Social Media Promotion and the Entertainment Industry

As you know, I’m a BIG fan of social media. I work with it, I play with it, I love it and I believe the possibilities within the entertainment industry for creative promotion are endless. Channels including Facebook, Twitter & Instagram can open up the entertainment industry giving us, the audience, more touch points and chances to engage that ever before. I like to imagine that in the future  (if its not already happening) studios and writers will get involved to provide back stories or other hidden gems that enhance their stories right from the start of the creative process.

Twitter is already being used for movie promotion. Recently I shared some of my thoughts on this with E-Consultancy‘s David Moth as he wrote a post in response to Kermit taking over Disney’s Twitter account for the launch of the new Muppets movie. That post can be found here

In my opinion, the channels can be used to enhance the movie goers’ (or consumer of any entertainment) experience no end.

For the PR’s and Ad Agencies out there – Its time to do what you do best and  get creative! Extend the usual promotion formulas to something outside the norm and watch it take flight. Yes, we want to see all the back stage stuff and cast analysis, but lets take the characters off the big screen and onto our mobile devices. Lets stretch the stories even further where we can.

And the principle won’t just work for movies – imagine if TV Execs and script writers thought up twitter side stories while they were writing the original scripts (I hope they already are). TV shows could run in real time with character dialogues  taking place between episodes on-line.  I can’t wait to see writers capitalise on this opportunity and add to our entertainment! What’s the betting the BBC gets there first!?

Look, I went and did a blog for CrowdControlHQ

What should brands avoid when using social media?

Enjoy!

Here’s a recent post I did for the CrowdControlHQ Blog, thought I’d share…

Social Media and the Public Sector

By way of an update (I know I’m overdue)  I’m working really hard and still loving every minute. Social Media is a space I’m very comfortable in and just so passionate about. CrowdControlHQ is going from strength to strength.

Joyous Communications is looking at taking on a new client (hopefully will be able to tell you more about that soon).

I’m still thoroughly enjoying my weekly thursday slot on Paul Franks’ BBC Radio WM show talking Apprentice and have been spending more and more time in London so a time split looks like it could happen sooner rather than later.

On a personal note – had a great time at Isle of Wight Festival and recently saw the Foo Fighters at Milton Keynes Bowl. By way of contrast and just to keep the universe balanced i’m off to enjoy Take That at Wembley on Friday. Life and business is good.

Note to self: ENJOY IT!

This blog post is well overdue. Last time I wrote it was January and I had decided I was going to head back into full time employment, probably in London, for a number of very good reasons all explained in that post.

I explored that path with vigor and it was an interesting journey.

Good firm + Good Opportunities + Right Culture for me + Fair Wage = Happy Joy . Easy enough on paper but It didn’t work that way. The equation just never added up.

I found a number of great firms, but either the money, the culture or both was wrong. I had moments of despair – wondered if I was doing the wrong thing holding out or if my expectations were too high. I met some really inspiring and helpful people along the way and all of them without exception would remind me, the next move has to be right, and if it doesn’t feel right don’t do it. This became my mantra through January and February.

I adapted the equation to each post I looked at and I considered paths I’d not looked at before. I kept the faith – one thing that I’ve learnt over the last few years is that things do have a habit of working out and that I always have success when I stay true to myself. I kept myself busy with my Joyous Acts and taking some amazing volunteer positions.

I went up to Birmingham one weekend in February and caught up with an old friend. He wanted me to do some work for him,  he runs a Spa – I agreed on the basis that it was short term and it looked like fun. It felt right. Joyous Communications was back in business just like that.

That same week I bumped into another old mate in a local coffee shop. He was on the phone and looked at me and waved. As he did an inquisitive look came on his face and he pointed at me – he was off the phone and coming over. He asked if I did sales. I said No, and laughed. Not interested. He laughed. We chatted some more and he suggested I head to his office in the Jewellery Quarter and check out what he was doing. He rang the next day. I wasn’t really keen but I agreed to go along.

I went to the offices of CrowdControlHQ and saw the product – a piece of really innovative social media management software. I loved it. At that point I didn’t want to sell it, I wanted to use it! I knew it was a PR person’s dream and that it was a cutting edge piece of software for any business that wants to use social media and protect its brand at the same time.

We started talking. My fears around sales and desire to be a part of the business without having to give up Joyous Communications were on the agenda. My passion for social media and business were never in doubt nor was the quality of the management team I would be working with. So, on April 5th I joined the team. I work 4 days a week and will eventually split my time between London and Birmingham. My role involves pretty much everything from sales & marketing to general business – its wonderful being part of a start up and my passion has kicked in once again. The atmosphere is fast paced and energetic. We’re a positive bunch creating our culture as we go. It was an offer that came from left field but  it was all very easy and it all felt very right.

Sometimes we think we know what we want but often what we want just creeps up on us. I was looking for security and stability but I ended up joining a start-up! I’m glad I kept the faith and although a portfolio career wasn’t expected – its what I have, for now. The risks are obvious but  the opportunities are blinding. Trust me, CrowdControlHQ is one to watch and I am loving being a part of it.

2010 was possibly the most interesting of my life.

It was a year of independence and adventure. Most welcome after 2009, a difficult year of survival and  confidence building in the wake of redundancy.

I remember embarking on 2010 full of ambition and hope. I knew the year would end with The  Apprentice airing, which meant I was full of anticipation and excitement. I went into the year working as a consultant on a big project so I was financially secure. The instability of 2009 was behind me and the hard work had paid off.

I wasn’t totally sure of my long term intentions; Joyous Communications had been a reactive move rather than a planned pro-active intention. Did I want to continue growing the business or did I want to head back into full-time employment?  The not knowing didn’t worry me because  I had some time to figure it out and I believed that doors would open after the show one way or another. It was a nice place to be.

Now at the start of 2011 I look back on 2010 with pride. I achieved a lot during the year but three things in particular will stay with me forever.

1) I started my Joyous Acts blog and documented one joyous act every day. In part it was to celebrate Joyous Communications’ 1st Birthday but it was also to act as a reminder that everyday is joyful if you keep your eyes open.

2) I had so many Joyous adventures when I travelled to India and through Central America on the trip of a lifetime. I got to teach English to Tibetan refugees and began a love affair with the ocean learning to Scuba dive.

3) I appeared on The Apprentice. It didn’t turn out quite how I expected – blink and you’d be forgiven for missing me – but I left with my head held high and got to experience everything you’d expect. Andy Warhol predicted we’d all have 5 minutes and in 2011, thanks to Lord Sugar, the BBC and Talk Back Thames, I enjoyed mine.

So – what now in 2011? I get asked this question more than any other.

Professionally, I’ve decided that I want to go back into full-time employment as an employee. The main reasons being that I don’t like to work alone, I want to be part of a team.

This combined with the fact that the level of work you can compete for with only one resource is rarely as exciting as the scope of work you can win as as part of an integrated agency. I want to work on challenging high level work. Similarly when acting as a consultant resource (comparable to an in-house role)  even if you embed yourself you are never part of the long term goals. You are there to support the strategy rather than drive it. I want to be a driver.

Of course, I am  very proud of the Joyous brand and there are major benefits to working for yourself. If I won the lottery tomorrow I would probably be hiring a team and taking Joyous into the stratosphere but, I’m no millionaire and it would take me years to get to a place where I have a team around me so, I’m  keeping Joyous as my hobby and I’m on a mission to find the right job – which I have to admit, is almost harder than working for yourself!

I’ve had a few meetings and an interview where the feedback was that I was perhaps, overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Its not the first time its been said. Not to worry though, I expect knock-backs and plenty of them – no-one said life was going to be easy and I can handle the challenge. I am enthusiastic – In truth, I can’t wait! I’m looking forward to having a permanent desk again and working on long term goals.

Personally, I have a few plans – all of which will receive further attention once the matter of my employment status is resolved. It goes without saying that I hope romance finds its way to my doorstep; I hope that 2011′s joyous acts are more exciting than ever; I hope that I re-ignite my love affair with the gym and remember that really I don’t like carbs or chocolate; I hope that I watch more live music and that I contribute to charity and make a difference in some selfless way; I hope that I  learn to cook and have the courage to do more of my creative writing and maybe even share it. Mainly – I want to change my hopes into realities. And all, with a great big smile on my face.