In this screencast I highlight the main points covered during this Social Media seminar. This sceencast is a little over 10 minutes long; the seminar was over two hours of slides and Q&A.

I chose the non-linear path for my recent Social Media seminar for APA | NY . Engaging your audience is a hard dance to manage but, as in this case proved, doing so offers greater value FOR THE ATTENDEES from the event. Value doesn’t mean everybody leaves happy. Value means the audience gained answers to questions; ideally these answers demand a renewal of thought.

Recently I’ve read a few posts about converting social media fans or followers into something more. The question came up again at the latest Indy Social Media Breakfast featuring a panel of speakers in the cultural attractions and tourism industry. How do you move someone from being a follower or fan and get them to actually do something?

I love planning, lists and office supplies. Give me graph paper, newsprint and a whole slew of markers and I’m a happy camper….Well, usually….Recently I’ve been going through a growth spurt. Jamie Ridler Studios is flourishing and I’ve been bouncing off the walls with new projects and new ideas. Awesome, right? Well, kind of….

In my presentations and consulting I suggest that creative professionals use social media at least one hour a day (or 5-7 hours per week). This includes a great deal of “listening” as well engaging. Yes, I’m a marketing communications consultant and am therefore biased, BUT these suggestions are not based on turning you into a social media consultant, they are geared to get you the best marketing value for your time.

Ask First: Before you prepare your presentation gain a list of the attendees and see if you contact them via email. Ask them what they expect from the presentation. If you can’t email them, research them.

Kevin Berrey, the Writer/Director/Filmmaker and principal of Screaming Panda, posted this question to Twitter this morning: What happens when you cross this Edelman study on trust (who trusts who) with the Dunbar number (how many friends can you really have)?

My answer is: Nothing, because generalities are irrelevant.

A: The middle shouldn’t be the default; it should be a choice, a hard one, and include a commitment to the long haul. Also, it’s not about waiting, you have to make a business there, not bring a business to there…

Freelance creative professionals increasingly ask me these two questions:

1. Is there any work “out there?”
2. Is that work for me?

The answer to both is no, not right now, and maybe not for a while, if ever. There is no work “out there” for anyone anymore in the way it used to be. There is no low hanging fruit; there is no regular gig. If you keep asking these questions then there is no work for you.

These are the slides from my presentation to ISACA and IAA (the Chicago chapters of national Internal Auditor and IT Governance organizations). The goal of my presentation was to point out the necessity of developing a company-wide social media policy based on these main observations:
- Employees are the new marketing department
- Marketing is now Communications; Conversations/Engagement
- While the adoption rate is high (and growing), most companies don’t have a policy