@gregmcqueen

Thoughts matter. Here's a few of mine ...

Full circle

From Evernote:

Full circle
It's odd how life can bring you full circle. Those who know me are aware of my background as a writer and filmmaker … Something that I thought I had to leave behind.

Why?

Well, I am 40. I have a family. Writing and film weren't paying the bills. This is partly why I dived into becoming a Multimedia Designer. I have always had a great interest in all things webby, so, changing direction wasn't a huge issue for me -- infact, I am pleased I did it.

Taking a degree in Multimedia Design was a great decision. I discovered the joy of coding; actually building a website with nothing more than a text editor and a browser. Learning to build the web, rather than just surf it, has changed the way I think and do things, for the better.

During my degree I became aware that my filmmaking skills weren't something I'd leave behind. Being a Multimedia Designer isn't just coding, it's about creating all sorts of things for the web, and, video for the web is one of them.

In fact, I ended up running workshops for other students, teaching them the basics of filmmaking. Showing them how to handle a camera and set up lights. The last workshop I did a few months ago was attended by over 80 students!

The interest and need to produce good quality video for the web has become hugely apparent to me (and, no doubt, to that room full of eager students I taught a few months ago).

These days it's easy to film, and, easy to cut video together -- iPhones and iMovie made it that way. But. Making a video production look professional is more than just the tools you use. It takes skill. Knowledge. And, well, a splash of talent, too.

I know I have the skill. And the knowledge to make films. I went to film school in my early twenties, worked freelance on and off for a number of years, and, I have even written and directed my own short films.

So, it's ironic in some way that, having changed direction into Multimedia Design, that I find myself coming out of the other side of my education moving back towards film.

I am almost two weeks into my internship at redWEB.dk, and, it seems my purpose there is all about film.

Yesterday, Karsten (redWEB's flash developer) and I spent the morning recording sound effects for a game he's producing. It's now my job to process the sound and make it usable for the game … Producing sound is part of video production, something I am more than familiar with.

Once I am finished processing the sound effects I will start producing a short video to show off one of redWEB's products, redSHOP. redWEB has another department called, redCOMPONENT. This department produces some backend solutions for Joomla (an Open Source content management system for building websites). redSHOP is one of their backend solutions for turning a Joomla website into a web shop or e-commerce site.

As you can imagine these kinds of products are useful, but, also difficult to nutshell for potential clients. So, it's my job to make a video to nutshell what redSHOP is all about.

On top of producing this small video, I am producing a short documentary about the company as a whole. The idea of the documentary is to show what the company is all about … In fact, show more than just what the company is about. I want to capture the process of making a website. I want to capture the passion, hard work, and dedication of redWEB's developers and designers.

The company has two very strong founders, Christian Bennike and Ronnie Christiansen. Strictly speaking, Ronnie founded redWEB. He started the company alone and built it into one of Denmark's top web companies.

Christian started a company called, Web Zoo. Web Zoo is known for it's strong design ethic and visual identity.

Ronnie and Christian found their companies working together rather a lot, so, it made sense to them to put the two together under one name, redWEB.

Of course, one aspect of making the documentary is to help promote the company. But. I am not going into this with promotion in mind. For me, it's about capturing the company as it is. Capturing the people as they, and, the process of how they go about doing what they do in a way that makes it clear that producing a website is more than just writing code -- it really does take commitment and passion to make something that's right for the client, which, isn't always what the client wants. It's about what the users of the website need. That is what a web designer and developer strives to achieve.

The first part of making the documentary starts with redWEB's foundations: Christian and Ronnie. I will be filming interviews with both of them next week. This will form the foundation of the film, it's spine, I guess. Once I have those interviews in the can, I'll start building the film around them … Building a picture of redWEB as a company to show what it really takes to build for the web.

So, next week I will put up lights, set up a microphone, and stand with a camera in my hand. Full circle. A filmmaker once again.

Some rules of the road for businesses on Social Media ...

From Evernote:

Some rules of the road for businesses on Social Media ...
Change out your company logo for a photo of yourself.
People react to faces. So, change out that logo on your Facebook page for a photo of you, or, a photo of you standing with all of your smiling colleagues. You can work the logo into the background somewhere, or, perhaps it is on staff uniforms. Your business is only as good as the people who run it, so, as far as Social Media goes, it's people first, branding second.

A light touch of branding is acceptable. It helps place the people featured on the Social Media page in context.

Post. Often.
I hear a lot of people say that, "An hour a day," meaning they have heard the advice that they should spend an hour a day promoting their business on Social Media. Well, that's it then, schedule an hour out of your busy day and log into Facebook! In reality, most people can't spare an hour a day to do nothing but Facebook.

The trick is to spend an hour throughout the day. If you have an iPhone or some other smart phone, then using Facebook or Tweeting can be done on the move. No matter how busy you are, you have those quiet moments throughout the day -- waiting in line for something, while you are walking from one place to another, etc. Work it into your day, rather than put time completely aside for it that you can't really afford.

After a while you will find that using Social Media becomes a habit. You will post frequently because you have learned that you don't have to take time out of your already busy schedule to do it.

Don't be afraid to share
A lot of people new to Social Media seem to wonder whether it's worth sharing certain things. The simple fact is ... If you think it's great, others will think it's great, too! So, that beautiful blue sky you see walking home from work ... SNAP A PHOTO AND SHARE IT! The awesome thing a customer just said to you ... QUOTE IT IN A STATUS UPDATE! Just had a brilliant new gadget delivered to the office ... MAKE A VIDEO OF OPENING THE BOX AND TRYING IT ... AND ... SHARE IT!

If something makes you feel happy. If something makes you feel awesome. Doesn't matter what it is. Get in the habit of sharing it on Social Media. It is better to share small moments often, than wait days and days to share something big that, maybe, might not actually happen. In reality, Social Media is real time, so, if you are away for more than a day, then, you're absent.

Share often. And people will see you are there.

Be positive. Always.
While it is important to share as much as possible. Share only positive things. Do not say derogatory things about rival businesses. Do not use Social Media to resolve conflicts. If someone posts something "bad" on your wall, do not reply ... Or, at least, do not reply immediately.

Remember. Social Media is a public place. So a knee-jerk reaction to an unfair comment or harsh criticism on a Facebook page will more than likely just make the situation worse. Never get dragged into an argument on Social Media.

If the comment seems like a genuine complaint, offer to contact the person privately and then resolve the situation there. If you manage to turn the situation around, then you can choose to share the experience in a positive way on Social Media.

If the comment seems false in some way, perhaps, an obvious attempt to provoke you, ignore it. Quite often, other people on the page will tell that person to stop being a "troll" -- a troll is someone who likes to provoke people in discussion forums or on Social Media. Trolls live for conflict. While you try your best to talk them around for everyone to see, they'll calmly sit back and keep on provoking you, often pushing the situation into an all out public argument -- even if you feel you are staying clam, they'll make sure it becomes an argument -- that's what trolls do!

Don't fall victim to a troll. Stop. Think. And, always do your best to share only the positive and thoroughly awesome things going on in your life as often as possible.

Be there.
Social Media is a form of communication. People  will ask questions. Some will even ask you difficult questions. Remember, Social Media is real time, so, leaving a comment or question answered for more than a few hours is unacceptable -- especially if you are representing a business.

If you make Social Media a habit worked into your day, then, replying to comments becomes second nature.

Be there. Answer. And always remember that building up a Social Media presence takes time and persistence.

Light bulb moment

From Evernote:

Light bulb moment
Yesterday was the longest day so far @ redWeb. Christian, Karsten, Palle, and myself took a trip to Copenhagen for a meeting with Egmont. redWEB is making a series of educational flash games for Egmont -- a project they have been working on for over a year -- and the meeting was to discuss various aspects of the games already made, and, set in motion the next series of games to be developed.

The entire project will take 3 years. Karsten is on the frontline, so to speak, as he is the flash developer on the project. That means he is the one who actually writes the code and makes the game. Palle is the designer, so, it's his job to design the interface for the game(s) and ensure that the project holds continuity in the way it looks and feels. Christian is project leader, so, it's his job to make sure everything hangs together and deadlines are met.

I tagged along to the meeting -- which took 5 hours! -- to get up to speed on the process of how this sort of project is developed.

On the Egmont side of the table sat two writers, their project leader, and another consultant from Egmont. It was a lively meeting with lots of ideas being discussed. And, while it was my "job" really just to listen, I couldn't help but tap Christian on the shoulder and ask whether it was okay that I pitch in with a few thoughts … I mean, I am a writer after all, so, I found it impossible *not* to start coming up with ideas.

It was a productive day. The first phase of the project was discussed and a roadmap put in place to get it finished. The second phase of the project also came under discussion and kickstarted with initial sketches and ideas.

The day ended with the long trip back to Aarhus for Christian, Karsten, Palle, and I. It was good chance to talk and get to know one another better. We also agreed that I would bring my media production skills to the project and help record the sound effects for parts of the games -- which I view as an exciting opportunity to really contribute one of their existing projects!

So, after a late start today, I brought in some of my equipment to the office. I have a H1 Zoom audio recorder, a Samson USB condenser microphone, a portable sound booth to house it in, a Flip video camera, a mini tripod, and, a Panasonic HD video camera … Basically everything we need to get cracking with recording audio and video. Oh, and I haven't even included software … Final Cut Pro, Motion 5, and, Bias Peek Studio LE and Sound Soap!

With all the kit in place it is now my task to put together a plan of action. I have made lots of notes. Have plenty of ideas. So, I will put all of it in some sort of presentation for redWEB, and, that will be the kickstart for us to start discussing how to develop a work flow for producing videos for redWEB and some of their existing clients.

After the trip to Odense last Tuesday where I spent the day sitting in on meetings, and, yesterday where I sat in on the epic 5 hour meeting, you'd think I'd be sick of sitting in on meetings. Well. Not really. Today I sat in on another short meeting where a client wanted some pointers on how to start using Facebook for his business … Those of you who know my background with Social Media will know that I just *had* to sit in on this one.

Christian kicked off the meeting by presenting an overview of Facebook and some tips on how to run a Facebook page. And. Of course. I had a few things I felt I could add. The great thing was, between the two of us, we gave the client a light bulb moment … The client came in very unsure about how to use his Facebook page other than being aware that he shouldn't use it as an excuse to spam people with special offers, etc. He left excited and very energised.

It was great to see the client's face light up the way it did. You really could see the light bulb switch on.

What did we say that had such an affect?

It boils down to one word: PASSION.

Don't promote your business. Share your passion. Doesn't matter what you do. Doesn't matter what your business is. Share with me your passion for what you do. And believe me when I tell you, if you are passionate enough, I, and everyone else who recognises your passion, will listen and share it with you.

Tomorrow I am back on the Joomla trail. Signe, one of redWEB's front end developers, is showing a client how to use the system. I'll sit in. Eager to learn more.