Social Media Training for Everyone!

So, you're a small business owner trying to figure out how to use social media to grow your business - or you're heading up a non-profit and you want to know how to use this medium to increase awareness for your cause - or you're working with an arts organization and you want everyone to know about the upcoming show, recital, or play...

I'm happy to report that there's several opportunities coming up to learn from the best and mix with others in the Delaware Social Media sphere:

Tuesday, Feb. 2, 8:30 - 10:30 AM - The Delaware State Chamber of Commerce presents Small Business Alliance Workshop: Social Media Questions Answered - Click Here to learn more and register

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 5:00 - 9:00 PM - DelTweet 3.0 - Trust me, you want to be at this event! Click Here to learn more and RSVP

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 5:30 - 8:30 PM - Delaware BioScience Association and Technology Forum of Delaware presents the Social Media Revolution - this event is a must attend for anyone in the Bio/Pharma industry as well as the Technology Industry - Click Here to learn more and register

Thursday, Feb. 18, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM - AGS University - Marketing with Facebook: Fans, Friends, Apps & More - Whitney Hoffman will teach the essentials of marketing through Facebook. Generate more ROI by applying the right Facebook tools to achieve your goals. Click Here to learn more and register

Friday, Feb. 19, 12 Noon - 3:00 PM - Delaware Small Business Social Media Train - A collection of some of the top Delaware Social Media experts ready to share with you - FREE - Click here to learn more and RSVP

Wednesday, March 10, 5:00 - 8:00 PM - Ignite Sussex at Dogfish Head in Rehoboth Beach - you have to experience this! Click Here to learn more and register

Thursday, March 18, 8:00 - 10:00 AM - New Castle County Chamber of Commerce ChamberWorks: Social Media Revolution - a step by step on how to do it - FREE - Click Here to learn more and RSVP

Delaware Business Ledger story on Social Media Initiative!

The Delaware Business Ledger has just published an awesome article about the Delaware Social Media Initiative!

Here's some excerpts:

It is already apparent that Delaware may be ahead of the curve, based on the widespread use of social networking tools, with large companies such as DuPont, ING Direct and AstraZeneca having a Twitter presence. State government is also on board with various agencies using Twitter.

“I think it is a wonderful idea for Delaware to innovate, as a small state, and as a close knit community we have a lot more opportunity to do that than most states," writes Maya. J. Paveza, a Realtor for Coldwell Banker Preferred, who also does social media consulting work.

One of the more enthusiastic supporters of the initiative is Rebecca Faber, president and CEO of the World Trade Center of Delaware. Faber uses Twitter to keep in touch with a far-flung network of world trade centers and is known for tweeting at conferences and networking events.

"Consider that just by having that (social network) message being told and repeated via social media, itself an innovative tool, this message of Delaware being friendly to innovation and business will look to be quite valid. Consider that this message could reach people looking for a place to do business in the U.S. or to invest, to send their children to school, to move their company," Faber writes

Click Here to read the complete article!

True Confessions - Ulterior Motives for the Delaware Social Media Initiative

When I started thinking about this Delaware Social Media Initiative idea, my first thought was, "Wow, we can really make a difference in this state - promote business, help charities, and raise awareness of the arts." My second thought was, "We could make Delaware a magnet for entrepreneurs, investors, and artists."

While both of those reasons remain true, I do have some ulterior motives for promoting the Delaware Social Media Initiative, and, in the interest of transparency and full disclosure, I'll share those ulterior motives now.

First, I am a self-described First Amendment extremist - I believe that as more citizens exercise their right to express their views in the open marketplace, the better off we are as a society. I also believe that those views and opinions that are based in false information (i.e. urban legends) are more quickly exposed and relegated to the trash bin in which they belong when exposed to the harsh light of a transparent public venue such as social media.

Second, I believe that the social media tools available to us now - if used by all of us - can shape a very different future than the one we've been raised to expect. OK, follow me on this one, I think it's safe to assume that we've all grown up with this concept that advanced technology will be used by government entities to control the masses (i.e. Orwell's "1984," Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451," etc.). But, what we're seeing now is a situation where all of us have more advanced communication tools at our disposal than the vast majority of government entities that are either hindered by out-of-date hardware or out-of-date policies (blocking access to social media sites like Youtube and Facebook). Think about this for a moment - this means that those politicians and bureaucrats who historically have used secrecy (or at least a lack of communication) to lie, intimidate, or otherwise exercise undue influence on others are now the very ones who are subject to having their speech and behavior broadcast to the masses and must fear being exposed for the frauds/bullies/idiots that they are. As Thomas Jefferson put it, “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

Third, I believe that every great advance in civilization comes about because of an advance in communication. Whether it's Gutenberg's printing press, Morse's telegraph, or Marconi's radio, we've seen new communication tools translate into great leaps in science, business, transportation, liberty, and overall quality of life. The thing is, where before we would need the resources to purchase heavy machinery, broadcast towers, etc., or pay to have our messages put out through those media - today everyone reading this has the ability and tools to become their own printing press and broadcast station. The more we engage in this communication, the faster we will see the next great advance in society!

So, there you have it - there's my deeper motives for promoting the Delaware Social Media Initiative. Feel free to share your thoughts.

THIS is a great step in the right direction!

The State of Delaware is really starting to do some good things in Social Media - it's encouraging to go to the state web site and see this:

Click Here to get the full run-down of State Government connections through Social Media.

Help spread the word!

Take a minute and think of the groups you belong to:

• Business Associations
• Rotary Club
• Lions Club
• charity group
• church
• chamber of commerce
• PTA (or PTSA)
• Scouts
• Bridge Club
• Civic Association

OK, now imagine getting just a few people from each of those groups engaged in Social Media, working together to promote each other, collaborate on projects, support each others' efforts.

So, here's the deal - if you want someone to come and make a presentation to your group about using Social Media, let me know. If you currently use Social Media and would feel comfortable sharing your experiences with a group, let me know.

We can do this!

Are You Willing To Lead?

Do you use some form of Social Media right now (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Blog, e-mail, etc.)? Are you willing to help others get up to speed? You don't have to be an "expert" - you just need to be someone who uses these tools and can help walk other people through the early steps to get them set up.

If you are willing to help, simply post your name, what you use regularly, and the best way for people to reach you.

Thanks!

Oh, and if you already have a web site, blog, facebook page, or anything else already set up - please post that, too!

First Interview on the Delaware Social Media Initiative!

Dave Burris just posted the first interview about the Delaware Social Media Initiative - click here to check it out.

And yes, this should demonstrate how fast this whole Social Media thing is!