Notes from the Arts Office sponsored workshop on social networking at the Lynn Valley Library on Wed. June 8 and Sat. June 11.

There’s a PDF of my slides you can download here.

Please feel free to add your comments in the comments section, and if I’ve missed anything let me know and I’ll update.

Key Concepts

Social media

• is a conversation – engage instead of broadcast.
• loves a good story.
• requires a content strategy – mine your organization for content – text, images, video.
• extends your circles – the circles grow over time, not overnight.
• is personal.
• includes e-mail.

June 8th Workshop links:

Case study:
Kneehigh Theatre UK

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Flickr

Publish to various networks:

HootSuite for managing updates to multiple social media accounts. A real time saver, and you can create a variety of tabs to customize it to your taste.  A free version and a premium version.

E-Newsletter software via the web:
ConstantContact
MailChimp
ExactTarget

Donate, fund raising:
Paypal.com
Registered charities can use CanadaHelps.org

Website Content Management Systems:

WordPress is free.  Amazingly extensible and feature rich.  You’ll need web serving and a database.  The WordPress.org site outlines exactly what you need and even recommends some service providers.

On Wed. Rob mentioned SquareSpace.

Barb from the Arts Office mentioned Small Box, a Victoria based company that has their own proprietary website content management system.

On Wed. we talked about a tiny HD video camera – GoPro HeroHD. Check North Vancouver mountain bike shops, they stock them.

Things we didn’t get to but you might want to use:

URL shortening:
we didn’t talk about this but handy when you want to add a link to a Twitter post. Takes a long URL and makes it short.

Bit.ly .  Register for free to get metrics.

Event ticketing/invites:
EventBright

Oh, and the Chocolate Blog:  ChocolateApprentice.com

There’s also an iPhone and Android app to help you find chocolate wherever you are.  And it’s free . Details here.

Just wrapping up its 4th year, the the project encourages residents to share their bounty with people in need, as well as putting together a variety of urban agriculture and community garden projects.

This week, Heather and team opened the Queen Mary Community Garden, located in the City of North Vancouver. Those of you who aren’t from the North Shore may not be aware that there is both City of North Vancouver, and a District of North Vancouver. Heather’s project involves both municipalities.

I spoke to Heather about the project and where things are going with urban agriculture on the North Shore. We met up at the Lower Lonsdale Community Garden…

Runs: 11:01

Podcast ISBN: 978-1-926758-03-9
photos and podcast © Robert Ouimet & Bigsnit Media 2009