EVENT: Data protection seminar

The words data protection can scare people who don’t really understand what it means, what it allows you to do and the implications.  This seminar aims to demystify data protection and help you to feel confident in your communications. 

Data Protection and Communications for the Voluntary Sector (24 September 2009, London)

“Is your organisation Data Protection compliant in its fundraising and marketing activity? Not understanding this legislation can put your organisation at reputational and financial risk. You will learn about all the rules that apply to your emails, direct marketing, telemarketing, websites and more.”

For more and to book visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/dataprotectionsep09 or call Matt on 020 7520 3160.

EVENT: Marketing conference

Sharpen your marketing theory and practice – NCVO Summer Marketing Conference (7 July 2009, London)

“Get the tools you need to ensure that your organisation stands out in a crowded marketplace and that you are engaging with a range of audiences. One of the worlds most recognised and highly respected marketers Drayton Bird will give the keynote address and show you how direct marketing can make a real difference to your organisation.”

The conference also includes a session on how to make the most of new media:

New media can be used as more than just an extension of your fundraising and awareness raising activities. By using their website as a service delivery tool, Breast Cancer Care, have put the supporter back at the centre of their activities. Find out how you can use new media techniques such as online discussion forums to keep your stakeholders at the heart of your work.

For more and to book visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/marketingjuly09 or call Matt on 020 7520 3160.

Creating viral video

I’m at NCVO’s Multimedia Explained event today and this morning we had a really interesting session with Julie Dodd from Public Zone looking about how organisations can create viral videos.

Julie’s 5 top tips for creating viral videos:

• Keep them short (1-2 minutes maximum). 

One of the other workshops from the day said that when a video gets to around 52 seconds most people switch off or fast forward to the end to see what happens, so make sure that by the time yours hits 52 seconds something interesting has happened.

• Make sure it’s well edited

This doesn’t mean that it needs to be high quality but it does need to be edited well.  Free tools are available such as Windows Movie Maker on PCs, iMovie on Macs and others at http://sourceforge.net/softwaremap/trove_list.php?form_cat=256.

• Is it surprising or exciting? 

If not, then are people really going to want to look at it and share it?

• Make it shareable   

Host your video on a site like You Tube, Facebook or Vimeo so that’s it easy for people to link to it, embed in their own sites/blogs and share with friends.

• Part of a wider strategy 

Your video won’t go viral if you haven’t thought through what you’re going to do with it after it’s made.  Think through the marketing strategy as a whole before you even get to the stage of making your video.

Good luck!

EVENT: Connected Generation unConference

If  you work with young people then this unconference (organised by Tim Davies) is “an opportunity to explore big ideas, and practical realities of weaving the web into work with young people”.

Where and when? Saturday 11th July, London

What’s all this unconference business about?

As an unConference, the exact programme is created on the day by the participants, who will convene conversations, provide demonstrates and share their insights.

However, themes that are likely to be explored include:

• Communicating with young people online – from promoting youth services and positive activities, through to hosting two-way dialogues with young people in online spaces.
• Social networks & youth participation – how can Facebook, Bebo, MySpace and Ning be part of the participation workers toolbox? And how does social networking have the power to change the face of participation?
• Digital inclusion for young people – making sure that all young people have the access to technology and the skills they need to get on in the digital age;
• Practical action – how to make sure online engagement is based on safe-and-sound foundations; getting policies in place; and making sure the technology and staff skills are available to make the most of online engagement;
• Hands-on learning – exploring different social media tools that you can use in your work, and sharing tips with other participants about the best way to use them;

Find out more about the event and book your place online at http://connectedgeneration09.eventbrite.com/.

EVENT: Future Users of Cool Technology

Thanks to Yorkshire and the Humber regional ICT champ Colin Harrison for pointing out this interesting looking event coming up in Sheffield.

Unsheffield’s : ‘Future Users of Cool Technology’ conference is an opportunity for people with an interest in making technology useful for more people, to come together and share ideas.

Date and Venue

The event takes place at the Showroom Café Bar in Sheffield and runs from the evening of Friday 19 to late afternoon on Sunday 20 June.

Theme

This year’s theme is Future Users of Cool Technology and will appeal to anyone who’s interested in making technology useful and impactful – not just geeks.

The event will stimulate ideas, understanding, collaboration and debate around all manner of issues affecting design and usability, access to technology, practical and socially relevant applications of technology, sustainable innovation, the digital infrastructure and the creative processes that can deliver life-changing technology.

As well as identifying opportunities for bridging the digital divide, we also anticipate that participants will contribute to a wider understanding of how to effectively generate routes to previously hidden digital markets and transform existing markets by creative and intelligent use of technology.

More Information

http://unsheffield.net/

To keep up to date with what is happening in the Yorkshire and the Humber region, visit Colin’s blog at http://yhictchampion.wordpress.com/.