Photos That Tell Stories Are the Currency of Social Media and Online Marketing

Written by Robyn T. Braley

You’ve heard it a gazillion times, ‘A picture is worth 1,000 words.’ Well, it’s true!

Photos are a million-dollar aid for telling fascinating stories about life-altering projects that your service club has made possible. Photos are the currency of mainstream, online and social media communication.

Before going further, I must issue a disclaimer. I am not a professional photographer. I wouldn’t begin to try to explain the technical side of photography.

For my branding company's photography projects, we hire great shooters, provide creative direction and an outline of what we are looking for. Then, we get out of their way.

Amateurs Can Take Good Photos Too

As an encouragement for rank amateurs, I have taken photos with a $500 point-and-click camera that newspapers and automotive magazines around the world published. They accompanied a story I had placed about a client’s innovative automotive product, a catalytic converter.

The photo series was engaging. We placed a demonstration vehicle on a hill overlooking a dramatic cityscape. By pure dumb luck, there was a misty haze that made an air pollution statement. The catalytic converter had been invented to dramatically reduce emissions from diesel engines.

A creative idea trumped technical expertise.

Why Quality Content is the Key for Social Media Success. 21 Tips!

Written by Robyn T. Braley

Social media is the new go-to method for service club promotion. However, when not developed properly, your social media experience can lead to frustration. 

Don't get me wrong, if your club is not active on social media, time is passing. I want to help you make the leap by explaining the lifeblood of social media. Quality content is the foundation for success. 

If you are already active and have experienced success, there are ideas that will help you offer greater value to your digital communities. 

Social media is central to online communication and relationship building. At a club level, a program will help you ...

• Increase the club's profile
• Promote club activities
• Build an online community through likes, follows and connections
• Align with collaborative partners
• Communicate with members and circles of influence 
• Attract new members. 

Reduce Management Time and Increase Social Media Communities Using Automation

You know your club should do it. But, you've been putting it off for many years. You have a personal Facebook page and know social media can be addictive. Yes Virginia, even a time waster. 

But here you are. You may be a Rotary club President or sit on your club’s board as the PR Director. Or, you may be the youngest member of your club who has been designated the social media person. You’ve been tasked to look into it.

81 Amazing Acts of Kindness; Change Your Life and Someone Else's

Written by Robyn T. Braley

We shouldn’t need to be prompted to show kindness to those we meet every day. However, it is easy to become so absorbed into the fast pace of life that we don’t see the needs of others, even when they are an arm's length away.

As Rotarians, our motto is Service Above Self. Every day we live out the ideal of acts of kindness through the humanitarian work we do in our communities and around the world.

I heard a story about a  senior executive of a service organization who would periodically dress like a homeless person and lie on the sidewalk near the doorway of locations where he was scheduled to speak. It was revealing how many stepped over him before someone knelt to ask if he needed help. He made his point!  

How to Attract the Kind of Media Attention You Really Want! 9 Info Packed Posts!

Attracting Traditional and
Social Media Coverage

Written by Robyn T. Braley

Attracting media coverage for your Rotary club's story requires ... well ... errr ... ummm ... a great story! I can't be any more direct than that.

Once you have the story, you must know how to package and pitch it.

Following are 9 posts that will help you attract mainstream and social media coverage. More than that, these practices, protocols and insider secrets may even help you increase the media coverage of your story or event. 

If you are experienced working with media, you may want to cherry pick posts according to interest. However, if you are a media newby, reading the posts in the order they are listed will help you create a successful media plan for your story. 
  

Pitching a News Story Requires a Well Crafted Media Release. Why? Tips!

The purpose of a release is to capture the attention of media editors, producers, journalists and bloggers. You have seconds to do it. But, there is more! It must also accommodate online distribution. More

Identify More Than One Story Angle and Increase Media Coverage

Written by Robyn T. Braley

It’s about the angle. It doesn't matter how comprehensive and accurate your media contact list is if you don't have the basics of your story pitch down pat.  

Every day the Media is inundated by story possibilities. You need unique, unusual and creative ideas to cut through the clutter. 

An editor, producer, reporter or show host will take 4-5 seconds to decide whether to consider your pitch or to trash it. If you don’t have a strong angle, or hook, the decision will be easy for them. With a quick click your story will be deleted as they move on to the next story idea. 

Combine 'Social' with 'Media' for Greater Impact Around Your Big Event

Written by Robyn T. Braley

This is the last post in our series about how to build a media campaign for Rotary Clubs and other community organizations. In this final article, I wrap up the series with ideas for integrating your own social media campaign into your strategy. This will be a natural transition to our next series about developing a custom social media program for your club.

As a quick review, throughout this series I have used the term media convergence. Social media (SM) is totally integrated with mainstream media.