Sandra Says

If you are registered for my class tomorrow at the UH Small Business Development Center, you’re going to get a notification that it’s been cancelled. I’m sick. So sorry!

written on my iphone

For those of you interested, here’s the list of classes I have scheduled through the end of the year at the UH Small Business Development Center. Yes, one is tomorrow:

Social Media Measurement and Monitoring
Wednesday, 9/28/2011
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pay at the door Price: $49.00
Pay On-Line Price: $29.00

Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business
Thursday, 11/3/2011
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pay at the door Price: $59.00
Pay On-Line Price: $39.00

 

Social Media Measurement and Monitoring
Thursday, 11/10/2011
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pay at the door Price: $49.00
Pay On-Line Price: $29.00

Getting Started with Twitter
Thursday, 12/8/2011
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pay at the door Price: $59.00
Pay On-Line Price: $39.00

Creating a Facebook Business Page
Thursday, 12/15/2011
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Pay at the door Price: $59.00
Pay On-Line Price: $39.00

Location: UH SBDC, 2302 Fannin, Suite 200,
Houston, Texas 77002

Next Friday, June 10th, I am giving a presentation on Social Media Measurement and Monitoring at the University of Houston Small Business Development Center. This is an introductory look at metrics and measurement for social media tools. I cover blogs, Facebook and Twitter. I’ve added a section on LinkedIn.

If you pre-register and pay online, the class is $29. If you pay at the door it’s $49.

Here are the details:

Social Media Measurement and Monitoring

6/10/2011

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: UH SBDC, 2302 Fannin, Suite 200,
Houston, Texas 77002

Learn about measurement tools and techniques targeted specifically at your social media applications, how to tell if they’re working, and when to adjust.
Pay on-line and Save $20!

Pay at the door Price:   $49.00
On-Line You Save:         $20.00
Pay On-Line Price:         $29.00

Register

If you’re going to attend, let me know what your questions are/what you’re interested in in advance so I can work it into the presentation (if possible).

Thanx!

If you need to improve your LinkedIn presence, you might want to attend my upcoming presentation: Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business. I’m teaching this for the Small Business Development Center on Friday, May 20th at 9am.

Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Business

5/20/2011

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Location: UH SBDC, 2302 Fannin, Suite 200,
Houston, Texas 77002

LinkedIn is a powerful networking tool that has many benefits for business owners.  Even if you are already on LinkedIn it’s likely you aren’t tapping into its full potential.  In this hands-on I workshop you will discover how a LinkedIn strategy will generate new customers, improve your business development, and assist in your sales research efforts.

You will walk away with the “how to” of:

• Improving your profile
• Choosing a memorable profile picture
• Searching for business contacts, friends, and colleagues
• Securing and giving online recommendations
• Actively participating
• Using the “requesting an introduction” feature
• Finding tools to keep you organized
• Adding content from other sites
• Creating goals and measuring success

Online registration is $39; pay at the door is $59.

Kami Huyse and Alice Brink recently gave a wonderful presentation about Social Media Measurement. Hosted by IABC Houston, Kami and Huyse demonstrated why they are leaders in the public relations industry.

Below you will find a copy of their presentation and my “notes” from the same (via Twitter).

Twitter Stream:

@alicepr says she still reads the Houston Chroncile in print and cuts things out #iabchou

reasons why ppl don’t measure: it’s too hard, too scary, too expensive #iabchou

@alicepr is giving us a cautionary story about not measuring: knows ppl who have had to defend their jobs bc they aren’t measuring #iabchou

@kamichat is giving us success story: online only campaign, tied to impressions and survey as measurement #iabchou

Evaluate what measurement can do #iabchou

diagnose, prioritize, evaluate #iabchou

Tool: Google Analytics URL Builder (Http://bit.ly/LinkBuilderGA) #iabchou

SMART objective: Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Results-Oriented, Time Bound #iabchou

SMART objectives (http://bit.ly/SMARTObjectives) #iabchou

@alicepr is walking us through calculating ROI (return on investment) #iabchou

Ask “why?” What is the root objective? #iabchou

Step 1: What to Measure. *) Attention *) Attitudes *) Actions #iabchou

Attention: what will they know? what will they understand? what will they be able to describe if asked? #iabchou

Attitudes: how will they feel? what will they believe? who will they trust? #iabchou

Actions: what will they do? what will they buy? what will they support? what will they stop or avoid doing? #iabchou

Step 2: HOw to measure. *) Decide what is important to measure (KPI – key performance indicators — cont. #iabchou

cont. *) use your SMART objectives as a guide; *) remember to segment measures in attention, attitudes, action cont. #iabchou

cont. *) pick appropriate tools *) set up your dashboard *) be consistent #iabchou

Tools to use for measurement: see http://bit.ly/KamichatFAV for list from presentation #iabchou

Measurement is a comparative tool. You can benchmark against: competitors, your own past performance, or external standards #iabchou

where NOT to skimp on surveys: baseline data, question design, pre-test, if statistical accuracy is critical #iabchou

Teasing out the causal relationship. first, set up a control case. #iabchou

Set up a control situation: *) audience segmentation *) timing segmentation *) message segmentation *) A/B testing #iabchou

isolating variables: *) market mix modeling *) pull out variables *) compare over time *) spreadsheet aerobics #iabchou

@kamichat suggests that we take an advanced excel course #iabchou

Step 3: what to do with the results. 1) diagnose — adjust communications, get better. cont. #iabchou

cont. *) prioritize — built into planning, make decisions. *) evaluate — demonstrate ROI, value #iabchou

@kamichat & @alicepr ROCK! preso was great. #iabchou

Just realized I should have been tagging today’s #iabchou presentation w @kamichat with the #measurePR tag too.

My moment of self-promotion…

I’m leading a workshop for the Small Business Development Center entitled “Social Media Measurement and Monitoring.” It’s a longer version of the short seminar I gave for IABC last year.

Date: 3/18/2011
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: UH SBDC, 2302 Fannin, Suite 200, Houston, Texas 77002

If you register online prior to the workshop, price is $29.

I’m going to spend the next few weeks fine-tuning my presentation. I’ll be going through online articles I’ve bookmarked and checking into additional resources. I’ll probably post info about all of that as I proceed.

In addition, Kami Huyse and Alice Brink are giving a measurement presentation for IABC Houston this Thursday. I will be taking notes to incorporate anything they cover that might be useful for my presentation.

AMA Houston also has a measurement workshop on Thursday, “Social Media: How are YOU measuring client engagement?” Unfortunately, I can’t make that one. If anyone is going, please live-tweet or share your notes. Or, if presentations are posted online, let me know. (Please, please, please.)

If you know anyone who can benefit from any of these workshops, share the info. If you have questions you think I need to consider as I put together this presentation, post a comment!

Thanx.

As some of you already know, I use Twitter as a notetaking tool. These are my “notes” from the recent IABC Houston Crisis Communication discussion (for a better write-up on this, check out Nicolette Beard’s post on the IABC Houston website, “10 Keys for Effective Crisis Communications“):

sandrasays: at the @iabchouston crisis comm event, meeting new people #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: “@IABCHouston: Crisis Communications: The Good, Bad, and the UGLY, Stag’s Head Pub, 4:30-6pm Join us! http://tinyurl.com/3387xxp” (expand) #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: “Even with Twitter and Facebook, it’s all about communications” & “it’s not all about electronic communications” #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: “Rule # 1 is that the boss is always right, even in a media crisis. Rule # 2 is that if the boss is wrong, refer to Rule #1.” #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: Not every communicator is a good crisis manager, bc we don’t always know enough about the industry/org, says presenter #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: “every crisis is different” so you have to be prepared for that, #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: “do you have credibility?” — this is critical for your role in helping in a crisis; are you an order taker? #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: “as the communicators, you have to be the calmest people in the room” & “we need to gather info on competitors and news media” #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: know when to talk, what to say, and who to talk to in a crisis, it’s very important, says presenter #iabchou\
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: “do we have the facts as communicators?” — are we on the inner circle, do we know what’s going on? #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: put yourself in the role of reporters, what would you need to know/want to know to make your story? #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: consider alternative strategies of communication — don’t just focus on media — example, BP buying Google Adwords #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: if there’s something inaccurate, get it corrected fast #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: emergency plans include who talks to the media — who speaks if there isn’t a public affairs person on site? #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: but what happens in a drill/in prep isn’t what happens in reality. #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: and you don’t have time, during a crisis, to wait to respond. #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: we need to be the ones speaking on our own behalf, not creating an info vacuum that’s going to be filled by spectators, opponents #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: u have to know where u work & what u can say, so u have things to say in a crisis without having to get it vetted last minute #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: “if you’re the first out there, you set the agenda” — re responding & providing info in a crisis #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: “when u talk to the news media, u need to have your key messages with u” & “every time u get a question, u go to this key message” #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: an online newsroom can play an important role in being proactive #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: social media can be an unbelievably successful way to communicate during a crisis #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

sandrasays: do you have a policy on how employees can talk about you (their employer) in social media? #iabchou
7 days ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · View Tweet

A while ago I moved from taking real notes to live-tweeting events, workshops, and conferences. The only issue is that I often forget to compile the tweets into something I can refer to later.

So here are my “notes” from this year’s Podcamp San Antonio. Of course, this is more for my benefit than yours.

@sandrasays: with @ewkrause at
podcamp san antonio #pcsa4 #pcsa4

@sandrasays: I need coffee, should have picked up before I got
here. Listening to @epodcaster
discuss online tools #pcsa4

@sandrasays: thank you thank you, got coffee. may be able to
pay attention now. No one ask me how I drove here. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @projectguy: @MomonMars is discussing using Social Media for Non
Profits (Struggling with PC – she is MAC all the way.)

@sandrasays: it is important to record yourself and listen to
yourself when recording podcasts. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: Great idea! RT @SmashburgerSA:
SA Podcampers stop by 4 lunch today, u r right by Park North location.
We love social media folks! #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @podcampsa: Join
the fun! Live Stream of PodCamp San Antonio #pcsa4 See us at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/podcampsanantonio4w!
#pcsa4

@sandrasays: 15-30 minutes is a good length for podcasts. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: Can you tell that my tweetstream is going to be
noisy today? #pcsa4

@sandrasays: I missed the beginning of this session, can
someone tell me who’s leading the podcasting/tools session? #pcsa4

@sandrasays: Think about what you’re saying, how you’re saying
it. Talk conversationally. Find a good pace. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @MomonMars Thanxs
for the info — my session is being led by @Springanew
#pcsa4

@sandrasays: using stuff verbatim in podcasts, make sure you
attribute attribute attribute, says @Springanew #pcsa4

@sandrasays: If you get a podcast that has a really good
following, need a mktg campaign, u can use Blubrry. They r aggressively
looking new shows #pcsa4

@sandrasays: Blogtalk radio also has a revenue sharing option,
says @Springanew. Maybe still do. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: important to find a schedule, environment that
really works for u. will help make better podcasts especially if u r
doing it live #pcsa4

@sandrasays: there are different types of microphones:
unidirectional, omnidirectional. @Springanew
explaining differences. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @PromoGeorge
libraries have started to use animoto. had a recommendation from fellow
library pr pro, on my to do list. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: From another session RT @SmallBizville:
@texasbuck, teacher was able to teach her class 3
times a week via skype after having a baby. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @epodcaster is
encouraging @texasbuck to do
an “educationcamp” and wants us to help her talk him into it #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @epodcaster: If
you aren’t able to come join us at PodCamp San Antonio, then join us on
the live stream http://bit.ly/dwTO3J #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @Springanew is
starting “livestreaming” topic in her tools session. I don’t know much
about this. She’s very good presenter, dynamic #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @Springanew is
doing demo on using ustream to livestream. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @fransteps: Did
not know that TED conferences have been around 15 years || me neither! #pcsa4

@sandrasays: using tags in online content helps with SEO, I’m
told #pcsa4

@sandrasays: if you’re using your twitter feed to promote your
podcasts, etc. it has to be mixed in with other content #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @SmallBizville:
TEDx in San Antonio Oct 16 at Trinity Univ. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @Springanew says
she clicks on “maybe” 5% of links she gets via Twitter. || don’t spam
your feed I say as I bomb mine w today’s notes #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @colleenpence:
Attendees will have to apply to attend TEDx San Antonio. Space for 200.
Admission is $25. apply, get invited. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: interesting discussion about different
approaches/philosophies to twitter, who we follow, what we will accept
in others and ourselves #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @nancypjohnson:
@springanew wisdom: twitter spam/lots of
links=”twitteria” #pcsa4

@sandrasays: BTW, today using tweetchat to track discussions.
better than the search deck in tweetdeck. I like it. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: “being a reporter is an apprentice job” #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @epodcaster: It’s
now time for @lalorek present
about Journalism in the New Media Age. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/podcampsanantonio4

@sandrasays: RT @epodcaster: If
you want to get some of the #PCSA4 gold, tune in now to
hear @lalorek discuss modern journalism #pcsa4

@sandrasays: NOTE TO SELF, look at “newstilt” site, look at
“demand media” site #pcsa4

@sandrasays: NOTE TO SELF, also look at “AOL seed” & and
the Knight Foundation’s “digital media center” #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @dbrsat: @springanew is doing a great job of explaining how to
stream video. She covered podcasting earlier. Podcamp rocks! | yes! #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @lalorek‘s site is
techchi.com; she’s discussing becoming a new media expert with a MSM
(print) background #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @podcampsa: Get
Journalism 2.0: How to Survive and Thrive (free download) http://kcnn.org/resources/journalism_20
#pcsa4 @lalorek #pcsa4

@sandrasays: networks are very important to new media world, if
you’re producing good content it doesn’t matter if no on is reading — @lalorek #pcsa4

@sandrasays: “we all have to produce our own original work,
that’s the best way” says @lalorek #pcsa4

@sandrasays: and discussing how crowdsourcing can help/is
helping main stream media #pcsa4

@sandrasays: NOTE TO SELF, look at “nowcast san antonio”, look
at flip camera program for nonprofits (application process, etc) #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @podcampsa: Flip
Video Non-Proft program http://www.flipvideospotlight.com/SpotlightHome.aspx
#pcsa4

@sandrasays: 1/9/90 rule = 1 person is subject matter expert, 9
actively involved, 90 are listening. considered successful ratio (from
the crowd) #pcsa4

@sandrasays: NOTE TO SELF, look at bigtent.com too #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @projectguy: 1 9
90 rule – 1% content experts and active, 9% ask questions, 90% just
listen. Interesting concept! #pcsa4

@sandrasays: the new standard is that you need to be out
responding in less than 30 minutes, says @fransteps, or
people will start to speculate #pcsa4

@sandrasays: QUESTION to @franstep: are you
going to post your slides? #pcsa4

@sandrasays:
RT @LuisSandovalJr:
Attending Podcamp San Antonio. It’s great to be around my own kind.
(@ Lol comedy club w/ @davgarcia @sandrasays
…


@sandrasays: build relationshps prior to the crisis, comment
from the crowd #pcsa4

@sandrasays: tabletop simulations of crisis are good tools to
build good communicators #pcsa4

@sandrasays: have a printed plan (assume no access to
technology), have templates to help you develop prose #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @conniereece
& @thejenatx are presenting “how to survive a snar
attack” #pcsa4

@sandrasays: discussion of snarks vs trolls. “you can reason
with a snark” #pcsa4

@sandrasays: flamebait = incendiary comments that elicit
flaming emotional responses from others (they WANT a response) #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @SmallBizville:
@thejenatx: dont feed the trolls. Best way to deal
with trolls. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: the @conniereece
& @thejenatx presentation re “how to survive a snark
attack” http://bit.ly/axK4Mb #pcsa4

@sandrasays: crowd discussion on editorial calendars, how do we
decide what makes it to our SM channels? #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @fransteps your
presentation was great. Can’t wait to see the slides to review in
detail. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @projectguy: @alanweinkrantz takes the stage #pcsa4 to talk about 140
character conference. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @AlanWeinkrantz
says he’s old skool PR, still press releases and main stream media,
calls me out when I’m nodding emphatically #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @shaine: If you don’t
see me on the Podcamp San Antonio ustream channel, it’s cuz I’m working
the camera #pcsa4

@sandrasays: and now @shaine is in front
of the camera #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @podcampsa: @doingmedia “Coworking: Working Solo but not Alone” #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @mdeleon I was
really looking forward to that. Do you have a handout or tutorial you
can point me to to help out a newbie? #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @PromoGeorge:
Anyone in San Antonio have access to a telephone booth? You can make @doingmedias day! @C4Workspace #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @carolinecollective
mentioned as Houston coworking spot #pcsa4

@sandrasays: sorry, meant @carolineco was
mentioned as Houston coworking spot #pcsa4

@sandrasays: NOTE TO SELF, look into coworking visa #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @mdeleon where will
you do 101 presentation? Have less than 1 hr battery, so need to find
electrical outlet.

@sandrasays: @mdeleon will do a
podcasting 101 session in a few minutes. then @epodcaster
& @shaine (I think) will tell us re podcasting w phones #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @epodcaster is
answering an online question re how to create a facebook “fan page” #pcsa4

@sandrasays: I already knew this, but I need to learn more
about FBML #pcsa4

@sandrasays: FBML will allow you to create a “branded page” on
Facebook #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @PromoGeorge:
Fan pages on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/advertising/?pages
#pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @ewkrause: @epodcaster is a really gifted teacher/trainer, even
impromptu on the fly. Follow this woman if U’re not already. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: we need a hands on workshop RT @nancypjohnson: @sandrasays we
need an fbml camp #PCSA4

@sandrasays: Red Bull is a good example of how to customized
facebook landing page, and how to use to drive traffic to other site #pcsa4

@sandrasays: “connect with us” or “find us” are good alternates
to to “Become a fan” on FB #pcsa4

@sandrasays: discussions can be moved to a discussion tab to
move them off the wall #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @jenyjose: RT @PromoGeorge-Great Facebook profile pic hacks: http://bit.ly/n1brV Show off your creativity! #pcsa4

@sandrasays: You have to check your SM channels every single
day, IMHO. RT @kathybabb:
Monitoring fb is crucial for your brand. Cannot simply c… #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @ewkrause: @kathybabb Agreed! Monitor multiple times per day -for
corp or highly-public sites. Otherwise, Ure gonna get surprised. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @PromoGeorge http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wptouch/
#pcsa4

@sandrasays: @epodcaster uses a
service/tool called cinch to record podcasts remotely (spelling?) #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @ewkrause @luissandovaljr I was thinking that. cute and
well-behaved #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @mdeleon the message
is the most important part of the podcast #pcsa4

@sandrasays: NOTE TO SELF, look at “blue yeti” mic #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @epodcaster says
ppl are afraid of the equipment and they’re afraid of the learning curve
#pcsa4

@sandrasays: “please don’t let technology stop you from
podcasting” says @epodcaster #pcsa4

@sandrasays: I will admit that I’ve had podcasting on my
learning to do list for a few years now, and I always postpone. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @luissandovaljr
says that the shelf life of your podcast is much longer than you think #pcsa4

@sandrasays: @PromoGeorge I
think that if u r near @epodcaster for
any length of time you’ll have seen her podcast from her phone or
interview you #pcsa4

@sandrasays: ownership is very important. @epodcaster
downloads the show from blogtalkradio, cuts off front and back,
resubmits to itunes #pcsa4

@sandrasays: tools from your phone from @epodcaster:
cinchcast mobile from your phone or iphone app, tweetmike,
twitterlaterpro, bluefire app(?) #pcsa4

@sandrasays: you can attach a mike to your iphone for recording
says @luissandovaljr
to improve the recording #pcsa4

@sandrasays: “get out there and do it” says @epodcaster #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @LuisSandovalJr:
http://ht.ly/1OCwS & http://ht.ly/1OCyr are both great mics for mobile
interviews & podcasting for iphone/itouch #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @kathybabb: @epodcaster Learn, Share, Grow = abundance! More than
enough business to go around. #pcsa4

@sandrasays: watching @epodcaster
record a podcast via cinchcast on her iphone #pcsa4

@sandrasays: this was definitely worth the drive from Houston.
thanx to the organizers #pcsa4

@sandrasays: RT @fransteps:
Today’s crisis comms preso from #pcsa4 http://slidesha.re/cexSIJ. Pls comment so I can
improve! Thx