Be the flash point for social media in your city

Strike by Katie Blanch Wondering when an online-oriented event is going to pop up in your area? Why don’t you make it happen?

While “social media” is every today, it’s as important as ever to get face 2 face with folks you know online. The adage “it’s not what you know, but who you know” is as true today as it was to previous generations. While technology is tearing down the barriers of time & distance, as humans, we crave real-time interaction.

Being an organizer of events in your town or city has some advantages – you get to pick topics that are interesting to you, you get to help get people involved, but mostly you get to meet lots of people. That’s probably the biggest reward of all the work that goes into these things.

The other thing is simply getting things started. Why wait for someone to get things started – you could be that person. It’s not hard, and I know that most everyone that’s worked on getting organizing and hosting events would be happy to share some tips to making it all happen.

Are you ready to start something?

Photo credit: Katie Blanch

Good things, good habits, in moderation

So it’s been a great day here in Minneapolis this Friday. Got a chance to know a few folks from the office better – that’s a good thing. Got to spend a nice evening as a family this evening – that’s a good thing. Made myself write a little bit – and that too is a good thing.

What will be more interesting is if I can continue to write a bit this weekend. That’s my plan, and I think it’ll be worth the time invested to get back to blogging, which I really do enjoy. It’s bothersome that I ever let myself get off track and worried that I wasn’t writing what people wanted to read. Wrong thing to worry about, I know.

What is or was wrong was to allow myself to get sidetracked by too many side-shows on the social web. It’s a great time-sink to explore the latest & greatest. Fun too! However, it really is a delicate balance of habits, and knowing when you’re spending too much time on any one tool, network or site is key to gaining the strengths of those sites and leaving the weaknesses behind.

What’s the answer to it all? Moderation. Just like enjoying a nice adult beverage, it’s only enjoyable in moderation. Also, you get the chance to explore and learn things more in-depth and find how they can augment your life positively rather than simply taking up time just to update statuses and read walls.

So take a break from Facebook, lighten up on your twittering, take a walk and bring only your thoughts with you. You’ll learn a lot more than what folks are doing right that moment if you can let yourself take a breather.

Social Media Breakfast – Twin Cities 7

smbmsp-logo-beta_1 Looking forward to the next Social Media Breakfast? So are we! We’ll be meeting at the Best Buy headquarters in Richfield, MN again this time and will welcome the co-founder of Blue Shirt Nation, Gary Koelling who’s going to share some stories and background on Best Buy social media initiatives like BSN, Gift Tag and so on.

We’ll also talk about social media “Purists” vs. “Corporatists” in the enterprise, take a quick look at the SMBMSP social media site on Ning, and hear from ThreeVolts about web video. We’ll see you there!

Agenda:

  • Gary Koelling, co-founder of Best Buy’s BlueShirtNation will talk about BSN and GiftTag
  • Group question: Social Media “Purists” vs. the “Corporatists” in the enterprise. What’s your take?
  • Three Volts will talk about web video and it’s use by companies
  • Conferences – Who’s going and why (BlogWorld Expo, DEMO, Defrag, SXSW)
  • Local event/meetup update – what’s coming up & details on SMBMSP8.
  • Announcement: We have a bacon sponsor!!!

Breakfast sponsored by:

Sterling Cross Group

Chat:

http://www.meebo.com/room/smbmsp/

I’m hoping his works for the remotes and us behind a firewall at SMB – any other ideas or suggestions?

Video:

http://www.mogulus.com/smpmsp

Please note that we’re using the Meebo chat listed above rather than the embedded Mogulus chat. Sorry for any inconvenience!

Social Media Breakfast & Social Media Club

Local conversations, with national connections!

Social Media Happy Hour – Northfield, MN

image Yep, we’re starting to see more and more variations on social media meetups. This is a great thing for SMBers that can’t make it to a regular SMB because of work, distance, or other commitments.

Ruth Sylte has put together what looks to be a great meetup in Northfield, MN at The Contented Cow on August 24th. You can find more info here.

If you’re looking for another way to network with your fellow SMBers, this is a good one.  So check it out and share the info with your social media friends.

Thanks for organizing this Ruth!

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