Become a global media brand in 60 minutes

Anyone can be a global broadcaster and publisher in less than an hour by using free tools that can be downloaded and activated in minutes. Social networking has removed the barriers and the mystery. The following is a deliberately simplistic take on what is involved.

Step 1: Words (10 minutes)

Register for a blog using one of the many free options
A microblog such as Posterous is a good start if you want to be up and running in minutes
Write a compelling biography or mission statement - make sure it is sharp and to the point; there is a lot of competition out there
If you have a respectable article already written and a few pictures, upload them; better to have a blog with content than an empty one
Check out whether your blog has a retweet button; you will find it valuable later (most do)
Make sure you have a good share and save tool so that your audience can make full use of your material and ensure maximum news dissemination
You will need to make full use of social networking so that people who like what you write can save it, share it with their pals and help with distribution (see Step 2).


Write a compelling biography or mission statement - make sure it is sharp and to the point

Step 2: Distribution (10 minutes)

Open a free Twitter account.
DON'T FOLLOW ANYONE YET
People are unlikely to follow a blank Twitter account with no biog, no links and no valuable tweets
Include your biog (mentioned in step one) - you can use the same one you used on your blog, consistency is important.
Link to the blog or microblog you set up in Step 1.
Download any of the tweet aggregators, such as TweetDeck, or Split Tweet, (add any other recommendations to the foot of this piece, please)
Check out topics that interest you and re-tweet half a dozen adding value, if you can
Write a couple of tweets of your own - offer tips, free advice, answer any questions - contribute rather than take
NOW YOU CAN FOLLOW OTHERS - because now you will have something interesting on your Twitter page and people are more likely to follow you (I never follow empty pages and I guess I am not alone in this).

Write a couple of tweets of your own - offer tips, free advice, answer any questions - contribute rather than take

Step 3: Audio/Video/Images (15 minutes)

Open a free video hosting account
Vimeo and You Tube are options
If you are working with audio, try AudioBoo - excellent
Again for whatever product you choose, write a compelling biography to go in your profile for the same reasons as set out in Steps 1 & 2
Link to your blog or microblog
If you already have a piece of audio or video, upload it
Open a Flickr account, or any of the other social networking sites such as Picasa for storing images
Consider buying a cheap video camera - Flip is a good option, but most small cameras now do acceptable video as do most smartphones
Think witness and look for material in the category of 'had it not been for you the world would never have known'
Once your video is uploaded, tweet about it and post a link to it in your blog or microblog
If it is related to your earlier blog post you may want to embed it in the text and then retweet that.

Think witness and look for material in the category of 'had it not been for you the world would never have known'

Step 4: Creating a network (10 minutes)

You are now already on Twitter, so now open a free Facebook account
Along with Twitter, your social network enabled microblog or blog and your video site, this will now be your network/distribution strategy
If you have something particularly valuable to say, (and we all think we have) start a Facebook group and invite others to join
Be sure you have built enough interesting content on your page first; you need to feed the social networking debate not drain it
Consider starting discussions on your Facebook group when you have updated your blog with something you think may stimulate debate, or when you want to seek out the opinions of those in your social network
If you are on LinkedIn, start a group there, too
While on Linkedin be sure to set up an automatic feed from your microblog or blog (RSS) to your new LinkedIn group. It's great for starting new discussion threads each time you upload an article to your blog
You may want to start a Twitter Twibe, you may want to build some Twitter lists; have a look around and see what you can do.


You need to feed the social networking debate not drain it

Step 5: Convergence and cross-promotion (10 minutes)

Keep going back to your four sites - your blog or microblog, your Twitter page, your video page and your Facebook group - and make sure you are cross-promoting
You need links between all your social networking sites
Many have autopost options so that one post or email to one site updates the rest - be sure to activate all
You want people who find one of your sites interesting to be able to find the other sites effortlessly
Think about how much traditioinal media cross-promotes - social networkers need to be as active.


You want people who find one of your sites interesting to be able to find the other sites effortlessly

Step 6: Sit back and enjoy (ongoing)

Put the kettle on and make a cuppa, or pour a beer, and continue to find ways of creating compelling content for your four outlets
Share resources, share ideas, ask questions, answer questions, give people a hand, give information away, generally take part
Respond when asked something and volunteer to respond if not asked - have a look at Socialoomph for ways of auto responding and looking after your followers
Use your new tools to do a bit of newsgathering around topics you find interesting - some tips here
Spend some time clicking through Mashable for picking up new tips. The site has a great How To section
Most of all enjoy yourself.

Share resources, share ideas, ask questions, answer questions, give people a hand, give information away, generally take part


David Brewer
The author of this piece, David Brewer, is a journalist and media strategy consultant who set up and runs this site, Media Helping Media. He delivers media strategy training and consultancy services worldwide and his business details are at Media Ideas International Ltd. He tweets @helpingmedia.

http://www.mediahelpingmedia.org/training-resources/social-networking/526-becoming-a-global-media-brand-in-60-minutes


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