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Making Networking Work for You was brought to life with Bobby D. Ehlert. His approach is simple and person-centered.
Networking isn’t about selling. Networking is about making connections with individuals within organizations (professional and social) and coalitions that share your values. You network to learn new ideas, make friends, look for new teammates, find new clients, or fundraise. Every connection is a way for you to offer help or service to others.
Ask how you can help, or what you can give to an organization or person to establishes a connection. Put out positive energy and be open to new ideas. Connecting with like-minded individuals is made easier when you can speak about the things you are passionate about in your authentic voice.
So, go out and create a ripple effect of connections by allowing people to feel that you are someone that they could work and connect with.
7 Video Hacks to Bring Your Marketing Back was a fascinating discussion with Mike Dardano and John Van Dekker about how to create powerful cost-effective videos with your cell phones. Not your forte? The speakers made it look easy and fun.
One important marketing strategy is to create cost-effective promotional and informational content for use in social media and websites posts and television B Roll. For your videos to look professional, authentic and communicate effectively here are some must-haves, dos, and don’ts:
- must have a cell phone selfie stick;
- must have a cell phone holder cage (ideally with a tripod) but the legs of the cage can stand on a table;
- must have a directional microphone;
- must have the correct cell phone apps like On the Go and CapCut (video editing apps);
- must have external lights that are small and can diffuse light like an LED light with a rechargeable diffuser over it;
- learn the settings on your phone and do tests before shooting and make sure images are well lit;
- pick the correct frame rate (slow motion, super slow motion)
- know the platform protocols for camera positioning (nothing like a tiny or cut-off image to sell your story)
- know what you want to shoot
- properly frame the message—are you educating, entertaining or inspiring
- lead with the “payoff” and then tell more of the story
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do not do live filming in locations with traffic, distraction and noise, since there is no edit capability
Other valuable pointers: know the metrics of the platforms you are using, such as interactions, impressions and views, and know which metrics indicate engagement with your video. Engagement drives reach...and you want maximum reach.
Make the Media Your Messenger shed light on the role print media (virtual and hardcopy) can have in spreading the word about your organization. Veteran journalists, editors and publishers, Regina Clarkin and Bruce Apar, provided an overview of the best ways to get the attention of editors and journalists and to make working with the media easy for both parties. When sending an article or press release, use Word format for articles and JPEG or PNG for pictures and send as attachments to a brief covering email that introduces the topic.
Editors are looking for items that are newsworthy, substantive, timely, unique, and connect with the community. Find an angle that creates value and interest for the readers and steer clear of self-promotion.
Publicity is not always newsworthy! Paid media, i.e. advertising, is not always news. Earned media, i.e. coverage about a nonprofit organization or person in articles, through social media sharing and word of mouth, is free (and hopefully positive). It’s a free way to bring attention to your organization or cause. Build your relationship with the media by offering some paid media such as promoting your event or sponsoring a spread of coverage on a cause important to the organization. Not everything is free!
If you’re trying to promote a business or cause, try to become a reliable source for journalists on that specific topic. Have your media list at the ready and be the go-to person for local items of interest or business activities.
Creative thinking and a working relationship with the media can help your organization get the attention it deserves.
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