Young Female Artist Uses Google+ to Connect With Fans All Over the World With …

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A young musician goes viral, reaching a global audience through Google’s innovative Hangout technology.

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn., July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Facebook users are migrating to Google’s new social network, Google+, for innovative features like the Hangout technology, which allows 10 people to interact on live video simultaneously. The new technology has created a buzz in the social media world, with one of its most exciting uses being the first official virtual concert performed by singer/songwriter Daria Musk.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110722/NY39872 )

Pushing the limits of this new Google+ technology, Musk performed a 6.5 hour virtual concert that became a worldwide phenomenon, ultimately reaching thousands of viewers around the globe, from Norway to Australia to Argentina. With the support of Google, whose Director of Engineering, Chee Chew, attended the concert and provided technical assistance all throughout, Daria performed all night for fans who created an etiquette of staying for a few songs before leaving the Hangout so that fans-in-waiting could jump in.

From a technology perspective, Daria’s concert changed how Google+ Hangouts are used and perceived. Post concert, Chew posted, “just had the privilege of attending the first known pro level Hangout jam session.”

“We, at Google+, are passionate about bringing people together,” said Chew to his Google+ network earlier this month. “For us on hangouts it’s about really connecting small groups together face to face (to face to face), bringing people together from around the world in a new way. We all have a human need to connect and communicate.” 

The response from fans around the world caused the media to pick up the story, while Musk has landed on BusinessInder.com’s list of “The Most Interesting People to Circle on Google+.” Meanwhile, Google’s top engineers are collaborating with Musk to host a second concert this Saturday, July 23rd at 7 p.m. ET., creating a live streaming channel on www.HangoutParty.com that will allow an unlimited number of viewers around the world to watch and listen.

“While Facebook has created a platform that has changed the way people connect online through sharing pictures and updates, Google+ took it one step further by allowing people to interact in real time with video and voice capabilities, changing the very nature of how people socialize on these networks,” said Sean Wolfington, owner of Tier 10 Marketing, the agency which architected the digital marketing strategy for Grammy Award-winning musician Shakira and that now represents Musk. “Traditionally record labels dictated which artists get exposure. Now Google+ gives artists an opportunity to find fans, and gives fans the opportunity to find artists. This interactive video conferencing platform turns fans into friends by allowing them to collaborate directly with the artist, and it’s changing the music industry.”

“Google+ changed my life on Saturday night because I was able to connect with fans from all around the world,” said Musk. “My heart is bursting with joy and I’m forever changed.”

About Daria Musk

With a set list of powerfully catchy songs, crafted with artistry, spunk and modern flair, soulful indie pop/rock artist Daria Musk is quickly becoming a fan favorite online and in person, receiving rave reviews for her recordings and live shows. Raised in a musical family, with a rebellious heart, an honest innocence, and a passion for playing, Daria developed a distinctive guitar and songwriting style that catches fire on stage and in the studio. Together with producer/composer/bass player R.A.M., Daria has gone from playing cafes to showcasing at festivals and major music industry events like SXSW, CMJ and Gathering of the Vibes. Daria has played to sold-out crowds at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston, New York City‘s Mercury Lounge, and Connecticut‘s beautiful Stage One. In just a few years, Daria’s songwriting and talent have been recognized and awarded by the We Are Listening Singer/Songwriter Awards, the Starbucks Emerging Artist Competition, the International Songwriting Competition, the Gap’s Born-To-Play Competition (voted #9 over-all out of 800+ artists), the Musician’s Atlas Spotlight Artist, and she has been sponsored by the Taylor Guitars at SXSW 2009. 

About Chee Chew

Chee Chew is Director of Engineering for Google, Inc., overseeing applications and client efforts at the company’s Seattle and Kirkland offices. Prior to Google, Chee spent 14 years at Microsoft Corporation where he started as a code engineer on Windows 95 and Internet Explorer 3, 4 and 5, before transitioning to engineering leadership and filling the position of General Manager for Windows Mobile. Most recently, Chew has taken the lead on Google’s new Google+ platform, which has generated 18 million followers since it was launched earlier this month.

About Tier 10 Marketing

Tier 10 Marketing is a holistic marketing agency that specializes in helping media companies, global brands, automotive groups, films and international musicians implement results-oriented marketing strategies to increase their market share and profitability by building the brand, attracting more hi-quality opportunities, improving revenues and loyalty while reducing advertising costs. The company has helped to successfully market feature films Bella, Blind Side, The Mighty Macs, and architected the entire digital marketing strategy for Grammy Award-winning musician Shakira, the most successful mainstream Latino artist in the world, and the producer of one of the most viewed YouTube videos in history with 365 million views. For more information, please visit www.Tier10Marketing.com.

Related Links:

Media Coverage

• http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/gigaom/articles/video_making_live_streaming_social.html
• http://www.businessinsider.com/interesting-people-to-followcircle-on-google-2011-7
• http://gigaom.com/video/making-live-streaming-social/?utm_source=socialutm_medium=twitterutm_campaign=gigaom

Google+: http://tiny.cc/gplusdaria

Videos: www.youtube.com/dariamusk

Facebook: www.listn.to/dariamusk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/dariamusk

SOURCE Tier 10 Marketing

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Cupcake maker’s sweet moment on Facebook

Want an example of the power of social media as a sales and marketing tool?

Look no further than Dayna Richardson, who posted a photo on Facebook last November of a mini-cupcake she had baked while getting into the holiday spirit.

It was a decision made millions of time a day on Facebook by people sharing photos with friends and family. But for Ms. Richardson, a single photo turned a lifelong hobby into a business overnight.

After posting the photo, Ms. Richardson started to get messages from friends asking where she had bought the mini-cupcake. When she told them it was homemade, people asked if they could place an order. Over the holidays, Ms. Richardson sold $5,000 worth of her bite-sized cupcakes, which led to the creation of Bite Me Bakery.

While the appeal of mini-cupcakes, which come in a wide variety of flavours, is a huge part of Ms. Richardson’s success, there is an interesting back story.

Before getting into cupcakes, she spent two years as an events co-ordinator for fitness pageants that took place across Canada. She then started competing herself and, in the process, attracted more than 4,000 fans on Facebook.

So when her mini-cupcake appeared on the scene, there was already a large audience of potential buyers.

Even so, lots of people post photos on Facebook but very few ever see a business burst onto the scene because of them.

In explaining her success, Ms. Richardson, 24, believes there are a couple of major factors.

One, her cupcakes are aesthetically pleasing and play into the current trend that smaller and cuter is better.

Second, she says, people can really enjoy the guilty pleasure of eating a mini-cupcake because it is only has 300 calories, compared with 800 calories for a regular-size cupcake.

Aside from Facebook, another key marketing tactic Ms. Richardson uses is hosting cupcake tastings. Last weekend, for example, she did a tasting that featured all-you-can-eat cupcakes for $5. Displaying some savvy marketing acumen, Ms. Richardson invites people from major organizations to give them a taste of the product.

Ms. Richardson says her biggest challenge for further growth is insufficient time and support.

“There is so much room for expansion but right now the biggest struggle is [that] it is just me,” she says. “It is really hard to do all of that. I can’t definitely do demos when I have all these orders to place.”

Ms. Richardson’s ability to grow the business may be poised to change, however, after recently attracting investors – not surprisingly, through Facebook.

Originally, she dismissed their e-mail approach several months ago because she thought they wanted to her to become a client of an advertising agency. But after watching her success, the investors reconnected a month ago. The deal has yet to close, but already Ms. Richardson says there are plans are in the works to open a retail store and bakery in suburban Toronto in September or October, and there is also talk about expanding nationally next year.

“I have always had a passion for confection arts. Since high school, I have been known as the domestic diva,” Ms. Richardson says.

“I started this business small and, the next thing you know, I’m running with the sharks. Now, I’m blowing competitors out of the water, and it is a matter of taking it to the next level and to grow and grow. “

Special to The Globe and Mail

Mark Evans is the principal with ME Consulting, a communications and marketing strategic consultancy that works with startups and fast-growing companies to create compelling and effective messaging to drive their sales and marketing activities. Mark has worked with four startups – Blanketware, b5Media, PlanetEye and Sysomos. He was a technology reporter for more than a decade with The Globe and Mail, Bloomberg News and the Financial Post. Mark is also one of the co-organizers of the mesh, meshmarketing and meshwest conferences.

Join The Globe’s Small Business LinkedIn group to network with other entrepreneurs and to discuss topical issues: http://linkd.in/jWWdzT

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