Dungarvan Enterprise Centre
Old Friary Building
Lower Main Street
Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

Tel: 058 23598    Email: info@dungarvanec.com
 

Pokémon GO has finally been launched in Ireland

Pokémon GO is Huge



Pokemon GO has finally been launched in Ireland.  

Pokemon GO which was first launched in Australia and New Zealand has taken the world by storm. It is an unprecedented phenomenon in the countries where it's so far been released (26 of them being throughout Europe).  GO has topped Twitter's daily active users, and it is now being reported that people are now spending more time in its app than in Facebook (preferring to catch creatures than scroll through their Facebook!).  Pokemon GO has claimed the title of "biggest mobile game in United States history", breaking all downloading records.  It has topped the likes of Candy Crush's audiences as well as other top games.  Reports say that Pokemon GO is now closing in on Snapchat on Android, and it could even pass Google Maps on Android!


On Monday just gone, iPhone users spent more time in Pokemon GO than any other app, including Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and Instagram.  In addition to capitalising on the Pokemon brand, the app has introduced brilliant gaming mechanics in terms of keeping players active, engaged and returning.


How it works!

Pokemon GO uses your actual location data to pinpoint the cartoon creatures.  It is centered around geolocation, so to actually catch more Pokemon you have to literally put in the legwork.  This means that it is making any usually couch-bound video gamer get up and take a walk (not you of course)! It shamelessly pokes people off  the couch and onto roads, tracks, etc, doing that dreaded 10 letter word, "exercising".  Never have so many dogs been walked by so many teenagers!  And even better still, is that parents and their kids are getting involved together, giving quality parental time a whole new meaning (a definite positive I think).  So get some fresh air, take in some sun-rays, make it a family affair!  Players can check their games map on their smartphones, if there's a wild Pokemon in their area it'll appear on the screen and away you go!
Just remember though to take extreme care when tracking and capturing your prey!  The last thing you want is to run into a wall, fall over a cat or even worse again run into traffic while playing (as in some cases reported!).


Fad Museum  

  • 1980's Cabbage Patch Dolls: - pudgy faces, stumpy arms and small close set eyes which also came with a birth certificate and adoption papers.
  • 1990's Tamagotchi:- high tech, virtual pet sent kids insane and parents searching toy stores all over town to try and find one.  Essentially you had this little digital pet that you had to feed and clean up after.  Most kids dream at the time was to have the coolest design out there.
  • 2000's Gadgets:- The new millennium got off with a great start where the world of gadgetry was concerned.  From the "I-Pod" in 2001, the "X Box" in  2002 to the "Amazon Kindle" in 2007.

Is Pokemon GO a fad?

As already mentioned, Pokemon GO actually gets people up and out!  This they say may dampen popular enthusiasm somewhat over time where winters are harsh.  How will this work for us here in Ireland when the sun isn't shining which fortunately isn't today (so thankful for wonderful weather we are having!), it remains to be seen.

The bottom line

Mobile gamers (which you and  I should consider ourselves after downloading this app) are clearly devoting a lot of time to our newfound pursuit of Pokemon. You and I now have to wait and see what developer Niantic does to keep us engaged,  and the momentum maintained, for the long haul.  Watch this space I say ....

Using Video as a Tool for Social Media Marketing

I'd like to share with you a great article I read recently titled:

"26 Ways To Use Video For Your Social Media Marketing"  

This article shows you how to capture your audience.  You discover "26 ways to use video to improve your social media marketing".  The clue is in the heading!  
I found the following 5 items to be key items for me, I hope you find them of benefit to you:

1. 

Video lengths.
No one wants to make a social media video and find out afterwards that it is too long.  The below list should be useful to you:
  • Facebook: 120 minutes
  • Twitter: It recommends keeping videos under 30 seconds
  • Instagram: 60 seconds
  • Snapchat: 10 seconds
  • Vine: 6 seconds.

2.

Grab your audience's attention early.
To do this, you have 10 seconds!  If you haven't caught their attention by then, sadly you have missed the boat.  It is so important for you to get to the point with your video as quickly and concisely as possible.  Keep it simple.  There should be one point to every video and one point only.  Include your logo (instant recognition).  Once you have their attention, you're half way there.

3.

Optimize for Search.
Adding keywords or a key phrase is a definite plus and this goes for just about everything you post on social media.  Think "Headlines and Descriptions" on your video using keywords and/or phrases to help users find you.  Don't forget, the right headline with the right keywords will not only find you and make viewers curious but it will also increase your rankings in the sites search engines. Another way of boosting search results is by adding the relevant "hashtags" on Twitter and Instagram.

4.

Sound.
Be it with or without sound, your video needs to be visually interesting.  To help you to achieve an audience without sound use contrasting, bright colours, use captions instantly once the video starts.  If you are using sound for your video, needless to say the sound quality needs to be good.  Make sure your video has little if not any background noise.  The last thing you want is someone losing interest in your video because the sound quality is not up to scratch.  

5.

Track engagement, views and clicks.
This is not just important, it is essential.  It enables you to see how your video is performing (needless to say if it is not performing well then you need to change your contents!).  Your goal here
is to achieve lots of shares, clicks and engagement.  Facebook, Twitter and YouTube  provide this. 


A third of all online activity is spent watching videos, so get rolling ..... 



Facebook for Beginners - Everyone Starts Somewhere!


Its here!!  What's here you might ask!!


A Facebook for Business for Beginners Workshop.

All of us at this stage have heard about Facebook.  However have you ever thought about a Facebook page for your own Business?  

Whether you’re a big corporation or a small local business, Facebook is a powerful MARKETING tool.  It’s a great space to:
  • keep customers informed
  • develop brand identity and
  • broaden your reach.  
Keeping this in mind we here at Dungarvan Enterprise Centre are delighted to announce that we will be running a Facebook for Business for Beginners workshop on Wednesday 6th July.

So what is the workshop aimed at, I hear you ask!  The workshop is aimed for those of you who do not currently have a Facebook page and / or if you are unsure how to use Facebook for your own business properly.  The workshop will help you to: 
  • set up a page
  • run through the functionality of Facebook
  • go through how the algorithm works
  • go through insights
  • set up an administrator on the page
  • scheduling posts
  • all the basics of using Facebook for business.  
A little bit of info for you about Facebook.  A Facebook page is a great FREE (yes free) MARKETING tool for your business, no matter what its size.  This page lets your business identify itself – not just through listing product offerings and services, but also by sharing links, images, and posts on a customisable page to give a better sense of your business’s personality and character.  The sheer scale of Facebook means your business could potentially reach half the population of Ireland with minimal cost!  Everyone who ‘likes’ your page is already a willing participant.  You can feature anything from special offers to events instantly.  Facebook advertising enables you to easily target specific customers / clients.  Latest statistics show it has more than 1.65 billion worldwide monthly active users!!  With these type of figures in mind you have to agree that a Facebook page makes sense for your business.  

Have a listen to the attached:




So who's delivering the workshop you might ask? Mags here at Dungarvan Enterprise Centre will deliver the workshop to you.    With 15 years’ experience in marketing and lecturing in Digital Marketing for Waterford Institute of Technology,  I think you will agree that you are in safe hands!


So now for the nitty gritty details.  The workshop takes place on Wednesday 6th July from 9:30am to 12.30pm.  The cost is just €30 per person and includes light refreshments.  It would be great if you could bring along your own laptop.  For more information, or to book your place, please give us a call here at the Dungarvan Enterprise Centre on 058 23598 or email info@dungarvanec.com. Looking forward to seeing you!
  
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