STRATEGIES FOR SUBMISSION SUCCESS

THROUGH SOCIAL OUTREACH

A NEW APPROACH TO REACHING FILMMAKERS AND ACQUIRING SUBMISSIONS

GOALS

①  Acquire more submissions

②  Increase Festival awareness among

filmmakers

③  Reduce fee waiver requests

④  Decrease workload and expenses

⑤  Unify data collection and analysis

⑥  Increase revenues

STEP 1: NEW WAIVER PROGRAM

In an effort to reduce the number of waivers granted, and inccrease our social messaging, we

tested the premise:

If we invest in a film, then the filmmaker should invest in us.

FORM REQUEST

Standard contact info (name, film title, etc.)

Twitter/Instagram/Facebook usernames/links

Qualifying questions: Why do you believe your film is a good

fit with our audience?

APPROVAL

•  MONDAY: Filmmaker followed and added to Twitter list (2014 Film Entrants)

•  Instructions sent to create 5 messages tagged with #2014DCShortsFilmFestival

•  FRIDAY: Hashtag is searched and messages verified. Waiver code sent.

SOCIAL RESULTS

The 122 filmmakers who completed the process generated 366 Twitter messages with a potential reach (208) of 76,128 people, and 244 Facebook posts with a potential reach (360) to 87,840 people.

We increased our messaging without additional outreach, we gained 134 new social followers directly (filmmakers), and 220+ indirectly.

STEP 2: FILM ENTRANT OUTREACH

In an effort to increase social response:

Will filmmakers resend our messaging?

What type and how many messages will it take for a film entrant to retweet or share a

post.

FORM & RESEARCH

On our own submission form, we request usernames for Twitter/Instagram/Facebook

For other platforms (FilmFreeway, ReelPort,

FestHome, etc.), interns research the web for social usernames. 70% success rate.

MESSAGING

@username Thanks for sending YOUR FILM to #dcshorts15. dcshorts.com/festival Good luck and tell your friends: Deadline 4/30! [PHOTO] @username Can’t wait to review YOUR FILM for #dcshorts15. dcshorts.com/festival Good luck! [PHOTO]

Schedule 4-6 per day through Latergram.me and Hootsuite/BufferApp

ANTICIPATED RESULTS

With 1,200 entries, we expect to send out 1,800 messages (1,000 Twitter and 800 Instagram)

Twitter reach: 1,000 x 208 = 208,000

Instagram reach: 800 x 122 = 97,600

Direct new followers: 700 Instagram, 700 Twitter

Indirect new followers: 2,300 combined