Educating My Way to Success (On the Bay! @OMSummit #OMS12)

Having a drive to continue learning  is so important for staying at the forefront of technology! By now you guys all probably know how important continued education is to me. I’m constantly educating myself and even make a point to learn something new every day! I learn by teaching others in classrooms, online classes, hosting seminars and webinars.

To ensure the knowledge I teach to businesses and students on marketing, technology and social media is up to date, I take the initiative to keep myself educated. This is crucial with the ever changing landscape of marketing in a digital world so I’m excited to once again be a part of the Online Marketing Summit (OMS) coming up in just a few days Feb 6-9, 2012 at the Hilton San Diego Bay front! I have received dozens on inquiries on “Are you going to be speaking?”. While I’m normally a speaker at conferences I attend, I’ll be at OMS as an attendee, eager to learn from others.  It doesn’t getting any better than learning more about the topics I’m most passionate about on the gorgeous bay! 

*EVENT HIGHLIGHTS*

• Online Marketing Summit is the premier educational event for digital marketing, focused primarily on educating marketers across all digital marketing disciplines and emerging best practices including social media, mobile, search engine media, eCommerce and website optimization.
• OMS hosts a keynote line-up of thought leaders. I’m personally looking forward to hearing Mari Smith speak for the first time! Mari and I are social media buddies, but I haven’t had an opportunity to learn from her insights yet so I was excited to learn that she is giving a keynote!

• A first time Expo, featuring over 50 companies, showcasing the leading online marketing tools and solutions
• 1:1 Labs: Unique to the event program are expert labs, which offer a one-on-one consultation with experts in social media tools, web analytics, search, usability, email and more.
• New conference tracks: With 40% more content this year, OMS is featuring six tracks.  Two new tracks include: Mobile Marketing and Content Marketing for Social Engagement

Remember promo code: MM25 for 25% off any conference pass!

Get Connected with 6 Degrees San Diego

We’re all familiar with the phenomena 6 Degrees of Separation referring to the idea that everyone is on average is approximately six steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world. Well in San Diego you now have an even better chance of getting connected to other leaders in 6 Degrees or less.

Many people have been asking me “What is 6 Degrees?” when they see my Foursquare check in at their office or hear me mention that I work in the same building as them. While I share office space with 6 Degrees, I also recently joined there group and feel that it’s a great networking opportunity that I would love to share with everyone.

6 Degrees San Diego Mission Statement: 
6 Degrees provides our members the opportunity to build business relationships “beyond the introduction” leading to trusted, lasting relationships. We accomplish this by partnering with, and supporting local businesses, charities and our community.

Founded by Matt Greene who is also the Principal at Greene Financial & Insurance Services and a fellow UCSB Gaucho; 6 Degrees is a professional business networking group bringing together the best San Diego has to offer – local executives and business owners of all industries. You’re provided with opportunities to engage in networking, business development, cause marketing and charitable giving at their monthly and quarterly events. You can also connect online within their membership forum allowing you to connect with businesses relevant to your industry and showcase your own business.

I’ve mentioned so many times that while staying connected online is important, it’s also just as important strengthen relationships by connecting in real life which is why I provide in person networking opportunities at my seminars, dinner events, and LunchUps. This Tuesday November 16th, I invite you all to join me at the 6 Degrees Member Reception in Downtown San Diego! 

This is a great opportunity to network, learn about the organization and another chance to connect with myself and other professionals in real life! Feel free to bring guests, co-workers, or other professionals you feel would find this valuable, the more the merrier. The event is FREE for all members and non-members. Register HERE to reserve your spot.

When: Tuesday November 15th 5:30p-7:30pm

Where: Higgs, Fletcher & Mack  Downtown San Diego 2401 West A Street, Suite 2600, San Diego CA 92101

Why: Get Connected and stay connected while you network, meet the 6 Degrees team and enjoy light Hors d’oeuvres and beverages.

How: Register HERE to reserve your spot.

If you’re interested in more information on joining 6 Degrees I highly recommend joining me tomorrow night! Otherwise  feel free to let me know if you’d like additional info! See you tomorrow evening!

Social Media Insights with @AllisonSchummer at Digital Media Now

I recently welcomed the lovely Allison Schummer to my team. As an aspiring marketer and SDSU student about to graduate and enter the work force, Allison’s ambition has positively fueled her to not only help my company grow, but also continue learning and educating herself about digital marketing and social media. Last week Allison shared with everyone things she’s learned about networking, social media and marketing since we’ve been working together. Today Allison shares her insights from attending my Digital Media Now seminar last week.  These tips are great for both beginners getting into the space and anyone who could use a little refresher!

HIT IT ALLISON!

Last week I had a great experience volunteering at Marketing Melodie’s Digital Media Now seminar- Personal Branding on Social Media. I gained valuable knowledge about branding myself on Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. I learned how important it is to brand yourself consistently within all your Social Networks so your information is cohesive.  I also learned the fundamental purposes of Linkedin, Facebook, and Twitter. Linkedin is used to post your business experience and to connect with colleagues and employers. Facebook is the most personal of the 3 networks where you generally know everyone on your friends list and post personal photos and posts. Twitter is useful for connecting with individuals who you share common interests with and for tweeting and reading up to date information. The event was also a great way to interact and connect with the other attendees.

I was looking forward to the networking portion of the event to connect with others and build my social network. I met Jeff Klubeck (@GetAKlu) at the event and we had a great conversation about higher education and the importance of having a college degree. Later to find out, we both majored in Communication at SDSU and began reminiscing about our favorite teachers and courses. This is just one example, of how powerful networking is: You never know how connected you really are to people until you start sharing. Everyone at the event was very interesting and actively participated which contributed to its success. I look forward to the next Digital Media Now seminar where I can gain further knowledge on Social Media and connect with more people!

Thanks for sharing Allison! If you’re reading this and you also want to learn the ins and outs of Social Media, I’m still seeking Marketing Interns, apply today! If you’re reading this and you know someone who can benefit from working with me, please spread the word. Stay tuned for more posts from Allison on things she’s learned and experienced from working in marketing. You can follow Allison  on Twitter  to learn more about her marketing adventures! 

[Event] Let’s do Lunch this Thursday! #MVLunchUp

I love connecting with my community online but it’s also important to strengthen relationships in person! I’ve been having many great conversations and interactions on Twitter but I would love to do lunch with you all to continue our conversations, thus I present Mission Valley LunchUp this Thursday!

I recruited my good friend @DowntownRob who also works Mission Valley to host our lunch! So this Thursday 12-1:30pm take a break from all your hard work and enjoy lunch with your fellow web/tech/social media friends.

This event is open to everyone! Purchase lunch on your own and enjoy eating it with great company while networking and making new friends at Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill- Mission Valley. Rubio’s is a good friend of Marketing Melodie. They’ve sponsored several Digital Media Events so I’m happy to show them some love by hosting our lunch there! Oh that and @DowntownRob is Foursquare Mayor of Rubio’s Mission Valley! That alone enough is reason for him to go back and defend his mayorship!

If you work in Mission Valley or can make it out to the area, please come by, enjoy @RubiosTweets (I recommend their original fish taco!) and connect with like-minded people for a fun lunch break!

When: Thursday November 10th 12p-1:30pm

Where: Rubio’s Mission Valley Mission Valley 2075-a Camino De La Reina San Diego, CA 92108

Why: Enjoy lunch with great company, like minded people, make new friends, network and enjoy some delicious fish tacos!

RSVP for Mission Valley LunchUp Here! And remember to tweet with the hashtag #MVLunchUp!

Thank You for an Epic Tweetup @Nordstrom_Rack! #RackOpening

Last night was proof that RETAIL THERAPY WORKS! I attended an amazing tweetup. Probably one of my all time favorite tweetups. The event was gorgeous, executed perfectly, planned so well, had the nicest staff, so many fun surprises and the marketing/outreach done prior to the tweetup was smart and strategic!

Almost 2 weeks ago I receive a nice email in my inbox from Norstrom Rack.

The first thing they did right was invite their target audience. They also did research on people who are influential in the San Diego Social Media space and invited that group too. They wanted to create buzz around the event and generate positive conversations. That’s exactly what they did. Oh and they made sure to have an easy to follow #hashtag #rackopening.

I step into the store and am immediately greeted with peach champagne and a $50 gift card I can use the same day! I am a huge Nordstrom lover. I buy almost everything at Nordstrom from makeup to jeans, to shoes and jackets but I rarely shop at the rack. Tonight may have changed my mind because the rack had so many designer and high end brands at a fraction of the price! I couldn’t help but grab things off virtually every rack because everything was so cute yet cost effective.

After putting a few things in my cart, I take a photo and post a tweet with the lovely fashionista @eyemusing. Little did I know this tweet was going to score us both a complimentary must-have for our wardrobe! Since they were doing giveaways the entire night, the store manager was following the hashtag and chose winners from the people tweeting/posting photos of the event! They called our names to the front and let us know that we won a free item in our cart! I am seriously so grateful! I chose a brand new pair of designer, Hudson Jeans! SCORE!

The rest of the evening was spent shopping, catching up with friends, conversing with the nicest staff who were so happy to help at any time and still feeling so grateful to have won a complimentary must-have piece for my wardrobe. I decided that it was an evening to stock up on pants since winter is coming up and living in San Diego, pants are pretty minimal in my wardrobe. I got a pair of black slacks, gray yoga pants and of course my gorgeous pair of Hudson Jeans!

Nordstrom Rack Did it Right! Here are just a few things Nordstrom Rack did perfectly that you can model when hosting your next event:

1. Invite your target audience to the event

2. Invite Social Media influencers to create buzz

3. Create an easy to follow event hashtag #rackopening

4. Make sure you have enough staff to handle the event

5. Be generous with giveaways

6. Treat all customers/attendees with respect

More awesome Facts about Nordstrom Rack Plaza Bonita:

1. They have an in house tailor, one of the few rack stores that offer this service.

2. Go Green with an electronic receipt! They emailed me mine right to my email.

3. DESIGNER everything at more than half off! I didn’t know the Rack stores carried so much awesome merchandise.

THANK YOU again Nordstrom Rack Plaza Bonita for an amazing, fun and fashionable evening! I wish you the best of luck with your grand opening and much success after that! I’ll definitely be talking about this event for years to come because it was EPIC! 

Talking Nerdy in San Diego @TiltedKiltPub #NerdsUnite

This past weekend, nerds united in San Diego and it was a wonderful time! Thanks to social media and TalkNerdyToMeLover.com‘s @JenFriel I had an opportunity to host a lovely group of  ladies who are like-minded, smart, passionate and of course understand and embrace digital technology and social media just like me! We organized a meetup through the power of Twitter! Yes, like energy always attracts like energy and this past weekend was a prime example. @ItsMeJoolie, @MsMeghanBrown, @MegCorbs, @iamrachelwho were all part of the #NerdsUnite crew who came down to San Diego from our neighboring town, the City of Angels!

The girls arrived and we spent the afternoon hanging out, speaking geek, talking tech and of course nerding out! I am so grateful for my online community and even more grateful when I’m able to connect on a more personal level in real life. Every single one of us all met through Social Media yet the first time we meet in real life, we are instant friends. Rather than greeting with a handshake, we embrace with a hug because we already feel so connected thanks to the social space.

I was so happy to learn that @MegCorbs, recent SDSU grad used to live in the complex right next door to me. Meg was able to show the ladies the San Diego way by welcoming everyone with California Burritos, which I just learned aren’t found in LA!

We soon made our way over to Oggis for some pre-meetup drinks and more nerdy talk! I learned about the Facebook page Nothing Rhymes with Orange. A viral phenomenon that was accidently started by one of the lovely ladies in our group @iamrachelwho. I am fascinated by the whole story of how this page blew up on the internet currently with over 300K fans!

After Oggis, we cabbed it to Tilted Kilt Mission Valley where we were meeting up with everyone else. @TiltedKiltPub generously welcomed us with great service and  hosted appetizers! Their nachos are absolutely delicious and so far my favorite nachos I’ve enjoyed in San Diego!

Of course being techy nerd girls, we checked in, tweeted and took a lot of photos of our fun night! Soon after we arrived more friends showed up including some of my great friends from the San Diego Tech scene @danlarsen, @iPodschun, @robotfaith, @thecrazymagnet (just to name a few).

Nerdy shirts are a must for a nerdy meetup. This one definitely wins for my favorite! @thecrazymagnet exaplained that he purposely wore his nerdiest shirt for the occasion!

After hours of good food, drinks, nerdy talk and of course a fun night, we made our way back to my place for a nerdy girl’s sleep over!

This entire weekend reinforced my belief on the importance of connecting with your online community in real life. A real life connection and an online connection both go hand in to create a strong bond, build community and mix in some real live fun! I want to once again thank the #NerdsUnite girls for making the drive down (it was an honor to host and hang out with phenomenal women in my industry), my San Diego community for attending the event and the Tilted Kilt Mission Valley for hosting us!

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