It’s also a seriously great way to meet new people and put a real-life face to the names of the people you’ve been connecting with online pre-conference.

For these reasons we’re organizing another SoCapOtt TweetUp on May 31st!

TweetUp Details

When: Friday, May 31st, 7 – 9 pm

Where: “spin” Kitchen and Bar at the Marriott Hotel
100 Kent Street, Ottawa 

Register: via Eventbrite

Enjoy great munchies and sip on delicious drinks from our friends at Spin Kitchen & Bar at the Ottawa Marriott!

Did I mention there’ll be prizes?

Yes, indeed! Join us at the SoCapOtt TweetUp for your chance to win a great camera from our friends at Future Shop, or one of our cool SoCapOtt back packs full of goodies!

Sign up now – we hope to see you there!

Registered for SoCapOtt? And don’t forget, there’s still time to purchase your ticket for the conference itself. We have a fabulous lineup of speakers this year. Don’t miss out!

Event sponsors:

There are so many amazing people using social media.

It’s why we wanted to give away a Social Capital (SoCapOtt) conference pass to someone deserving who was using social media for good. The responses we received reinforced that great things are happening in the social space.

Seriously, we received so many amazing nominations.

Nominations of people who are making a difference to their communities. And nominations of people who are community builders – who understand how to meaningfully connect with and support others online.

We wish we could give every single person who was nominated a conference pass, we really do.

While that isn’t possible we decided we couldn’t select just one winner. So, we selected two! Both winners receive a complimentary pass to the conference on Saturday, as do their nominators.

And the winners of the Social Media for Good SoCapOtt contest are…

First place winner: Randy Ravivaan from Wave Ottawa.

Wave Ottawa is a new program for adults with autism. Founded by Dovercourt Recreation Association (DRA) and funded by Unity for Autism, WAVE staff endeavour to find work and volunteer placements for adults with autism in Ottawa. Randy  is a Wave apprentice managing social media communications for Wave.  He was nominated by Anne Villeneuve, one of the founders of Wave.

Second place winner: Anneke van Nooten from Community Connections Ottawa

The Community Connections program invites newcomers to Canada to events and activities to get to know Ottawa better. With the help of volunteers, Community Connections assists with language skills, networking and understanding Canadian culture.  Anneke manages the organization’s Facebook page, reaching out via social media to provide support to new Canadians.  She was nominated by Crystal Kirkpatrick.

Congratulations to Randy and Anneke, and to their nominators!

We loved reading every nominees story, and thank everyone who participated in this contest. These stories of social media for good deserve to be shared. So keep them coming! Send us your stories of using social media for good at info@socialcapitalconference.ca and we’ll post them on the blog after the conference!

To prove the point that the medium is the message, Anthony from Do More Video created a short video to explain what you’ll learn May 31st during his Social Capital Conference (SoCapOtt) workshop.

Check out this promo video for How to Produce Better Video with Your iPhone:

As Anthony says, timely and budget-friendly video is at your fingertips, but you need to get yourself registered for his SoCapOtt workshop to learn how.

This workshop is sponsored by Henry’s. Follow them on Twitter and Facebook!

Interested in more SoCapOtt Workshops?

Check out the full line up of May 31st workshops – from video and podcasting how-to’s to content marketing excellence, from social media research to the ins and outs of WordPress, there’s something for everyone. Get yourself to SoCapOtt!

P.S.

Stay tuned – we’ll be announcing winners of the ticket giveaway next on the blog!

They aren’t “rules”, but doing any of these things could be perceived as social media suckage. And we don’t want that for you!

If you come to the Social Capital Conference (SoCapOtt) next week, you’ll learn many ways to be awesome at building relationships via social media.

So to set the stage for SoCapOtt and the importance of awesome, here’s our list of the 10 ways to suck at social media. Enjoy.

Like this infographic? Feel free to share it with everyone you know! Just copy the code below:

<a href=”http://socialcapitalconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/socap-infographic.jpg”><img class=”size-full wp-image-2596 alignnone” title=”socap-infographic” src=”http://socialcapitalconference.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/socap-infographic.jpg” width=”550″ /></a>

See you at the Social Capital Conference

The third annual Social Capital Conference is coming up fast. On May 31 and June 1, SoCapOtt is where you want to be so get your ticket today!

We are very pleased to have Rogers as a sponsor at this year’s Social Capital Conference (SoCapOtt) for the third year in a row. In this post, Mary shares insight into Rogers’ social media relations strategy and shares details of her influencer relations session at this year’s conference.

I joined Rogers’ Social Media Team in 2009 and I’m responsible for managing Rogers’ online reputation and influencer relations program. As part of that, we have a command center where we monitor online conversation, engage in non-customer service conversations, and provide our internal teams with actionable insights.

We take part in social media so we can learn from our customers and help where we can. We also have dedicated community managers who proactively engage online and create content for our various social media properties. So in other words, we read a lot and tweet a lot ;-)

We Love the Social Capital Conference!

We have been a sponsor of Social Capital from the very beginning and we’re thrilled to be a sponsor again. We’re huge fans of this conference! It’s a great opportunity for us to make new friends and meet others in real life that we interact with online on a daily basis. The sessions are always insightful and relevant, presented from a wide range of speakers and experiences.

Listening is Key

Listening is the best thing you can do as a practitioner in social media. By just scanning tweets, catching up on blogs/comments, and having conversations with my peers, I learn the most on a daily basis. Trends, apps, and programs all come and go but knowing where to find the information you need and the sources you trust is invaluable.

On June 1st, I’ll be presenting a case study session titled, Influencer Relations – Not all are created equal, at the third annual Social Capital Conference. We’ll take an in-depth look at how to  to approach various influencer groups — be it tech, family, youth, etc. — in a way that benefits both parties. I’ll share how Rogers is working with influencers, bloggers and ambassadors in creative and innovative ways.

Register for the Social Capital Conference

If you’re interested in Mary’s session on influencer relations then you need to register for SoCapOtt! Tickets are on sale now (oh, and did you hear about the nifty contest running now until May 20thth? Check it out…)

Connect with Mary on June 1st at SoCapOtt, or find her on Twitter at @MaryPretotto or @RogersMary. Thank you to Rogers Communications for its continued support of the Social Capital Conference!

We have prizes!

This Twitter chat is sponsored by the Future Shop and they’ve given us a couple of cameras to give away during the chat!

So with the conference just 15 sleeps away (have you purchased your ticket yet?), we’re inviting you to get on our your favourite Twitter chat client and join on for some engaging and educational conversation on Thursday, May 23rd.

What: Social Capital Conference Twitter Chat

When: Thursday, May 23rd from 8 to 9 pm

Where: On Twitter of course!

Who: You (please join us!) and your hosts @larawellman and @karen_c_wilson

Why: To bring together some of the industry’s most engaging adventurers for an hour of discussion on the trends, issues and best practices of this digital medium.

How: Follow your hosts @larawellman and @karen_c_wilson. Use the hashtag #socapott to contribute to the discussion. You can also use a Twitter client like Tweetchat, Tweetdeck, HootSuite, TweetGrid, etc. to make following the chat stream easier.

If you’ve never participated in a Twitter chat before, here are some great tips on why you should.

What are your burning social media questions?

We always love input from the SoCapOtt community on what we should talk about. If you’d like to cover any specific topics during the chat, leave a comment below or email us at info@socialcapitalconference.ca.

Hope to see you online May 23rd!

Some examples of ways that social media has been used to provide assistance include:

The Hello Bar after the Japan earthquake in 2011

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Jenny the Bloggess’ red dress movement

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Helene Campbell’s Give2Live campaign

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Twestival – a worldwide event that raised funds locally as a global movement

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#NoMoreBullies movement to educate about bullying and its effect on individuals and society

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Losing it in Ottawa support community for healthy living

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Col. Chris Hadfield’s ISS updates that brought new life to the Canadian Space Agency

These are but a handful of examples that show the power of social media to bring people together.

To help individuals, a community, a country or simply to give each of us the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.

We know there are many more examples of good work being done through social media. Sometimes the work makes the world a better place for an individual. Sometimes for a large group of people. Either way, these efforts are about making the world a better place.

Tell us about someone making a difference

Who do you know that is making an impact on the world through social media? We want to hear about it.

Tell us how this super awesome individual is using social media for good, and why you chose to nominate them. We’ll review the nominations and select one deserving person to win a full conference pass to the 2013 Social Capital Conference (SoCapOtt).

But wait — there’s something in it for you too! The winner of this ticket giveaway gets the bring the person who nominated them to the conference too!

Yes, that’s right – TWO full conference passes: one for the nominee and one for the person who makes the nomination.

Nominate someone awesome for the SoCapOtt ticket giveaway

To nominate a deserving individual, simply fill out the form below. We’ll take it from there! You have until Monday, May 20 at midnight to submit your nomination.

We’ll announce the winner of this ticket giveaway here on the SoCapOtt blog next Wednesday, May 22! Good luck!

The workshop day is made up of 2 3-hour workshops, the first from 9am – 1pm and the second from 1:30 – 4:30 pm. Here are the afternoon workshops you should consider adding to your workshop agenda.

Use Webinars to Generate Leads

Session leader: Gini Dietrich of Arment Dietrich and Spin Sucks

As communicators, we are often asked to create content that helps to generate leads, but what the heck does it mean? During the workshop, you will learn how to use webinars specifically to generate leads. But we don’t stop there. You’ll also learn how to nurture those leads until they’re ready to make a purchase. Your sales team will think you a hero and bestow many gifts upon you.

Side note: Gini is also our opening keynote speaker for SoCapOtt!

Social Media Research and Monitoring

Session leader: Shawna Tregunna of ReSoMe (short for Relevant Social Media!)

In this workshop we will review what you can and should be monitoring (Hint: It’s not just your company name!), how to effectively search for relevant mentions and conversations directly on Twitter, Google+, and other channels, how to use free web tools to monitor blogs and forums and a comparison of free services, low cost services and full service monitoring systems ($$!!).

We will then look at some sample reports for participants and discuss what the data means and how you can use it to your brands advantage.

From Zero to Podcasting

Session leader: Mark Blevis of MarkBlevis.com

Never underestimate the power of audio to tell a story, spread a message and engage an audience. Better quality audio production technology is now available at cheaper prices. All-in-one podcast production apps are available for your mobile device as well. There’s almost no reason you shouldn’t be publishing audio for the web, or podcasts for RSS distribution.

Mark Blevis will take you from zero-to-podcasting in next to no time. So, bring your ideas, laptop and/or smartphone and/or tablet, and your caffeinated mind for a fun afternoon. The rest is up to you.

Register for the SoCapOtt Workshops

If you’re interested in the workshop sessions shared above then get yourself registered!

Visit the workshop page for more information on all of the workshops and we hope to see you there!

Before launching Communicate & Howe! as a full service communications firm in 2010, James was Director of Communications for the YMCAs of Cambridge & Kitchener-Waterloo. Before that he communicated for Toronto’s Daily Bread Food Bank, and he’s the founder of Social Media Breakfast: Waterloo Region.

It’s obvious that supporting the communities in which he lives and works is incredibly important to James.

In this post, James sets the stage for his Social Capital Conference session Integrate video into your social media strategy, where he’ll share how to effectively use video as a strategic piece of your overall content marketing strategy.

Everyone wants the next viral video

A kid practicing his light sabre moves has one. A blender manufacturer has many. A set of twin babies has one. And just about everybody’s cat stars in one.

Everyone wants the next viral video. We conveniently gloss over the fact that viral is not a type of video but rather what happens when people watch a video that they feel compelled to share. So you should give up on thinking you can create a viral video.

But…you probably shouldn’t even want a viral video

While millions of views might make you famous (on YouTube anyway), what good does that do if 99% of them are outside your key audience? Or if people in your key audience view it but they miss the message—or worse—fail to respond to your call to action?

Few organizations or businesses are creating videos purely for their entertainment value. We almost always have a set of goals or objectives that normally result from an effective call to action. Or we should.

Make video an integrated part of your communications strategy

There’s no point having a video—no matter how great it is or how viral it goes–unless it is part of a strategy. And while that could mean a social media strategy, online strategy or communications strategy, I suggest its best if your video is part of your overall communications strategy—or as I like to call it the “big picture.”

Rather than thinking because you posted a video online that people know about, realize that they may not, even if they are active online.

Video is content marketing – but make it interesting!

But let’s zoom in a bit and look at two hot trends. There was a lot of buzz as we entered the New Year that 2013 will be the year of video. We also keep hearing more and more about the importance of content marketing. Putting it all together, I recommend you look at how video can play a central role in your content marketing strategy.

It’s important that you understand how to effectively use video to capture people’s attention and tell stories.

Case in point: a video that reached its audience

Here’s a video that is a part of a series in an awareness campaign for Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region:

Our objective for this photovoice project was to have young women share the signs of domestic abuse with their peers.

Your video should meet its purpose

Who needs a viral video if you can be confident your video has touched the desired key audience and improved their lives?

On June 1st at the Social Capital Conference, I’ll delve deeper into how we used video as part of an integrated awareness campaign for Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region. Join me for an informative and interactive session on how to use video as a strategic piece of your overall content marketing strategy.

Register for the Social Capital Conference

You can follow James on Twitter or better yet – connect with him in person at the Social Capital Conference. He’s part of a fabulous group of speakers we have lined up for this year’s conference. See you at SoCapOtt!

An award-winning blogger and communications professional, Bob currently runs Translucid Communications, teaches at Algonquin College and Eliquo Training and Development, and works in the folk and roots music industry.

Ya, so not busy at all.

In his Social Capital Conference (SoCapOtt) session Why you are stupid, Bob will guide attendees in an evaluation of  some of the most common — and most preventable — mistakes made by organizations embarking into social media strategies.

His session will be more than a little irreverent, and will draw on local and international examples of social media stupidity. You’ll walk away with a richer understanding that social media doesn’t liberate you from being thoughtful and strategic.

But don’t take my word for it. Instead, watch this fabulous video that Bob put together to promote his session:

That’s one sweet ukulele, and to borrow from Johnny Nash – after Bob’s session you really will “see clearly now.” (I couldn’t resist the pun.)

Register for the Social Capital Conference

To learn how not to be stupid using social media, you need to register for SoCapOtt. As Bob says in his video – if you aren’t registered then don’t delay!

Connect with Bob on Twitter or his Flacklife Blog. Better yet, register for the Social Capital Conference and connect with Bob in person.