~by Charlotte Kemp

We are delighted to announce the Winners in the first Niche Training Social Media Awards.  All of these winners have taken what they have learned and got the most mileage possible out of their social media marketing opportunities.   The winners come from financial, networking and Non-profit arenas.

Cheri von Wielligh from Three Peaks was given the Most ROI from a Social Media Strategy Award.  Three Peaksis a

Cindy Pivacic, Debbie Jones, Charlotte Kemp, Cheri von Wielligh

short term insurer and debit order bureau that helps SME businesses with their cash flow.  They operate nationally.

What we can learn from Cheri

• Cheri was systematic in both her learning and application.  She learned all that she could from the training courses and then supplemented that with her own online investigations and experiments.  This means that her understanding of social media is comprehensive and she and the management of Three Peaks are confident in her application of what she has learned.  In fact, she even sends a few titbits of new information back to me as trainer and she is proficient in LinkedIn.
• Cheri then worked through a checklist of things to achieve online.  She used social media to promote the launch of the new Three Peaks brand, for their events that are held on a regular basis and also for extending the name recognition of the managing partners.
• When systems are not right for the purpose of connecting or promoting information through social media, then Cheri will negotiate for changes to ensure that the business has the best possible online presence.  She also keeps management informed and educated so that they are aware of the potential and feed her with appropriate information.
• Cheri anticipates needs online in the future and prepares her social media marketing schedule well in advance so that opportunities can be maximised instead of seeing them missed.

The Shout Out Award was given to Hilary Teal and Carmen Teal from Corporate Network, KZN.  Corporate Network is a networking and marketing business that helps local businesses to meet and interact.  It operates in KZN and has monthly meetings in Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

What we can learn from Hilary and Carmen

Lee, Charlotte, Kate, Bill, Hilary and Carmen

• Amazing resilience, the willingness to learn and grow, and the unflagging support given to their supporters:  these are some of the qualities evident in this mother and daughter team who have taken their casual network into an effective business that has created spin off business for so many attendees.
• Hilary and Carmen call on various businesses to invest some effort into Corporate Network to ensure that it remains vibrant and effective.  Those sponsor businesses get a great deal of promotion at the meetings and on Facebook, Twitter and their blog.
• They never fail to follow up and thank people for their support and attendance, referring them always back to their social media sites so that their numbers keep growing.
• Both they and their members also look out for local charities, supporting children’s homes, women’s shelters and others.

Cindy Pivacic of AID My Journey has created the most Social Spin (Award) by taking the circumstances of her condition and using to educate others around the country, about HIV and AIDS.  She speaks at Corporate Wellness Days and other opportunities, and is incredibly busy this time of the year leading up to International AIDS Day on the 1^st December.

What we can learn from Cindy

• She does not shy away from a difficult, uncomfortable topic because she knows how vital her message is.
• She works tirelessly at ensuring that accurate and comprehensive information is shared on her site about HIV and AIDS so that people can be educated about their condition and not passive in managing it or at risk for lack of knowledge.
• Anticipating the demand of this topic around the 1^st December, she prepared all her marketing material, online resources and personal diary to meet the needs of anyone who needed to hear her speak.
• She has taken full advantage of her social media to connect with people, build relationships and share her story online.  And one of the most important lessons in social media is borne out by Cindy – she backs up her online efforts with face-to-face meetings.
• The result is that Cindy has bookings for her talks in KZN and Gauteng and enquiries from other parts of South Africa, has had media interviews and runs a group support meeting in KZN as well.

You can find out more here, and please follow her Facebook Page.  If you wish to support Cindy in her work, there is a Donations option here.

Should you wish to learn how social media can support your marketing efforts, please feel free to contact Charlotte on info@nichetraining.co.za