Start your Vlog and Boost your Blog

Two blogging and vlogging experts have joined up to put on an exclusive event to help aspiring bloggers and film-makers.

Professional blogger Sophie Mei Lan, 29, has won awards for blogging about her family's daily life in the city as well as Vlogging (video blogging) about current affairs issues and mental health. 

The Sandal mum-of-two started blogging at university and started her own human rights magazine as a result. 

Since then, Ms Mei Lan took a break from blogging to focus on her career as a journalist at BBC, Johnston Press and the Daily Mirror. 
She said: "I saw blogging as a launch pad into the media industry. I never imagined that I would do it as a career." 

But when Ms Mei Lan's second child became seriously ill she left her "dream job" at the BBC to be a stay at home working mum. Ms Mei Lan said: "During the period in which my daughter was in intensive care, I started filming my experiences to help to keep me as sane as possible. 

"Then when she was better I made my vlogs into a film which won media awards. 
"So this inspired me to start vlogging and blogging about our lives." 
Now the entrepreneurial blogger and vlogger runs MamaMei.co.uk in which she shares stories about her own mental health problems, attachment parenting alongside recipes and money-saving tips to help other families. 

Ms Mei Lan, who also runs filming and PR company Evoke Media Group, said: "I really wear my heart on my sleeve when it comes to my work. But I love what I do and it means I get to work with some amazing brands which allows me to stay working from home." 
And now she has joined up with fellow blogger and trainer Michelle Poole, from Ossett, to help others get in to blogging and Vlogging. 

"It's really exciting to collaborate with a fellow media expert, to help businesses wanting to utilise blogs and vlogs as well as individuals who are interested in learning the skills as a hobby or as a future career. 

"In our 1 day workshop we will share the tricks of the trade. 
"So participants will learn all they need to know to start blogging and /or Vlogging."
"The intensive workshop will be very practical so that people will leave with a vlog and blog post as well as a schedule.

Mrs Poole who runs Practical Business Training said: "We pride ourselves on hands-on training that's great value and you don't just leave with a tonne of notes - you've also produced lots during the day." 

The workshop takes place on Thursday May 18th 10am-4pm at Socialicious Cafe
1a WestMorland Street, Wakefield, WF1 1PN.

For more information, go to: evokemediagroup.co.uk or email: sophie@evokemediagroup.co.uk
To book tickets, go to: http://bit.ly/2p91zA6
Find on twitter.com/EvokeMG
And Facebook.com/EvokeMediaGroup

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What the day involves:

Vlogging - 
How to start Vlogging: the basics
How to frame and shoot your vlog
How to Vlog like a pro
Presenting tips and techniques
Make your first Vlog

Blogging -
Learn about the different types of Blogs
Where to get your content
Leave with a Blog Template
Boosting and Sharing your Blog for maximum exposure

121 Surgery – get your question

For press enquiries: 
Contact: Sophie Hale
T: 07828613061
E: Sophie_mei@hotmail.co.uk 
W: EvokeMediaGroup.co.uk


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NOTES TO EDITORS:

Why you need to get Vlogging

By Sophie Mei Lan 
Blogger & Vlogger at MamaMei.co.uk 
Publicist and film-maker at EvokeMediaGroup.co.uk
Journalist at SophieMeiLan.com 

We've all watched videos on social media platforms from documentaries on YouTube to funny Facebook lives and viral videos on twitter - but can such videos help you and your business? 

The answer is, of course, yes! 

Videos can add personality to your brand. You can go from being just a logo to people seeing the voices behind the business and in turn this allows you to connect more with your audience. 

Simple but effective...

Vlogging can include Facebook videos, Facebook lives, videos on Instagram and twitter as well as obvious platforms such as YouTube. 
Vlogs are more casual than traditional films and promotional videos, but they can be a great add-on to get your message and story across. 

Value content 

It's tempting to use vlogs just to sell sell sell - which is fine sometimes - but really you want people to return to your site because they're getting value from it, and in turn you're gaining their trust. 

For example, I co-own a video production and PR company (evokemediagroup.co.uk) so our planned vlogs will include "How to tell your story", "The one Vlogging trick you need to know about," and "Why you need publicity." 

Evoke Media Group - evokemediagroup.co.uk
Evoke Media Group produces, manages and publishes multimedia content for businesses and charities of all sizes.

We also offer training in the above areas so these videos are great teasers to what we do. 
I also run my own family and lifestyle blog and vlog at MamaMei.co.uk so my target audience here is very different from Evoke. 

So my vlogs include "a day in the life of" style videos so people can empathise with our crazy family life as well as vlogs on current affairs that relate to parenting etc. 
These vlogs are more casual whereas the Evoke ones tend to be just shot on a tripod and piece to camera whereas the Mama Mei ones encapsulate a chaotic family life where I look far from polished! 

Some ideas... 

So if you run a craft business you probably want people who appreciate the value of crafting and handmade goods. You may want to do vlogs on: "How to start to crochet," "Meet the family behind our business," "How to make a pop-up card," and "Why buy handmade." 

If you run an events company you might want to do vlogs on, "How to create the perfect event," "Top 10 event ideas" or "How to be the perfect host for your guests." 

Or say if it's a sports related business you might want to do vlogs on, "How to incorporate fitness in your daily life," "How improving the gym can change your life," and, "How to do the perfect home workout." This is something I offer in my online health club and on my Facebook.com/danceschools page for bellydancebySophieMei.com e.g. "How to bellydance whilst doing the cleaning..." (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvf_VgF8HBk&t=1s)

To find out more, go to evokemediagroup.co.uk or follow them on twitter and Facebook @EvokeMG 

For more on the blogging side of things, go to MamaMei.co.uk or follow her on twitter and Facebook @MamaMeiBlog 


Why blogging is big business 

Blogging means big business for companies and consumers, with a rising tide of businesses utilising vlogs and blogs.

Why? Well IT trainer and blogging coach Michelle Poole, said: "Brands and PR companies are now approaching bloggers rather than just the traditional media because they want voices that relate to their customers. 

"So blogs which fit the niche market they want to target can be a great way of advertising. 
"It's not just about the size of a blogs audience, it's also about how engaged their audience is and who their audience is." 

These so-called online influencers don't all run traditional blogs either.
As Mrs Poole explains: "Some are micro-bloggers which means they may use just one social media platform to share their story. 

"For example Instagram is great for fashion, food and beauty photos whilst twitter can be good for news and short text base stories." 
But most bloggers tend to use a range of platforms.
Family, health and life blogger Sophie Mei Lan at MamaMei.co.uk agrees. 
She said: "I love each platform for its uniqueness. 
"You have to treat them all differently. 
"I tend to use Wordpress for my blog posts and then YouTube for my longer form videos. 
“Then facebook is my greatest referrer through live video content, photos and sharing other people’s blogs too.”

For more tips and advice, go to: Facebook.com/EvokeMediaGroup