1. There’s some seriously awesome speakers.
From homegrown talent like Stewart Butterfield, Alexandra Samuel, Jason Bailey and Darren Barefoot to imports like Erik Blachford and Mark Johnson, the mesh speaker list is inspiring on its own.

 
2. You don’t have to fly to Toronto.
This is the first time mesh will be held on the west coast so you really should take advantage of getting to attend this fantastic event without the cost of traveling across the country to get there.

 

3. Connect. Share. Inspire.
The mesh tagline really does sum it up nicely.

 

4. It’s at the Salt Building.
You know you’ve always wanted to check out that cool red building in False Creek. Here’s your opportunity.

 

5. A chance to meet the mesh gang.
The 5 founders of mesh are a pretty impressive group on their own. meshwest is your chance to have a drink with these guys!

 

Branding is not just for businesses anymore. These days, personal branding has become critical, and it’s no surprise why. We live in a time when a future employer has only to do a Google search to find out almost everything they need to know to make a decision about hiring YOU. I recently attended the Mom Inc Movement event in Vancouver where Heather White from 2020 Communications did a presentation called “Brand You”. It made me realize that while the steps to effective personal branding might be simpler than those required to develop a strong business brand, personal branding itself can be more challenging to carry out. Here are the five steps that I learned matter most.

 

1) Find what makes you tick

 

Taking stock of things in your life that make you happy (and those that don’t) is key to the development of a personal brand. We are defined not only by the things that we are, but also by the things we are not. If you love to cook and hate to dance, stay true to that. Offer advice on how to make a delicious meal and not how to do the tango.

 

2) Be authentic

 

If you try to brand yourself as something you’re not, you will make the creation and maintenance of your personal brand that much more difficult. Stick to what you know and love best. And, if some self-discovery time is in order, this post by Scott H Young will certainly help.

 

3) Be consistent

 

When up keeping your brand, be sure to maintain consistency. If you have a personal blog, update it regularly. Make sure that your updates and replies on Twitter are timely. This is not to say that you have to spend all of your time online, but make up a realistic schedule of frequency of updates and stick to it.

 

4) Be informed

 

Another key part to maintaining a brand is to stay up to date on things relative to your industry. Having a strong knowledge base of current information simply makes you a more credible source of advice. Some great places to find industry-relevant articles include Alltop and LinkedIn Today.

 

5) Show up

 

This is one of Heather’s key points about developing a personal brand. When you are out and about, living life, always be sure to put out your best effort to showcase who you are. If you’re going to go to a networking event, then do it! Chat with as many people as possible and get to know them. Make every outing an opportunity to reinforce your brand with the public.

 

These are just some tips to keep in mind when it comes to personal branding. The most important takeaways are to be honest and think in terms of sustainability for the entirety of the branding process. If anyone has anything to add, please drop us a comment!

 

 

The Social Agency is a social media marketing and public relations company based in Vancouver, BC. We take the “why” out of “why social media” and the “what” out of “what is pr” by providing our clients with top-notch Vancouver internet marketing services. Let us get people talking about your next big thing!

 

In just about a week, social intranet experts from across North America will converge in Vancouver for the Social Intranet Summit.

 

Hosted by Vancouver-based ThoughtFarmer, this year’s summit (happening September 28th) is all about the bottom line. Although early adopters and innovators have been reaping the benefits of social intranets for the past few years, the focus now shifts to the mainstream, as a growing number of companies seek ways to improve communications and boost productivity using this tool.

 

This year’s line up is certainly impressive. A host of big names from around the world will speak about topics including Surviving The Contest Crisis by Shel Holtz, The Purpose of Social by CV Harquail, and, one we find particularly interesting by local communications expert Ron Shewchuck, An Emerging New Model for Internal Communications, described below. Oh and this just happens to be the topic du jour among the tech companies we’ve crossed paths with lately.

 

What will become of employee communication — and the people who manage it — when information sharing in the workplace becomes as easy as hitting a “like” button and intranets are built and maintained by their users? Ron will explain how old-school intranets and an overreliance on e-mail have contributed to employee disengagement; why the tools and technologies of Web 2.0 hold so much promise, yet inspire fear and loathing in corporate leaders; who will lead the communication revolution, and who needs to follow those leaders to make it happen. Ron will also share a different way of thinking about the role of communications inside today’s enterprise. This new business model will help the builders of next-generation intranets avoid dangerous pitfalls and embrace innovative ways to engage employees in the new “social workspace.”

 

The social intranet isn’t just for high tech companies and Gen Y employees anymore. Organizations like Mountain Equipment Coop, eHarmony, Oxfam and many government groups are leveraging this tool as a way to more effectively engage their people, and build a more lucrative enterprise.

 

To find out more about this year’s Social Intranet Summit and to register go to: http://www.socialintranetsummit.com/

 

 

The Social Agency is a social media marketing and public relations company based in Vancouver, BC. We take the “why” out of “why social media” and the “what” out of “what is pr” by providing our clients with top-notch Vancouver internet marketing services. Let us get people talking about your next big thing!

 

After a very successful launch event in 2010, Merging Media, Canada’s premier cross-media conference, is back! Merging Media 2011 takes place from October 27th to 28th at the SFU Woodwards Complex in downtown Vancouver. This event will bring together some of the world’s front-runners of transmedia production, including keynote speaker Curt Marvis, the digital media visionary behind “Madmen”, “Weeds” and “Nurse Jackie”. Top speakers from Google, Microsoft, YouTube and Amazon.com are also on the agenda.

From now until September 23rd you can actually enter to win one of two full passes to this year’s Merging Media Conference. Here’s how:

 

• Like Merging Media on Facebook and fill out the sweepstakes entry form.

 

OR

 

• Follow @mergingmediabc and enter on Twitter

 

In addition to a stellar conference, the Merging Media Masterclass and Pitch 360 sessions will also be taking place, showcasing up and coming transmedia projects.

 

For more information or to check early bird rates, visit www.mergingmedia.ca or follow @mergingmediabc on Twitter.

 

Hope to see you there!

 

 

The Social Agency is a social media marketing and public relations company based in Vancouver, BC. We take the “why” out of “why social media” and the “what” out of “what is pr” by providing our clients with top-notch Vancouver internet marketing services. Let us get people talking about your next big thing!

 

 

We are very excited to once again be working with Better Together on their second annual Hands-On Cook-off, a fun “star in your own cooking show” contest that celebrates families enjoying time together in the kitchen.

 

As the Hands-On Cook-off gets rolling in its second year, we thought it would be fun to do a post about the beauty that is do-it-yourself video production. I’ve found some pretty handy resources and tips that will help with your Hands-On Cook-off submissions, or any other home video project that comes your way!

 

For the purpose of this post I have decided to focus on two video editing softwares: Windows Live Movie Maker and iMovie.

 

Windows Live Movie Maker

 
• This is a great software that is free to download, easy to use and is perfect for beginners. First things first, you need to download the program here.
• Next, I suggest you watch this video. It goes over the basics on screen so it is a great tool to reference.
• If you want to rotate a clip, an easy way to do so can be found here.
• Add some background music, as shown here.
• Once you have edited your movie, and feel the urge to add that little extra something, here is a short video of how to add visual effects.
• Last, but not least, don’t forget to add in credits at the end. This video will show you exactly how to do it.

 

Next up is iMovie for those of you that are Apple users.

 

iMovie

 
• iMovie should come pre-installed on your Apple computer. If you find that it is not already on your Mac, just head to this link and hit “Upgrade Now.” This download does cost $14.99, but it is well worth the investment if you plan on making more family videos in the future.
• Next, you will need to start a new project. This video goes through the step-by-step instructions on how to get begin.
• Adding titles to a movie is so helpful for various reasons. For example, if the audio is too low at points in your footage it can save you from re-filming. We know you are busy people, who has time for that?! Watch here to learn how to incorporate titles into your project.
• With 24 separate visual effects, how can you not add some into your pièce de résistance? Become a special effects master here.
• Who doesn’t love a little song here and there in a made-at-home projet. Add your very own soundtrack to your video using these easy steps.
• And finally, you’ve worked hard: some artistic credit is in order! See here how to add credits at the end of your iMovie project.

 

And voila! Look out Spielberg, there is a new audio visual powerhouse in town. Whether it be Windows Live Movie Maker or iMovie, you are more than ready for this family-friendly challenge. If you find yourself wanting to learn more about do-it-yourself film production, I’ve found this great blog that has 50 tips about video editing that you should definitely take a peak at.

 

Don’t forget to enter your submissions on the Hands-On Cook-off contest page for a chance to win up to $2000 in Overwaitea gift cards!

 

Cheers and happy filming ☺

 

 

The Social Agency is a social media marketing and public relations company based in Vancouver, BC. We take the “why” out of “why social media” and the “what” out of “what is pr” by providing our clients with top-notch Vancouver internet marketing services. Let us get people talking about your next big thing!

 

 

Our client Better Together has just announced that the second annual Hands-On Cook-off Contest is back! This contest is open now until August 31st and there are some really great prizes to be had. If you’re a BC resident, this is the perfect summer activity with some big payoffs….

 

Why is this contest important?

 

The research shows that eating together as a family or other group leads to significant social, physical and academic benefits, such as improved communication skills and other important skills that benefit children for life. That’s why Better Together started the Hands-On Cook-off, a competition where families become the stars of their own cooking shows! This is a fun way to celebrate the family meal!

 

How to Enter

 

Entering is simple; all you need is one of your favourite recipes, representation from two generations, and a little inspiration to create you own cooking show (in three minutes or less) demonstrating you and a friend or family member preparing a meal together.

 

Judging criteria can be found on the contest page. This year’s panel of judges includes Michael Eckford, co-host of Urban Rush, David Robertson, Executive Chef at the Dirty Apron Cooking School and Kia Robertson, Founder of Today I Ate a Rainbow.

 

Prizes up for grabs include $500, $1000 and $2000 Overwaitea gift cards (or you can choose cash options of slightly lower value) and a special early bird prize if you enter before August 1st!

 

With the weather we’ve been having lately, this is the perfect family activity. Check out the contest page for past entries and inspiration for your own unique creations. Can’t wait to see this year’s submissions!

 

 

The Social Agency is a social media marketing and public relations company based in Vancouver, BC. We take the “why” out of “why social media” and the “what” out of “what is pr” by providing our clients with top-notch Vancouver internet marketing services. Let us get people talking about your next big thing!

 

 

In 2011, it is not surprising to find that there are millions of people who have fallen deeply in love with the iPad and other technologies that are in the works. It’s lightweight and sleek design, coupled with seemingly endless possibilities, make it the perfect life companion for both business and pleasure. I use my iPad all the time to jot down my thoughts, read, and to take advantage of its many other useful features. To tell you the truth, it was pretty difficult to pick just five apps to showcase for this post, but here are the five iPad apps I could not live without:

 

1) Instapaper

 

 

Nobody likes missing out on a good read. How many times have you come across an interesting article online when you’re busy with something else and have no time to read it? Sure you can bookmark the page, but I can almost guarantee that you will never go back and peruse through your bookmarks. Why? Because we are human, things come up, and when we finally find time to cuddle up with some words, we are generally not at the computer. We are in a park, we are on public transit, or we are somewhere other than our desk. So how does Instapaper differ from a traditional bookmark tool? Essentially, by installing the handy “Read Later” button in the Internet browser on your computer, iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, you can add articles to your Instapaper account. This compilation of articles is now ready to be read offline, so you can enjoy articles when spare time arises whilst you are nowhere near an Internet connection. After being turned on to this app, my iPad is now filled with interesting articles that range in length from a short wait at a bus stop to a multi-hour road trip.

 

2) HootSuite

 

 

As a social media marketing and public relations company, we are very picky when it comes to choosing tools to use with our social media initiatives. One of our can’t-live-without tools is HootSuite, which happens to have an incredible iPad app too! HootSuite gives you the ability to manage multiple social media accounts and platforms, from one easy-to-navigate interface. This app also has a great Facebook interface, which is a huge plus as a Facebook app for iPad has not been released from Apple yet. HootSuite has a strong customer service and support team on Twitter called HootSuite Helpers, making this a great app for anyone who is new to social media and hoping to synch all their online efforts.

 

3) Mint

 

 

This app is the perfect compliment to Mint.com, a free financial software tool that compiles all your accounts in one place. I don’t know about you, but each of my savings, chequings, and credit card accounts has a different login page, making it impossible to see them together and figure out how much I’m spending each month. The Mint app makes it possible to monitor your checking and credit card transactions, monthly budget, cash flow and investment balances at the same time. Don’t worry, it’s totally secure. Mint requires a security access code which protects your personal information should you misplace your iPad. Once within the app, you have a detailed list of all the transactions that have occurred in any of your accounts, as well as your current balances. It also gives you the capability to add new accounts or hide others that you do not use often. Along with balances, the app lets you implement a budget to track how much spending money you have left for the month and where you’ve been spending it. Lastly, Mint can monitor investment totals for the month making it a truly “jack of all trades” financial app.

 

4) Flipboard

 

 

If you subscribe to or visit multiple RSS feeds, news, and social media sites, this is a beautiful app just for you. Flipboard allows you to create your own aesthetically pleasing browsing experience by compiling all of your frequently visited sites into one gorgeous publication. Every Flipboard is different, depending on the iPad user. Some are laden with world news, some saturated with sports, but the majority are like mine with a little bit of everything. Here, reading tweets, Facebook feeds, and daily headlines is a quick, easy, and most importantly, an enjoyable experience.

 

5) Freebies

 

 

As a student, it’s not surprising that saving money is one of my favourite things. Freebies is a wonderful app, updated daily, that provides an exhaustive list of all the apps on the Apple store that are available for free. This list includes all the apps that are always free, and better yet, it lets you know when the paid apps go from paid to no cost for any given reason. Sometimes this will be a permanent change, but more often than not apps will be offered for free for a limited time. I’ve only had Freebies for a couple of weeks and have already snagged an app that regularly retails for $29.99 so it is well worth the download! By regularly checking Freebies, you’re guaranteed to be one of the lucky users to take advantage of these limited time promotions.

 

As you can see, my five favourite apps have a trend: compilation. By bringing things together in one, efficient place, these apps save you time and provide a user experience that is ten times better! Please give these apps a try and let me know what you think or of any other apps I should look into!

 

 

The Social Agency is a social media marketing and public relations company based in Vancouver, BC. We take the “why” out of “why social media” and the “what” out of “what is pr” by providing our clients with top-notch Vancouver internet marketing services. Let us get people talking about your next big thing!

 

 

Public relations is nothing short of an essential part of business; people’s perception of your company can make or break you. A successful press release is worth it’s weight in gold, which is why it is imperative to know how to deliver one flawlessly. Nowadays press releases must appeal to three separate but key audiences: journalists, bloggers and consumers. In a time where we’re expected to express ourselves in 140 characters or less within social media, being able to write one clearly and efficiently is now more important than ever.

 

Given the continuing rise of social networks, I’ve taken some great points from Lou Dubois’ article from Inc. Magazine and Michael Perulli’s tips from Marketwire.com to help you write clear, concise and social media press releases.

 

So what exactly is a social media press release anyway? One key notion to keep in mind is the fact that press releases must have optimum information, using as little words as possible and they must also be timely. As Lou says, “if your audience doesn’t find the content informative, useful or helpful, it doesn’t matter how hard you try or what the format is—you simply will not succeed.”

 

Without further ado, here are ten must haves when it comes to writing a social media press release:

 

1) Know Your Audience

 

Knowing who you are targeting has a major impact on the language that is used and other stylistic aspects of your social media press release. Whenever I’m preparing one, I always do a bit of research on my target audience before I even begin writing. For example, if you are targeting the mommy crowd, be caught up on the latest issues and trends that interest today’s moms.

 

2) Research Demographics and Track ROI

 

Use the Google Adwords Keyword Tool to choose relevant keywords that will help boost your article’s SERP and effectively increase the chance of your article being passed around in social networks. It is a great tool that is offered free of charge and has been very helpful in my experience on the net.

 

3) You Get What You Give

 

As much as a press release seems like the perfect way to increase sales, setting out to simply write about your product is not the way to go. It is important to come up with innovative ways to integrate your good into a social media release which will garner long term customer loyalty. An example would be to teach readers about a process which requires your product: if you sell ovens, send out a great new recipe that your readers will enjoy or if you sell shampoo, offer a “how to” article on an up-do that would be fabulous for the summer. I know that I am much more likely to read an article that wants to teach me something and enrich my life with a new skill than a role call of an upcoming fall product line.

 

4) Keep Your Readers’ Best Interest at Heart

 

This simply means that though it is important to rank high in terms of Search Engine Optimization, creating a social media press release that is user-friendly and enjoyable for your audience should always come first. Readers, just like you and I, want to feel special and that articles are written with our interest in mind.

 

5) Use Multimedia

 

Pictures are worth a thousand words, and by integrating them along with videos and other multimedia in your press releases you will be able to increase reader engagement. The likelihood of me passing on an article to my friends increases significantly when there are visually appealing aspects included.

 

6) An Intriguing Title

 

Your headline is the first point of contact with your audience, so be sure it sparks readers’ interests and encourages them to read on. If I saw an article named “Our Company’s New Fall Fertilizer Collection” I wouldn’t waste another second of my time on it, and neither would you.

 

7) A Brief Overview

 

It is best to keep the overview under two paragraphs to keep readers engaged. Be concise and thoughtful.

 

8 ) Informative Content

 

This is the body of a social media press release where you should get to the point you set off to make. Spread the news, and be sure to include answers to the who, what, when, where and why of your story. I find that if you at least provide the answers to the five Ws with great links, there is ample opportunity for readers to easily find further information.

 

9) Use Numbers!

 

Quantitative figures always bring a sense of authenticity to a piece, making it all the more important to include statistical data in your releases. I’ve also noticed that if you find the right numbers, they can add a shock value to your work which can increase readership and the likelihood of your article being shared across social media platforms.

 

10) Include Who You Are and How to Reach You

 

In my opinion, this is the most important part of a social media press release. It is essential to include information about your company at the end of any aticle, including links to your social media presences. Not only does it provide a means for readers to further research your company or contact you, it also encourages them to follow you on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook. Social plug ins that enable readers to share your press release are also great tools to help spread the word.

 

There you have it, ten ways to help you successfully create your very own social media press releases. We’d love to see what you come up with in our comment section.

 

 

The Social Agency is a social media marketing and public relations company based in Vancouver, BC. We take the “why” out of “why social media” and the “what” out of “what is pr” by providing our clients with top-notch Vancouver internet marketing services. Let us get people talking about your next big thing!

 

 

Our computers are small, our phones are smart and it can feel like a bit of a rat race trying to keep up with what’s coming next. So let us help you. Here are five interesting technological trends that we believe are attention worthy. Take a read and let us know what you think.

 

1. NFC

 

NFC, or near field communication, is a variety of wireless technologies that require a close proximity (4 cm or less) to the content they are interacting with. It can be compared to Bluetooth, though NFC requires less power and does not need to be paired with another device.

 

NFC technology can be used in numerous different contexts. It opens up the possibilities for scan and pay options through encrypted digital wallets which are already set to hit Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank and TD in the fall. A feature of the wallets to launch later this year is ‘click-to-buy,’ where only an ID and password are required in online transactions as opposed to having to fill out your entire address, credit card number, and other information. For those of you transit lovers, NFC has already been integrated into mobile ticketing for transit in South Africa, Europe, Asia and the US making it very likely it will be used in Canada within the next few years. From a marketing standpoint, this technology is filled with opportunities for interacting with consumers through smart posters, social media, special discounts and other promotional offers.

 

 

2. AnatOnMe

 

Sci-fi lovers, this one’s for you. Microsoft has come up with a beautifully named device, AnatOnMe, that can show patients what is going on inside their body by projecting it on their skin. The handheld system consists of a projector, digital camera, infrared camera as well as a laser pointer that enables doctors to ‘bring to light’ what is going on and the impact it is having on the body. This device was designed to help improve the communication between doctor and patient and to reduce medical non-compliance (i.e. people choosing to not take medication prescribed from their doctors or failing to complete exercises from their physiotherapists.) This might just prove that a picture really is worth a thousand words.

 

See AnatOnMe in action here.

 

3. Video Resumes

 

Let’s be honest; finding a job is not getting any easier. In fact, getting an interview these days is not exactly a walk in the park either. Many people have tried to differentiate themselves by doing things like printing their resumes on coloured paper, using social media; anything that helps them survive the stack of applications that result from a Craigslist posting and lands them a chance to sell themselves to a potential employer. Enter video resumes.

 

 

Some creative job applicants out there have decided to construct cinematographic depictions of their qualifications and skills. Here are some examples of our favourites:

 

QR Code Content-Rich Resume – Victor Petit

 

“Hire Me” – Alec Biedrzycki

 

4. ThoughtFarmer

 

Instead of staring at the same boring email client to communicate with coworkers, many businesses are beginning to seek out innovations like ThoughtFarmer, a social intranet that brings a social element to traditional workplace software. ThoughtFarmer uses things like wikis, blogs, and social sharing to encourage a more collaborative workplace. Businesses like eHarmony, Continuum and MEC say this tool has helped them more effectively engage employees, improve employee communication and boost productivity.

 

 

See ThoughtFarmer in action here.

 

5. AMOLED

 

Mobile phones have become a staple in modern day life. We can’t leave the house without them, we’re expected to answer them and many of us are on a never-ending pursuit of the newest phone. For those of us who consistently drop our phones, upgrades are sometimes required due to things like a cracked screen, or other height-inflicted injuries, which can become quite costly.

 

This is where AMOLED (active-matrix OLED) comes in, a display technology that enables users to fold the screens on their mobile gadgets. It is lightweight, portable, and has been proven to evade creases after 100,00 folding cycles, making it a top contender in future screen technology for cell phones, tablets and televisions.

 

 

There you have it folks, five technologies to look out for in the future! Let us know if any of these sound life changing to you and join our conversation here.

 

 

The Social Agency is a social media marketing and public relations company based in Vancouver, BC. We take the “why” out of “why social media” and the “what” out of “what is pr” by providing our clients with top-notch Vancouver internet marketing services. Let us get people talking about your next big thing!