Brian E. Boyd Sr.'s Blog, page 12

To Blog or Not to Blog

It’s blog time again!

Now why would I write a blog about blogging? Good question. No matter what topic you write on, it should always be about something you have passion for. If you do not, nothing you write will resonate with your audience.

So today, I breach a topic I am passionate about:

When do you know if you should start your own blog? Were you born to blog or do you hyperventilate into a paper bag every time someone mentions you should?

 

Here are 5 great reasons to start a blog:

1. Fill in the blank.

If you know a lot about a subject no one else is writing (or writing effectively) about, this is a great reason to start a blog. If you feel there is a subject that needs breaching and you are willing to do it, chances are lots of others are waiting for your blog and are too scared to write it themselves.

2. You’re an expert.

If you have a wide knowledge of any topic and would like to share it with the world but are not sure how, blogging is a great way to share information in an interesting way and market it to a wide or specific audience. This could be in the form of tutorials, info graphics, directions, recipes, poetry, stories, or cartoons, basically anything you know a lot about and want to share with the world.

3. Self-expression.

Blogging makes you think harder, write better, and live a more interesting life. There is no better way to express you than on paper. The great thing about blogging is you do not have to write about something you think people want to hear. Just write about what interests you. As humans, we are drawn to other people’s thoughts and feelings, drawn to agree or disagree with their opinions. At the end of the day, who cares what people think? You are free to express yourself.

4. Why so serious, son?

I follow blogs, cartoons, and tutorials often not because I get any knowledge out of them but simply for the blogger’s personality. Have you ever wondered why thousands of people subscribe to blogs about nothing? Personality is something everyone has, but not everyone can express. So if you have been told you have a ‘viral’ or infectious personality, start blogging! You’d be surprized how many people can relate to a humorous post or killer blog.

5. Because you can.

Ultimately, blogging is about you. This sounds selfish and yes maybe you have something amazing to offer the world, but ultimately you need to blog about something you are insanely passionate about. Something that doesn’t feel like a chore to write. Blog because you can. Blog because it’s fun and different and you have something special to offer the world that no one else does. A little piece of you.

 

To misquote a line from the movie “She’s the Man”: “Be not afraid of blogging, some were born to blog, some achieve great blogs, and some have blogs thrust upon them.” Embrace it.

 

This post was written by Kirstin Venn. Kirstin is a Social Media Specialist with Media Connect Partners.

 

Top 5 Ways Your Church Can Use Google+ Hangouts

Google+ came onto the social media scene in 2011 demanding the attention of all users and businesses.  Hyped up to be the next best thing for social media (bigger than Facebook!), it soon became a target for critics and had a fairly low adoption rate.  Fast forward to today and regardless of how you feel about Google+ and its impact (or lack thereof) on social media, everyone seems to be in agreement that the multi-user video conferencing feature of Google+ Hangouts on Air is pretty awesome. 

 

Hangouts is an enhanced version of video chat (think of an improved Skype) with up to 10 people simultaneously participating in a video chat.  It has the capability to be broadcast live via YouTube to an unlimited number of people, sends an MP4 file that can be archived, edited or repurposed on other platforms, and offers seamless mobile device integration for participants on a laptop, desktop or mobile device.   

 

With 318 million monthly active users on Google+, churches have an immense opportunity to reach their congregation and continue to spread the word of God by using Hangouts.  Here are 5 ways your church can use Google Hangouts on Air:

 

Live-Stream Sunday Worship: Allow visitors and regular attendees the opportunity to connect even if they aren’t available to attend due to location or reason.  And let’s be honest, not every church environment fits everyone, so with Hangouts, potential new visitors can view the service and atmosphere before attending to decide if they’d like to physically join in the future.
Open Office Hours / Counseling Sessions: When the church doors are “closed” after service, church staff can hold open office hours online where anyone can find them to video chat in a private conversation. 
Small Groups / Bible Study: Your church can use small group and Bible study meetings for encouragement, accountability and relationship building.  Meeting times can also be scheduled during untraditional times such as before work, during lunch breaks or after school for a youth group where teens can connect with like-minded Christians.
Worship Music with Community Interaction: Hangouts offers a “Studio” kit that allows for higher quality audio to be streamed online.  A church’s worship band would have an opportunity to lead the community in worship together in an interactive format.
Podcasts: Using the MP4 file that’s produced from the Hangout, it may be submitted to iTunes like a podcast and distributed.  If a church staff member wanted to perform a broadcast on their own, they can record their broadcast using Hangouts and take the MP4 file that would be produced online and distribute it as a podcast.

 

These are just a few examples of how your church can use Google+ Hangouts to connect with the congregation.  If you have any other ways you think Google+ Hangouts might be useful for church, please share them below!

This post was written by Ashley Scolaro. Ashley is a Social Media Manager with Media Connect Partners.

Social Media 101: Designing Naturally

It’s an epidemic. Images and videos have taken over the social media world. Every page refresh only further inundates newsfeeds with even more pictures: good pictures, bad pictures, ugly ones. You don’t need to be a graphic designer to publish gorgeous, inspirational pieces of art to coincide with content, but you do need to know the basics.

Z-pattern

The “z-pattern” in any kind of marketing or advertising refers to the eye’s natural movement while reading. Our eyes are naturally used to reading left to right, skimming diagonally down the middle and ending on the bottom right of the piece. Take advantage of the eye’s natural motion while designing graphics by strategically placing important pieces of information directly in your audience’s line of sight.

 

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds originated as a photography technique, but can be translated into designing images for social media. Like the z-pattern, the rule of thirds is derived from a theory that the human eye gravitates to intersection points within a picture. This rule works especially well with simple, sticking images with minimal text. The easiest way to compose your image is to place a grid with 9 intersecting points to frame your piece. Then, align your image with at least one of the intersecting points that divide the image both horizontally and vertically. In theory, by using the rule of thirds, you are more likely to compose an interesting image with more energy than an image that’s just been centered.

Try your hand at creating your next graphics with either of these two tactics. Hopefully, they help you create better, more marketable and shareable content.

This post was written by Eileen Perez. Eileen is a Social Media Specialist with Media Connect Partners.

How to Use YouTube for Your Christian Business/Organization

YouTube can seem like a daunting platform with lots of time and effort involved in creative, editing, and uploading videos. It doesn’t have to be if you use it to its full advantage.

 

Here are 7 ways to make sure you are using YouTube effectively:

 

1.  Make Relevant Videos

—Your company/organization should create videos that are helpful, compelling, and fill a need that your client has.

—Don’t underestimate the power of your voice and message.

—If you run a Christian organization (such as a church or non-profit) post sermons, get the youth involved, or share about a cause you are passionate about.

 

2. Make Your Video Visible

—When publishing your video, make sure to use the visibility tools YouTube has provided:

Title: Name your video so that it is easy to find. Make it short and descriptive.
Description: The description bar makes it easy for you to flesh out what you have said in your title. Explain what the video is about and use descriptive keywords.
Tags: The tags section allows you to type in words that relate to your video.  Use as many as possible!
Thumbnail: A thumbnail is a small screenshot of your video. YouTube gives you a few options so choose the most interesting and visually appealing thumbnail.

 

3. Brand Your YouTube Channel

—Your brand is who you are. Make your YouTube profile stand out by creating custom artwork that correlates with your website or social media branding. This is how you create a solid online presence.

 

4. Use Annotations and Subscribe Pop-Ups

—Annotations are the little speech bubbles that pop-up on a YouTube video to tell you about another site or video you can visit by clicking on it. You can use these to link people to a similar video or site approved by YouTube.

—Subscribe Pop-Ups can be useful as people often forget they can subscribe to your channel. You can place a message that pops up when someone clicks on your video saying “Subscribe to Our Channel”.

 

5. Share Your YouTube Channel Across Various Platforms

—Cross promoting your YouTube channel is vital to increasing traffic and subscribers. Link your YouTube videos on Facebook and Twitter, add a YouTube button to your website, and even make a Pinterest board linking back to your YouTube.

 

6. YouTube Ads

—YouTube Ads can be used to increase views and exposure if you are willing to spend a little money on advertising your channel. The ads pop up on the right hand side of the screen with a little thumbnail of the video.

 

7. Measure Results

As with any social media platform, if you don’t measure your results, you won’t know how much of an impact your YouTube channel is making. You can use YouTube Insights or various other success measuring tools to help you understand the scale of your reach and impact.

 

YouTube is an exciting platform with tons of potential if you use it correctly. At the least it is definitely worth taking a look at to see if this platform is a good fit for your Christian business/organization.  Let YouYube be the way your brand socially connects with its online audience – on a personal level.

 

This post was written by Kirstin Venn. Kirstin is a Social Media Specialist with Media Connect Partners.

Social Media: The Ultimate Wedding Planner

Getting engaged is supposed to be one of the most exciting moments of your life—and planning a wedding is supposed to be a magical process that every little girl dreams of, right? Reality check. As a recently engaged twenty-something working long hours, the wedding planning process can quickly begin to feel more like a burden than a blessing.

But, as a social media specialist, I realized my industry could be the very solution to my problem. Social media gives us working gals a major advantage, providing tons of resources to get the planning done right from home. Here are some great social platforms to jumpstart your wedding planning:

Pinterest (x100!)

I can’t stress Pinterest enough. This is the holy grail of social media wedding planning. Use it to figure out everything from what type of save-the-dates you want to send out, all the way to the centerpieces at the reception. *Pro tip: Keep your Pinterest boards organized, and show them to your vendors. This will save a lot of time by being able to show them your vision.

 

 

 

Wedding inspiration and planning websites

• Lover.ly

• TheKnot.com

• WeddingWire.com

• WeddingBee.com

*Use these websites not only to find wedding inspiration, but also to find and book all your needs: vendors, photographers, music, etc. You can even find budget calculators and planning timelines.

*Pro tips: 1) Create a new email address to use to subscribe to wedding sites, keeping you organized and preventing your main account from being overflown with promotions and spam. 2) Download the social apps from these website to make your planning mobile-friendly.

Facebook

Although Facebook might not be the first platform that comes to mind for wedding planning – it has tons of hidden potential.

• Facebook pages: “Like” wedding magazines, vendors, photographers, etc. This opens you up to a ton of savings opportunities. From photographers raffling off free sessions and stationery brands offering discounts, all the way to winning a honeymoon trip, you can save (and win) big.

• Find tons of info, pictures and reviews on company pages, helping you to find the perfect person for each job.

• Keep family and friends updated and involved in the planning progress. *Pro tip: If you don’t want everyone to know all the details, create a private group for just close friends and family.

• Event pages: Facebook is also the perfect place to create events for the engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, and the wedding itself.

 

There you have it! We’ve barely scratched the surface of all that social has to offer for a bride-to-be, but this will definitely get you headed in the right direction.

Happy Planning!

This post was written by Jackie Silva. Jackie is a Social Media Specialist with Media Connect Partners.

My Social Media Highlight Reel

My pastor says that we often compare our entire lives to everyone else’s social media highlight reel. I don’t know about you, but I believe this is very true.  He was talking about comparison, making the point that we cannot precisely judge our lives by looking at others because most of us share only the parts of our lives that make us look good.

 

Some people spend hours every day on different social media sites like Instagram, Pinterest, Vine and Facebook wasting the time they’ve been given in an attempt to make their time on this earth seem worthy in the eyes of others. In an attempt to feel better about their place in life.

 

Now, I’m not saying social media is bad-after all I work for a social media company. Social media has the power and influence to be used to disseminate messages of hope, love, and peace to the masses like never before. But the temptation to show only our highlight reel must be resisted, standing firm in our worth in Jesus.

 

Life can be messy. It’s complicated and difficult for every one of us––believer and non-believer, alike. But there is hope in Jesus––and in Jesus alone––and I am convinced that if more Christ followers shared their difficulties with greater transparency, pointing to the hope they have in Jesus, more light would shine into this wonderfully-complicated-broken world, and many would be saved.

 

This post was written by Matt Gregory. Matt is Vice President of Media Connect Partners.

5 Ways To Give Your Business a Social Media Makeover

McDonalds, the fast-food giant, recently did something we can all learn from. They gave their ever-present lovable and/or creepy mascot, Ronald McDonald, a makeover. By changing his coloring, his outfit, his hair, and even his makeup, Ronald now fits in the 21st century.

 

Maybe it’s time you take a cue from Ronald and give your social media a makeover:

 

1. Update your profile and cover photos.

Nothing can give your social media presence a fresh and new feel like updated images. Bright and bold colors always make a great statement, and when you tie that in with a great quote or statement, you’re sure to win.

2. Start posting daily.

Nothing says business like getting your hands dirty and jumping in with both feet. On Facebook we recommend scheduling at least one post daily and on Twitter, two tweets won’t steer you wrong.

3. Know the lingo.

Are you using hashtags on Twitter and Instagram? Educate yourself and start using social media centric messaging that makes you look like you know what you’re doing. Join in on #MotivationalMonday or #FridayReads and be a part of the community.

4. Evaluate your messaging.

If you’re posting content, make sure it’s worthwhile. Craft a messaging plan—every Monday share a Bible verse, every Thursday post a throwback, etc. You don’t have to come up with the most creative content idea, it just needs to represent who you are and what you believe.

5. Share your social media.

Your social media doesn’t have to stay only online. Add your Twitter handle to your business cards. In your church bulletin, make sure your social media platforms are front and center. Think of your social media presence as another outreach platform and promote it.

 

There are many more things you can do to give your social media that “wow” factor, but the five steps above are a great place to start. 

This post was written by Kelly Vo. Kelly is an Account Director with Media Connect Partners.

How to Send a Party Invitation Without it Going Viral

I pride myself with mailing pretty amazing party invitations to my guests – birthday parties, bridal showers, baby showers – they have glitz, glam and all the details to showcase what’s to come.  When new trends or a new “color of the season” happens I want to be the first to know.

While it’s a lot easier these days to inform your friends about a party through Facebook or Twitter than by mailing individual invitations, there IS some value in the old fashioned way – say, by not allowing your party invitation to go viral on Twitter with nearly 2,000 guests arriving, $70,000 worth of property damage and multiple arrests such as the case with a Canadian teen recently.

But, if the convenience of digital invites appeals to you, then it’s important to know the risks around posting that information and how to protect yourself.  Here are our top tips on how to promote your party without having a viral invitation on your hands:

Make your event private: Public of Private?  It’s a pretty straightforward setting question but one sometimes overlooked.  When creating an Event on Facebook, we strongly recommend you make your event private so that only those you invite can view the details of your party.
Choose the name of your event carefully: Naming your party “Open House Party” may not be the wisest decision if you’re trying to have a select number of attendees since guests may assume they could bring friends.  Names like “Wild and Crazy Party” will only invite trouble or people with not the best of intentions.
Only invite people you actually know and trust: It’s shocking, but your Facebook friend’s list could have people on it that you don’t really know (gasp!).  Because of that, it’s important that you only invite people that you actually know.  Scroll through your friend’s list and choose people you know and trust – period!
Don’t include address or phone number: When filling out the details of why you’re planning an Event, Facebook prompts you to insert a time, place and other personal information on your party.  Instead of putting your home address put something like “My House” since your friends will already know where you live or will have your phone number to call and ask.

Unless you’re looking for an out of control party like the one in Project X, remember, social media knows no boundaries and you should keep your party information private.

This post was written by Ashley Scolaro. Ashley is a Social Media Manager with Media Connect Partners.

 

MCP to produce ‘Success on the Gridiron & in the game of Life’ with Pete Carroll & Bill Courtney

Success On The Gridiron And In The Game Of Life:

Reigning Super Bowl-Winning Coach Pete Carroll And Coach Bill Courtney, Subject Of The Oscar-Winning Documentary Undefeated,    Team Up For A Live Online Conversation

SEATTLE, WA (April 22, 2014) –Media Connect Partners will produce a conversation between Super Bowl winning coach Pete Carroll and coach Bill Courtney in ‘Success on the Gridiron and in the Game of Life’, a live interactive social media event.  These two incredible coaches will take center stage for a special live web event to share their game plan to achieving a winning, sustainable and meaningful life and career.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and Coach Bill Courtney, star of the 2012 Oscar-winning documentary Undefeated (The Weinstein Company), will host the free, one-hour web forum on Wednesday, May 14 at 4pm (Eastern)/1pm (Pacific), to be broadcast from the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, home of the Seahawks.

The moderator will be Yogi Roth, media personality and co-author of Carroll’s New York Times bestselling book, Win Forever. The conversation will be streamed live on www.CoachBillCourtney.com.

Coaches’ Courtney and Carroll and Roth will discuss key principles that are illustrated in Bill Courtney’s upcoming book, Against The Grain, such as the importance of having character, commitment, serving others and being a good leader. The book offers readers hard-hitting lessons, inspiring real-life examples and a solid game plan to do better. With a Forward by recently named New York’s Knicks President, Phil Jackson, Against the Grain will be published by Weinstein Books and available in stores and online outlets on May 13.

“Coach Courtney has demonstrated a unique quality of drawing out the very best in those around him,” Coach Pete Carroll said. “He’s tough, resilient and gritty, and his impact is profound. I look forward to joining together with Coach Courtney for this special web interview.”

“I am beyond honored that Coach Carroll is joining me to discuss the key principles in Against the Grain,” says Bill Courtney. “Coach Carroll’s Win Forever approach, his player-first attitude and his commitment to “always compete” make us kindred spirits. He is a leader in the truest sense of the word and it will be my great pleasure to discuss these key lessons and principles with him.”

The Courtney-Carroll web forum is free via the internet and available on both computers and mobile devices, from anywhere around the world. For more information visit, http://wwwBillCourtneyLive.com

 

About Media Connect Partners

Media Connect Partners is a full-service social-media agency with offices in the United States and around the world. Founded in 2007, MCP has risen as a leader in the social-media industry and is recognized for its creativity, expertise, and integrity, which has produced results utilizing the combined tools of Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, SEO, branding, etc. Their clients include a wide range of industries including Fortune 500 companies, publishers, celebrities, non-profits, and more.

About Bill Courtney

Bill Courtney is a volunteer football coach and the owner and operator of Classic American Hardwoods, a $40 million lumber company and 2013 inductee into the prestigious Society of Entrepreneurs. He is the star of the 2012 Academy Award-winning film, Undefeated, which chronicled his turning a group of unfocused, at-risk teens at Manassas High School in Memphis, TN into a tight, highly motivated football team. Courtney is a sought-after speaker and consultant for organizations such as the USOC Paralympic Leadership Conference, the FedEx Leadership Live Conference, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Courtney lives with his wife and four children in Memphis, Tennessee.

About Pete Carroll

Pete Carroll is the head coach of the world champion Seattle Seahawks. In 2014, the team won Super Bowl 48 in dominant fashion, shutting down the NFL’s most prolific offense of all time in a 43-8 victory over the Denver Broncos. He previously served as head coach at USC, where he won an unprecedented seven consecutive Pac-10 titles, two national championships and led the team to a 97-19 record. In 2010, Carroll published the New York Times bestselling book, Win Forever, which discussed his philosophies about coaching and leadership.

About Yogi Roth

Media personality, storyteller and expert traveler Yogi Roth has been exploring human potential as an athlete, coach and analyst for over a decade. After his playing career at the University of Pittsburgh Roth joined Pete Carroll’s staff at the University of Southern California for four years, where he worked with the quarterbacks while being part of four Pac-10 titles. In 2009, Roth entered the entertainment field and has worked at ESPN, Fox Sports and the Pac-12 Networks. As a storyteller, Roth has penned two books, New York Times bestseller Win Forever, which he co-wrote with Carroll, and From PA to LA, produced multiple documentaries including 3 For the Show, Emmy nominated Elite 11 and most recently, The Drive. He has also appeared in multiple films/television programs. He is the co-founder of Win Forever LLC, a competitors’ brand inspired by Carroll that furthers human potential, elevates mentorship and inspires leaders through a philosophy of competition.

 

# # #

For additional information on MCP go to:

Website: http:\\mediaconnectpartners.com

Twitter: @MediaCPartners

MCP Contact: Brian Boyd

800.MCP.1265

646.515.4363

info@mediaconnectpartners.com

Media Contact:

Chris Roslan

Roslan & Campion

212-966-4600

chris@rc-pr.com

Is Your Social Media Relevant?

Every brand, be it a multi-billion dollar enterprise, mom-and-pops store, or non-profit, have a defined grouping of people they perceive to be their audience. Having identified an audience however, doesn’t mean that this identified group of people who share something in common are interested in what you’re selling or offering.

The same holds true for brands in their communication on social media – just because someone attends your ministry, or is involved in supporting your organization taking steps to change the world, doesn’t mean that they’re compelled to keep listening to your discussions, let alone even joining in on them.

Question: How can your ministry / non-profit organization / church / group ensure interest and engagement in your brand on social media?

Answer: The often loved and/or loathed R word in the faith world: Relevance.

When you open your Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest / LinkedIn profile, you tend to scroll through stacks of posts until you find one you find interesting—something important to you—all essentially tidbits of relevance to your life, your passions, or your people. Relevance doesn’t mean that you should post every single pop-culture reference possible, or attempt to cover everything that is happening in the world at this moment, but it does mean that you need to craft communication aimed at your audience, communication that would be interesting, informative and fresh, as well as communication that is true to your brand or organization.  

 

An example of a movement on Facebook that holds true to their brand, but stays with what’s happening and relevant to their audience is the RESET Movement. A movement tallying a generation around Jesus and praying toward the Largest Jesus Gathering in American History in 2016. A lot of RESET Movement’s content is aimed at letting their audience, the youth of the United States, stop and think about their own lives, as well as equip them to make a difference at home, and in the world.    

 

Staying ahead with trends and what’s relevant requires you–the content crafter or communications strategist–to first understand who your audience is, and what their content consumption needs are. If you have a grasp of your audience – finding information and crafting content that is relevant to your audience shouldn’t be difficult: use social media to find news outlets, blogs, and other people who share the same vision and passions as your organization, and make use of valuable, relevant content that you can share with your audience.  

 

By taking the step to be on social media, you’ve shown that you’re relevant to you audience – now make sure your content and engagement is too.

This post was written by Duncan Platt. Duncan is a Business Analyst with Media Connect Partners.