting your employees productivity in the workplace the implementation of a system by Productivity Software would help restrict access to these websites during working hours.
Links, resources and books
Slideshare – PowerPoint slide sharing resource
Book: New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott
Book: Naked Conversation by Robert Scoble and Shel Israel
Book: Trust Agents: Using the Web to Build Influence, Improve Reputation, and Earn Trust by Chris Brogan and Julien Smith