Outsourcing social media management – hints and tips!

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Although part of what I do is termed ‘social media management’, I still find it fascinating just how many companies outsource this work. I understand the reasons, as I know first-hand what a time-consuming job it can be.

There’s nothing wrong with outsourcing, as long as you find the right person for the task. This will be someone who’s prepared to get beneath the skin of your business, achieve the right tone of voice and find the right accounts for you to connect to. (I managed one account for a while which was taken over by a dedicated sociasocial media management 1l media business. I went back some months later to have a peek, and was dismayed to discover that the business’s Twitter followers had grown tremendously, but on closer look all the followers were spam accounts. Where’s the value in that?).

How many times recently have you heard someone say there’s a clue in the phrase ‘social’ media. Here’s a good definition of social: ‘relating to activities in which you meet and spend time with other people’. On social media, people want to interact with a real person, not an automated tweet. There’s no life in that, and no long-term benefit.

In truth, most social media managers will mix and match scheduled and real time tweets and posts – it’s a tough call to avoid scheduling completely. However, it’s bad practice to schedule a tweet then forget about it as it disappears into the Twitter ether. Similarly on Facebook if someone asks a question about a post, they are much happier if they are answered quickly. Your social media manager must be on the ball to respond quickly should someone engage on one of your social media sites.

By the way, if you outsource social media management, don’t think that you don’t have to do anything. A good social media manager will need to communicate with you from time to time – for example if one of your customers has a question social media management 3needing an immediate answer that only you can give.

Although this blog discusses Facebook and Twitter management, your social media manager could also run Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube – whatever works best for your business, as long as they do it well!

The power of a good story

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A couple of weeks ago I was chatting away on social media when a company called Barrel Top Wagons (great name) came up in my Twitter feed. They were very excited to have won a Theo Paphitis #SBS (Small Business Saturday) Award and wanted to make some noise about it. Last year, Lyme Bay Cabins had the same success and I’d helped them out with a press release and distribution which resulted in some local coverage and a piece in Devon Life. Lyme Bay Cabins’ owner Gary started tweeting at Barrel Top Wagons to talk to me.

I am always willing to help out a small business ‒ after all I am one – so I talked with Jo Henderson, who co-owns Barrel Top Wagons. She put together some information for me, which was a great starting point, and I tweaked this into a press release.

Barrel Top Wagons Theo Paphitis smlWhen the picture of Jo with Theo Paphitis at a winners’ event came through a few days’ later, we were set fair. I sent the story to my contacts in the regional press and I’m delighted to say the response was brilliant. Western Morning News popped it straight up online and featured the story in the Sunday edition, while Tom at the Okehampton Times took the trouble to email me to say it would be in the next issue. I spotted it in the Express & Echo Monday edition, too, and Jo at Barrel Tops said it was included in the North Devon Journal. (So that’s a ‘yay’ as I’m not yet immune to the thrill of achieving such extensive coverage!).

In truth, this news item was a gift for any PR; the story behind the company is genuinely interesting (read it here) and Jo had given me enough background to make it easy to write a press release that could grab attention. Match the story up with a photo of Jo and the former Dragons’ Den entrepreneur Theo and – well it’s not rocket science is it?

Good luck to the inspirational and ethical Barrel Top Wagons!

We’re not gossiping, we’re networking!

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Attending a networking group for the first time can be daunting. Despite Networking 3working in PR, a sector associated with people who are brimming with confidence and know how to talk the talk, my personal style is somewhat less ‘in your face’. I will even admit to being quite shy. For me, walking into a room full of strangers is a challenge.

If you’re the same, the answer is not to hit the bottle for a confidence boost (that would be frowned on at a breakfast meeting anyway!) but to keep a clear head and remember that everyone is in a similar position.

People who frequently go to the same group have the advantage of knowing other regulars, which obviously gives them a head start. On the other hand, fresh blood is always welcome, and most people will be happy to talk to you – after all, there may be something in it for them! That may sound a little cynical, but, at the end of the day, this is the reason that most people network.

Networking 2In my humble opinion, however, it is not always wise to go to a networking group simply to hunt for business. I believe a better approach is to go along to meet new people, share business experiences, learn something and have a bit of fun. If you are sociable, natural and likeable, other networkers will enjoy talking to you and finding out more about what you do. Then if they need the service you provide, you will pop into their heads and bingo!

Once you’re comfortable in a group, you could offer to give a presentation. Most networking groups like to include a talk, so why not take advantage? Keep it short and snappy, and don’t drone on about how marvellous your services are. Impart useful information and advice around your services that people will remember. Again, should they find they need those services, you’ll spring to mind.

During my year of networking I’ve changed from shy, retiring wallflower to someone who will approach the newbie in the room and ask them about themselves.. I’ve given a presentation myself with another PR, which went down very well – and we picked up some new business as a result.

If you aren’t yet networking, take a look around. Chat to people who do, ask them for suggestions. Go along with someone you know to a group that they regularly attend. If you’re a woman, might you enjoy a women in business networking group? Is there a specific group for your type of work – if you’re a crafter, a craft network, for example. Be proactive and put your head above the parapet.

Which type of networking is going to work for you is a matter of trial and error:

• Breakfast meetings are useful as less of the working day is taken up
• Late morning meetings are particularly good for working mums who can’t do early mornings
• Lunchtime networking is great for socialising, but be careful that they don’t result in a less productive afternoon
• Evening meetings can be ideal, as long as you don’t have teenagers to ferry about or babies to get to bed.

It’s a juggle, so choose whatever suits you best, or mix and match. You don’t have to go every month. Bear in mind, though, that some groups have annual fees so you may need to weigh up if you will be able to attend regularly. Others are pay as you go, which could prove more cost-effective and practical.

In truth, networking has changed my business. I have new clients, and new friends. There’s been a lot of laughter and I’ve learned some great tips from other local business people. And I know more, much more, about how everything interacts in my business community – which is proving to be pretty useful. Good luck!

Networking 4

Mrs-Do-As-You-Would-Be-Done-By

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I’m going to be honest here. I’ve never been much good at the ruthless side of business. The cut-throat behaviour, the fierce competitiveness, the power dressing. Okay, I wore shoulder pads in the 80s but I looked more like an air-hostess than someone who should be in Alan Sugar’s boardroom.

I have often worked with the ‘dog-eat-dog’, ambitious folk of this world, and I am full of admiration and sometimes envy. They have flash cars, wear the right labels and dine at the top table.

The Water BabiesUnfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, as a child I read Charles Kingsley’s ‘The Water Babies’ and the character of Mrs-Do-As-You-Would-Be-Done-By has stuck with me into adulthood. Well, maybe not the character but the inference of the name. Treat people as you would like to be treated, and expect to receive the same treatment back.

It strikes me that working in the creative world of PR, copywriting and social media is not just about making a living, although that helps, of course. It’s about building relationships, going the extra mile for clients, lending a hand where you can and enjoying what you do. Oh, and laughing quite a bit because hard work has never suffered from a giggle or two.

And as we move into a new year and as my business grows, I’m not going to change. You see, Mrs-Do-As-You-Would-Be-Done-By was ‘nice, soft, fat’ and cuddly. Her sister, Mrs Be-Done-By-As-You-Did was ‘gnarly and horny and scaly and prickly’. There’s no contest, in my book. There wasn’t in Charles Kingsley’s, either!

Have a great New Year!

Mind the Pot Plant!

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I finally bit the bullet and agreed to give a presentation with Sharon Goble of If…Media to one of the networking groups I attend, the Exeter and East Devon Business Club. Now, although I have a background in drama (nay, a degree in the subject!) I have always preferred to be behind the scenes, having worked both as a video producer and a stage director. Getting up in front of a crowd is not something I particularly enjoy, which may seem odd given that I work in PR (for me the whole point is usually to PR my clients, not myself)!

However, Sharon convinced me, and came up with a great topic, PR – is it magic? She was keen to talk about the power of images and targeting stories for the right media. I wanted to explore the connections between PR and social media, and how businesses should make sure they don’t let great PR stories get away.

Come the day, and off to the Deer Park Hotel for lunch before the presentation. I put my nerves to the back of my mind, deciding not to indulge in a glass of wine – I thought Dutch courage could prove my downfall!

Sharon and I got ready to start our presentation, which is when I got up close and personal with a pot plant. The layout of the room meant that I was standing under the leaves of the plant and could barely see the people in the room.

After attempting to talk from behind the foliage I decided to twist it round to get the leaves out of my face. The audience gasped as the plant toppled and I dived to stop it from falling. General hilarity ensued – talk about an ice breaker!

Of course, my nerves dissipated and I (almost) enjoyed the experience. Sharon has offered the presentation to another networking group we are members of. My only request is that there is a pot plant in the room….

Thanks to Fluffy of New Tricks for capturing the moment.

A picture paints a thousand words

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I have never been a natural in front of the camera – preferring to remain on the other side of the lens. In school group photos I always snuck to the back, and in family photos the one pulling the face, yes you’ve guessed it, that was me. When I worked in video production as a producer and scriptwriter, I occasionally appeared in shot, but only the back of my head as I filled in as an extra.

Obviously with the rise of social media a photo is a necessity – but from my point of view an evil one. So when someone mentioned every photo of me on the Internet was the same, a picture of me positioned ‘casually’ in front of a bush, I decided it was time to ‘go professional’ with local photographer Matt Austin from Lyme Regis.

Matt is just brilliant at portrait photography, so I made the booking and wonderedSueCade-Matt-Austin-30 what he’d manage to make of my slightly careworn face. I was terribly nervous and afterwards my jaw ached from smiling, but when the photos arrived in my Dropbox, I was speechless – and impressed.

I posted a photo on Facebook, just to test the reaction. Around 90 likes later it seemed that everyone loved the new look me – and there weren’t too many rude comments about Photoshop and kind lighting.

I’d also recommended Matt to a theatre group, and the shoot he did for their show, The Voyage of the Viqueens, resulted in some stunning images. They may not be a professional group, but they certainly look it in the photos. And I’d thoroughly recommend going to see the show at The Beehive in Honiton in November.

Viqueens-Matt-Austin-8 (3696 x 2460)

Now all I have to do is live up to my new photos, which luckily include shots of me in wellies with one of my dogs, which is pretty close to the norm.

Flying Visit to the Devon Business Expo

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It was great to pop into the Devon Business Expo last week and meet up with some of the most inspirational businesses in the county.

This was a flying visit for me as I’m up to my ears in that ‘orrible work stuff, but I was delighted to finally meet Mr & Mrs #DevonHour and admire the camper van lent to them by Devon Dubs. It was also a chance to catch up with some ‘old’ faces from the Deer Park Hotel, Cosmic Ethical and Devon Air Ambulance.

I arrived just in time to sit in on the media panel seminar and hear the latest from the good folk at the Express & Echo, Heart FM, Radio Exe, and event organiser, Best of Exeter. Also on the panel was Andy Cooper, editor of Devon Life, who wowed us all with his slightly controversial take on the power of the media!  

It was fun to chat with some of the Best of Exeter team – it may seem strange that I know the Best of Wimbledon & Merton crew better than the locals, but that’s another story!

There was much more going on – I didn’t have time to take part in the speed networking and would have liked to stay for the Tweet Met. However, I’m delighted to report that even in the short time I was there, I hooked up with two new potential clients – next time I’d better stay longer!

Well done to everyone involved, there was a lovely atmosphere at the event and good to see so many businesses taking part.