StoryTeller Media & Communications
StoryTeller is a public relations agency specializing in media relations, social media and video production and web video
Archive for December, 2009
Don’t Let Social Media Take Away Your Voice
As we turn the page on 2009 and look ahead to 2010 do yourself a favor-Tweet up. Meet people. Get out and shake the hand of someone you’ve met or talked to online. Look them in the eye and ask them, to their face, “how are you?”
While many of us continue to immerse ourselves in social media, we become more connected in many ways, yet in other ways we are also becoming more disconnected. Words and sentiments that you may share with someone through Twitter, message boards or walls require less human connection than the spoken word in a one on one setting. Body language, facial expressions and unique colloquialisms often speak louder than words.
So in 2010, make it a point to use social media as a way to connect with others, you may be surprised how much you can learn when you can speak in more than 140 characters.
Online video… does quality matter?
As we all know, the use of online video is growing by staggering numbers. We are seeing video used to educate (how to videos) which has proven to help sell more product, to entertain (if you are lucky it will go viral), to promote your brand, create awareness… the list goes on. We also know that video is a significant SEO driver and will be increasingly important in your overall marketing strategies as we move into 2010.
This begs the question of quality. How important is quality when creating content? After all, with handheld cameras like the FLIP available for under $200 can’t anyone create a video and put it up on the web? The answer to that is sure, why not, as long as it is done with intention. But what about branding and image? If the video is produced poorly can it not do more harm than good?
I recently came across a video that was created and posted by the Detroit Social Media Club of Chris Barger speaking on General Motors‘ Social Media experiences at a recent event. After hearing Scott Monty’s impressive presentation at the 2009 MIMA conference this year, I was interested to hear how GM was tackling Social Media. In a nutshell, I was truly amazed. The uploaded video was poorly lit, shot from what appears to be a handheld camera from the back of a room, had several people walking in front of the camera, cell phones ringing loudly in the background, and questionable audio at best. I had a hard time focusing on Chris’ message with all of the distractions. My first reaction after viewing this, was way to go Scott Monty and Ford Motor Company for leading the way.
I am not sure that is a fair assessment, but I think it’s incredibly important to be cognizant of the image you are portraying at ALL times. What do you think?
Chris Barger speaks on General Motor\’s Social Media experience
Best Toys for All Ages
Sometimes grown-up gifts can get boring - so why not try a toy that’s great for parents and kids alike? Check out our top picks:
- Perplexus Puzzle challenges you to guide a ball through a mind-boggling 3-D labyrinth to reach the finish point. It’s fun for everyone, whether you’re 8 or 58.
- Star Wars Force Trainer is perfect for any Star Wars fan: just “use the force” to levitate a sphere up and down the chamber through 15 levels of Jedi mind training.
Hopping on the Social Media Train
I continue to be amazed, overwhelmed, excited, and challenged by the staggering amount of social media content published on the web today. There are subject matter “experts” that emerge daily, there are webinars, symposiums, universities (I am attending the Social Media Magic University as we speak), blogs, and more blogs. There are superfluous numbers of Flip cameras circumventing venues providing vignettes from the presenters demonstrating all that you missed by not attending. Most days this frenzy can make your head spin if you let it.
As a student of social media, and aren’t we all, really?, I decided early on to rely on the wisdom of just a handful of experts that I could connect with, those whose content spoke to me, and to stop right there. I read as many books and blogs of Seth Godin, David Meerman Scott and Chris Brogan. If I went too far beyond that audience in the beginning I began to get anxious. I wanted to know “it all”. Several months into my social media studies I realized that nobody knows it all and even the “experts” are on a journey with no road map.
So don’t be intimidated if you are just hopping on the social media train. It is a journey, a destination is yet to be defined and it is heading in one direction, forward, with no plans on turning around. Just hop on.
Tips for Keeping Holiday Stress at Bay
Wherever I am these days, I hear fellow moms complain about the lack of available time to prepare for the upcoming holidays. “I haven’t even had a chance to get to the first item on my to-do list yet,” one mom recently said at a luncheon while another chimed in with “I haven’t even had time to write my list yet.”
Well, I’m bound and determined to not join in the race for busiest mom. From internet shopping (for both groceries and gifts) to teenage manpower, I’m taking advantage of all the help I can get!
I have slowly reached this level of zen as I’m fully realizing that my kids are growing up fast (too fast) and that I don’t want to wish away these awesome and precious family moments. Here’s how I’ve learned to keep holiday stress to a minimum:
- Delegate Chores:
- All holiday decorating is done together as a family or it won’t be done at all. From the outside hanging of lights to the inside primping and grooming, everyone is responsible for their share. If we lived in a perfect world, we’d accomplish assigned tasks together while humming Christmas songs. In my imperfect world, we decorated the tree to the roar of the Vikings game, but nevertheless, the tree is done and it looks as serene as I feel on the inside.
Want Your Kids to Learn About the World? Try a Geography Game!
My sister Rebecca lives in New Zealand, and I periodically get out the globe and show my kids where she is compared to where we are. I want my children to grow up knowing about our world’s fascinating diversity of people, plants and animals—and appreciating how amazing the Earth really is.
If you feel the same as I do, there are some great geography toys out there that may interest you:
- “Where in the World?” game helps kids learn about different countries’ flags, populations, currencies, languages, religions and economies. A helpful feature is its design, which allows younger and older children to play at the same time.
- For kids who are serious about geography, you may want to invest in MindWare’s brand new interactive “Smart Globe 3,” which teaches kids about different countries’ people, weather and currency. It can be updated online, keeping information current even as situations change around the world.
Loft Living: Creating Separation in Your Space
One of the most difficult things about living in a loft is trying to create separation between your bedroom, kitchen, dining room, living room, etc. - since they’re generally all part of one big room. Here are my top tips for creating separation and differentiation between areas of your loft:
- Try a Screen: Screens are a great way to separate spaces and are very versatile since they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. In addition to their functionality, they also are a great decor piece.
Always Impressed With the Latest and Greatest Video Technology
I recently had to edit a video for CobornsDelivers that focused on tips for using their website. But instead of pointing a camera at the computer and shooting the screen to capture the images, I used a new software application, called Camtasia, to capture the images directly into the computer.
It’s very cool how you can capture moving images from the web, including your mouse moving around and clicking on different links. In the past, editors had to settle for still images of websites. Now, with programs such as Camtasia, and the high quality images it can capture, I was able to zoom in on different portions of the web page with no visible quality loss or the dreaded pixilated look.
The editing portion took some getting used to, but the learning curve wasn’t too steep. It will prove to be a very valuable tool for client videos that involve images and video from the web.
Tiger’s Next Move? Skip the 2010 Season
As more and more skeletons seem to get retrieved from the closet, I certainly hope someone in Tiger’s camp is doing some forward planning of his career. His fall from grace can become more extensive and massive if he doesn’t care for his career and reputation with great speed and careful thought right now. If I’m handling Tiger’s publicity affairs, here’s what I’d tell him: Skip the 2010 season.
Edina Public Schools Are Getting Into Video
This morning I stepped back in time. Okay, it wasn’t actually back in time so much as a personal flashback to a time when I was much younger than I am now. Chad and I spent the first part of our day going back to high school. We were shooting a video that highlights the extra-curricular activities and clubs offered to students through the Edina Public School system. Today’s focus was on athletics and student clubs at the high school level. This video is the third out of three that we’ve produced over the last several months for EPS. › Continue reading
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