Posted by Ann Bernard

It’s always tough to return to a routine after a holiday weekend.  I’m sure you’re feeling it too.  However, we’ve got to get back on the horse again.

This week’s link love is going out to other social media experts…they don’t specialize in the entertainment industry but they have great insights on social media, social media marketing and creating social media strategies.  There are a lot of people out there claiming to be social media gurus…a lot of people throwing key words around and blowing out hot air.  I don’t want you to fall into any traps so let me lead you to some good places.

To kick things off we have the Buzz Bin started by a friend of mine and member of the Yut Media Board of Advisors, Geoff Livingston.  Geoff is author of Now is Gone and truly an expert in the field of PR and Social Media.  His writing and that of his staff is straight forward, honest and full of common sense.  Honestly one of the very few social media blogs I read regularly.

Brian Solis collaborated with Geoff on Now is Gone.  I met Brian at BlogWorldExpo 08.  He wouldn’t follow me back on Twitter until he read my tweets and ensured I was worth a follow…he pulled out his phone with me standing there to look at my profile.  I gotta respect the man for that!! His blog PR 2.0 is a resource well worth exploring.

Another well known blogger and social media guru is Chris Brogan.  Chris also co-founded Podcamp - new media conference series, exploring the use of new media community tools to extend and build value.  Chris blogs at ChrisBrogan.com

Across the pond from me and a friend I made through Pownce…we have Wayne Smallman and his blog Blah, Blah! Technology.  It might be a little advanced for many of you, but I recommend digging into his archives.  Wayne has wonderful information particularly on SEO, Blogging and Analytics.

Next we have Jeremiah Owyang. Reading Jeremiah’s blog could potentially make your head blow up there’s so much information…but, he has an amazing pulse on the world of social media, the players, happenings and outcomes. 

As artists, entertainers and artist-entrepreneurs your worlds DO NOT revolve around social media…and they NEVER should.  Check out the blogs listed above but do not get sucked in!!  Read enough of the blogs to realize that social media and leveraging the web is something you can’t avoid; stop reading when you get overwhelmed. Keep taking it one step at a time and realize I’m right here for you.

One last recommendation...this blog is all about Twitter; it’s called TwiTip.

Filed in linklove

Comments: 0

Posted by Ann Bernard

I started doing a lot more homework and research on social media for the arts (museums and art galleries) as well as for performing arts (theatre, opera and classical music).  It’s definitely more challenging to find information and people who discuss social media for the arts/performing arts. 

However, I did find some and they are full of great information. Some are blogs while some are blog posts.

Rohit Bhargava wrote a post called 4 Ways Social Media Could Save The Arts. My favorite recommendation is #4 – Allow Patrons to share their experience.  I’ll be writing soon about that.

Arts Marketing – written by Chad M. Bauman the Director of Communications at Arena Stage is an open discussion about arts marketing related issues and often addresses social media and creating work of mouth campaigns.

Arts Organizations and Artists 2.0: Social Media for Arts People is a blog post I found on Blogher by Beth Kanter. It’s a thorough look at how a few organizations are leveraging social media…the post is complete with examples and many outside links that will lead you to some additional information and fabulous blogs.

Technology in the Arts is a blog about just that…the latest technology for the arts which touches on many great tools and topics.

Museum 2.0 explores ways that the web 2.0 philosophies can be applied in museum design.

What’s Your Story? Is a personal branding, PR and New Media for artists blog written by Beth Dunn, the Director of Communications and Technology for the Arts Foundation of Cape Cod.

Filed in linklove

Comments: 0

Posted by Ann Bernard

As you might have noticed, we don’t have a blogroll…actually if you notice there is absolutely no widgets, links or other blog candy in the sidebar.  It’s semi intentional and unintentional. Unintentional, in that, we are using Mephisto and it isn’t the easiest blogging platform to work with or add widgets and plug-ins to.  Intentional, in that, we want the focus to be on the content and we don’t want you getting distracted and clicking off the site.

None the less, there are obviously great blogs out there for you to read to compliment what I write about so on Mondays, I’ll share the sites I know about and discover during the week. 

The following sites/blogs focus on marketing, self-promotion and leveraging the web

New Music Strategies: Andrew Dubber attempts to unpick and explain what’s going on in the online music environment - and from that, develop strategies to help independent musicians and music businesses cope and thrive in a changing media environment

gigDoggy:  gigDoggy loves writing songs and networking with bands. He first started asking around for advice on how to book gigs. Amazed by the support he got from other bands, gigDoggy soon realized that he wanted to share this advice, so he began blogging.

The Opening Note: Music, Industry, News, Resources

Bob Baker’s The Buzz Factor: Music Marketing tips and self-promotion ideas for independent songwriters, musicians and bands.

Music Think Tank: Where the Music Industry Thinks Out Loud

ArtistsHouse Music:  Helping Musicians and Music Entrepeneurs Create Sustainable Careers

Ariel Publicity - The official CyberPr Blog: This blog is part business ideas, part music industry tips and ideas for promotion and who knows maybe a personal entry or two… read on and do talk back.

C.J. Darlington.com: Thoughts on writing, books & publishing.

I realize the theme seems to be mostly on music…I’ll focus this week to find what’s out there for other entertainers for next Monday.  

Filed in linklove

Comments: 0