If you are looking to build a local twitter following, I recommend that you use Twellow . Twellow is a yellow pages of sorts for twitter users. Once at the site sign up for your free account. Next click the twellowhood tab which will show you a world map. Click through until you are in the state or region that you are looking for and then pick the cities near you and follow everyone. Be creative and you will build a strong local following. Finally remember to put out good content.

Any other techniques that you know of ?

Social Media Strategy

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.

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.

Join us for a luncheon event hosted by the E-Loft, Tuesday, December 29th, 2009 at 11:30am and learn how and why these social media sites should be an important part of your marketing mix.

Bio/Introduction:

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 national conventions. They are hired as social media strategists, conduct classes and training regularly both at our facility, the InSights Group in Brighton, and on location. You can find their CD series available on Amazon.com, and webinars, audio downloads, and podcasts available on the InSights Group website.

EVENT DETAILS HERE

Here is a study put together outlining some interesting statistics about news outlet use of the service…click here…

Mine is chocolate and peanut butter used in combination. Just read my bio to know that I truly feel passionate about this combination!

Each of us has our favorite social media site, or method to connect. Some users love Facebook. Some prefer Twitter. Still others find the research and connection function of LinkedIn to be more to their liking. Whichever platform or site you use, is fine. With automation strategies you can reach your audience, wherever they are, while still enjoying what you like best.

There is news out about a Twitter and LinkedIn information sharing partnership. Read more here.

What do you think? Does this mean you will use Twitter and LinkedIn more? Do you like it?

Any way you look at it, the more places we can connect with people where they are, the more conversation we can have. Where did you first see this post? Via FB, Twitter, or perhaps in the Blog Link on LinkedIn? Where’s your favorite social media playground?

Are you using social media to promote your business? Do you have a LinkedIn account because once someone sent you an email to join? Do you have a Facebook account? Are you using it to connect with family and friends, or are you harnessing the power to promote and grow your business? Twitter? What’s that all about?

What are your best tips and hints for someone who is just getting started? We are compiling some of the best and brightest strategies for upcoming classes. Please share what you know!

How connected are we?

Colin Thomas from MLIVE.com sent me a link a couple of weeks ago that caught his attention. There was a women in the audience of a keynote speech by Gary Vaynerchuck, that talked about how to promote a 100,000 hugs campaign going around the world. Besides the hugs being interesting, the keynote itself had some great information! The next thing I did was pick up the book Tribes by Seth Godin on the recommendation of a friend. I read that straight through, and wouldn’t you know it that Godin references Gary V. in the book. If that’s not enough coincidence for you, I somehow got to following the 100,000 hugs campaign, and Gail Lynne Goodwin sends a direct message via twitter wondering if I’ve heard of her campaign. Small world, getting smaller? I am realizing the power of the connection. How connected are you?

(photo by photo david @ flickr cc)

Recent polls at InSights show that about half the people in the room at a local networking event have at least heard of twitter. The other half laugh at the word. You have to admit, at first it sounds kind of silly. For the purpose of this discussion, let’s start with what twitter is:

Now that you’ve seen the video, here are my top five tips to using twitter.

1. Identify the reasons you are going to twitter, once you have a goal, you can work out a twitter plan, otherwise you might use all of your time surfing and playing, without getting closer to your purpose
Are you hoping to connect with friends and family?
Do you want to promote your brand or blog?
Do you want to meet new people?
Use it for netwokring?
Keep tabs on your brand, image, or company?

All of the above, and more, are great reasons and uses for twitter.

2. Tweet
Jump in with both feet. You will build a great twitter network through your activity. If you post interesting things, people will be inclined to follow you. Share useful information, fun facts, and add some of your personality. That’s what it’s all about! Give people a reason to follow you. Be interesting, not overly shamlessly self promoting.

3. Follow other Twitter users. Follow people because of their interesing posts. Target conversations near you if you are looking to grow in your geographic area. Expand your reach if you have a futher reaching goal.

4. Reply, Retweet, and have those conversations!
Reach out, share information, and let others know that you find them interesting. Asking questions is a great way to get some answers! Respond to others. Use the reply feature or the @username to have those two sided conversations.

5. Practice restraint and Twitter Etiquitte
Avoid spam. Promote content that is interesting. Don’t bring in the band and banners declaring yourself the next best thing since sliced bread. Insert your personality, interests, and yes promote yourself, but do it in balance with everything else. Share other’s links and information. Be the person in the party that listens as well as they talk.

I could go on and on, but would love your opinion. What is your best advice for the next Twitter user?

We had a day full of networking opportunities and meetings at InSights today, and in Ann Arbor as we attended the ACE ‘09 Entrepreneur event, then travelled back to Brighton to wrap up the day with a Toastmasters meeting. I overheard a conversation from a woman who was wondering when she would have time to get any work done. Interesting question, considering I have the same dilemma. So, here we are late at night and I am writing a blog post, twittering, and updating my facebook account. Where does the balance come in to the in person social activites that are so important for growing our contact spheres? Does anyone have any advice on their strategy and how to keep it all simple?