Experts

Social Media Secret’s Out: A recap and tools with Newport Interactive Marketers

How to enhance your success in social media, hosted by Newport Interactive Marketers on October 21, 2010, at Christies

Social networking expert, Nick Brown, was the moderator for the panel comprised Kathie Manchester from the Rhode Island Blood Center and Dana Duellman, entrepreneur of My Perfect Space, consultant, and Realtor. These speakers are excelling in the online art of social media and shared their secrets of success with the audience.

Social Media Secret’s Slideshow Presentation created by Nick Brown

The panel started with a discussion on online analytical tools, such as Google Analytics, which allow you to measure the ROI of your website:

Analytical tools measure the traffic onto your website and show how the audience is finding your content.
Utilize these tools to enhance the visibility and success of your website.
Improve traffic influx via powerful keywords, target niche markets, and engage audience with content.

Tips for Success on Twitter

Timing is crucial
- Know when your audience is listening
- Leave space on your Tweets for others to comment when they Retweet you
- Twellow: The Twitter Yellow Pages shows Twitter users in your area
  - Explore this site to make connections
  - Check out Twitter Grader
    - This program measures the power of your profile
    - See how you measure up in the Twitter world

Tips for Success on Facebook

Utilize testimonials and ratings
Adding the “Like” button to your articles/blog/site is crucial!

Tips for Success on both Twitter and Facebook

Interact with other users
- Social Media is about BEING SOCIAL
- Others appreciate feedback and will reciprocate
- Work on building long-term relationships
- Social media is a conversation with your friends and customers- don’t shout at them.
- For small businesses: Let your personality shine through in your content
  - Show your audience your passion and enthusiasm
  - Do not be afraid to give your pages character; it will engage your audience and build a strong client base
  - Use human interest stories to engage users

Check out Social media expert Brian Solis‘s information shadow: the cumulative effect of long-lasting content. Explore other Social Media Experts’ tips to enhance your success.

Seth Godin’s Roadtrip visit to Boston

Seth Godin: Thoughts on the media revolution, entrepreneurship, education − Boston edition

By Alexandra Smith of Designated Editor

The Revolution: It’s the biggest of our time, the biggest since Henry Ford

We used to work toward and with a tangible product that wore out eventually – not anymore.
What you do all day at work is being constantly shaped by the revolution.
It will never go back to the way it was.
What are you doing during the revolution?

Entrepreneurship

There’s a shift in what it means “to work” in the world we live in now.
Doing work that provides a gift changes you, similar to service work.
A steady job with a predictable income is old school.
What makes something remarkable is people wanting to make remarks about it – This is why people talk about advertisements, because they are funny, not because they’re all that great.

Education

School simply teaches us to be good at school and to do what we’re told.
Problem-solving is missing from traditional education.
We need people who don’t just simply listen to and document a problem, but those who can solve it when it is presented – this is what we do in business.
We aren’t trained to be the best at one thing – we are trained to be competent at many things.

Godin’s advice for adapting

Don’t listen to your lizard brain. (Godin used a lizard prop to represent the part of our brain that controls our fear of taking leaps, which drives us to do things that are safe and protected).
Very few people can accomplish creative work while their lizard brain is freaking out.
The cost of failing has never been lower.
You know it’s your lizard brain talking if it’s like fearing your will plane crash – it’s irrational.

Godin on spam

Don’t spam people to get your ideas out.
Earn the right to be an expert.
Spam doesn’t work as well as it used to.
Talk to those who want to be talked to with relevant messages.
Earn the right / gain enough knowledge to get in to talk to people in your niche about your ideas.

Godin on your work

Your job should be to come as close as possible to being fired every day.
If they don’t embrace your new ideas, leave.
Who would miss you if you left?
If you’re a go-getter, team up with a visionary, or vice versa.
“My boss won’t let me” is bogus. You’re not asking the right way.

Resources

More Seth Godin wisdom

Learn more about the Boston Linchpins