Local Media Foundation

San Francisco, Calif.: Dream Local Digital joins media executives, publishers, and top advertising executives, June 2-7, for Local Media Foundation’s Innovation Mission. This weeklong event will explore how leading companies create a culture of innovation and are developing new ways to grow revenue and audience through digital sales.

The Innovation Mission boasts a schedule packed with industry leaders like Facebook, Twitter, Google, The McClatchy Company, and AdTaxi. The various sessions feature events and topics ranging from an inside look at Facebook’s culture of innovation and media partner programs, to Twitter’s ideas for local media companies’ success in this dynamic environment, to the San Francisco Chronicle’s success transitioning to an online audience. In addition, insights into advertising innovation and strategy will be explored in both a television audience, with the CBS affiliate in San Francisco, and an online and social audience, with the Denver Post’s thriving digital agency, AdTaxi.

“We are continually seeking opportunities to stay on the cutting edge of online marketing and digital revenue growth strategies on behalf of our clients. We are deeply committed to their success, as well as the creation of compelling models to grow digital sales. This mission is a key part of that endeavor. The opportunity to meet with Facebook, Twitter, and Google to discuss the needs of small businesses allows us to ensure we are staying ahead of the curve for our clients.” – Shannon Kinney, Founder and Client Success Officer, Dream Local Digital

“I’m thrilled that Dream Local Digital is participating in the Innovation Mission. Our partnership with media companies will only grow stronger by seeing and experiencing the latest in innovation shoulder-to-shoulder…learning, being inspired, and growing together.”

- Jennifer Shone, Business Development, Dream Local Digital

Dream Local Digital’s Media Partner Program works with publishers, media companies, and advertising agencies, helping organizations generate revenue through online and social media marketing, creating strategies to support advertisers and local businesses. This trip highlights many of the key areas and industries that are leading the way in these spaces, and as Dream Local Digital’s Media Partner Program continues its rapid expansion, the information and tactics taken from this event will provide invaluable ideas, strategies, and opportunities for existing and future clients’ success.

Find out more about Dream Local Digital’s Media Partnership Program here.

About Local Media Foundation:

Local Media Association is the only non-profit, professional trade association specifically serving the suburban and community newspaper industry. Local Media Association’s membership is comprised of over 2,000 newspapers in the US and Canada. Many of Local Media Association’s valuable membership benefits and services are available exclusively to our members for free or at deeply discounted “Member Rates.”

About Dream Local Digital:

Dream Local Digital is a marketing agency specializing in interactive media, marketing, SEO and social media. Dream Local Digital works with media companies, ad agencies, and directly with small to medium-sized businesses on all aspects of their online marketing plans, from website development to social media and e-mail marketing. Dream Local Digital’s expertise includes more than 20 years in media, 15 years in Internet product development and marketing, small business ownership, newspaper publishing, and more than seven years of consulting experience for companies large and small all over the world.

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For more information about Dream Local Digital, visit our website, send us an e-mail, or contact the main office at 207.593.7665. To stay in touch, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Presented to:  Businesses throughout Oxford County  

Date:   Thursday, December 8th 

Two sessions: 9:00 – 11:30 am or 1:00 – 3:30 pm 

Cost:   $25 or $15 for members of any Oxford County Chamber or Business 

            Association 

Location:    The Bethel Inn Resort, Bethel, ME 

RSVP:    to Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce, 207-824-2282. Space is limited!   

Please pre-register to guarantee a space by Friday, December 1st 

Workshop Goals:  

This workshop is designed for businesses that are already “dabbling” in Social media and online marketing and are wanting to learn more specific strategies to take them to the “next step!” Shannon Kinney from Dream Local (who was here earlier this summer doing beginner social media training) will be helping attendees with their individual needs. Shannon will use best practices and examples from local businesses specifically,and include as many attendees / members as are appropriate.

Workshop Outlines:  

Title: Advanced Social Media Marketing: Making It Work for Your Business 

Outline:

Social Media Marketing: what are the goals for my business?
How do I build my fan base?
How do I decide what social media platforms my business needs to be on?
Facebook – Twitter – LinkedIn – YouTube, others
How do I measure success? Core measurement tools
How do I manage it all while I run my business?

RSVP by December 1st to julia@bethelmaine.com.  $25 or $15 as a member of any of the Oxford County Chambers/Business Associations.  Space is limited, reserve soon!

Background on Google+

To give a little background, even though Google publicly states that “Google+ is not a Social Network”, it looks an awful lot like earlier versions of Facebook.  Google has a knack for offering good functionality and simplistic design (just look at the primary Google page) and there is some good functionality.  It’s very simple and easy to create “circles” of friends or followers, in fact they offer a nice “drag and drop” feature.  This makes it easier to share specific things with specific groups of people.  Facebook offers similar functionality but it’s not quite as user friendly…  ”Hangout” is another popular feature that makes it very easy to have an impromptu “video conference” with over 10 of your friends at the same time.  Seeing as Google has the relationship with YouTube (they own them), Google Docs, Google Maps, etc – it’s a safe bet that there will be much functionality.  Google+ was is Beta for months and just recently opened up for everyone to join.  You have to join Google first (like open up a free Gmail account) and then it’s easy to set up a Google+ page.  Latest numbers for Google+ boast over 40 million users.

Better SEO, Integration into Google Analytics, and SEM Opportunities

From a purely business standpoint, its really early but just above is an example of a larger brand’s Google+ Branded page.  There will be opportunities for increased rankings in search engines (SERPs) and since Google is, by far, the largest search engine (and YouTube is second) – it makes sense to consider having a business page as part of your Social footprint.  Google Analytics will easily integrate into your Google+ page and just like with YouTube, there will be opportunities for marketing (SEM, Pay Per Click).

Classic “Facebook” vs “Google” Debate  

Just like good natured “Ford” vs “Chevy” debates, this latest iteration from Google has already sparked debate about “which is best”.  Here at Dream Local our job is keep you up to date on all of the benefits of having various Social Media offerings to benefit your company.  Despite Google’s sheer size, the reality (as of right now) is that Facebook have over 800 million users and many, many more active users. Competition always translates into better offerings so in our view it’s good for your business that you have a new option – and as always, we’re here to help.  More to come!

Google Analytics offers code that allows you to measure the use of some of those buttons — Google+, Facebook’s send, like and unlike and Twitter’s official Tweet button. The new “Social” statistics are available only when viewing the “new version” of Google Analytics (click the link in the upper right).

Applying the social media buttons to content is a key way to spread your content. When somebody enjoys an article, that person can click one or several of the social media buttons to share with friends on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other sites such as StumbleUpon and LinkedIn.

Compare your social media stats to your content, and you’ll be able to tell which types of articles are more likely to be shared. Over time, you should be able to create articles that are more social-media friendly.

Once the appropriate codes have been applied to your buttons, Google Analytics will tell you how many visitors to your site were “socially engaged” or “not socially engaged.” The socially engaged visitors clicked on one of the buttons. It will also tell you how often each button was clicked and on which pages those buttons were clicked.

Applying the codes requires access to the backend of your website. Google offers instructions, and this article from Social Media Examiner has easy-to-understand suggestions. If you’re using WordPress to power your site, there are several plug-ins that will attach the code automatically.

Following clicks on your social media buttons is just one part of measuring your social media strategy. You should also study the source reports in your analytics to see how many page views are coming from social media sites. The ultimate goal is to determine how many of those visitors end up in your business’ sales funnel and buy your products.