Local video marketing -

Go on, put this title into Google and see what you get.

Ok, I'll tell you, you'll get heaps and oodles of pages extolling the virtues of video as a marketing medium,
and although some of the video marketeers are comical, they are correct about the future.

All the stats point to 50% of web traffic being video by 2014 and as much as 85% by 2017.

Oh hell, here's some more stats by VideoBrewery, a good name by anyone's standards..
..

80%

According to the Online Publishers Association, that’s the percentage of Internet users who recall watching a video ad on a website they visited in the past 30 days. It gets even better. Of that 80%, 46% took some action after viewing the ad. In fact:
26% looked for more information about the subject of the video
22% visited the website named in the ad
15% visited the company represented in the video ad
12% purchased the specific product featured in the ad

64%

That’s how much more likely website visitors are to buy a product on an online retail site after watching a video. In addition, visitors who view videos stay on the site an average of 2 minutes longer than those who don’t view videos, comScore says.




Regardless of stats, video marketing is about being seen and about talking to your potential customers not just selling to them.  I would recommend 'how to' videos if your in a profession where knowledge is useful...like painting and decorating tips or how to tell what's wrong with your car or bike.  Dentists could demonstrate new treatments, new technologies,  builders/joiners/plasterers/plumbers could surely demonstrate how to do a job....we see these often enough on our terrestrial TV, why not a local business doing it???  Frightened you may inform your customers too much so that they may not use you?  

Tell that to the cookery book publishers, to my knowledge they are selling in their droves but we still go out to eat or buy ready meals...usually from the chef who has written the book!

It bolsters brands.

  

Think how popular 'Open Doors' days are.  We love to see behind the scenes.  Start thinking about that and what you could share with your customers....not just about marketing.....we're all savvy, we can all price check, we have seen all the hard sell.

So be a brand  that people in your area can see, hear and watch and they may eventually become to trust you.

In the last 18months I have done shot and edited corporate day out videos for........

     

However, I am also launching an internet TV channel WLtv, 

which will create hyper local on demand streaming of local  programmes and content in West Lothian - I have already signed up a sales agency to start selling local video shot by our creative team.  There is no doubt with that

established team of sales professionals of where this is going...it's going video, it's going local and if you're very lucky it can go viral.

If you'd like a chat about this in your local area drop me a line using the contact details on this website.

Have you dipped your toe in the water of video marketing, or are you good with a camera?  We may like to speak to you if you are!

A Happy 2013 to all.

It started very well for me by doing the 5Live Hogmanany Show from Edinburgh, helping Colin

Paterson the presenter get through the 2 hours ontop a very cold platform above Princess Street.

Indeed here is the platform

Hello to Lynne McCrossan and Bruce Devlin who were also on the panel and also freezing their
whatevers off but a great night had by all.

Other news is that Facebook Offers have finally arrived but you will need 400 Likes for them to go live.

Andiamo plans to roll out Facebook offers this Feb.

I finally got the Smartfonefootball app approved by apple and it will also go live within the month on Play and iTunes.  Much has been learned and if you are in the market for an app give me a call to either help or stop you making the mistakes I did!

Things to look out for in 2013 will be Local TV, Google+ Hangouts, Mobile Content, Facebook Offers
and all things video.

I will expand in the next blog.

Happy 2013.

New Clients

Since it's been some time since my last post I would like to take this chance to say hello to a couple of new clients

A fantastic private London dental practice!!

Also, 

Spymasters, 

one of the country's leading corporate events companies.  For this ScatterthePatter has supplied bespoke video services including shooting and editing.  Nice, especially at Cameron House Loch Lomond!!

We still have our existing clients and one thing one that has been annoying Andiamo is Facebook Offers..

...and quite right.  Andiamo are really keen to use this new feature, which local competitors have been using but we are not able to get them to their Facebook page, as this Facebook Offer scheme is being rolled out slowly....here's what Facebook say..

Offers are a great way to drive new people to your business and to engage your customers. They also encourage people to talk about your Page when your offers are shared between friends. 

Offers are free for admins to create and share but are only available to a small number of local business Pages. We plan to launch offers more broadly soon. 

How do I create an offer for my Facebook Page?

To create an offer: Go to your PageFrom the sharing tool at the top of your Page's timeline, click  Offer, Event + and then click  OfferType a strong head...

How much does it cost to create a Facebook Offer?

It doesn't cost anything to post or claim a Facebook Offer. To increase the number of people who see your offer, consider running an ad or sponsored story.

Why can't I create an offer for my Facebook Page?

Offers are available in beta to a limited number of local business Pages. We plan to launch offers more broadly soon.

It is frusrating Giancarlo at Andiamo and I can see why, especially when he can see others using it for their restaurants.  We have filled out the form and if like us you are waitiing then I suppose you could fill it out too.....I don't see it working but you never know.

It's a request form from facebook

https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/?id=367554259954235

So thanks to our new clients and patience to our exiting ones!  If you have got offers for your business pages we would love to hear from you.

yours

gordon dallas

Pinterest and Audioboo

I'm going to talk about your company's marketing strategy and how I think these 2 new kids on the block should now be part of it!

I hope you do do marketing and I hope it's geographical ie location specific and I hope you are embracing social media.

If your not, don't sweat it, lots of people hate it.  If its not for you or your business carry on, but I was at a meeting on Friday where the magazine (unnamed until I land the gig!!) had been approached by a local radio company wanting 3-4 grand for a run of ads.

Its a lot of cash and local newspapers aren't exactly cheap either but that's not to say they don't work for certain demographics.

So if you do like all these things then go for it, please do, social networking is no silver bullet and that comes from someone trying to make a living from it.  I love radio and papers but for this company it was too much.

However at Scatter the Patter we do like content and the message - we love the patter, the pitch, the blarney.  Doing it with humour is also our speciality, no corporate greyness for us.

If you want to be serious and business-like on most social networks (Linkedin excluded) then be our guest.
It's like being a policeman in the Wicker Man movie, you'll never get off the island.

I have been championing Facebook and Twitter  - Facebook good for community and for me Twitter good for b2b though that can be a matter of opinion.

However I love the 2 new networks.

Pinterest is a social network of photo images which can link back to where the photos are being hosted ie your site.  It's a phenomena and you'll be seeing this logo over here very soon.  In America the growth is exponential and one of the reason's why the new facebook Timeline is so photo-centric - indeed in the last few days, Facebook's mobile app has improved their picture viewing experience as they realise how popular image sharing and viewing is on social networks.

If you have a business that could generate good images be it a vet, a restaurant or outdoor activity organisation, I would urge you to get on Pinterest - your posts can link and update Facebook and Twitter so your not going to double work-loads.

Also, as a radio person who was on 5Live last Tuesday and who runs a podcast app business I am totally and utterly bowled over by...

...it's like audio tweeting - they are called boos and you can record your boo on your phone and have it upload then and there to an audio sharing interface akin to a Twitter wall...people can follow your boos, you can follow theirs.  For podcasters, bands, and anyone who communicates  via sound its marvellous.
I love it...did I say that?  The free version has a 3 min limit but to me that's big enough for a boo though I will be taking out the £60 yearly pro version....no questions.    And like Pinterest, these boos also link to your Facebook and Twitter walls so you are not doubling your work - in fact your adding enriched bespoke content, the stuff that I think ONLY works for businesses on social network outwith giveaways and competitions....please no more sales messages and bland self-promotion it's not for social media...it never was - create something worthwhile to look at or to listen to and in the meanwhile build community and loyalty from existing clients by talking to them individually....

....then you just might leverage a bit of business your way from the social networks but remember it is only part of your overall marketing strategy.

.....let me know if you do Pinterest or AudioBoo (say in kevein Keegan voice)...I'd love it, I'd love it if you did that!

yours

gordon d

Marconi Played The What???

The title of the blog is suggesting that radio has had something to do with my long blogging absence.  Marconi not only started the radio thing going but according to Starship he played something too?
I have no idea what but radio has indeed keep me busy along with Scatter the Patter since my last blog of Oct 16th.

Since then I have been on these stations....

 ...........indeed with R Scotland I also will producing a documentary to be aired in the autumn with the other half of dallascreek productions, Gerry McDade.

......plus of course with regards to Scatter the Patter we've all had to contend with the new Timeline features.
Was it the Alan Parsons Project that had the lyric, "those who came at first to scoff remained behind to pray".
Why i remember that bit of over-the-top self-important twoddle is beyond me.  In fact I'm away to get an image...

...eh, actually that's quite good.  In fact that's a lot like the new Timeline, you think it's worse than it actually is.  Some companies are deciding not to have the cover photo, the big massive one but instead concentrate on content and the 4 tab images you're allowed plus the profile pic.  Me I like big, so i like a good photo just like the album covers of yore!  Imagery was everything then ala Parsons above and I'm glad to see facebook
with an increased importance on the image.

Even although I like to think of myself as a social media communicating guru, I do not want to see facebook being overrun by dull bland boring and manipulative corporations.  Go and fill up somewhere else with your dire unimaginative sales pitches!!

It's like handing over radio to the commercials and playing some music in between, and of course that doesn't happen........eh!!!!!

However if the commercials are funny, entertaining and imaginative then we can not only forgive but actually enjoy them and it's the same on Facebook!  A good page by a business could be great fun, entertaining and enjoyable, everything The Alan Parson's Project wasn't.

So yes the Timeline is good if done well.

I'm glad to say that Scatter The Patter since the last blog has picked up a couple of new clients

1. Bridge Dental based in London

2. And the famous Coia's Cafe in Duke Street

It's been a busy time with lots of things happening that we can't say just yet in case they don't happen and I look a donkey so look on this as an update - let me know what it was that Marconi played as I can't be bothered to google the lyrics, it will come to me eventually.

Plus let me know what you think of the new look facebook - I suppose Facebook think if they stay still they will get boring or worse do a MySpace, and as Barry Norman never said....and why not!

Congrats To Andiamo Giffnock!

Just a word to say well done to Andiamo Giffnock who have been nominated in two categories for the...

Of course I'd love to take some credit concerning their social media presence but alas its down to good food
and family friendliness....who'd have thought!

But seriously, well done to all concerned....richly deserved!

Scatter the Patter has been deep in preparation developing a new social media platform for local businesses
and also Smartfonefootball which is almost ready to take to the Android and iPhone platforms.

I have joined Google+ and been reading up in the proximity app market which I think will be the new driving force in mobile applications.

I will eventually get round to blogging about football ie static crowds and proximity marketing via apps
when I get Scatter the Patter fully inserted into the market as I see this as a potential revenue source for struggling clubs.


Indeed the SFA's recent efforts look poor and the lacklustre apps and unimaginative use of this medium by our football clubs means they are missing out on potential revenue streams.

Unfortunately, smartfonefootball audio streaming calls - I'm not happy about downloading audio to an app and I am inserting code that makes all audio play instantly upon pressing play.

I have also instigated mobile billing from the company who supply this tech to Virgin Trains.  Customers wishing to purchase wi-fi onboard a Virgin Train buy it using their phone with no credit card or PayPal sign-up in sight.

It's superb technolgy which makes it safe for train travellers to buy this service without prying eyes checking out credit card details - uptake has rocketed.

Purchasing on mobiles again will be a huge market and has hardly been touched in this country.

Scatter the Patter and Smartfonefootball will lead the way very shortly.

If anything here has tickled your proverbial get in touch - we may be able to help.

Commiserations to all the Welsh...youse wuz robbed!

Jack Dee, Italian Food and ma Patter!

 TWEET OF THE WEEK!
"24 people released from captivity in Bedfordshire.  Great, but what about the 100's of 1000's of other people living their against their will?


Never been to Bedfordshire myself but their vans are top class.  Well done jack dee and of course David Walliams who took on the Thames
and won...did I ever tell you about the time I was backstage at Little Britain and then off for drinks with david...eh...I have??..everytime!?

Back To Business|
It seems everyone has to apologise for not keeping up with their blogs, and social media practioners like myself are no different - we're worse, we know we're not doing them and still don't do them.  However as you'll see there's a reason or 3, actually 4 good reasons for my distraction as we get these excellent restaurants on Facebook.

If you haven't been to Andiamo you are missing out - like all the best business approaches I was a fan first and now business associate second.

I think in social media when you are building the brand and managing it on the networks it really pays to have an intimate knowledge of that product.

This is why so many companies want in-house people to do their social media.  It is important to get it right but it's SO important not to get it wrong!

Talking off script and trying to build relationships with consumers of the product when you don't know much about it is folly - that's why if you are in the business of  hiring one of us guys your first question should be, what they know about you and your line of work.

For me food, fashion, sport, comedy and drinking...eh, I mean recreation time, are top of my agenda and Italian food, or food in general is right up my street.

Here you'll see a fan gate and an online promotion where if you leave your email address you will be entered into a Free Meal Sweepstake. As I write we're about 2 days in officially with no in-house push to customers and I would say there's about 60 entries with 60 email adresses - once the information is put out in the restaurants I see this ten, maybe 20 fold at least.

They will be doing monthly promotions which is perfect - facebook fans will come to expect a monthly draw as well as the content we will be putting up and i anticipate good things - assuming I don't get let loose in that wine cellar!

Giancarlo was telling of the Andiamo wine buying trip to Italy!!  Holy s****, what would I do to get on that!!  (mmm..create a promotion with that as the prize and then win it!!...yes it's the Terry Thomas of social networking)  I digress and I digress without laughs which is worse! (Morecambe and Wise quote!).

Anyway, they really have it going on with the food and the wine and now with a facebook compliant competition which is gathering emails for some direct marketing down the line.

I said there was a fourth reason but I'll save that for the next Blog, which will be about online retailers using Ebay and Etsy.

I am helping one know integrate all these shops from the one Facebook page and as she's a serial tweeter, I have also linked her Tweets up to Facebook but selectively so she chooses which Tweets to send to Facebook and which not to...very clever little programme...unlike Dragon's Den which seems to getting a bit..eh...boring??!!!   How could I say it...oh, I'm out!