Huge congratulations to Alan Carr who walked away with the Best Chat Show Host Award at the National Television Awards last night. The fact that it was decided by a public vote makes the award all the sweeter.
We recently spent a month helping Guardian journalist Paula Cocozza to improve her social media presence. It was an experiment on her part, born from a curiosity about what happens when you pay someone to help look after your Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn (etc) accounts.
It was a fascinating month – and with only a month to play with, we were clear that we could only achieve limited success in helping Paula to build a quality following and interest. We always recommend 6 months’ work to test content, and see what works best.
Our aim was to help Paula to get more from social media – to use it for networking as well as promoting her work (she’s writing a book as well as her Guardian articles).
Paula was keen to learn, albeit time poor. We helped her to increase her visibility, particularly on Twitter, with more frequent posts, more images and more conversation. We plugged her Twitter account into Social Bro‘s analytics software which helped Paula to understand more about her followers and those she’s following, and will give useful information like the best time to tweet.
We explored the idea of a polite cycling society, though we ran out of time to really make any headway with that. I still think the idea has legs!
You can read Paula’s account of our month together here.
Follow @CocozzaPaula on Twitter
And if you too need help, some tips!
Be entertaining! Be yourself – share with your followers what you’re up to.
Post photos of activity or places – and of yourself (if you can bear it).
Provide links to make sure people know where to book/buy/read content you’re talking about.
Reply to people who have Tweeted you.
Check your tweets for spelling / grammar before you post (if posting from your phone beware the auto-correct monster!).
Best to only post images/photos that you have copyright to / the permission of anyone in the photo.
Never engage in an argument on Twitter. You don’t need the stress, and the other person may be a child or unwell! (And could result in negative press…)
NEVER drink and tweet!
Our mind map – helping us to get to know Paula.
Liberty842 has created a brand new website for Alan Carr, to coincide with the announcement of his 2015 tour, Yap, Yap, Yap!
The site integrates Alan’s prolific social media channels as well as those that belong to his chat show, Alan Carr: Chatty Man.
Best-selling author and journalist, Shirley Conran OBE, has a brand new website.
A joint development between Liberty842 and Do Tank Studios, shirleyconran.com showcases Shirley’s novels, her writing and gives her a platform for her often controversial views on everything from sex and power to packing for a holiday on her blog.
The new website has been developed to coincide with the launch of her new maths ebook, Money Stuff, which aims to help women manage their money better – and get richer!
Shirley Conran is also tweeting her views @ShirleyConran.
Anyone read Kirstie Allsopp’s Fuck Up Your Future plan? Don’t go to uni, have a baby instead? @Telegraph http://t.co/2kPT9XznDF
— Shirley Conran (@ShirleyConran) June 11, 2014
“Life’s too short to be short of money.”
Shirley Conran’s innovative ebook, Money Stuff, launches today.
Money Stuff is a 4-step do-it-yourself maths course – designed for the iPad – for women that is relevant to real life.
Those doing the course – or thinking about it – can ask questions and get support online through Money Stuff on Facebook and Twitter – managed by Liberty842
Shirley Conran says: “We need to tell our daughters they can’t just sit through maths lessons until they’ve finished studying and then forget about it. The first day they leave school is the first day they’ll need maths.”
Interested? You can try the first book for FREE!
Last week’s The Archers gave its audience plenty to talk about. As Tom Archer left Kirsty wailing at the altar, listeners took to Twitter and Facebook to have their say.
I created a Storify (below) that shows all the anticipation and reactions during Friday evening’s episode on Twitter. It’s a great example of how audiences engage with a real broadcasting moment as it happens.
There was a fantastic response on Twitter last night to the first episode of Big Ballet. The programme, fronted by Wayne Sleep, clearly struck a chord with viewers and had many admitting to dancing round their living rooms and looking for local ballet classes.
There were over 5,500 tweets around broadcast, according to analytics from Second Sync. If you missed it, you can see what all the fuss was about on 4oD.
Love #bigballet! Not afraid to admit to an occasional pirouette around the kitchen. When the blinds are down obvs! #onceadanceralwaysadancer
— Elizabeth Grundy (@eagrundy) February 6, 2014
So many lovely women on #bigballet on @Channel4 It's got real heart this show. Likeylike.
— sara cox (@sarajcox) February 6, 2014
On Sunday 19th January 2014, Mr Selfridge is back on our screens with a second series covering the First World War. And the ghost of Harry Gordon Selfridge – @MrSelfridge – will be watching and commenting on Twitter once again.
So don’t forget to follow @MrSelfridge on Twitter for an additional narrative bringing you the history of the great store.
Make a note in your elegantly-bound diaries, my friends. #MrSelfridge returns to your televisor Sunday 19 January at 9pm on @ITV. HGS
— Mr Selfridge (@MrSelfridge) January 12, 2014
This Christmas we’re raising a glass to our amazing brother, Addison, who died on Monday. Thank you to everyone who has sent in messages of condolence and support. They have meant a lot to us.
Addison has been described by many as a legend, larger than life, a force of nature. But most of all, to us, he was our big brother. He was both impossible and generous, entertaining, very funny and fiercely protective. We are very proud of what he achieved and we shall miss him terribly.
Tayler and Daisy Cresswell
If you would like to leave a donation Addison’s memory, we are collecting on behalf of his favourite charity, Great Ormond Street Hospital.
There have been some amazing tributes from the comedy world. I’ll add them as I find them:
‘Addison Cresswell – The best agent I ever dealt with’ – by Peter Fincham