Enabling Tweetbacks

image I’ve installed Dan Zarrella’s new Tweetbacks WordPress Plugin today, and will be monitoring it to see how well it works out.  I’ve seen a number of folks over the last week taking a close look at this new idea, and have always been trying out some of the cutting-edge Twitter tie-ins and tactics.

Have you tried out this new plug-in? What do you think?

Social Media Breakfast – Holiday Edition 2008

Hi everyone! I thought I’d let you know about the upcoming Social Media Breakfast – Twin Cities on December 19th.  It’s a Holiday version of the event, meant to be fun and unstructured.

Lake Elmo Inn Event Center - Lobby We will be meeting at the Lake Elmo Inn Event Center, where we’ll have a full breakfast buffet with all your breakfast favorites (including bacon!), served during the entire event.  The Lake Elmo Inn has great food, and is a consistent reader’s choice winner in Mpls./St. Paul Magazine, with great facilities and excellent food.

This is a pay event and costs $20 per person. Registration will be open through Dec. 16th and there are only 60 seats available, so don’t wait! Click Here to Register

We’ll be having a great morning with the story of Ratchet, related by Katie Konrath.  If you didn’t hear the story, it’s one of community, social media, and compassion coming together to make something happen.  One of the great examples of our interest and commitment to social media on a personal level.

Also, we will have an “open mic” for you to share your stories from past events, or to talk about things that Social Media Breakfast has enabled for you.  Tell folks what exciting new ideas you’re working on  or what you do.

Along with that, we’ll have much more time to talk and trade stories on a more intimate setting, with smaller groups and less pressure to adhere to an agenda.  Bring your ideas or stories and share with the folks at your table or the one next to you.

Lake Elmo Inn Event Center - Main Room

So come enjoy our most exciting event, our 10th event in Minneapolis & St. Paul, our first full breakfast, and probably the best chance to simply connect with more of the SMBMSP crowd than you’ve had a chance to previously.

I look forward to seeing everyone who can make it!  If you want to make it, but don’t have a ride lined up, direct message or “@” smbmsp on Twitter and we’ll do our best to connect a some folks together

When:
Friday, December 19th, 2008 from 8am to 10am

Where:
Lake Elmo Inn Event Center
3712 Layton Ave. N.
Lake Elmo, MN 55402
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True Tools

My Tool Box by Jim Frazier True Tools. That’s how I think of software & utilities that end up being indispensible. From Microsoft Windows & Office to Google & Expedia, to Gmail to Twitter. These are solutions that simple do what they were supposed to do without any fuss or muss.

We all have our favorite tools that end up work out well for us, some may prefer Linux or Mac over Windows, or Yahoo! over Google, or OpenOffice over Microsoft Office. The point being that once we stumble upon something that simply works and really solves a need we have for a task, we tend to stick with it. There are many good reasons for this, the most important one being that they save time.

That doesn’t exclude us from exploring new options, which is how we find the hidden gems anyway. There’s always going to be a better way, sometimes it takes longer for a significantly improved solution to evolve.

Take office productivity for example. For my purposes, Microsoft Office has no equal. That’s not to say there isn’t competition. Only that for the work I do in the time I have available to do it, there are few viable options. The few options that exist require compromise in one way or another that I simply can’t accommodate at this time.

Social tools are a neat example of continuously experimenting with new ideas as well as technology. For the last couple years, social media types have been watching for that next big, better social network to join. The reality is that there may not be one for some time. Looking at the main options that have any value, it’s clear that Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn are the heavy hitters. Because of the number of people (user base), you can get value out of these networks. It’s likely that you’ll find associates and friends on these networks.

So, while it’s fun to explore and discover new software, new ideas, and new tools, it’s the ones that get the job done with the least amount of effort expended that we stick with.

 

Photo credit: Jim Frazier

Extra special people make extra special events

So I’m sitting here this fine, cool, wonderful Saturday morning, working on plans for the next four Social Media Breakfast – Twin Cities events thinking. There’s an energy here in the Northland that is hard to describe, but I know our fellow social web enthusiasts know what I’m talking about.

Even with the issues in the world-wide economy, I see energy and optimism that is a component of every entrepreneur. The ideas are fresh and honest, the kind that make you say “why didn’t I think of that”? The atmosphere of these events engenders this kind of creativity, the kind that allows you cheer them on. The real work of meeting people, exchanging ideas and making things happen are as timeless as they are productive.

It’s because of these extraordinary meetups that drive me to continue to help make them happen. Realizing that this is something I enjoy only makes the effort that much more rewarding. So as we roll out the next several events, I wanted to take a minute and thank all the folks who visit and participate in these social media events. You are the reason we find value in getting together and sharing those ideas.

Social Media Breakfast – Twin Cities 8

smbmsp-logo-beta_1 It’s time to start talking about the next SMB in Minneapolis/St. Paul! We’re going to be meeting at the Deluxe corporate headquarters in Shoreview, MN on Oct. 31st.

What better way to wrap up the month of October and start your Halloween weekend than to meet up with your local social media peeps? How about how about a chance to talk social media with the bestselling author of the hit book The New Rules of Marketing & PR: David Meerman Scott? In addition we’ll have a chance to talk with startup entrepreneur Steve Nielsen, President & CEO PartnerUp, a Deluxe Corporation Company.

The fine folks at Fallon will talk about their Twitter campaign for SciFi’s “Eureka”. Each attendee will get a free copy of David’s Book (up to 100 attendees), which he’ll be happy to sign — courtesy of our friends at New Horizons Computer Learning Centers.

Event Info:

  • Where: Deluxe Corporate Headquarters, 3680 Victoria Street North, Shoreview, MN 55126 (Map it!)
  • When: October 31st, 2008 from 8am to 10am Googlel Calendar

Agenda:

  • David Meerman Scott – “Thought Leadership & Viral Marketing Strategist”
    • Each attendee will get a free copy of David’s Book (up to
      100 attendees), which he’ll be happy to sign — courtesy of
      our friends at New Horizons Computer Learning Centers.
      (link: www.nhmn.com)
  • Steve Nielsen, President & CEO PartnerUp, a Deluxe Corporation Company.
  • Fallon folks talks about their Twitter campaign for SciFi’s “Eureka
  • Post-Networking with David, Steve, and everyone else!
  • Our continuing conversation on social media in Minneapolis & St. Paul

RSVP at our EventBrite page:

Sponsors:

Deluxe CorporationPartnerUp
New HorizonsTopRank Online Marketing
press release distribution, newswire, public relations, investor relations, breaking news, media monitoring

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