Author Archive

Battling The Grouse Grind Trail (Vancouver, BC)

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Posted 21 Jul 2010 — by tturnbull
Category Lifestyle, Videos

This past weekend, I decided it was time to stop talking about enjoying all of the amazing things you “can” do in Vancouver and instead….make it happen!  After all, this is an amazing city with all kinds of outdoor activities available right at our doorstep.  Just check out a local’s perspective on the Tourism Vancouver website to see what I mean. (Just for the record…..I want to try all of these within the next year!)

So, with that in mind, I decided there is no better way to test one’s physical condition than to go ahead an climb a mountain…right!?!?  When you look North from downtown Vancouver, there are many amazing mountains that fill the skyline.  The biggest of these mountains is Grouse Mountain.

Grouse Mountain

Grouse Mountain is just 15 minutes North of downtown Vancouver and is a major tourist attraction around here.  Some of the highlights include a large chalet at the top complete with amazing views of the city, a lumberjack show (that was surprisingly good….considering how “touristy” it sounds), a Wildlife Refuge that houses two Grizzly bears and a massive wind turbine that includes a “viewPOD” that really gives you a bird’s eye view of Vancouver.

Now, there are two ways to the top of Grouse Mountain.

  1. Take the Skyride – very quick, painless and amazing views
  2. Battle the Grouse Grind Trail – very long, painful and amazing views (of the forest)

The Grouse Grind Trail is an extremely steep and mountainous trail that climbs 853 m (2,799 ft) over a distance of 2.9 km (2 mi), with an average grade of 30 degrees. The trail, nicknamed “Mother Nature’s Stairmaster”, is notoriously gruelling due to its steepness and mountainous terrain. Hikers, who often time themselves on the trail, reach the top in approximately 90 minutes on average although some who are very fit can finish in under 30 minutes.

Let’s just say…..it took me 90 minutes to get to the top.  But, the experience was amazing and the reward at the top was worth every step!  Check out this 8:00 minute video I put together that summarizes the whole experience.

Whether you are looking for something physically challenging or just a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon, Grouse Mountain has something for everyone.  There are many things to explore in Vancouver, but after battling the Grouse Grind Trail, I will be back for more and will be looking to improve my time!!

If you are from Vancouver or have visited Vancouver in the past, let me know what else I should try out?  I’ve seen kite-boarders down by English Bay….might have to give that a shot.  Also, I’d love to hear any advice people have on the best places to kayak around here. This is an amazing place and I want to take it ALL in!!


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The 8 Irresistible Principles of Fun

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Posted 01 Jul 2010 — by tturnbull
Category Inspiration

I came across this video randomly when searching for more inspirational videos to add to my blog. The video was produced in 2006 (very impressive animation for 2006!) and includes a powerful message that will get you thinking about what is important in life.

When it comes down to it, what do you stand for? This is a question few too many people ask themselves and even fewer do anything about. One of my favorite parts of this video states the following:

Get hungry for the things that are truly important to you. Think of the people you respect and love, the moments you relish, the impact you want to have, the legacy you want to leave. Bottom Line: don’t waste your time on anything else.

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My Panchero’s Burrito Experience Via Twitter

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Posted 25 May 2010 — by tturnbull
Category Social Media - General

I just returned from a business trip in Minneapolis and Iowa State this past week and wanted to write an article about my horrible experience with US Customs (Unbelievable that they can get away with what they do with no accountability). However, instead of focusing on the negative, I want to share a positive story about my experience with Panchero’s Mexican Grill via Twitter.

For those of you that don’t know, Panchero’s Mexican Grill is a quick-serve, fresh-Mexican franchise that is know for it’s fresh-pressed tortillas. The franchise headquarters are located in Coralville, Iowa and currently has over 50 locations in the United States with plans for extensive expansion in 2010.

Panchero’s – Twitter Experience

So, to give you a little bit of a background, I was in Ames, IA doing social media consulting, presentations and workshops with the Cyclone Hockey program. Following my meeting with the Iowa State Athletic Department, I decided to take advantage of a free burrito voucher given to me by the team. We do not have Panchero’s Mexican Burrito restaurants in Canada, so, this was my first time visiting the franchise.

Upon approaching the order counter, I noticed that Panchero’s was displaying the “Follow Us on Twitter” and “Find Us On Facebook” logos and also asked patrons to check them out online on their blog (http://bobmyburrito.com).  Of course, being in the social media industry, I was very impressed that this franchise had the foresight to prominently display these logos.

With that in mind, I quickly followed @Pancheros on Twitter and mentioned them in a Tweet.

Again, being deeply involved in the social media world and having many positive experiences to draw on (including my experience with @WestJet), I am still skeptical at times on whether or not businesses are willing to embrace these new tools for what they are……..a two-way conversation….not a broadcasting tool.

To my pleasant surprise, I received a response from @Pancheros within a few minutes:

Before engaging directly with the person behind @Pancheros, I quickly tweeted out the following (Yes….I am a big fan of Anchorman and Will Ferrell ;)

And, received the following response within minutes again:

Now, it’s pretty clear that this conversation was nothing more than a little fun banter back and forth as I sat and enjoyed my lunch.  But, what it did was create an experience that I won’t soon forget. As the @Pancheros franchise is not in Canada, I likely wouldn’t have given them another thought leaving the restaurant that day.  But, because A REAL PERSON actually took the time to ask my about my experience, I now have an personal story attached to something as simple as a burrito!

Panchero’s is only one of many examples of how social media can be used as a tool to build loyalty among clients/fans.  But, we are starting to see more and more evidence every day that these tools can be powerful……..if used properly!  The lesson learned here is that setting up a Facebook Fan Page, Twitter account and Blog for your business is only the first step.  Learning how to use these tools properly and finding ways to integrate them into your overall communications and marketing strategy is a completely different beast.  But, it can’t be argued that there is a tremendous opportunity to build buzz about your brand if you are willing to invest the time to educate yourself and engage with these tools!

I have been on Twitter for over 2 years now and can honestly say that this social media tool in particular continues to amaze me with every single conversation and relationship that is built.

Check out Panchero’s Mexican Grill online

If you’d like to know more about Panchero’s, check them out on their social media accounts:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/pancheros
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Pancheros
YouTube: http://youtube.com/PancherosTV
Blog: http://bobmyburrito.com

Also, I have been in touch with the Social Media Manager for @Pancheros and will be interviewing him in the next few days.  We are also talking about doing a LIVE webinar in the near future where he will talk about how they use social media and the results they are seeing from their efforts.  So, stay tuned for information on how you can register for this event!

Social Media Nightmare – Brixx Pizza

Now, we have all seen our fair share of social media success stories and failures.  And, unfortunately for many businesses, the fear of negative feedback causes many of them to steer clear of social media instead of embracing the fact that people are going to talk about their business online whether they like it or not. What social media does is allows them to respond to negative feedback and use it as an opportunity to turn a disgruntled client into a loyal advocate!

To give you an example of how NOT to use social media, I’m going to reference a story I came across the other day. An employee at Brixx Pizza in Charlotte, NC was recently fired for voicing her disgust to the world via Facebook about a small tip she received. To her surprise, she was told a few days later that she was being let go for making derogatory comments about a customer and that this breached the terms set out in her contract as an employee. Now, there are many things that could be said about this situation, but I’m not going to get into a long rant on  “privacy”, “freedom of speech” and “just cause”.  Instead, just take a look at the Brixx Pizza Facebook Fan Page and see what the world has to say about it!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brixx-Wood-Fired-Pizza/84618206631?

_

I’m not sure if the Brixx Pizza franchise ever saw this coming, but I can assure you that their executive staff has not slept well the past few nights! Now, I can already hear the response from “skeptical” business owners out there that look at this and say “See…..that’s why I’m not on Facebook!”.  However, the reality is, even if you chose to not have a presence on Facebook, people will find ways and platforms to voice their opinion about your company online.  Having an official Facebook Fan Page at least allows you to monitor those conversations and react appropriately.

If I had any advice for Brixx Pizza, the first thing would be to figure out what you want to say in response to this event, do it quickly and syndicate it across all of your official social accounts! After all, didn’t we learn anything from the Tiger Woods fiasco?? ;)

I’d love to hear your thoughts on both of these stories.  Also, please feel free to share other stories (both positive and negative) about how social media is being used by businesses (big and small).

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NEW – Linkedin – Job Seeker Premium Account review

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Posted 13 May 2010 — by tturnbull
Category Social Media - General

I received an email today from Linkedin telling me about a new promotion called the “Linkedin – Job Seeker Premium Account“. As most of you know probably know, Linkedin is a “business-oriented” social networking site that is free to join. LinkedIn exists to help you make better use of your professional network and help the people you trust in return. Their mission is to connect the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful. Of course, I advocate that EVERYONE should have a Linkedin account. Even if its only for the simple fact of controlling your online identity. But, there are many benefits to creating a Linkedin account both from the Job Seeker and Employer perspectives.

So, the question needs to be asked……..”Is there a benefit to obtaining a paid Linkedin account?”. Well, in my initial research of the Linkedin paid accounts a few months back, I didn’t see a whole lot of benefit from an individual perspective. There were some advanced features that made it easier to organize your contact information and the InMail service allows you to contact individuals you are not directly connected with. I signed up for the free “Business Premium” account to check it out and was underwhelmed.

Now, taking a closer look at the way Linkedin has packaged their “Job Seeker Premium Account“, I have notice a few other features that could be very valuable to your job search. Here are just a few of those features

  • NEW – Move to the top of the list as a Featured Applicant
  • Contact hiring managers directly with InMail messages
  • Save profiles & organize your job search with Profile Organizer
  • Prepare for interviews – see full profiles of hiring decision makers
  • Get introduced to inside sources at companies
  • NEW – Join Lindsey Pollak’s webinar: “Job Seeking on LinkedIn”
  • Find opportunities faster with Premium Search
  • See who’s interested in your profile
  • Open up to opportunities – let users reach you for free with OpenLink
  • Get priority customer service

You’ll notice that there only two “NEW” features…….but these two features alone could be worth the cost of investing in a “Job Seeker Premium Account“. Many of us have been in a situation where we’ve applied for a job and are left wondering if our resume is ever seen in the huge pile of applications. The “Featured Applicant” feature allows you to ensure your application will be highlighted and would definitely increase your chances of being reviewed for the position.

Here are a couple of videos by Linkedin that highlight some of the new features in the Job Seeker Premium Account:

What is a Linkedin Job Seeker Premium Account?

Linkedin Job Seeker Features – Stand Out From The Crowd!

There are three price points for the Linkedin – Job Seeker Premium Accounts:

  • Basic – $19.95/month
  • Job Seeker $29.95/month
  • Job Seeker Plus $49.95/month

The email that I received stated that during this promotion, you can purchase the “Job Seeker” account for 50% of the original price ($14.98). But, this is only for the first month (always read the fine print!! ;) and it cannot be transferred.

Having researched Linkedin extensively in the past few months, I have noticed that more and more businesses are starting to use Linkedin to post jobs and recruit employees. I’m thinking that this trend will continue to increase as more people sign up for Linkedin accounts. I will continue to monitor and experiment with these new features and will be reviewing Linkedin in much greater detail at my new social media training website: Social Connect Blueprint. So, stay tuned for updates to this article and many more hot social media topics!

In the meantime, let me know what you think. Are you planning on upgrading to a Linkedin – Job Seeker Premium Account?

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Can Amateur and Semi-Pro Sports Teams Benefit From Social Media?

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Posted 30 Mar 2010 — by tturnbull
Category Social Media - Sports

Note: This article was written for inclusion in the April newsletter for FundSport.com. FundSport.com is an online grassroots sport community providing sport clubs and athletes from around the world with professional, easy-to-understand advice and articles on all aspects of grassroots sport. We cover a range of topics including sponsorship, fundraising, the Internet and social media, club management, PR and marketing.

We have all heard stories of how professional sports teams are using social media to build their fan base, promote events and create new revenue opportunities. And, you might be asking yourself “Can an amateur or semi-professional sports team benefit from social media?”. After all, these professional sports teams already have a large loyal fan base and a marketing budget to put towards their efforts, right?

The fact is, social media does not require a big budget and you don’t need millions of fans to see a positive return from your social media efforts. If you could put a few more people in the stands at your games or sell more merchandise at your team store without it costing you anything, wouldn’t that be worth your time?

Every team has fans. Some are more loyal and engaging than others, but every team has a fan base that wants to see your program succeed. What social media does is give you the tools to engage with your fan base and turn them into advocates that will help you achieve your goals. The only thing you have to do is provide value. And, yes, value can be defined in a number of ways. It doesn’t mean you have to give away something that costs a lot of money. Value can simply be providing your fan base with something that they normally wouldn’t experience such as access to behind the scenes action, exclusive offers on tickets and merchandise and creative online contests that encourage participation.

The same tools that professional sports teams are using to engage with their fans are also available to amateur and semi-pro sports teams. The challenge is knowing which ones to focus your efforts on and how to use the tools in a way that provides value for your fans. For many teams, the first step is knowing where to begin. Here’s a good place to start:

1. Own Your Name
It’s likely that most amateur and semi-professional teams have some presence online in the form of a website. If not, you need to secure your team domain name now! And, for only a few hundred dollars (hosting and domain cost), you can setup a simple Wordpress blog, display all of your social accounts on your blog and push content out to your social accounts using simple tools.

A service that I recommend is Dreamhost. With Dreamhost, you can easily register a domain, sign up for a hosting account and install your website using Wordpress with only a few clicks.

2. Create a Facebook Fan Page

There are over 400 Million people on Facebook. Now, of course, they are not all going to be fans of your amateur or semi-professional team, but I guarantee that many of your fans are already on Facebook. These fans would happily “Fan” your team on Facebook if you ask them. One of the many benefits of a Facebook Fan Page is that it provides you with a platform that encourages “sharing” and “liking” of your content, which can make your message can spread very quickly through Facebook.

3. Create a Twitter account
Although the number of people on Twitter is nowhere close to those on Facebook, it is still a tool that can’t be ignored. It is more of an instant communication tool that allows you to provide up to the minute information about your team as well as engage in direct conversations with your fans. At the very least, you should be on Twitter to follow other sports teams to see how they are using the tool to engage with their fans.

A good place to start to follow other teams on Twitter is at http://www.sportsin140.com/

4. Create a YouTube channel
Many people do not know that YouTube is the #2 search engine behind Google. By creating video content, you can give your fans a perspective that can’t be communicated through text or photos. YouTube is also a great platform to run simple contests that encourage fans to voice their loyalty to your team.

5. Create a Flickr account
Flickr is a photo sharing website that allows you to tag your photos and create albums that can be pulled into your website. Flickr is also a great way to share photos with people that blog about your team? By providing high quality photos to your fans that have the appropriate Creative Commons licensing, you will generate goodwill with the bloggers that will then hopefully link back to your website and help you promote your team.

Case Studies

Here are a couple of real life examples of how amateur and semi-professional sports teams are using social media.

Iowa State Cyclones

The Iowa State Cyclones are a college hockey team that competes in the American Collegiate Hockey Association. The program is completely funded by donations, fund-raising and revenues generated through advertising, merchandise and ticket sales. Iowa is a mid-western state that is predominantly known for it’s football, basketball and wrestling programs. So, it goes without saying that hockey is not an easy sell in this market.

The team first began using social media back in July 2009 prior to the 2009-2010 season. They wanted to figure out ways to generate more interest in the team in order to put more people in the stands, sell more merchandise and create more interest in their fund-raising efforts.

Cyclones Social Accounts

Facebook Fan Page – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cyclone-Hockey/121262733317?ref=ts

  • Started August 2009
  • October 16, 2009 – 710 Fans
  • March 30, 2009 – 1420 Fans

Twitter – http://twitter.com/CycloneHockey
YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/user/ISUCycloneHockey
Flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/CycloneHockey
Player Blog – http://cyclonehockey.wordpress.com/

For more information on how the Iowa State Cyclones use social media, check out the ongoing case study on Sport Fan Connect (http://sportfanconnect.com/category/case-studies/iowa-state-cyclone-hockey/social-accounts)

South Carolina Stingrays

The South Carolina Stingrays are a semi-professional hockey team in the East Coast Hockey League. Located in the deep southern US, hockey is a tough sell in this market.  However, despite that fact, the South Carolina Stingrays continue to excel as a premier team in the ECHL and we’re crowned the Kelly Cup Champions in the 2008-2009 season.

The Stingrays dove into social media back in September 2009 when their newly hired “Media Specialist”, Joseph Zakrzewski, wanted to find ways to further engage with the Stingrays fan base.

Stingrays Social Accounts

Facebook Fan Page – http://www.facebook.com/SCStingraysHockey

  • Started September 2009
  • October 16, 2009 – 1368 Fans
  • March 30, 2010 – 5414 Fans

Twitter – http://twitter.com/scstingrays
YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/user/SCStingraysHockey

For more information on how the South Carolina Stingrays use social media, check out a series of interviews on the Sport Fan Connect YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/sportfanconnect#p/u/21/uyPcJCnKrMk)

Sports Media Challenge Interview

Check out my interview with Kathleen Hessert (President – Sports Media Challenge) as she talks about how and why amateur and semi-professional teams should use social media. Kathleen’s company works with many professional, semi-professional and collegiate programs in helping them understand how to use social media effectively.

EAVB_LBEIPXNUTH

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Are You Going To Finish Strong? Nick Vujicic

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Posted 23 Jan 2010 — by tturnbull
Category Inspiration

If this video doesn’t inspire you, better check your pulse!

Calgary Twitter community unites to help Haiti earthquake victims

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Posted 19 Jan 2010 — by tturnbull
Category Social Media - Sports

yyc4haitiIt continues to amaze me when I see how much social media is impacting the world that we live in. The devastating earthquake that recently hit Haiti has once again thrown social media into the spotlight for it’s ability to rally the masses when disaster strikes.  There have been many amazing news stories about how new media (Twitter, Facebook & Mobile in particular) have played a major role in fundraising efforts. Here are a few of these stories:

YYC4Haiti Fundraiser

Closer to home, the effect of social media can be seen in the overwhelming support that has been shown for YYC4Haiti, a Calgary fundraiser for the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Relief (organized by @alex_ruiz @C_DIG & @that_angela and supported by a number of great volunteers).  The event, which will be held on Thursday, January 28th at Flames Central has mobilized the city’s social-media and business community to raise funds for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. (Check out the official press release)  All of the Calgary sports teams, including the Flames, Stampeders, Roughnecks and Hitmen have shown their support through donations to the silent auction and many businesses have also stepped up for a good cause.

To hear more about the event from one of the organizers, listen to Camilla Di Giuseppe’s recent interview w/ Rob Breakenridge on AM770 Radio:

YYC4Haiti interview on AM770 Radio

I can’t remember where I heard this term, but “One person may not be able to help a thousand people, but, thousands of people can help one person each!”  We are all fortunate to live in a great country like Canada, so, let’s all do what we can to give back a little!

How You Can Help

Follow the official YYC4Haiti Twitter account: http://twitter.com/yyc4haiti/

Add a Twibbon to your Twitter profile: http://twibbon.com/join/YYC4Haiti

Join the official YYC4Haiti Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/YYC4Haiti/405051695230

Donate to the cause on Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/433271

RSVP for the YYC4Haiti Event @FlamesCentral: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=294505628046&ref=mf

And, if you are attending the event, keep an eye on Alex Ruiz…..rumor is she’s got her eye on the PEZ basket: http://twitter.com/alex_ruiz/statuses/7966276701

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Nike, YouTube star & Social Media at 2010 World Jr Hockey Championships

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Posted 06 Jan 2010 — by tturnbull
Category Videos

Trevor Turnbull interviews Steve Dangle (YouTube star) and Laura West (Nike – Digital Brand Manager) at the 2010 World Jr Championships regarding the NikeTraining.ca campaign and social media. To see the complete article visit: http://sportfanconnect.com/nike-steve-dangle-social-media-interview-at-2010-world-jr-championships

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Juniors2010.ca Interview – Social Media

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Posted 06 Jan 2010 — by tturnbull
Category Videos

Trevor Turnbull sat down with Mike Yasieniuk (President – http://yastech.ca) to talk about their recent project: Juniors2010.ca. They discuss the site concept, sponsorship, how they used social media to drive traffic to the site and future plans for the site.

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Sports and Social Media Predictions 2010

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Posted 14 Dec 2009 — by tturnbull
Category Social Media - Sports

sports-socialmedia-20101While on my travels over the past 3 months, I have met a number of amazing people in the Sports & Social Media world.  Many of which, I first met and conversed with via social media (Twitter, Facebook, Blogs).

One of these bright minds is Jason Peck. Jason is the author of http://jasonfpeck.com (a blog focused on the sports business, sponsorship, new media, social networking, and whatever else he finds interesting).

I was flattered that Jason asked me to contribute to his new ebook: Sports and Social Media Predictions 2010.  The ebook includes insights from many of the brilliant Sports & Social Media enthusiasts I have met over the past 6 months and provides many great thoughts on where we may be heading in the world of Sports & Social Media in 2010.

2009 has been an amazing year and I believe we have only just begun to see the impact that social media will have in the sports world. I hope to one day meet everyone included in this ebook.  In the meantime, I’ll be sure to follow them online!  I’ve included a list of the contributors at the bottom of this post.  Be sure to give them a look and feel free to drop any one of them a line.  If there is one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s that the online social community is all about sharing!  And these folks are certainly willing to share their time and expertise!

Sports Social Media Predictions 2010

Sports and Social Media Predictions 2010 – Contributors

Brian Gainor - http://partnershipactivation.com
Dan Beeman – http://sponsorshipinsights.com
Darren Heitner – http://sportsagentblog.com
Don, Chris & Kyle – http://blogswithballs.com
Espree Devora – http://zexsports.com
Joe Favorito – http://joefavorito.com
J.W. Cannon – http://twitter.com/khuda1
Lewis Howes – http://sportsnetworker.com
Pat Coyle – http://sportmarketing20.com
Peter Robert Casey – http://peterrobertcasey.com
Rob Katz – http://twitter.com/robkatz
Russell Scibetti – http://thebusinessofsports.com
Ryan Stephens – http://ryanstephensmarketing.com
Steve Cobb – http://activ8social.com
Ty Ahmad-Taylor – http://fanfeedr.com

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