Sorry for any cross postings

 

 

With just over 5 weeks to go plans for the London based Social Media Exchange for the Cultural and Heritage Sectors are really taking shape.  This one day peer-led training event is aimed at staff working in museums, galleries, libraries, archives, cultural and heritage organisations.  This is a fantastic opportunity for you and your colleagues to make connections, and compare, contrast and bounce ideas off other organisations.  You'll leave this event with practical skills, fresh ideas and inspiration - and that's a promise!

 

We've got a fantastic line up of speakers from organisations including Google, Museum of London, The Mersey Basin Campaign, The National Trust, BlinkMedia, Wolverhampton Arts and Museum Service, Imperial War Museum and lots, lots more.     Our eclectic mix of delegates represent organisations of all shapes and sizes – someone is even flying in from Sweden for the event.

 

We’re delighted that English Heritage is providing 20 subsidized places of £50 (+VAT) each for historic environment organisations with less than 5 members of staff.  These spaces are now being offered to staff or volunteers on a first come first served basis with one place per organisation. 

 

Booking a place is simple. All you have to do is go to the website www.socialmediaexchange.org.uk and click on the booking form.

 

We have now extended our Early Bird booking rates until Thursday 30 April so there is still time to take advantage of these discounted rates.   Please do share details of this event to your networks and colleagues.  This event will sell out.  

 

Masterclass Sessions include:

 

• Web Content – Build and Engage Your Audience

Does your web content engage, inform and entertain your audience? Five questions will help transform your site.  Led by Madeleine Sugden Content Manager, KnowHow NonProfit

 

• Group Tweeting – finding your organisation’s voice on Twitter

Relative newcomers to Twitter, Westminster Libraries took the plunge in early 2009, having realised that this was a very useful bandwagon to be on. Ali will discuss the hows and whys of their approach, issues encountered and lessons learned so far. Of particular interest are the possible conflicts between an organisational, ‘official’ voice and the more chatty, personal interaction favoured on Twitter. Also how the rest of the organisation perceive and engage with Twitter and other Web 2.0 sites.   Masterclass led by Ali Holder, Information Development Librarian at Westminster Libraries

 

• Podcasting: From nothing to something beautiful

Lessons from how we at the National Trust entered the audio world, learning to make beautiful, useful and interesting podcasts from nothing, and why you should bother.

Masterclass led by Martha Roberts, Communications Co-ordinator National Trust

 

• My other handheld is an iphone……

 

How the Museum of London is delivering a plethora of blended learning sessions in its galleries for the full range of museum audiences using a range of mobile devices including PSPs, iphones and ipods, applications like Twitter, Quick Response barcodes and augmented reality.  Masterclass led by Paul Clifford from the Museum of London

 

 

• How can we use social media to promote social inclusion?

Lots of us are experimenting with using social media - and we're reaching new audiences too. But how can we ensure that we use media to effectively target and reach people who would not normally get involved in museums and cultural heritage? This Masterclass will look at how social media can build partnerships and other networks which begin to reach beyond the usual targets.

            Masterclass led by John Vincent, The Network and Lucie Fitton, Museum of London

 

• Succeeding online using free Google tools

In this session, you'll get a chance to see how to use things such as Google Analytics, Google Website Optimiser, Google Webmaster Tools and more to control and optimise your online presence.  This interactive session will enable you to ask questions on anything Google."

Masterclass led by Chewy Trewhella - Developer Advocate, Google

 

• Building up your social media presence from scratch – and with very little money

One small organisation’s adventures in new media. Pick the brains of a low-tech, low-budget outfit that’s blogged, facebooked, videoed, minidisked and twittered since 2006.

            Masterclass led by Kate Fox New Media Manager  Mersey Basin Campaign 

 

• “Pocket-sized film productions and texting ghosts"

             Visitors' own mobile phones are a huge potential resource for even the smallest organisations. Two detailed case studies, and a demo with live monsters.

             Masterclass led by ANDREW WILSON co-director Blink

 

• The Power of Pictures

Learn how you and your organisation can achieve the maximum benefit from digital storytelling - with top tips for embracing the

Flickr photo-sharing community.  Masterclass led by Steve Bridger

 

• World Press for Good

Tempted to set up your own website, but don’t know where to start? This session will show you how the blogging tool

Wordpress can be used to create simple websites – and integrate into your existing web presence.  Masterclass Led by Dave Briggs

 

 

If you need any further information about the day please do not hesitate to get in contact. 

 

I look forward to seeing you all at The Social Media Exchange in June.  

 

Detailed information can be found @ www.socialmediaexchange.org.uk

 

This event is being supported by English Heritage, Heritage Link, The Network, MLA London and Our Place