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What happened to Twitter?

August 17, 2016 By Johanna Baker-Dowdell Leave a Comment

Image from Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/epw/4341554771

When I discovered Twitter in 2008 I was a freelance writer and fledgling business owner working from the third bedroom of our home. I was also a new-ish mum looking for different ways to connect with others in the same situation.

I had been blogging for two years already and was an active member of a few online communities for women in business and mums in business. It was one of these online friends who suggested I look at Twitter in 2008, and once I did I saw a whole world open up.

Physically, more than socially, isolated, I set up an account and dived into a few conversations with people I vaguely knew with the aim of building a bigger social network. For the next few years I was a huge fan of everything Twitter because I could have amazing, funny and inspirational conversations with so many people. I followed all my IRL friends, everyone I met at networking events and anyone who wrote or presented anything I was interested in. My #followfriday (or #ff if there were lots of names) list grew week by week until I became overwhelmed by it. The point is, Twitter was the place to be for someone like me.

6 Things Every Media-Savvy Small Business Owner Should Do

May 3, 2016 By Johanna Baker-Dowdell Leave a Comment

Photo: unsplash.com

This post is not about the skills you should have to run a business; it’s about what you need to do if you want media attention.

Unless your business revolves around something we absolutely must have, like water or you’re an expert in a medical specialism, you will need some level of publicity to survive. Often that publicity comes in the form of media interest – both from traditional outlets like a newspaper, or newer platforms, like social media.

If you want to get media attention then you need to be media savvy. Here are some tools and tricks to help you along the way:

Be photogenic

Whether a journalist has called asking for your opinion on a big story or you’ve been invited to speak at an event, you will need a good quality, high-resolution photo available. Get it done now, and then when they ask for it you’ll have one ready to send immediately. For more on photos for business PR, read my post A Pictures Tells a Thousand Words.

Case Study: Building A Not-for-Profit Profile Using Facebook

February 29, 2016 By Johanna Baker-Dowdell Leave a Comment

Facebook can be a great tool for spreading the word when it comes to not-for-profit organisations, but there is a technique to posting content your audience wants to see.

I started volunteering as Food Plant Solutions’ social media coordinator in August 2015 and have been actively posting on the FPS Facebook page since September 2015. Food Plants Solutions helps people in developing countries to grow the best local foods to match their nutritional needs. I post 3-4 times per week with a mix of Food Plant Solutions news, inspirational quotes and fun updates.

I’ve put together some comparisons to show the extent of the relationships FPS has built online in the first five months of my involvement.

Guest Post: Social Media for Small Businesses – Hone Your Self-Promotion Tactics

October 1, 2015 By Johanna Baker-Dowdell Leave a Comment

Business management consultant, author, and educator Peter Drucker said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it”.

As a small business owner or self-employed writer, you know the importance of creating your own future, and of using social networking platforms to do it. To an independent employer, social media is a necessity in the modern business world.

Luckily, the most prominent social networking entities understand their role in advertising and developed new applications and tools for those in the business of growing a business.

Social Media for Leaders

August 2, 2013 By Johanna Baker-Dowdell 1 Comment

Image: social-media-optimization.com

Last week I presented a session on thought leadership and social media to Tasmanian Leaders congress. The room was full of leaders from within the state’s businesses, government and not for profit sectors and one of the most popular questions was, “how do I know which social media platform to use?”

The simple answer is use the platform that works for you and where you know your target audience is, but I’ll go into a bit more detail in this article.

Thought leaders are influencers in their field, as well as being on top of industry trends. Social media is a great tool when establishing yourself personally and professionally online because you can share the expertise you have in your industry, which leads to conversations, relationships and, eventually, business.

Case Study: Building A Not-for-Profit Profile Using Facebook

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