Things are looking up today. It is no longer news that social Media is gaining a lot of ground in Nigeria. Many people are now looking for news around social Media because it is an open truth that these web-based communication tools are helping start up and corporate entrepreneurs  in no small way. Because of the excitement around this, many people are diving into the river without necessary skills that will help them to scale through.

In the last two months we have had the privilege and exposure from the regular media to expound, open the eyes of Nigerian audience to the potentials and huge benefits associated with right application of the social media tools. Yes, we keep saying the environment is not ripe, the infrastructure among many other factors. Interestingly the numbers of internet users in Nigeria is increasing. A release in January 2009 estimated Internet users in Nigeria  to be  twenty three Million, as of last week I understand it stood at forty four million and it is increasing. So as we have opportunity with regular media, we have been championing, spreading the buzz around.

In the last two months, I havehad  series of Telephone interviews with major Newspaper and those interviews had received wider coverage. I have also been on Television programmes like ‘Sunrise’ of Channels Television talking about Social media and relationship building as well as Social media and security issues. We currently running empowerment seminars that are delivering right tools and knowledge to right audience. The results are showing as many of them are better users of the media. More importantly, we have also noticed an increased in numbers of undergraduates (studying Mass communications, Marketing etc) who are interested in learning how these tools affect their professions. In this regard we have helped those we can as time permits. Today also I was on Eko 89.75Fm talking about Entrepreneur, Youth, Empowerment and such sessions are encouraging with the kind of feedback one is getting.

We can do more and we keep hoping that regular media will join us in this crusade. Social Media has vast potential. I am also of that we will step up advocacy to ensure Nigerian audience do it right. We also hope that we will be able to affect the youth who are involved in internet scam through skill refocusing (if we get funding for that project). We will keep you posted as events unfold.

Getting attention is a major problem with certain brands. Ability to get good Public relations without paying too much or nothing at all will help your brand and business. Begging the traditional media to give you coverage today is becoming outdated as there are other means of being known as well as catching the attention of ‘power that be’ to seek after you. We will all need the traditional media in one way or the other and we can not shy away from that.Several opportunities are available today and here are some:

1.Be the brand: no one wants to be excited about any idea the owner is not excited about. Everywhere and everyday, talk about the brand that you are or represent. Do some customize stuff on that brand and wear it around. Provoke question by such below the line advert and give such stuff away to people. Viral marketing and word of mouth will provoke question. I am learning the rope here too.

2. Be everywhere: Being everywhere suggest that your below the line advert materials are where you can not be. People tend to ask question about a supposed new philosophy.

3. Be a human being: Do not try to be who you are not. Speak naturally, make your own mistake and acknowledge it. People pardon those who admit that they are human. Even if it is not all.

4. Bond with journalist: Journalists are human being too. Bond with them and seek to know some of them closely who may help you push some stuff at critical time. Do not seek out a journalist when there is trouble, be there a friend all the time. You can help them by given them vital scoop when necessary. In other words build relationship with them.

5. Speak authoritatively: know your onion. Do not be a novice. Be an expert that solves problems in his own niche.

6. Attach your brand to a cause: There are several causes available now. Find the one that is relevant to brand personality and will give adequate representation to your brand development, communication and proper positioning. 

Perception is the way people, audience see you. Perception can be negative or positive. Your brand may be the greatest with solid promise, but if the experience your audience gets about you does not agree with the intention you are trying to create there can be a whole lot of problem.

Perception management is often define as actions to convey,or deny selected information and indicators to  audiences to influence their emotions, motives, and objective reasoning. Another way we can look at perception mangement is Perception is “a way of considering, understanding or interpreting an idea”. If this is left to chance there is danger. Perceptions have to be continually managed. Relationships have to be built and built to last. Communication strategies need to be put in place. Information must flow. Someone has rightly said “Just because truth has been omitted, does not mean that truth is not true. Just because reality has not been perceived, does not mean that it is not real.”  So it is a prerequisite that every brand ensures that truth is not omitted and wrong doings are not propagated about them.

Our research shows that the followings are essential to effectively manage perception.

1. Visual, identity: people are wired to first notice individual or corporate brands appearance. Our identities, visuals can send mixed feelings about who we are. We all need to manage how we are seen. One of my friends an image consultant-Lolu Mogaji talks of S.H.E factors. This is how you are seen, heard and experience. Manage these to your advantage. Do not handle your identity by yourself except you are a professional or leave it to chances by giving it to a quack.

2. Message/value perception: Is there any value in your value proposition? The promise you crafted, is there any value that the audience can pick. Is your promise egocentric- that which is focused on you and your ability?

3. Project yourself to shatter negative: You need to project yourself as the one that knows your job. This requires expertise. You must do this in a way that your audience will think there is no one like you and working with you is the best thing that can happen to them. This is should be the truth because you are good at what you know how to do.

Our admonition, be good and know how to communicate it.

 Many presenters wonder why their programmes do not rock or command following. For some phone- in programmes, some are practically begging listeners to call. What we do not know is that the listeners must buy in to the presenter before the programme. That is where personal branding comes to play for these professionals. There are factors that make the personal brand of a presenter rocks. These are the focus of our our discussion today.

The beginning of every great personal brand in Radio/television presentation is for the individual to apply the BRAND acronyms and GCGPP.

Here we will discuss the brand acronyms GCGPP will be in the free ebook coming.

Boldness: Boldness shows and can not be hidden. If a presenter is bold, he/she will have confidence and the confidence will resonate in his/her voice on the radio. Have the confidence of one who knows what to say next.

Relationships: Build relationships with the audience. If you run a programme for about a month and certain individuals have been calling in, note their voices and ask them how they are doing. Build a profile of target listener

Attitude: having right attitude will help a presenter’s programme. Bad attitude keep people away from the presenters. Never abuse anyone on the programme no matter the level 0f provocation. Be warmed and keep listeners interested throughout the session.

Always use the station’s identity.

Natural: Be natural, use your own language. It is good to use English as mother tongue, but while learning the rope, do not fake it.

Differentiate: Differentiate, differentiate your voice from the crowd

Some of the great presenters we have here in Nigeria: kamal of unilag radio, Moyo oyatogun-Mitv, Larry Izamoje-Brilla Fm, late Yinka craig, Dan foster, Kubanji Momoh etc. Our community can submit names of their favourite and we will give the individual life interview here.