Mahwah Chamber Hosts Speed Seminars on Smart Social Networking

Mahwah, NJ – Another Social Media program will be held tomorrow, June 2, in Mahwah, NJ – but this one should be a bit different. In addition to the expected format, with assorted speakers and experts sharing insight, best practices and case studies supporting the use of various social networking platforms (Twitter, facebook, blogging, LinkedIn and YouTube specifically) there will be a bit of networking. The primary differentiator: instead of 2-3 hours workshops, we will present practical, actionable tips in 20-40 minute segments. These lean and mean “speed seminars” will assist time-strapped entrepreneurs, so they can quickly understand the pros and cons of each of the most popular social networking platforms.

I’ve covered how to’s and success tips on blogging and YouTube before, when presenting to various business audiences across the country and in Europe, as well as in articles for Entrepreneur.com and WomenEntrepreneur.com. But this time around, besides my latest PowerPoint dog and pony show on the practical applications of these particular Social tools, I’m gonna spice things up by taking live videos of several business owners and posting them on the new MahwahChamber YouTube Channel … FUN!

The Social Networking Success Map: The internet, along with mobile access and apps, are being tapped by hundreds of millions of people on a daily basis. They are seeking information, products and resources and it’s up to you to do what’s needed so they can “stumble upon” your company versus your more tech- and social-savvy competitors. If you ignore this clear behavorial shift and don’t do what you need to – to be where you are expected to be and to do so in creative and innovative ways- you will actively diminish your possible returns (read brand awareness and sales).

So don’t delay any longer. Assess your sales and operational objectives, craft a solid strategy and get in the social networking game with gusto – Here’s to your success!

Want to spend your time & money wisely in social circles – then contact us today! We have a full spectrum of Digital Asset Consulting and Social Engagement services, that are crafted to organically boost your Search Engine results and sales.

New Year Networking Nuggets

Been out and about over the last few weeks, attending yearly Holiday functions and parties hosted by various business and industry support organizations. In some instances I knew people at the venue; in others I knew no one. Being a bit of an extravert helps – but many times I must admit I’d rather be doing other things then networking – like cooking a proper dinner for my kids who are home from college, or working on my book while sipping a nice pinot noir and listening to David Gray…

Odds are you’ve been in the same boat – dragging your butt out to a function when you’d rather be someplace else. Bottom line – networking, when done right, benefits you and your business in many ways.

Here’s how to supercharge your networking efforts, so you make the most of your face-to-face and social/viral options!

• Be upbeat, giving succinct info about your value, rather than a boring laundry list of services.
• Listen, ask pertinent questions, and share effective resource and productivity tips with enthusiasm.
• Be authentic and communicate strategically with each unique audience
• Mix up your elevator pitch to keep things fresh & memorable. One new angle I experimented with got a hearty chuckle: “I deliver heftier profits than the bank” then I quantified what I meant in the next 20 seconds.
• Social networking communities are fantastic places to strut your stuff, especially when your tweet or post offers great industry advice, smart recommendations on open source apps, terrific vendors, prospecting or sales tips, speaking or event news, media placements, etc.

Dedicate consistent time each month to experiment with new face-space and social community interaction opps as part of your overall strategic marketing efforts. That means getting to Chamber of Commerce events, and attending segmented industry, trade and special interest groups. Get your business profile out there on Twitter, LinkedIn, and facebook to start, and seek out and chat with peers, colleagues, major and segmented news portals and industry thought leaders. And get some videos up on your own YouTube page and on your website as soon as you’re able.  Action, enthusiastic communications and targeted investments of your time will help you boost your brand awareness and your bottom line in 20-10!

Social Networking: A Worthwhile Investment

Here’s the conundrum – you want more business, but you are already working your buns off handling client projects, fulfilling orders, dealing with infrastructure, employee and independent contractor issues, delivering presentations, rushing to meetings, hopping planes, attending empowerment and organizational workshops, and chatting with new contacts at all kinds of networking functions.

In between all this, you’re connected, to your phone, PC or laptop, feverishly checking your emails and responding via some kind of enabled device every 12 seconds. So when in the world do you have time to supersize your connectivity via online social networks?? How can MySpace, facebook, LinkedIn or YouTube have any relevance for your business?? Isn’t that stuff just for teens, wannabe rock bands and geeks who don’t have a life?

The simple answer is: NO. Although there are silly people doing outrageous things (some making complete asses of themselves for sure), there is real business done through these portals and others, tons of of it.

Pick up WIRED magazine, check out any number of online marketing or advertising resources (MarketingProfs, AdAge) and you will see the buzz is not about IF social online networking platforms are working, but HOW they are working, and why it’s more than time to jump onboard.

The digital landscape is constantly evolving, and industry insiders have lots of valuable info and insight, so I trekked to NYC yesterday to attend AWNY’s Social Networking breakfast.  Execs from LinkedIn, Hulu.com, Dove and several top creative agencies discussed how the platforms can be used to target specific market segments as well as provide real data on consumer needs, preferences and developing habits.

Specific success stories highlighted the facts:millions of people are actively using these interaction portals for a full spectrum of meaningful lifestyle-enhancing and buying activity: whether it’s finding work, catching up with old college buddies, or landing lucrative new business deals. The best part about all this for the small business owner, is that these particular opportunities to build brand awareness, reach new prospects and make more money, are FREE!!

So, yours truly has recently stopped complaining about how much time I don’t have to be involved with this stuff. Like Dove and Geiko and a slew of the major brands, I’m testing the waters. Each week I’m joining new groups, strategically creating profiles, inviting colleagues and following national experts. All this action has already created exciting new client opps and peer engagement. I’ve already found several great people to friend in Boston, London and California – and I’m getting invites all over the place.  I must confess after one week I am happily “tweeting” as much as I can! (Check out my posts at Twitter.com, at marcomwhiz.)

I’ll let you know what develops as far as real business and how much these tools actualy cost me in terms of time taken away from other important tasks. In the interim, I challenge you to get moving.  Start slowly and with a specific business objective. Post to a relevant blog, create your own, connect with new leads through common friends, or join a new social networking platform. Do something within this terrific digital sales and marketing platfom and see what happens!