How to be Social at an Event

Live events were tailor made for Social Media.  Pre, during and post event...each presents a different opportunity to engage with the Target Consumer.  My experience with Reggae Marathon fits this exactly:

1. Pre-event the engagement revolves around driving Runner Registrations while building anticipation for participating.  Lots of stories about individual runners and groups planning to attend. Twitter, Facebook and Google+ are the main Social Media Channels.
2. At the Reggae Marathon Race Event Weekend, it's about sharing runner experiences at the event.  Photos rule:  Instagram is the primary Social Media Channel followed closely by Facebook and Twitter.
3. Post-event the engagement continues with runner experiences but broadens to include the total experience of being on holiday in a beach location.  Social Media Channels are fairly balanced between Instrgram, Facebook and Twitter.

The Infographic below mirrors this experience and provides some additional insights into how to make an event truly social:

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Chris M Morales
MarCommTO

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin:  Chris M Morales 

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Abs, abs and nothing but the abs

Oh, oh...now I've gone and done it.

In a fit of impulsiveness last week I bragged about the indoor workouts I've been doing while recovering from (another) leg injury.  I boasted that pretty soon I'd have Abs to be proud of.  My good friend Larry Savitch called me on it:  "Oh you'll have great abs" he said , "Under a layer of fat unless you reduce your calories and increase your aerobic exercise".

Oops...there go the salty snacks!

To make matters worse, I challenged Larry to an Abs Competition on the beach in Negril at Reggae Marathon December 5.

No I am in really, really deep!

I should explain:  Larry is quite a few years younger than me.  That's not really the issue.  What could cause me to come in second in this two-person competition (a finishing position I am quite familiar with by the way:  Blog post) is that he already has 'Abs of Steel".  Oh, and he spends his days in a gym...professionally as a Trainer.

OK, so he has a 'little' advantage over me.  But heck, since it's my throwdown, and I have 280 days to get in shape, it should be no problem.

There go those salty snacks.

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

Storytelling in the age of Social Media

Back in the day we told stories in full page newspaper and magazine ads, television and radio commercials and direct mail.  It was totally one way and measuring response, even with direct mail was guesswork at best.  

It was still storytelling!

Today and in the future, storytelling is multi-way:  Brand to Consumer;  Consumer to Brand; Consumer to Consumer about a Brand.  All of this interactivity made possible by Social Media.

I heard recently that Social Media is going to be taken over by Automation.  Until humans are replaced by machines, that will never happen!  We love the human story too much!

What do you think?

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Chris M Morales
MarCommTO

chris.morales@bell.net

647 393 3855

Linkedin:  Chris M Morales 

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Another freaking injury?

What...???

2015 has been challenging so far.  From the Toothache that stopped the running followed by a head cold through running in sub-zero arctic conditions, running consistently has been impossible.  Now a pain in my leg...literally...has slowed me down once again.  A muscle pull near my hip if you must know (Strained Quad).

I can hear you now:  Maybe it't time to give up running, Chris!  I know that's what Sally is thinking...I know her look!

But despite this latest setback, that's not an option for me.  I've thought about taking up swimming and although I'm pretty good at swimming, I find swimming laps mind numbing.  Plus, getting undressed to swim in a pool in the dead of winter is simply a 'Shudderrrrrr...!'

I could go riding.  We have a bike lane right outside our building that connects to some great trails. Hmmmm...Riding a bike outside in the winter!  Ice and snow, oh and CARS takes all the fun out of bicycle riding in Toronto.  

I could hit the gym.  Not!  Treadmills and Eliptical trainers are at the same level as swimming for me. OK, if I watch the TV or listen to music through headphones it is a little more interesting but still not enough to get me to go to the bother of going out to the gym.  

Ahhh I can here you thinking...how about walking.  It's not a bad idea but I'm still a running snob and still want to be called a 'Runner'.  I have gone out for some walks since this leg injury and while I have enjoyed them, when I see a runner I get depressed.

The good news though is that I've been working on my core with simple exercises I can do at home. And even though my friend Larry says that without cardio exercise and reduced intake all I'll have is 'A 6-pack under a layer of fat' I'm working on showing him up in Negril this December.  Maybe we'll have a competition to see who has the better abs!

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy