Article: "Friends, Fans, & Followers"

Christina Hall, author, wrote a nice 4 page article introducing Rhee Gold readers to social networking media outlets and what they can do for you. I won’t reproduce it here for obvious reasons but here’s a brief play-by-play. [Update 7-15-10: original article here]

 

She leads off with some Facebook material, which as we know has more than 400 MILLION active users to date, and how it can work for your studio. She interviews a few dance studio owners with a Facebook presence about their experience so far. They’ve both had different experiences but both positive. The studios share a few tips they’ve learned about dealing with social networks like Twitter, Facebook & YouTube.

Next, she has a few quotes from Yours Truly on to monitor negative comments about you and your studio online without doing any extra work on your part.

The article goes into video hosting social sites like YouTube and the one we use on the RDDW system, Blip.tv. Kids & parents LOVE seeing themselves online and it can really do wonders if you work it right. She quote another studio owner who using for good measure.

The article wraps up talking about the RDDW system, how we build social media right into it and how social media can work for your studio. We talk a little bit how to participate in these various social media networks without it being a time sink.

In my opinion, really, it’s just how people are communicating these days and you just HAVE to be there or you’re missing out.

Great little article getting people used to social media with interspersed tips from real world studio owners. All in all, yet another great piece of writing from this magazine. You’re already a subscriber, right?

 

(Secret link about Facebook)

Dance.com

Dance.com did an article on dancing and social media, specifically Twitter. It’s on the heels of a New York Times article with ballerinas and Twitter. The article profiles a few tech savvy ballerinas but then turns the corner and shows how other dancers and studio owners are using Twitter for success. They interviewed me and a few high profile Tweeters in the dance world like @metroDance.  Here’s a quote from me:

 

According to online marketing expert Chad Lawson, owner of Real Deal Dance Marketing, Twitter is all about maintaining relationships, creating new ones and getting people interested in your work. “It’s like going to a party, being yourself, relaxed, cool, whatever, and have people get interested in you,” he says. “Eventually, they’ll ask, ‘What do you do?’” Lawson contends that it’s different from walking into a party and simply handing someone your business card—on Twitter, it’s all about the social interaction.

And, here’s a nice quote from MetroDance:

Kristie Wyler, artistic director of Metro Dance in Plymouth, MI, is an avid tweeter. With nearly 800 followers and over 1,000 tweets, Wyler is one of the most popular teachers on the site. She uses Twitter not only to spread awareness about general dance related issues, but also to stay connected with her students and students’ parents. For Wyler, who goes under the handle MetroDance (http://www.twitter.com/MetroDance), Twitter is a great way to keep her studio connected to the broader dance community. It’s also a way for the dance community to feel connected to her.

All in all, great little article that you should check out in full.

Be sure to follow me on Twitter if you’re not already. @danceMarketing

I found a nifty little service called ‘twhanel‘ and despite to too cute name is a nifty little tool for organizing groups on Twitter.

So, for us, there are TONS of dancers joining Twitter every day and there’s not reall good way for us to find them and encourage them or connect with them, etc….until now.

Just click one of the links below at any point in time and you’ll be able to see Tweets real time of people how are Twittering about that dance and just add them as a friend. Chances are they’ll add you back and who knows what kind of connect can come of that?

Here are the categories I made so far. If you think of others or add any yourself and want them to be listed here, just let me know.

Click on any of the links below and find kindred spirits right away:

Dance

Ballet

Lindy Hop

Hip Hop

Tap

Contemporary Dance (Modern)

Jazz Dance

Lyrical

Ballroom

Tap Dance

West Coast Swing

Bellydancing

Country Dancing

Hustle Dancing