Cause & Effect at LM Projects
September 22nd, 2009
Archive for September 22nd, 2009
Experimenting with Twitter
September 22nd, 2009
As with all things digital I am obliged to experiment with the latest. I began using Twitter on February 9th 2007. (I found this date using MyFirstTweet.com) About 6 months after Twitter was founded. I will admit that I did it because it was “new” and our resident entrepreneur the CEO of MetBlogs, Sean Bonner, was raving about it. Over the two years that followed I experimented with Twitter in many ways and I wanted to share my experiences with you and what worked and how.
So, does Twitter matter? Does it work? If so how and why? What was my experience over the last two years?
To answer the first question, yes, Twitter does matter. To me personally it matters because it allows me to reach a wide audience with valuable bits of information, Groop updates and the occasional personal update.
If you are in advertising it should matter because it is on everyone of your customers minds. If you don’t personally use it, how can you talk to your clients about it? Even if it is to poo poo it.
If you are a media company it matters because it allows you to broadcast small bits of information on an ongoing basis. The news now breaks on Twitter, your next film will gain buzz on Twitter, your readers will hear about the latest article on your blog on Twitter.
Does it matter less If you are a lifestyle brand? That depends on the lifestyle of your customers.
Does it work? It works both as passive ambient awareness of what is going on around you and also as a discovery tool for things that you might not be looking but catch’s your eye. I know that I have personally discovered products, events and people that I was not looking for by just seeing what people are talking about.
To give a few concrete examples here are some experiments I tried over the last two years:
1. How many friends in New York (I live in LA) could I get to a bar if I notify them the same day?
The answer? A lot. Using Twitter, Facebook, our blog and our Email list(s) and mounting a campaign from my hotel room. Here are the pictures to prove it:
2. How many attendees can you get to a free seminar? A lot. Again, using a combination of Twitter, Facebook, our blog & our email list(s) we where able to get 300 people into a room.
3. How can you help a client, for us Opportunity Green attract an audience of 500 people to attend their conference? I don’t have to repeat it again.
As you can see, it is never Twitter by itself, it’s an eco-system of social tools that help create tangible impact and movement within our sphere of influence. It also does not have to be just for events. In my experiments using Twitter to send out interesting blog post we find, send out our newsletter after we have sent it via email, retweeting interesting articles we find on important topics of the day, have great response. I have found that the consistent low-level messaging that occurs helps create a conversation and a story about who The Groop is.
So that’s great Jose, but how does this relate to my business and how do I do it?
First and foremost it’s less about “your business” and more about you. Note that for the most part all of what I have described has been done from a Twitter account for – JoseCaballer. A person is easier to relate to on Twitter than a brand. That said, it does not mean that they are mutually exclusive. We also have a Groop twitter account. But overall my preference is to use an account that is from me. Not just a company. It makes it more personal, more human.
In summary, Twitter, like any other communications medium has it’s pro’s and con’s, but it is undeniable that the power of passive ambient awareness is here to stay. Whether as Twitter or as something else.
I want you to ignore all the commentary from the peanut gallery and get started experimenting with Twitter.
To get started I would like you to join us for “Church of Twitter” on October 17th. You will be able to bring your laptop and start with the basics of getting set up and growing your followers. “The Reverend” Casey Eberhart will share with us the secrets to using Twitter and Facebook as marketing tools.
Church of Twitter: Using Twitter & Facebook to Market Yourself & Your Clients
September 22nd, 2009
Join us for Church of Twitter: Using Twitter & Facebook to Market Yourself & Your Clients
Save-The-Date: Saturday October 17th From 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Featuring the worlds first 140 character hymn Choir or “Twire” as we call it.
West side location still to be announced.
$125.00 Early Bird – $175.00 Regular – $195.00 At the Door
What You Will Learn:
How Twitter works & getting started
Adding and growing followers
Do’s & Don’ts
Measuring impact
Using Twitter together with Facebook
Planning and executing Campaigns
And much more!
Who Should Attend:
Advertising Professionals
Media Planners
Account Executives
Creative Directors
Art Directors
Media Executives
Writers
Producers
Actors
Consultants
Musicians
Artists
Graphic Designers
Illustrators
Fashion Designers
Photographers
Architects
And More!
A percentage of our revenue goes to support individual art & design students through the Legacy Circle scholarships.
Legacy Circle is an Art Center Alumni led fundraising effort that aims to help young creatives afford a professional arts education by providing scholarships from Alumni to current students.
For more information visit: http://www.artcenter.edu/legacycircle/
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