Social Media Strategy – Getting Started
Join us for a Webinar on August 25

Everywhere we turn, we hear that social media has become an important force in business marketing, which is very true. Money goes where people go, and people are going to social media sites.

Having an account in a social media platform (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter) is not the same as having a social media “strategy”, and having a strategy is essential for success.

Allan Curtis and Sandi Maki have a common sense approach to integrating social media into a business marketing plan, and would love to help you define, develop, implement and maintain a successful strategy, which they will help you get started in this 60 minute action packed webinar training.

The process begins with setting some social media goals, and incorporating the best elements of what is available in the social media world today, with the ability to grow and change tomorrow. A successful strategy can be developed utilizing your existing web presence, and gaining the maximum amount of traction by adding the most important social media elements to your marketing mix.

Sandi Maki and Allan Curtis are co-founders of the InSights Group, an amazing collaborative learning organization. Without traditional funding, a marketing or advertising budget they used organic marketing strategies and social media to grow the InSights Group. Creating the roadmap as they went, learning and growing on the way, they’ve found what works in the world of social media. The social media strategies taught at the InSights Group were developed as a part of those experiences, and they’ll be sharing some of what they have learned with you.

Sandi and Al have presented to a diverse array of audiences, from a small group in a conference room to a national convention. They are hired as social media strategists, conduct classes and training regularly.

Email: info@insights-group.com to request a confidential strategy consult before or after the webinar.

Title: Social Media Strategy – Getting Started

Date: Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP, 2003 Server or 2000

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4.11 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/132354057

I have to say that our designer outdid himself with this site. It is fantastic! I’d like to invite you to meet Dr. John Artemenko and his team from Sterling Heights, Mi. Visit the site and take a peek around. The results are coming in, this blogging site is a couple of months old, and already ranks very well with Google. The team is beginning to blog with regularity, updating their social media sites, and producing excellent you tube videos. Our hats off to them, for coming on board with Social Media and bringing their practice into the conversation. Way to go team Artemenko!

This team has done more than just throw a new website together. The Social Media Strategy for Team Artemenko included an Organic Marketing Review, Personality Assessments for the Team, Social Media Boot Camp for Dr. Artemenko and staff, as well as some webinar trainings to help them learn each step along the way. We also help the team with ongoing support and coaching for each of the pieces that are being put into place. The team gets to focus on doing what they are good at, dentistry, and share their message with the world for more exposure units in new media marketing methods. The WordPress based site features several widgets, plugins, google analytics and email subscription service put together in a unique combination to get the team positioned where it wants to be in the social media conversation and ready for some measurable successes!

For information on how we can help your team, please call or email. We’re thrilled to help progressive dental teams bring their marketing to the next level!

On Being Found:

No, I’m not talking about a religious conversion, however, I’m not against that.  What I’m talking about it being “found” on Google.  (By the way, it’s amazing to me how fast that word and that tool has become imbedded into our way of life!)

9 months ago I had no idea what “Social Media” or “Web 2.0” was.  Absolutely none.  I own an executive search firm (Sanford Rose Associates – Brighton, Michigan), and at that time had a traditional website and used a variety of recruiting tools and software.  I was vaguely familiar with LinkedIn, and knew that my three kids were crazy with something called Facebook.  Twitter was some goofy thing that I heard Hollywood celebrities were using to communicate with their fans.  I didn’t know much about all this stuff, and didn’t care.  If you typed “Brett Blair” into the “Google” search block, I didn’t show up anywhere.  Not on page one, two, three….nowhere.  Oh, there were many Brett Blair, more than I’d like to know, with lifestyles not at all resembling the one I’d like to show on the world wide web!

Through my very good friend, Mr. Synchronicity, I crossed paths with Al Curtis and Sandi Maki at the Brighton, Michigan-based “Insights Group.”  Al and Sandi are social media experts and consultants for small businesses.  After attending a “Social Media Boot Camp” in November, 2009, the lights went on in my head regarding social media and my place in it.  With Al and Sandi’s help, I started a blog on January 1, 2010 (brettablair.com), and have since written/recorded at least one new blog each work day.  I’ve connected my blog to my social media outlets (LinkedIn, Facebook, and yes, Twitter….as well as about 40 other less well known sites).  Now, less than seven months later, with no money spent on web development or Search Engine Optimization (SEO), when I type “Brett Blair” into Google, I come up as the first five results…all on the first page!  This is great for me and for my business.  I also now have over 8,000 Twitter followers, 500 Facebook friends, and 1,200 LinkedIn level one connections.

I love connecting with people, and I love helping people.  This is why my career as an executive search consultant is such a great fit for me.  I also love reading, learning, sharing and writing….and this fits my new love of blogging.  The cool thing about Social Media, is that it keeps on growing over time.  It also keeps me growing.  Friendships and connections and conversations, sharing, learning, and growing are all part of a web-connected Brett Blair community that adds to my life, and hopefully the lives of those I’m connected with.

I’m excited about this ride, and will continue to blog and connect, and see where this path takes me!  Happy Trails!!

Thanks,
Brett

Brett A. Blair

President

Sanford Rose Associates – Brighton, Executive Search

132 East Grand River Avenue

Brighton, Michigan 48116

Office:  517-552-9230

Cell:       248-303-9994

brettablair.com , sanfordrose.com/brighton

No Content = No Keywords by Sazbean

The fastest way to increase your google ranking from Social Media Examiner

36 Awesome Social Media Blogs from Hubspot

SEO VS Multimedia

The Ultimate List of Social Media Statistics

The New Dynamics of Book Publishing by Seth Godin

Coming Soon, Blogging 3.0

What can you say in 136 words?

Only a few stories that we read impact us so much that we just cannot stop thinking about them and Andy Andrew’s, The Butterfly Effect,is one of those stories. Enjoy this 3 minute movie and be inspired to live a life of permanent purpose that will make you a better parent, a better spouse, employee and a more valuable friend.

Affiliate link:

Here’s what Letterman has to say. And a reminder that if someone tweets on your behalf, you should pay attention, just a bit…

Your website is not about your organization. It’s about your users, your constituency, the audience or market that your organization serves. Every decision related to design, content and function of a site must be made with the needs of your audience in mind. Your website is not about you. It’s not about your personal likes and dislikes and tastes and preferences. Your personal opinions do not matter, and should have no place in determining what your site looks like or how it acts. Only business considerations matter. Everything must be decided with the user’s needs in mind. Get your ego the hell out of the game. Got it? It’s not your website – it’s your users’ website. Your site should not be designed for your benefit. It should be designed for the benefit of your users, your constituents; your customers, your prospects, your members, your contributors, your volunteers, your whatever. Your benefit comes from serving the needs of your users.

View article…

It almost sounds too simple to feel important, but understanding the power of gratitude can change your life forever. Sarah Breathnach said it best…

“When we choose not to focus on what’s missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present…
we experience heaven on earth.”

Enjoy this 2 minute inspirational movie, Learning to Dance in the Rain. The words, the photographs and the music are beautiful!

Affilate movie link ~

DiSC ProfilePreview “Behavioral Magic”

Join us on Monday evening July 19th, @6pm for a (1- ½ hr) Preview of DiSC called “Behavioral Magic!”

It’s fun, interactive, using games, handouts, and will give you a better understanding of personality and behavior.

Location: InSights Group, 7187 Grand River, Brighton

Find out more and RSVP to this event »

well of course, he did send it to everyone who subscribes to his blog. He did tell us to share, so here you go:

Insubordinate… 50th anniverary free ebook

What’s the opposite of insubordinate? I guess it’s subordinate.

Which is better, I wonder. Is it preferred to do exactly what you’re told, to be clearly subordinate to the system, to the boss, to the short term demands of the organization–or are we better off doing the right thing instead?

As I think about the insubordinate people I’ve worked with over the last few decades, the answer is really clear to me.

I’ve written a personal addendum to Linchpin. Here it is, it’s a free PDF. Insubordinate is a 40 page ebook, feel free to share. I couldn’t possibly include all the linchpins I’ve worked with over the years, but I think you’ll find that many of the examples in the ebook resonate.

Enjoy.