A number of them joined the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #ValentineSurprise, and shared photos of their chocolate bars on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (see Storify below). We were also successfully able to engage other users who were not lucky recipients this time around across these three platforms.

Using the more generic hashtag on Twitter also allowed @ChocoMe_Au to enter a larger conversation in general about Valentine’s Day, and at least be seen by other Twitter users who peruse this tweetstream.

Bottom line, this was a fun way to introduce ChocoMe chocolates to a number of “foodies”, nay chocolate lovers.

Hootsuite is the best social media dashboard solution I have come across so far. It has a clean, easy-to-navigate interface and offers the capacity. I’m able to update a number of different accounts across a number of networks (including Facebook, twitter and LinkedIn) all from one convenient page.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXpYVTnyCjU&list=UUlKEOcBKOcphClAWHQkgeDA&feature=plcp

Hootsuite PRO also offers a number of analytical tools. We’re able to track the number of retweets for an account on Twitter and imports Facebook Insights. Hootsuite PRO also adds an element of automation to reporting, as I am able to set up a report which will automatically be emailed to me monthly.

I use Hootsuite to manage and/or monitor my clients’ social media presences as well as my own – and wouldn’t use any other.

Feel free to take a look at my profile on Hootsuite here.

As an early adopter, of course, ERCmedia was one of the first in line to create a Google Plus Page for itself – feel free to connect with us there, as we will be sharing more exciting social media case studies and the latest news there.

David Sprigg of Homestyle Solutions is the state distributor for Riedel glassware, so you can be assured that all the wines presented at our event will be at their best. Homestyle Solutions also stocks a range of exclusive indoor/outdoor furniture and homewares.

At past events, we have showcased local wineries, as well as fresh produce outlets and cocktail bars, who engage on social media platforms, predominantly Twitter. Participants have included:

• Bottega Rotolo [Aug 2010]
• The Barossa Valley Cheese Company [Aug 2010]
• Cushdy (Cocktail Bar) [Nov 2010]
• Feast Fine Foods [Aug 2010, Nov 2010, May 2011]
• Hindmarsh Valley Dairy [Aug 2010]
• Madeleine’s Wines [Aug 2010]
• McLaren Vale Beer Company [Aug 2010, Nov 2010, May 2011]
• Vinteloper Wines [Aug 2010, Nov 2010]
• The Yalumba Wine Company [May 2011]
• Zusammen Fine Wines [Aug 2010, Nov 2010, May 2011]

If you are keen to be involved in the next WinedUp, as a sponsor or participant, contact Rubina Carlson.

If you missed the last WinedUp, don’t worry there will be another in November 2011, details yet to be finalised. In the meantime, take a look at the Storify below which combines Twitter status updates from the event with photos published a few days later on Flickr.

Concept Design Workshop Australia 2011

PRESS RELEASE

In an Australian first, innovative local freelance videogame concept artist, matte-painter and children’s book illustrator Simon Scales has organised a series of International Concept Art Workshops for up-and-coming digital conceptual artists.

Concept Design Workshop Australia 2011 will educate and inspire both the professional and aspiring conceptual artist, and features some of the industry’s most prominent concept artists, including:

• Kevin Chen – the international industry leader, a true inspiration. Kevin is the lead and freelance concept artist for a number of entertainment companies, including Blizzard and Disney Feature Animation. His past projects include top-selling video games Medal of Honor and Call of Duty as well as the recently released Zack Snyder film, Sucker Punch as well as monster mash-up Alien vs Predator. Also the founder and director of Concept Design Academy located in Pasadena, California, Kevin has been instructing classes and professional workshops for various schools and studios during the past 12 years.
• Carlo Arrelano – a leading international concept designer, has worked on Hollywood movies such as Spiderman, Planet Of The Apes and Van Helsing. Carlo has also played a key role in concept development of ground breaking video games such as God of War: Chains of Olympus, Resistance: Fall Of Man, World of Warcraft and is now currently lead concept designer at Insomniac Games in Los Angeles, California.
• Nick Pill – currently Art Director at Rising Sun Pictures in Adelaide and has contributed concept art and matte-paintings for many Hollywood blockbusters including the Harry Potter series, Wolverine and Terminator: Salvation.

“This is a first for Australia, there has not been a workshop this intense or hands-on for the video gaming/animation industry before.” declares organiser, Simon Scales.

This exclusive event is a two week intensive workshop, with participants from all over the nation flying to Adelaide to attend. There are still a few places available, but these are filling up quickly.

“Depending on the response this year, we are hoping to make this an annual event, alternating the host city each year.”

Concept Design Workshop Australia 2011 will be held from May 9-20, 2011 at the NEXUS Multicultural Arts Centre, Adelaide, South Australia.

Sure, you could use any blogging platform to create similar looking stories, but Storify enables you to “search multiple social networks from one place, and then drag individual elements into your story.” I found this to be a real time-saver, as it really is a matter of search, drag and drop, as opposed to the laborious task of uploading, then embedding images and videos.

Keep these 3 handy tips in mind when using Storify:

1. If using Storify to search for images, posts, etc on Facebook, if you or your friends have set their accounts to “private”, these images, posts, etc will not be found.
2. Wait until all potential social media posts have been shared over all platforms (e.g. Twitter, Flickr, YouTube) before creating your story, as it’s easier to create your story when you have the ‘big picture’ in front of you.
3. Be courteous, and ask permission of those who own or feature in the images or video you intend to scrapbook on Storify.

These stories are viewable by anyone and can be embedded into blogs, as featured below.

On a personal note, I think this would be a great way to collate and curate all social media activities that relate to a specific event, like for instance, the next TEDxAdelaide… when would you use it?

Well, no actually.

Just take a look at the recent project run by a group of five dedicated volunteers and a small registered training organisation at the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia‘s recent conference: Let’s Take Charge Of Our Future.

The CBloggers Project gave 20 young community radio broadcasters from around Australia the opportunity to take on the challenge of becoming an online media maker. The 20 rose to the challenge admirably, some embracing online platforms, like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, in the context of media production for the first time. Lesser known phlogging platform iPadio was an instant hit.

Social media gives community broadcasters the opportunity to take their messages beyond their signal radii, especially in the case of rural stations. It’s such a great opportunity to connect with those who share their values, appreciate their programming and showcase their talents to the world.

Fantastic cocktail bar Cushdy is launching its new summer menu Friday, 5th November 2010.

Cushdy‘s Shaun Pattinson and his cocktail-making troupe will be presenting a Masterclass at the launch. These guys and gals are the  True Originals of Adelaide, SA.

If you’re keen to score an invite to this exclusive event, we only ask that you post some #tweets4cocktails.

The Promotion

If you’d like to score an invite, all you need to do is:

1. Follow @CushdyBar on Twitter
2. Tweet why @CushdyBar should invite you
3. Include @CushdyBar or the hashtag #tweets4cocktails in your tweet

You can enter as many times as you like! In fact, we will reward frequent #tweets4cocktails tweeps with more than one invite. Promotion closes on Wednesday 27th October 2010 at 5pm CDST.

Should you attend, you are also strongly encouraged to tweet on the night of the launch.

Tweet responsibly.

Over the past 6-12 months we have seen a strong #Adelaide community form on Twitter (see @Prakky’s blog). Week in, week out, #Adelaide is the most popular hashtag in Australia and often in the Top Ten Trending Topics in the nation, according to Twirus.

Many Twitter users contribute to it: promoting events around town, reminiscing on genuine experiences here or even ask questions to their #Adelaide peers like @_SDU_ has:

Based on what I’ve observed in this #Adelaide space, usually a number of fellow #Adelaide Twitter users answer the posed question, in this case suggesting places to “lunch”. In essence, we are seeing the development of a word of mouth referral network, based on people’s real life experience. Increasingly, we are seeing some of these venues (or “answers”, if you like) engage potential customers by participating in this conversation.

#Tweatout #Adelaide!

Taking a similar approach that has brought together this community, #Tweatout aims to encourage Twitter users dining out around #Adelaide to tweet about their experiences. @EatoutAdelaide is spearheading this campaign by actively (almost aggressively) encouraging Twitter and Foursquare users to use the #Tweatout hashtag. At this early stage, @EatoutAdelaide is directly engaging other Twitter users. It is also retweeting the best of these tweets and photos that it finds, adding the #Tweatout hashtag if absent.

This is not a community that will be formed overnight, it will take time… you could do your part to help!

It doesn’t matter if you’re an accredited food critic, a foodie wannabe or an average Joe, When you are out and about, tweet about your dining experiences: the good and the bad, the terrific and the terrible, the cheap and the expensive. 

#Adelaide wants to know!