Future-Proof your Education

Future-Proof Your Education on Prezi

One of the key themes of our TEDxUBC event was around the challenge of teaching for a Fast Forward World.  This presentation by Maria Anderson gets it right!  Great video content - love the IOS video by Xerox.

Where do I start with Social Networking?

This is the common question seasoned and new entrepreneurs are asking as they consider jumping on the Social media Bandwagon.  Barraged with news reports and friends talking about Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, small businesses feel like they should be active in social media.

The big barrier is their concern about the time investment to both learn about and execute social media and, most importantly, what to do.  As I consult to and present workshops on the subject here is some of the advice I share with them.  Hope this may be helpful to you too.

The number one mistake made is to jump right into the tactics.  To decide that all of a sudden you are going to blog, tweet or make someone the mayor on Foursquare.  This is folly unless you frame your action by considering your marketing strategy first!

• Who is your primary audience?
• Are they likely to be found on social media?
• What content can you share that would create connection and engage them?
• Who are the key influencers in the social media channels for your niche?
• Do you understand the fundamentals of social media so you can be efficient?   Like tools that publish your content across multiple channels,  or the right frequency to optimize SEO?
• What are the advantages of social networking and social media vs. traditional interruption marketing?     

These are some of the key questions that must be asked to make your time investment worthwhile.  Remember, even if you decide not to jump on the bandwagon, that doesn't mean that your prospects and customers are not talking about you or the problems you can solve!  

Look for my presentation slides from the workshops I have been doing in Squamish for Howe Sound entrepreneurs in a future post.  In the meantime, start to listen and learn by checking out your competitor's social media activity (start with a search on Twitter or Facebook) and by following some key voices that matter in your area of business online.  There are a wealth of resources that just might make your business more successful and sociable!   

Top 12 SEO tips - SEO Expert Gary R. Beal of Sticky Eyes video riiPlay

Our fundfindr.tv crews captured Gary R. Beal's presentation at the 2008 Internet Marketing Conference in Vancouver. This continues our series of riiPlays of the 2008 IMC event for interested viewers with the 2009 event upcoming in September with keynote Google evangelist, Avinash Kaushik. Get tickets here.

Gary, previously Search Manager for Sticky Eyes in the Uk, was one of my favourite presenters of the entire conference with his combination of wit, must be his time spent in the UK, and of course, his SEO expertise. Note: The video runs 37 minutes and focuses on Gary not his slides.

Tune into the Top 12 SEO tips for 2008 but don't worry they still apply today! And if you would like to see Gary's Top SEO tips for 2009, you can connect to his great blog GarytheScubaGuy and the 2009 post here.

For an IPOD compatible version of the video, click here. For an MP3 file for audio only, click here.

Please note: Future video and media posts related to Internet Marketing, Sales, Branding, Education, Content Monetization and Technology will be featured here on the riiPlay.tv blog and/or website. Media and posts on finding funds for start-ups and small business, investment, venture capital, angel investing and content specific to what we like to call "Venture Dating" will continue to be posted on fundfindr.tv. This better filters the content and reflects the broader series of events we now capture and deliver.