The Life of Randy Ksar

Live Blogging vs. Live Tweeting an Event with Blyve #socialmedia

DJ Ksar — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:22:55 +0000

I’ve been consulting for a company called Blyve recently that is changing the way brands interact with their communities during live online events. My brother, the GM and VP of Product, over there wrote up a great preso on the differences and benefits of live blogging an event vs. live tweeting. Yes, I’m still a strong believer in Twitter to help you spread the word about your brand and reach influencers but having a branded experience using Blyve’s platform is key to better engagement and ROI. Check out the preso below and let me know if you want a demo.

Renee Zellwegger has a #socialmedia PR Opportunity!

DJ Ksar — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:44:45 +0000

She looked like a wreck, walked with a limp and might of been on something but could that of been her social media viral hit? Her mentions were pretty non-existent for the past six months and now she, her agent and PR agency have an opportunity to capitalize. I can definitely help her – call me maybe?

She has got to start doing the following:

Create a robust, authentic, social content strategy that she is deeply involved
Seed content to her influential fans, trade publications and fellow actors
Team up with Jonathan Lipnicki for a Jerry McGuire reunion
Produce an online series / reality series that focuses on the behind-the-scenes of the Academy Awards

Those are just some ideas but love to hear your comments below. BTW, the chart was pulled from Lithium social media monitoring – great tool to have when managing communities, search for your brand mentions across all web/social properties, and tracking trending topics such as the Oscars.

Randy – randy.ksar at gmail dot com - 408-409-9033

Top 5 #smallbiz Tips on Creating a Mobile App

DJ Ksar — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:21:34 +0000

I wrote this presentation for a client of mine called Mobilous. It will help if you are thinking about building a mobile app and not sure where to start. Got any questions? Let me know by commenting below or pinging me by clicking on the contact me button above.

Merry Xmas 2012

DJ Ksar — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 21:01:54 +0000

Merry Xmas to you and your family! Have a safe and relaxing break and see you in 2013!

Choosing a Social Media Software Solution

DJ Ksar — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 19:45:27 +0000

If you are anything like me you get approached by social media software companies every week selling you a solution. Some are brand spanking new (less than 1 year) and others have been in the business for 4 years. Some promise data, some increase engagement but which one do you choose for your company. Your company is already hired a social media manager, got the engagement and fans but what next. What should your goals be? Lead generation! Focus your efforts on not only expanding your social reach but leads from those. How do you get people back to your website? A lot has to do with your content strategy but if the funds are available there are great solutions out there that focus on a social user experience. Until next post where I cover some of those companies. Ping me if you want a sneak peek.

Social Media Fundraising – Strategy that works!

DJ Ksar — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:26:20 +0000

A few weeks ago, I gave a talk at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s office in San Jose, California about social media fundraising. Within the SF Bay area, they have over 1,000 athletes that are training for an endurance event and fundraising in honor of the Society. Of course, with tough economic times you need to get creative and use all available channels to fundraise including (you guessed it!) social media. Here is the presentation that goes over a typical 3 to 5 month training schedule and what your social strategy should be. If your non-profit is interested in me giving a similar presentation click on the “contact me” link above.

New Video: Top 5 Tips on Creating a Kickstarter Campaign

DJ Ksar — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:56:11 +0000

Earlier this week I interviewed Chuck Freedman, co-author of the Plow Family Adventures, a children’s book successfully funded on Kickstarter. In 30 days he hit his goal of $5,700 which helped him and wife his publish the next edition of their children’s book. Our conversation focused on sharing best practices on creating and marketing a Kickstarter campaign going over topics such as video tips, rewards, updates to your backers, and marketing via social media.

0:00 – 3:55 Intro to Myself and Chuck Freedman

3:56 – 08:30 Overview of Plow Family Adventures Kickstarter Campaign and Book

8:31: – 10:31 What should be included in a Kickstarter video (show that you are committed in doing the project & why is it important)

10:32 - 12:10 What is the recommended project timeline for a Kickstarter campaign?

12:11 – 17:30 What should be included in your rewards (fun & simple + create a graphic for your rewards)

17:31 – 18:15 How long was the campaign for and what timing does Kickstarter offer (30 days is recommended)

18:16 – 20:30 How do payments work with Kickstarter and what should your goal be?

20:31 – 21:15 What are the prerequisites do using Kickstarter’s content management tools?

21:16 – 23:50 What should be included in updates and how often should they be sent out?

23:51 – 29:25 How should you market your Kickstarter campaign?

29:26 – 30:21 Who is the illustrator of your children’s?

30:22 – 33:23 Do you recommend to send out a press release? (is it going to improve the quality of life for people – if yes then press release would be recommended)

33:24 – Recommendations on the amount you are going to raise (are you going to run out of money before you produce your product? shipping costs need to be factored in)

33:58 – 36:34 Demo of Kicktraq – Kickstarter analytics to measure the funding throughout the duration of the campaign

36:35 – 38:29 Chuck’s contact info – plowfamilyadventures.com

38:30 – 48:48 Featured Kickstarter Campaigns: Memoto (lifelogging camera), Bullet Proof (my friend from high school, Richie Yau) GoldieBlox (engineering toy for young girls)

Kickstarter Campaigns: Interview with Martin Källström, CEO of Memoto

DJ Ksar — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 02:18:36 +0000

In prep for Wednesday Nov. 14th Google+ Hangout / Blyve event titled Top 5 Tips on Creating a Kickstarter Campaign, I reached out to Martin over at Memoto whose campaign is 17 days away from being funded approximately $500,000 for his company’s lifelogging camera. Martin gave me some great insight into his campaign and what made it so successful. Read the Q&A below and remember to tune in Wednesday Nov. 14th at 9am pacific / 12pm eastern to talk with another successful Kickstarter, Chuck Freedman and his children’s book The Plow Family Adventures.

Q. Tell everyone a little bit about your company.

A. We’re Memoto, a Swedish startup developing the worlds smallest wearable lifelogging camera – allowing you to record your every moment and navigate through them via our cloud service and mobile apps.

Q. Why did you choose Kickstarter to fund your company and product?

A. Crowdfunding is the perfect entrepreneurial launch tool – for us it meant an opportunity to do a market estimation (or at least validate product demand), pre-sell units and get customer funding for production in advance (solving the liquidity equation), as well as mobilize our supporters and get media coverage as well as incredible engagement in social media and directly on mail. We have implemented many product design suggestions coming from our backers, everything about the process feels very open source, direct and honest.

Q. Were you surprised on the outcome of your Kickstarter campaign being successfully funded even before the deadline?

A. Yes. We had no idea. We thought we could (pre-)sell a few hundred cameras – at the moment it’s over 2000. We’re amazed and humbled by the positive response, and working hard to fulfil our promises to all our wonderful backers.

Q. What was the most important content for your campaign? the video, your rewards, product details?

A. The most important part was PR. The work started long before the campaign, with setting up a blog and engaging the Quantified Self movement, sharing good content and showing a commitment to the market space. That foundation also helped us strike up genuine, ongoing conversations with the backers and media once we launched the Kickstarter campaign.

Q. Do you have any tips on creating a great video for a Kickstarter campaign? Do you need a huge video production budget?

A. The most important thing with your Kickstarter video is that it is honest about your product, your team and your abilities to fulfill what you offer to the Kickstarter community. That might require a professional video producer to achieve but it’s probably not always necessary.

Q. What do you recommend be included in a reward(s) to your backers?

A. You should offer rewards in both ends of the price spectra: something low for the ones interesting in keeping in touch and helping out with what little they have, and something really high for the ones that really want to be a part of the project and make a difference. And of course everything in between, where you offer your actual product packaged in a good deal for the Kickstarter backers.

Q. How did you promote your campaign outside of Kickstarter?

A. Targeted PR and ambitious community management. That is, speak with the right media and present the project in a way so that it matters to them and at the same time invest many, many hours and hard work in engaging people that you see might be interested in your coming product: the Kickstarter community, people expressing interest in products adjacent to yours and people of general “early adopter” kind.

Q. What are the next steps of your campaign once the campaign is over?

A. To get the product out to the backers! It’s more or less the one and only objective from the day the campaign is over.

Q. When will the product ship? How much will it cost?

A. Shipping to Kickstarter backers starts in February, there are still units left on the $249 backer level including free worldwide shipping. The price for a Memoto camera after the campaign will be $279 USD.

Q. How do people find out more info about you or back your project on Kickstarter?

A. memoto.com/kickstarter is the place to go! We also try to reply quickly to every message we get through twitter, facebook, kickstarter and email (support@memoto.com).

Interview with Beth Rogozinski, Co-founder of Matchfactor.net #socialgaming

DJ Ksar — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:54:08 +0000

I’m just loving the blending of gamification into all verticals these days. In the past social media marketing hangouts I’ve talked with the folks from Badgeville and they’ve provided some great insight into enterprise adoption (watch this episode). In the most recent episode of our social media marketing hangout we chatted with a new startup in San Francisco called Matchfactor.net and their CEO Beth Rogozinski. Their platform provides a way for brands to engage with their fans/influencers by playing a game to determine their preferences and then recommending a solution which for brand’s is a call to action (e.g. coupon, purchase link, etc..). Watch the interview below to learn more.

Timeline:

0:00 -2:11 Intro to Beth and her background in filmmaking, gaming and digital marketing

2:11 – 4:16 Definition of Social Gaming and what the latest trends are

4:16 – 5:40 Why would businesses want to incorporate social gaming?

5:40 – 15:55 What is Matchfactor.net and how it helps brands increase fan engagement

15:55 – 22:30 What is Transmedia?

22:30 – 25:45 Measuring Social Gamification Campaigns

25:45 – 28:00 Transmedia SF meetup info including Nov. 27th Producer’s Guide to the Galaxy & January 18 Transmedia Startup weekend

29:00 – 30:52 What are the next steps for businesses to add social gamification into their user experience

31:36 – 33:00 Demo of iOS Transmedia & Social Game called Lost Spells

33:01 – 34:31 What do you think of Zynga’s predicament

34:32 – 36:40 What is the better business model – subscription vs. freemium?

36:55 – 38:24 What is the target audience / demographic of social gaming consumers?

38:24 – 41:02 Contact Info and Next Social Hangout topic: Kickstarter Campaigns

Top 5 Tips for Presenting at Hackathons

DJ Ksar — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 21:30:15 +0000

I attended the Sprint developer hackathon this week and the one skill set that was missing in 80% of the teams were presenting skills. Here are a few recommendations on how to present at a hackathons based upon my talks at conferences, Toastmasters classes and attending several events over the past 8 years:

1. Make sure your hack is ready to be displayed
Sounds obvious doesn’t it? But what I am saying is getting “all your ducks in a row”. Make sure the smartphone is ready or your computer is setup to be displayed on the projector. So many times I watch these presentations that are only allowed 3 minutes and it takes 2 minutes to get setup. Be prepared, get in line so you can present right when the timer starts and practice your demo.

2. Don’t rely on wifi
Like you might know, wifi at a conference is not reliable. I’ve had times where right at the last minute wifi doesn’t work and I’m wasting a few minutes of my 3 minute time slot trying to connect. If you can build a p2p app or wifi direct using the Android SDK then do it!

3. State the issue/problem and show how your hack solves it

Not all hacks need to have slides but prepare your presentation from an organizational standpoint. Make sure that you state the issue that is out there in the industry/world and how you went about solving it.

4. Don’t show a PowerPoint presentation just skip to the demo
The judges have to sit thru 20+ PowerPoint presentations so instead show your passion for the issue, target audience and solution and then head straight into the demo. If one of the judges works for a company that you’ve integrated their APIs or SDK then definitely show that particular feature.

5. Watch your time
Goes without saying but make sure you finish your demo in the time allocated. If you have 3 minutes then you should be concluding around 2:30 at the latest to leave time for questions or technical difficulties. Usually within a hackathon there is someone with a timer and will announce when your time is almost up but have a good understanding of how fast your demo takes when you practice it before hand.

Hope those tips help you out in your next hackathon presentation. I’m sure you have some tips too so make sure to add yours below in the comment section.

-Randy