5 places to find inspiration for a museum, business or historical project

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Andrew McIntosh CPA, Optimize Business

The gardening crew has arrived outside my office. I hear a clunk and a bump as their truck and trailer bounces into the lot. I watch for a few minutes, and I’m inspired by the efficiency. They quickly rev up the ride-on mower and begin trimming the edges. It’s like a well-oiled pit stop team — every worker knows his place. Someone hands me the bill and everybody leaves as smoothly as they came in.

In business, it’s important to be creative. Here are five sources of inspiration. See full article: Here

Artists and authors, starting out can be hard

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Andrew McIntosh CPA, Optimize Business

Being an author, blogger, researcher, performer, artist… the list goes on and on – it can be hard. Here are some pointers from my recent blog post on going it alone, whether you are a historical researcher or small gallery or historical society, check it out :

“Many entrepreneurs start out as a one-man (or woman) show. While this can be challenging, exhausting and incredibly rewarding, ultimate success may not be determined by your business idea, but by how organised you are.

Experienced freelancers and small businesses that are single person operations need to be ultra-organised. Whether you are flying solo for the first time or well established, technology can improve your efficiency and performance. Here are some pointers based on my own experience running a one-man show.”

See full article here: The Pulse

Have you posted your old photos on social media yet? It will be a hit!

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Andrew McIntosh CPA, Optimize Business

Nostalgia has definitely made it’s way back into retail marketing, but it is also making an impression in other industries as well, with social media facilitating nostalgic brand and marketing strategies. The free platforms like Facebook and WordPress also put this ability into the hand of local museums, historical societies, galleries and community groups.

As Shell fast approaches five million followers, it’s Facebook banner featured a nostalgic 1960/70’s image. Even as the brand talks innovation, a high-tech and advanced technologies, the old Shell station resonates with thousands of Facebook followers liking and sharing the picture.

Brand nostalgia is not a mutually exclusive to retail marketing strategy, as proven by Coca-Cola time and time again. Social media now provides several unique platforms to marry nostalgia with other seemingly divergent strategies as refreshing (excuse the pun) and social engaging content.

Note the branding is consistent over the years, the Shell logo from back then is still representing the company today, creating continuity.

So if major brands are engaging with their “fans” and getting free advertising from those fans sharing, liking and promoting the brand, why not take steal the strategy and implement it in your not for profit organisation? Most NFPs have plenty of volunteers will to help and those with a more ‘senior’ member demographic may be able to use social media as a way of attracting younger interest into the organisation.

As we speak, social media marketing teams are raiding their corporate museums, archives and googling for “cool” retro images to fit in to their current brand strategies. Social media provides a ready tool for the quick, low cost, distribution of historical images allowing fans and followers to further engage with fond memories and simpler times (pre-social media) when the brand was with them.

Have you looked at your retro photos yet? Post them and people will like and share them…. why else would advertisers being do it! Grow your fan base, attract new interest and membership while bring your NFP into this century and increasing accessibility to your collection.

Add a copyright message, but only put things up on the internet that you are prepared to see copied and re-appearing elsewhere, with or with a credit.

Social media for NFP museums, galleries and historical societies

Posted on December 16, 2013 by Andrew McIntosh CPA, Optimize Business

Social media for Not for Profits
Social media can be overwhelming at times: content (photographs, images, video and text), online communities, tone of voice, moderation, legal considerations, time management, public verses personal posts, timely responses to customers and more. And then there is the multitude of platforms – Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and blogging sites like WordPress.com to name but a few. Where should you start? Do you even need to start using social media?

We understand social media
Not for Profits are a unique unto themselves and every NFP is unique. Don’t jump into social media without carefully selecting what best suits your needs. Nothing is worse than an organisation that started Facebook or Tweeting but has not done an update in the last year or two. It is part of your organisation’s public face, just like a shop window, it is either neat and tidy, or run-down and tired. Even worse perhaps, there is no shop window for your NFP! We have great experience with social media, let us help you!

Let us guide you through the process
Museums, galleries, historical societies and community groups are called on to do a lot of things. Let Optimize Business help you assess your specific needs for social media. We’ll sit down with you to understand your customers, your opportunities for social and then we will either train you and/or your staff or you can hand it all over to Optimize Business for a complete outsourced solution.

Our approach
We are flexible and will work to meet your individual needs. We will also tell you straight out if we think social media is not right for you. We will also talk to you about social media advertising, it is constantly changing but provides direct access to local customers you choose to communicate with.