Shine a Spotlight on Your Awards!

Image courtesy Curb Signs Inc.

Many different industries hand out awards on a yearly basis either at a suit and tie event or tradeshow. These awards make great opportunities to do one of two things:

Expand your Reach on Social Media: Try Some Hashtag Hijinks!

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A great way to expand your audience on social media is through the use of "Hashtags".   First popularized by the social network Twitter, hashtags are used to index a message to a certain subject.
These hashtagged subjects are usually a topic (e.g. restaurants, networking, etc.), city (e.g. Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, etc.) or a way to follow an event (e.g. eSAX, etc.).   Hashtags generally are a word or phrase preceded by a “#”. Example: #examplehashtag.  

The most developed platform, and pioneer in hashtaggery, is Twitter. However, Facebook and Google+ have now started integrating hashtags into their platforms so feel free to use them there as well.  For that reason, in our examples we'll be using Twitter, but these hashtagging methods do have carryover to other social media platforms especially as they become more popular.   So what are different ways hashtags can be used? 

Topics

Hashtags are great for those interested in a certain topic.  For example, many startup and regular businesses the idea of business networking is quite popular to learn about.  On Twitter the hashtag #networking categorizes in one easy find stream all the tweets about business networking in them.  A quick scroll through provides a variety of tweets with many linking to helpful articles on the subject.  Many of these topics have a community of followers that perhaps will be interested in your company and become followers.  So make sure to investigate the different hashtag topics or keywords that apply to your topic of conversation or business. 

Retweets

Retweets are when another account shares your original tweet or message. Retweets are an excellent way to expand the audience for your message because someone thought it was worthwhile to share your message with their followers.

There are ways to encourage retweeting by both thanking others for retweeting and crafting hashtags to take advantage of automated twitter accounts.   Automated twitter accounts have been created to monitor certain hashtags like certain words or city names.

Automated word Retweeters are often found by accident.  One day you will hashtag a word and suddenly it gets retweeted. When this occurs make sure to record the hashtagged word that was retweeted so it can be integrated into future tweets.

Some business related retweetable hashtags include:

#AngelInvestors, #ElevatorPitch, #Share, #ShopYYC, #Startup,  #VentureCapital, #Wordpress

Many city names have similar accounts that retweet to their followers.  Also, many cities also have popular variations on their full spelled out city names so be sure to experiment with these as well for retweeting purposes. For example "Ottawa" has "Ottcity".  Cities with known automated twitter retweeting accounts include:

#BrightonNY, #Calgary, #Edmonton, #Halifax, #Montreal, #Okanagan, #Ottawa (#ottcity), #Quebec, #Toronto, #Vancouver, #Vaughan, #Victoria, #Whistler, #Winnipeg,

Make sure to leverage both word and city retweet accounts as each of these automated twitter accounts tend to be followed by thousands.  Do this by integrating retweetable words and city names into your tweets whenever possible.

Hastag Days

Each day of the week has a variety of fun hashtags that have become popular.  Perhaps the most is "Follow Friday" which is where tweeters thank either their followers or based on a theme dreamt up by the user.   Day of the week hashtags are also an easy twitter writing prompt for those days when you suffer writer's block.  Twitter hashtag days include:

Monday:

#meatlessmonday - have a recipe that doesn't contain meat?  Share it with your followers!

#meowmonday - obviously a cat themed hashtag. 

#musicmonday - tell your followers what music your are listening too or what artist you are dreaming of seeing perhaps later in the week. 

Tuesday:

#nopantstuesday - in celebration of recent "no pants subway rides", this hashtag celebrates the freedom some have to let their legs roam free. 

#tiptuesday - got an industry or life tip to share?  Tell the world on Tuesdays your tips to live a tip top life.

#transformationtuesday - have a positive change in your life health or otherwise?  Post a photo and let others know.

Wednesday:

#wisdomwed - have a pearl of wisdom?  Share it!

#winewednesday - got a favourite glass of wine from the Okanagan, Niagara or French regions?  Tell the world so they can share in your joy? 

#wonderfulwednesday - Tell the world why Wednesday is going to be awesome in your world

#woofwednesday - If cat's can have their own day, why not dogs?

#healthyhumpday - for those in the health & fitness field this a great time to share a tip of the week. 

Thursday:

#rtthursday - Thank your retweeters who shared your tweets this past week. 

#thankfulthursday - Why wait til Thanksgiving to tell everyone what you are thankful for?  Thursday comes every week at least 52 times a year.  Share your gratitude!

#throwbackthursday (aka #tbt) - got an interesting photo from yesteryear?  This is the time to share!

Friday:

 #followfriday - the original Twitter daily hashtag where you thank your followers or encourage your followers to follow other interesting accounts. 

#foodiefriday - enjoyed a new restaurant?  Had a great dish at home? Share your new found foodie sensation so others can enjoy!

#frifotos - post photos of a declared theme each Friday.  Full rules on frifotos are here.  Be sure to check out the hashtag for each week early in the week to prepare for your Friday posting. 

#goodnewsfriday - end the work week on a high note by sharing some good news! 

Saturday:

#caturday - Cat + saturday = caturday. Because some believe cat's invented the internet and, thus, deserve 2 days of the week.

Sunday:

#sinnersunday (also known as #sinday) - not going to church? Tell others of your non-church adventures.  

Hashtags are a great way to expand your audience.  Try mixing and matching some of the above in your tweets and watch interaction with your brand grow!

Need help with hashtags? Suddcorp Solutions can help your business integrate twitter hashtags and increase your twitter following. 

A Haven of Fun at eSAX Networking

Wednesday evening Suddcorp Solutions had the great opportunity to attend July's eSAX networking event at Funhaven.  We were lucky to win free tickets to the event at a previous OSEB networking event, and shared the tickets with Cheryl of Blackpaw Biscuits. 

This being our first eSAX event, Suddcorp Solutions was not sure what to expect. We arrived at Funhaven at the appointed hour to find a room slowly filling with excited entrepreneurs.  Some of the attendees we already recognized and some we didn't but were willing to meet!

Blair Kilrea of @TheSpace 

As well, there were several tables set up with interesting businesses like Accountapotamus, Bird's Eye Marketing and Taggart Paralegal to name a few.  Tasty snacks were also to be found as Funhaven staff mingled with everything from pizza slices, deserts and more throughout the evening.  

Eventually the chairs were set out and it was time for the featured speakers to take the stage. 

eSAX entrepreneurial attendees taking their seats.

Dylan Black of Boom 99.7 FM Radio in Ottawa was the MC and kept things moving along with his trademark voice while eSAX founder Jarrod Goldsmith, Julie Clement of Nepean Chamber of Commerce, Adam Dufresne of Rhapsody Strategies and  Carlo Lombard of Progressive Shift provided entrepreneurial words of wisdom. 

Beyond the speakers and networking opportunities, Twitter was alight with the #ESAX hashtag trending.  Suddcorp Solutions was added to the Twitter excitement by tweeting several photos as the event progressed. 

Carlo Lombard of Progressive Shift

Near the end of the event, Suddcorp Solutions was debating if it was worthwhile to return. One of the last portions of the day sealed it for us.   Suddcorp Solutions won 2 tickets for October 2014 eSAX event for having some of the most Retweets!  So we definitely will be returning to try eSAX again!

Our Prize thanks to Jarrod Goldsmith of eSAX!

Thanks to Jarrod Goldsmith and the entire eSAX team for putting on a great networking event as well as a fun evening out!  Be sure to find Jarrod throughout the Ottawa area at networking events as all you have do to do is "Find the Fedora".

Jarrod Goldsmith of eSAX with Fedora. 

Looking for more networking events? Try finding, participating and following up after events with Social Media!

Going to a Networking Event or Tradeshow? How Social Media Can Be Used to Connect

Image courtesy of jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net"

For individuals looking for work or businesses looking for new opportunities, the idea of networking has been around for ages.  As the Thornhill Employment Hub and St. Lawrence College Employment Centre would probably agree, most job opportunities are now found through networking and not publicly posted by employers.  Businesses as well will find a lot of opportunities through networking at different events or trade shows. Networking may probably be more effective for some businesses than traditional mail or newspaper advertising. 

Social Media can assist you with networking events in several ways from finding an event, notifying others you are at the event and following up with possible sales leads after the event. 

Image courtesy of stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Finding an event:

Networking opportunities don't necessarily have to be formal business events.  The whole idea is to get out and meet people.  These opportunities can be everything from a charitable golf tournament, chamber of commerce event, industry trade show or a group with a common interest like inline skating.   

Social media provides a variety of databases to find an event whether it be for networking purposes or to find something entertaining to do on the weekend.  

Facebook Events: Great spot to see what events are going on that others you are friends with are going to. As well, using the mobile app version, Facebook Events allows you to see upcoming events around your current location and add them to your own events calendar. 

Meetup.com: Have a specific interest in baking, cycling or something else?  Check out Meetup.com where you can search by interest, date or even city to find something may be of interest to you.  Many of the groups meet on a regular basis either weekly or monthly with a common interest.  A great resource to find join a group of people with a common interest. 

Twitter: Be sure to follow your favourite event venue or hosting company.  These key contacts will keep you up to date on upcoming events you may be interested in.

As well, be sure to check out the more conventional methods of finding network events like local economic development offices (e.g. Invest Ottawa, etc.) and Chambers of Commerce (e.g. Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, Aurora Chamber of Commerce, etc.)

Finally, before going to the event, check out to see who might be there.  This can be done by checking to see who has confirmed on Facebook Events or the event website sometimes.  Once known who is going to be there do some research on Linkedin personal profiles, Twitter and company websites to see which attendees you may wish to target to interact with in hopes of making a connection.

Image courtesy of Vichaya Kiatying-Angsulee / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

At the Event:

At the event social media is probably best described as being "the fly on the wall" with a real time feed of the happenings.  The most popular social media platform at events is Twitter.

Twitter is popular because the most a single posting can be is 140 characters which limits the amount for each specific post.  This is excellent as networkers are there to meet others and enjoy the event instead of reviewing how tasty the 2013 Jackon Triggs Savignon Blanc being served is.

To follow an event on Twitter, find the event's hashtag and follow it for the latest.  A hashtag is a word with a number sign ("#") in front of it.  A hashtag is basically like a physical file folder in an office to file messages and other items under that subject to make it easier to find for those that need it.  If your at an event, inquire with either the event literature, the organizers, the event's Twitter account or via an internet search to see what the hashtag being used is.  An example of an event hashtag successfully being used for an event is this year's World Cup (#worldcup) and Ottawa's recent Glow Fair (#glowfair).

After finding the event's hashtag, there are two main uses.  To follow developments or what others are finding interesting and to contribute to the feed yourself.

The event's hashtag may announce upcoming start times for certain key items like workshops, presentations or when a meal is about to served.  Gradually follow this feed as well to see if there are other interesting contacts posting that you may not have had on your initial networking list created before the event.

Posting into the event stream is pretty easy to do.  Simply create a message on Twitter that is 140 characters long including the hashtag.   For example recently the Glow Fair occurred on Ottawa's Bank Street.  Some of the street performers were mentioned on the hashtag.  We contributed this tweet to point out what was going on at this particular intersection:

The Engagement Ring show at Bank & Lisgar in #Ottawa at #GlowFair pic.twitter.com/xqmneGtozU
— Suddcorp Solutions (@Suddcorp) June 22, 2014

From this tweet we had to include in the 140 character limit the: message, event hashtag (#GlowFair) and the link to the photo we took.  

Event photos are also interesting as those that follow both the hashtag and your own Twitter account may be interested in a visual to see what is going on and who is at the event.  For businesses, it helps to advertise their presence at the event and possibly, in the case of a tradeshow, where their table might be. 

Image courtesy of vegadsl / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

After an Event: 

After the streamers and dirty dishes have been removed from the venue and your back at your office it is time to follow up.  Take a look at the business cards you gathered from the event.  For the key contacts you wish to keep in connect with: ask them to be a connection on Linkedin, follow them on Twitter or other social media.  Remember though, not everyone has an account on all social media platforms so don't be disappointed if some contacts are not there. Why connect on social media after an event? Your name or business brand will be part of the contact's stream over time which will help you and your business to remain top of mind on a frequent basis.

As well, many use Linkedin as an easy to update rolodex of contacts to refer people to because good Linkedin users keep their current employment status, skills and contact information up to date.  This is important as perhaps a contact you met two years before may finally need or know someone who needs your product or services.  So make sure you keep your Linkedin profile as up to date as possible. 

Social media is great to use before, during and after an event for individuals looking for employment and  businesses looking for prospective sales leads. It helps to market yourself and business to prospective contacts through gaining followers and maintaining an online database.  So make sure to avail yourself of all the opportunities it provides!

Avoid Being an Egghead: Tips on Creating a Profile Picture

Image courtesy of  stockimages / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One of the most important aspects of any social media profile is the profile photo. A profile photo is important for two main reasons: search results and professional image.

Searching is one of the main reasons to have a profile photo on social media.  People want to know they have the right person to connect to and interact with online.  As more people and brands join the online world it becomes a crowded place.  To make things even more difficult is if people have to search for a common first and last name combination. For example, there are currently at least 15 different "Joseph Gatts" on Twitter, 6 on LinkedIn and too many to count on a Google image search. Of the Twitter results many entries are simply a shot of the world famous default Twitter egg.

A clean professional looking profile would easily solve the problem and your profile would be easy to find amongst the search result clutter.

A professional profile is easy to create without being or engaging a professional photographer. Take a look through your existing photos or take a brand new photo but beware some of the most common profile photo errors.

Try not to select anything more than 5 years old.  Real estate agents are the main aged profile photo culprits. Take a look at almost any real estate brokerage website and you are sure to find examples of agent profile photos with aged backgrounds or, worse, 80s hairdos or leopard prints.

Don't make your profile photo into a police line up.  People are searching to find you in search results.  Don't make them search further by forcing them to go through group shots looking for your friendly face. Facebook profile photos are notorious for having this issue with either you not in the photo or part of a group shot.  Make it easy for people to find you by having just you in the photo.

Your photo should reflect a professional looking image.  For personal accounts, especially on the more professional Linkedin, it is important you look your best.  Many professionals use photos of them dressed up like they are going to meet a client for the first time and wish to make a good first impression. So obviously avoid the waterskiing or hockey photos and look for the more formal looking photos.

Of course there are exceptions to the "formal looking photos".  If you are a plumber, handyman, professional hockey player or sign printer, feel free to include some of the tools of your trade.  A well placed sign, wrench or hockey stick provides a creative flair to your profile photo.  But make sure it is tastefully done and your smiling face is the main focus with your tool of the trade visible but not dominant.

Avoid just using your company logo for your profile.  If customers are searching for your company or a service you provide online, they will navigate to your company's social media pages or website.  Many customers want to know who the people are behind the company's name and logo.  A warm trusting face in a profile photo on your personal social media pages provides this along with your personal profile.

Once you have found that perfect photo, use it!  Use your new photo on all your accounts so those searching for you among several social media platforms can find you quick and easily.  Your personal profile photo will be your personal brand, so use it consistently and do not change it for long periods of time.  People like familiarity, and whats more trustworthy than a trustworthy familiar face?

Stuck on choosing the right photo? Suddcorp Solutions is happy to help. 

Catch up With Suddcorp Solutions on Social Media

Suddcorp Solutions loves to be up to date on the latest goings on in the world of social media and technological innovations.  We also love to interact with our customers using a variety of social media platforms and tools.  Want to know how we use our social media tools and possibly which platform we currently use that may be the perfect use for you?  See below....

Our blog, which you are currently reading, showcases the latest on Suddcorp Solutions' services, client portfolio highlights, tips & tricks and more.  We felt the blog should have a prominent spot right on our front page to keep our customers up to date.

Our Facebook & Google Plus pages are great to follow for notifications when the latest blog entries are posted as well as respond to intriguing questions from our followers.  Feel free to post a question and we would be happy to respond with either an answer from ourselves or a linke to an article from an expert who has answered your query. As well, Suddcorp often confirms our attendance at various events on Facebook or Google+ so be sure to follow and we hope to see you around!

Connect with us on Linkedin to see the latest updates from the Blog and get further insight into the people that work here by checking out and connecting with their profiles.

Looking for the latest news on social media?  Be sure to follow us on Twitter where we share the latest updates in the world of social media that concentrates on how it affects consumers and businesses in the Ottawa area in terms of changes, interesting ideas and how social media can improve business.

If Social Media is a little too intimidating for you, but would love a little help, we have the usual ways to connect with us conveniently found on our "Contact Us" page.