Posts made in February, 2012

The Status Update: Is it worth upgrading to a paid-for LinkedIn account?

Posted by Mark on Feb 27, 2012 in Podcasts, Social Media | 0 comments

We all want to get something for our money – and that’s true when it comes to investing in social media. With LinkedIn, the business-to-business network, you can have an account for free but there is the opportunity to get an account with more features. Is it worth paying just under £200 a year for such an account? Mark Saxby quizzes Martin Broadhurst to find out, in today’s Status Update…

The Day I was Attacked by a Children’s TV Star

Posted by Mark on Feb 23, 2012 in Blog-Off | 1 comment

It’s not often you meet a true megastar and that moment in 1981 will stick with me with forever. Being a journalist for 20 years, including 11 years in the BBC, I met many famous people. Most were very ordinary in person, the odd one shone. But that encounter when I was just 10 years old knocks all other celebs into a cocked hat.

Emu (left) and Rod Hull (right)

I was sitting in the audience at the Pier in Cleethorpes when I was attacked by a large bird. No it wasn’t Jo Brand, it was Emu. His owner Rod Hull had been entertaining the crowd when he asked for a volunteer from the audience. As he walked from the stage, scores of children put their hands out to stroke the famous bird. I didn’t. To my cost. Before I knew it I was assaulted by a feathery monster. How does a ten year old react to such an attack? He dives on his mother of course.
Rod loved that of course and he dragged me up onto the stage to help him with a magic trick. As he prepared it, he asked me to sing a song to the audience so I obliged to loud applause (I was a show off even then). The magic trick was performed, everyone clapped and my moment of fame was over.

There’s nothing like an Emu cuddle

That was 30 years ago but the memories are still vivid. I remember the smell of Rod’s damp, yellow jacket, that moment when my world spun as Emu threw me upside down, that bashful feeling as the audience cheered my singing.
Isn’t that what we are all looking for in social media – to be memorable? Why else do we tell the world what we are doing? Why else as businesses do we try and get people to like or follow us?
Yet being memorable isn’t very easy. How do we create content that will stick in people’s minds? Well thinking about what your audience wants is a good start. Unless you’re a Gap or a Coca-Cola you can’t really keep your customers engaged by only talking about your product or service.
Most of us need to mix it up a bit. Work out who your target audience is and alongside the business updates, add other interesting content that you know they will like. It might relate to your business; it might be something in the news you know people are talking about; it might be products that your customers might go to buy that aren’t yours.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Don’t be predictable. Be creative. Keep the fans of your Facebook page coming back. That means posting often – preferably two or three times a day. Most people never return to a page after they ‘like’ it. Do YOUR Facebook insights tell that story? Click on ‘Reach’ to find out. With Twitter you should really be posting around five times a day to have a chance of making an impact.

We need to be remembered on social media or there’s little point in doing it. So don’t neglect your accounts. Think about what your audience wants and get stuck in. And if you don’t do it properly, I’m going to send round Grotbags.

Social Media for Churches

Posted by Mark on Feb 22, 2012 in Social Media | 0 comments

Facebook may have millions of people using it but how can churches and Christian organisations use it effectively? Twitter is very influential but can it make an impact with the Gospel? YouTube may have millions of users but can it really get people into church?
Our Social Media for Churches event will answer those questions and more. Areas covered during the three hour event will include:
How to use social media as an effective tool to communicate with your church/organisation.
How social media can be used to reach out to those who don’t know Jesus.
How social media can encourage positive publicity about your church/organisation.
Why you don’t need to be afraid of social media.
Why you don’t need to spend hours on it to make social media work.
Presented by Mark Saxby, the co-owner of a successful social media marketing company in Derby and a Christian for 20 years, Mark will talk you through the social media world in plain English, using the communication techniques learned in 11 years at the BBC.
Where: The Riverside Centre (home of Community Church Derby), Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8HY.
When: Saturday 3 March, 9.30am-12.30pm (refreshments from 9am).
Cost: £20 per delegate for the first two delegates per organisation. £10 per additional delegate. All prices exclude VAT.
To find out more or to book, call us on 01332 776910 or email Kerry Saxby.

The Status Update: What the heck is Pinterest?

Posted by Mark on Feb 20, 2012 in Podcasts, Social Media | 5 comments

It’s come out of nowhere but lots of people seem to be talking about Pinterest. But what exactly is it? And how useful is it for business? Take a listen to Mark Saxby quizzing Martin Broadhurst about the latest social network to get people excited. It’s today’s Status Update…

And you can follow Status Social Media Marketing on Pinterest here.

The Status Update: Should Facebook Be Banned At Work?

Posted by Status Social on Feb 13, 2012 in Uncategorized | 2 comments

Is business suffering because of social media? Are our employees throwing away valuable time tweeting and updating their statuses, rather than working? Is the answer a ban on social media during office hours? Mark Saxby thinks so. Martin Broadhurst doesn’t. Listen to their (sometimes heated) debate in today’s Status Update