I’m running a full-day Introduction to Social Media course for the lovely people at TCV on 23rd May. They’ve kept cost down – £50 – so it’s affordable for all sizes of community group. You don’t need to be a TCV member to come along.
This is how we should all correspond with one another
Mick Jagger and Andy Warhol letter via the wonderful awesomepeoplehangingouttogether.tumblr.com
People don’t believe what you tell them. They rarely believe what you show them. They often believe what their friends tell them. They always believe what they tell themselves.
-Seth Godin
5 reasons I’m excited about Social Media for Social Good Glasgow
Scotland’s third sector digital media conference returns to The Albany Learning and Conference centre on 17th May and I’m pretty bloody excited. Here’s why…
1. We’ll get the inside track on how the #EqualMarriage campaign harnessed the power of social media
{Jump to 4.08 to listen to Tom French who will be speaking at our event}
2. Stephen Naysmith, The Herald, will be openly exploring how charities and social entrepreneurs can use social media to effectively connect with ‘traditional’ journalists.
3. We’ll have workshops centred around real-life case studies from the likes of National Trust for Scotland, Young Scot, Scottish Athletics, Youth Football Scotland and Leith Library.
4. It’s a chance to meet other third sector professionals interested in getting the most out of their online presence.
5. Leah Lockhart, The Improvement Service, and Marc Bowker, formerly Quarriers, will be looking at the often overlooked issue of how social media fits within your organisational culture.
Twitter: Microphone for the masses?
Turns out my interview with Janis Krums was quoted in a 2011 journal article by Dhiraj Murthy from Bowdoin College’s Social Network Innovation Lab, titled ‘Twitter: microphone for the masses?’. Thanks to Ross Fingland, a Glasgow student, who spotted it. Ross actually used the findings from the interview for his dissertation on citizen journalism – should be an interesting read.
Your charity’s videos are crap. Here’s how you can change that.
Still spending thousands of pounds creating project-focused videos for your charity that end up with 45 views on YouTube? Stop. Now.
If that’s your strategic approach to video it’s a waste of your time and money. It’s a waste of your viewers’ time. The best videos aren’t about projects per se; that’s only of interest to your staff or volunteers. In fact there’s every chance they don’t watch them either. The videos that will truly connect are the ones which people can relate to – you need to start getting better at storytelling. As Annie Escobar puts it:
“It’s about the why, not the what. Showing, not telling. Feeling, not facts.”
It’s worth remembering that just because you’re trying to tackle a serious issue your videos don’t always need to be sombre affairs. ‘Follow the Frog’ is a great example of humurous storytelling as a way of encouraging people to make positive change.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iIkOi3srLo?wmode=transparent]
Think about the difference your non-profit makes. Those are the stories you want to be telling. Do everyone a favour and ditch the corporate, project-orientated, ‘how we do things’ videos and start really inspiring people.
‘What’s the risk?’ My talk from #DACLD13 [video]
Here’s my talk on the importance of risk taking when using social media from #DACLD13. The lovely fonts in my slides seem to have been stripped out when they’ve gone through the videofeed. Apologies in advance for my orange beard, tie and watch.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrgbndSkaLE?wmode=transparent]
Social Media for Social Good | Glasgow | 17th May 2013
Tickets are now available for Social Media for Social Good on 17th May 2013 at the Albany Learning and Conference Centre, Glasgow. The full-day conference is jam packed full of inspirational speakers and practical workshops for charities, social enterprises, community groups and other third sector organisations.
Highlights include Tom French speaking about the success of the #EqualMarriage campaign, Stephen Naysmith exploring social media as a tool for getting your stories in the press and workshops on Facebook, workplace culture, engaging young people, social media for sports groups and more.
Full programme PDF and booking form below. For further info email john.robertson@gcvs.org.uk or call 0141 332 2444
End-of-year budget-friendly social media training vouchers
It’s coming to that time of year when budgets need to be spent. Now I’m not for a second suggesting you fritter away your budget on something you don’t need but if 2013 is the year your charity, social enterprise, community group or local authority project needs to get serious about social media then we can help.
Third Sector Lab have worked with a wide range of clients including Oxfam, Voluntary Action Fund, CEiS, Youth Link Scotland, Relationships Scotland, Action in Mind and more.
We can offer wallet-friendly vouchers redeemable for a wide range of services depending on your needs. These can be purchased in the current financial year and used any time within the next 12-months. Up to 15 people can attend our workshops.
Here’s what we can offer:
- Social media basics training workshop.
- Writing for the web training workshop.
- Twitter and Facebook training workshop.
- Google Analytics & SEO training workshop.
- Video for the web training workshop.
- Social media support for your conference or event.
- Website design & development.
- Ongoing social media support.
- Social media strategy & policy development.
Drop us an email – ross{@}thirdsectorlab.co.uk – or call 07515162686 to discuss your needs and purchase a voucher this financial year.
I’ve just had the bikes I love stolen
UPDATE: I’m now offering a £100 reward to anyone whose info directly results in me getting my Brodie Loki back.
Those of you who know me will know I don’t own a car and I cycle most places. Well that’s come to an abrupt end as both my bicycles were stolen recently from the locked communal store area in my flat in Glasgow. That’s me above chatting to some pigs with the Brodie Loki that was stolen.
The bikes in question are:
Brodie Loki full-suspension mountain bike (photo below and above) RRP £1799
- Full Brodie Loki spec. Mine also has Shimano M525 pedals and Crudcatcher mudguards.
Edinburgh Bike Co-op Revolution Courier S1ngle singlespeed (photo below) RRP £250
- Mine also has Zefal slim mudguards, Wellgo Grey Platform pedals and a child seat fitting under the seat.
Given the value and rarity of the Brodie Loki I’m most annoyed about having that one knicked. But I really did love my singlespeed too, I now have no way of turning up to meetings sweaty.
The bike was imported from Canada, I’ve never seen anyone with one before and there’s literally a handful of the them in the UK. If that bike comes up for sale in Scotland I’m 99.999999% sure it’s mine. Mine is also fitted with Shimano M525 SPD pedals and crudcatchers.
If you see a Brodie Loki coming up for sale anywhere, especially eBay, Gumtree Glasgow or the Barras then please let me know: ross(@)thirdsectorlab.co.uk – 07515162686 – @ThirdSectorLab on Twitter.
You can also help spread the word by sharing this post on Twitter, Facebook or emailing your friends – social share buttons at the bottom of this post.
You can also print out a poster for your bike shop, etc.
Please, please help spread the word and maybe I can get my bikes back!
Brodie Loki ’08
Revolution Courier S1ngle ’10
