iamreedsmith

5 Tips to Become Efficient at Blogging

September 12, 2012 — Leave a comment

As I work to train content creators “the blog” continually becomes the focal point of their effort. This only makes sense, because as Michael Hyatt has framed it a blog is your homebase. A place where you control your content 100%. This is unlike social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook of which you have no control of what they do tomorrow.

Based on this – I talk a lot on what makes a good blog post and how to structure content online. Below are five elements of blogging that when done right will make you much more efficient and consistent.

Find your voice. The first and most important part of blogging is figuring out how you want to deliver you messages. It is always good to mix it up but content creators will ultimately find a way they like to communicate. Examples:
1. Question and Answer
2. Narrative
3. DIY
4. Tips and Tricks
5. Lists/Resources
6. Video
7. Photography
Understand your audience. Understanding who you are trying to reach and how they want to be communicated with is key. If you are trying to reach me then short post with bullets that I can scan is best….and I am not unique in this way.
Pick a frequency and stick with it. Your readers will start to expect your content on the frequency you set forth. Plan far in advance to and capture blog ideas continually so you have a good number of drafts working at any given time. Here is a recent post I wrote on capturing blog ideas on the fly.
Use Creative Commons. I always suggest including a picture, graphic, or video with each post. One of the easiest ways to do this is to pull pictures from the Creative Commons section of Flickr.
Interlink to other posts on your own blog. If you have captured a readers attention don’t lose out on pointing them to other post they might find interesting. This is a great way for users to explore your content. An example of this is the two links I added in #3 above.

Question: What tips can you share that have made you more efficient?

In Blogging, Social Media, Tips blogging, blogging efficiency, efficient, Healthcare marketing, hospital social media, Tips

The first rule of any technology used in a business is that automation applied to an efficient operation will magnify the efficiency. The second is that automation applied to an inefficient operation will magnify the inefficiency.

- Bill Gates

Technology

Posted on September 11, 2012 In Quotes bill gates, technology

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SXSW Interactive Hackathon 1.0

September 10, 2012 — Leave a comment

A health hackaton is such an exciting proposition. Solving opportunities in the healthcare world is what all of us, at a very fundamental level, are trying to do. Not long ago “Health” was not part of SXSW Interactive and now look at us! Several of us saw an opportunity and SXSW Interactive was so gracious to hear us out.

Now SXSW Interactive is having it’s first Hackathon and what is the topic you ask? ….. Health.

(via @SXSW)

SXSW Interactive is hosting their first ever Hackathon and what better place to have it than in our own town? We are looking to help find a solution for a medical/health industry head-scratcher (data to be provided). That’s where you come in! Join in our 24 hour Hackathon to help make a difference and to be one of the winning teams! (Everyone wants to attend SXSW in March 2013 right??!)

Tentative Schedule of Events:

Saturday, September 29th
2pm-3pm: Check In/Registration
3:30pm: Hacking begins
7pm: Dinner served and hacking continues throughout the night

Sunday, September 30th
8:30am: Breakfast served and hacking continues
12:30pm: Hacking ends and reception with snacks and drinks begins
1:15pm: Presentations begin
2:30pm: Winners announced

Can’t make the event?

That is OK! You can still be involved – here is how:

Spread this flyer around to any and all
Spread the word online using these hashtags: #sxswi #hackathon

In HIT, Mobile, Resources/Tools, SXSW Interactive austin, Codeathon, Hackathon, Health IT, HIT, mobile, sxsw, SXSW Interactive

4 Things to Consider Before You Subscribe to a Social Media Marketing Platform

September 7, 2012 — Leave a comment

via flickr

Over the past couple of years I have demo’d a number of social media marketing platforms including: Shoutlet, Spredfast, Vitrue, Buddy Media, Argyle Social, Hootsuite, and others. Each has great features and might be a good fit for many of you. With that said they are all enough different that, besides the obvious considerations, you have to ask yourself a few questions:

Do I work in a regulated Industry? – If the answer is yes then make sure you cover this with the vendor and check references of current customers who are in the same boat. This will help you hurdle some objections or concerns that might come up.
What features do you need vs what would be nice? – There are some killer features in many of these platforms. Of course they also come with a price. Really think through your objectives and goals then compare the platforms based on needs. One thing I did was list out my goals and for each platform I assigned the features to a goal. I found that some features were great but really had no short-term application.
Who will use the tool? – This is a big one. Again many of these platforms have really robust features but based on who within the organization is using it there could be overkill. This goes back to your goals and what you are trying to accomplish.
How do I measure success? - Make sure the platform you choose will fit with you measurement goals. Make sure you spend time on the reports and analytics they show so you can best determine how you show ROI for both the tool and your social media efforts.

I did actually pick one of these tools that we use with clients on a daily basis. Who I picked is not really the point of this post (ping me privately and I will tell you) because they are all great tools, but have a wide spectrum of cost and features. Once I realized they were all good tools and met the basic need of efficiency then I had to start looking at what works right now for me.

Question: Have you used any of these tools (or others)? What made you pick the one you did?

In Marketing, Resources/Tools, Social Media, Tips argyle social, hootsuite, hospital social media, oracle, radian6, salesforce.com, shoutlet, social media marketing, spredfast, vitrue

A Flurry of Health IT Coming to Austin – Want In?

September 5, 2012 — Leave a comment

There are several events coming to town in the next month. Both code-a-thons focused on health. I will be at each event and hope to see some of you there. here are the details:

SXSW Interactive Hackathon 1.0

September 29-30

SXSW Interactive is hosting their first ever Hackathon and what better place to have it than in our own town? We are looking to help find a solution for a medical/health industry head-scratcher (data to be provided). That’s where you come in! Join in our 24 hour Hackathon to help make a difference and to be one of the winning teams! (Everyone wants to attend SXSW in March 2013 right??!)

More Details/Sign Up

Health 2.0 Austin – Codeo

October 19-21

Codeo is fast approaching! Health 2.0 Austin will be holding it’s first code-a-thon, Codeo (for Code Rodeo) at Capital Factory. You will want to be there! Still confused about how you fit in? Think you shouldn’t come because you aren’t a coder? Come to our next meeting where we’ll be talking about how we can create solutions in only 2 days.

Remember – code-a-thons are NOT just for coders!

More Details/Sign Up

In HIT, SXSW Interactive #healthit, austin, Codeathon, Health 2.0, Health IT, HIT, sxsw, SXSWI

Art begins in imitation and ends in innovation.

- Mason Cooley

Innovation

Posted on September 4, 2012 In Quotes innovation, Mason Cooley

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How to Respond to Negative Comments

August 31, 2012 — Leave a comment

If you have not already you will receive a negative comment on Facebook, Yelp, Twitter, etc. This is also a stumbling block for hospitals in their pursuit to maximize the use of social media. Most hospitals do not want to participate or truly be transparent online because they feel they are opeing the door to negative comments.

Two thoughts:

No one is waiting on you so they can have a place to make negative comments. If someone has something they want to share they will. Good or bad…
If you do not participate in the discussion online around your brand how then do you even know about the comments that are out there and better yet how can you respond.

Service recovery is a teaching point in hospitals, and this should carry over to the digital world. Here are a couple of pointers I give hospitals when dealing with negative comments.

Have a policy – You need something to fall back on when negative comments turn to improper comments.
Have a pre-approved statement you can modify – Responsiveness is important when connecting with negative reviews or individuals who have an issue and post online.
Make sure the “real” people are on board – In a hospital most negative comments revolve around an ER visit or a billing issue, so make sure those key leaders understand the plan.
Do NOT delete the comment – Much has been discussed and written on this so I will only say it ends bad for the brand. The only time this makes sense is if it violates a policy that has been set forth – language, slander, etc.
Make sure you not a liar – If your response is telling the consumer that “Sally” will be following up then make sure this happens. There is no doubt that “Sally” is busy and doesn’t understand the impact of this scenario like you do.
Connect the dots – Once a resolution is met then circle back with those involved so they truly understand why you did not delete the comment, and what any subsequent posts said after they connected with the consumer.

The goal in most cases is not to have the entire conversation online. No one want to have a back and forth on Facebook about a billing issue. So the key is to acknowledge the comment and give the consumer confidence that this discussion will take place offline. Here is a version of the statement I recommend:

John – Thank you for taking time to connect with us online. I am very sorry your expectations were not met on your recent visit to Big Medical Center. We would love the opportunity to connect and visit further about your experience. Sally Smith our Chief Nursing Officer will be reaching out, but if you would like to try her directly you can do so by calling 555-1212.

Here is a real example of how this played out via Facebook:

Consumer:

“Hospital” Your customer service is the worst! I’ve never had such a bad experience dealing with bill payment and account management. Total incompetence are the words that come to mind.

If you want to become a player – fix your billing and customer service. Until then – count me out. Your outsourced biller is incompetent.

Hospital:

Your satisfaction is a top priority for us. We are sorry you are having an issue with you bill. If you can visit (web address) and provide us a way to follow up with you we would love to opportunity to visit further.

Consumer:

I’d be happy to discuss. Will submit my contact info and let everyone know how it works out.

Consumer:

Impressed. Just received a follow-up call from Tish at “Hospital.” She resolved my issue on the spot. Thanks for the help and great care after my surgery. My wife and I are expecting - look for us at the “Hospital” this September.

Question: Has responding to negative comments changed at organizations over the past few years?

In Blogging, Communications, Facebook, Hospitals, Strategy facebook, hospital social media, negative comments, strategy, yelp

Great leaders have a heart for people. They take time for people. They view people as the bottom line, not as a tool to get to the bottom line.

- Pat Williams

People

Posted on August 30, 2012 In Quotes Orland Magic, Pat Williams

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Is Being on Facebook a Permanent Opt-In?

August 29, 2012 — Leave a comment

via flickr

The world in which we live in has changed drastically. Based on our current use of Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Foursquare, and even email – is there truly an opt-in?

I get a hand full of emails everyday that I have no idea why I am receiving them.
I also get notifications on Facebook everyday for something I could care less about.

I know there are privacy settings and ways to unsubscribe but is that really just a futile effort? Are we living in an opt-in world?

Question: what do you do to make sure your not creating more noise for your consumers?

In Communications facebook, hospital communications, opt-in, spam, twitter, yelp

While it may be true that the best advertising is word-of-mouth, never lose sight of the fact it also can be the worst advertising.

- Jef I. Richards

Word-of-Mouth

Posted on August 28, 2012 In Quotes Jef Richards, word-of-mouth

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Technology

SXSW Interactive Hackathon 1.0

Can’t make the event?

A Flurry of Health IT Coming to Austin – Want In?

SXSW Interactive Hackathon 1.0

Health 2.0 Austin – Codeo

Innovation

People

Is Being on Facebook a Permanent Opt-In?

Word-of-Mouth

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