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!

Marketing Melodie in 2011: A Year in Review

Happy 2012 everyone! I can’t believe another year has gone by. The start of a new year is always a great time for me to reflect on the previous year and set goals for the upcoming year but also appreciate the present moment and everything that’s led me to where I am today.

At the end of 2010 I decided to write Marketing Melodie in 2010: A Year in Review. I have a habit of discrediting many of my accomplishments because I feel like I can always do more. Writing this really allows me to appreciate and be grateful for everything that I have done rather than focus on what I haven’t. Just like I did for 2010 here’s a year in review of 2011 highlighting noteworthy events, clients, blog posts, friends, accomplishments, adventures and amazing opportunities.

*JANUARY*

While marketing is my expertise and passion, I have another passion; YOGA! I’m very grateful for one of my clients this year, La Jolla Yoga Center. Creating marketing campaigns and strategies for a yoga studio I love definitely makes me happy.  I trained their team on using social media to grow their business and helped them get set up on Facebook and Twitter. They’re definitely doing a great job connecting with yogis on social media!

I’ve been practicing yoga for a few years and really wanted to strengthen my practice and take it to the next level. I contemplated getting my yoga teaching certification for a while. It’s a huge time commitment and I was really on the fence. Well I made the decision to go ahead with yoga teacher training and can now say, if you are ever on the fence, DO IT! I am so happy I completed my Yoga Teacher Training and wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I began my training in January and completed my 200 RYT Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training at the inspirational La Jolla Yoga Center, located right on the beach! I met so many amazing new friends, learned so much about myself and really took my yoga practice to the next level.

*FEBRUARY*

I hosted the 2^nd event in my Digital Media Dinners series. The topic: Social Media Branding. This was a great milestone because it officially turned Digital Media Dinners into a series rather than a one off event.  I taught strategies on how to strengthen people’s brand across various social networks including review sites such as Yelp, group buying sites such as Groupon and location based sites such as Foursquare. I incorporated a variety of sites because marketing and social media is growing beyond just Facebook and Twitter.

*MARCH*

Since I learn and receive so much from my online and social media community, I really want to give back. I did this by hosting Twestival San Diego. This event is hosted all over the nation using social media for social good by connecting communities offline on a single day to highlight a great cause and have a fun event. It’s entirely promoted via social media. Twestival San Diego was hosted at the Keating Hotel and all proceeds benefited the San Diego After School All Stars.

Me and a few other lovely Yogis were featured on KUSI demonstrating Bootcamp for Yogis run by my fellow yoga teacher trainee, Body By Mags. Check out the video below where I get my 5 minutes of fame while I’m smiling through holding a yoga tough pose and demonstrating yoga boot camp moves (Warrior has got nothing on me!).

VIDEO: Yoga Boot Camp Video

*APRIL*

I successfully pulled my second April Fool’s Joke on Social Media! Everyone decided to wish me a Happy Birthday on April Fool’s this year!

The first annual Foursquare Day celebration took place in 2010 and I hosted Foursquare Day Hong Kong. This year I was in my home town, San Diego and had the opportunity to host Foursquare Day San Diego for my community at R Gang Eatery. Check in specials, complimentary wine, cocktails, delicious comfort food with an upscale twist, friends, badges and a good time was had! Foursquare Day on 4/16 (Yep that’s 4 squared which equals 16) is officially, my favorite geek Holiday!

Oh not to mention, I met my first Celebrity Chef, Rich Sweeney @ChefRicSweeney from Season 5 of Top Chef who is also the head of R Gang Eatery. You can read all about my addiction to food porn and cooking shows here.

*MAY*

I was interviewed by the San Diego Reader on using LinkedIn for Job Seekers. I shared my insight, advice and was gratefulto have my article published both in their paper and online! You can read the full article here.

Another Geek Holiday takes place in May! Star Wars day on May 4^th! May the Fourth be with you! I celebrated with some fun posts on Social Media!

 

*JUNE*

I really want to help others with yoga passion so I hosted my first yoga event: Yoga For the Busy Body at Hera Hub! I really want to provide an opportunity for other busy professionals and entrepreneurs to have a chance to experience the benefits of yoga while teaching them poses they can do on their own despite their busy lives. That’s exactly what I accomplished at this event.

*JULY*

I was cast in a Microsoft Commercial!  It was such an amazing experience to work a full day on set as talent! You can read all about how I was casted in the Microsoft Commercial and then watch my commercial when it finally aired below!

VIDEO: Marketing Melodie’s Microsoft Commercial

 I hosted my third Digital Media Dinners in my series. This time I educated attendees on How to Build Your Social Media Community. I had generous sponsors, expert speakers, delicious food and of course a captive audience who made the event a success. Check out the event recap in the video below.

VIDEO: Digital Media Dinners- How To Build your Social Media Community 

*AUGUST*

I attended BlogHer for the first time as it was hosted right here in America’s Finest City. I connected with inspirational bloggers from all across the nation. It was great talking to so many people about their passions and seeing  them creatively share it with others through their writing. I had a good time at the conference itself, attending workshops, checking out the booths, the networking events, parties and left with more swag than I knew what to do with!

Oh and I met another Celebrity Chef, Brian Markaley in the Season Final of Top Chef Season 3. He was hosting a BlogHer party!

 *SEPTEMBER* 

Marketing Melodie is growing quickly! I sent out a call for interns and bring Allison Schummer @AllisonSchummer on board to help me!

Allison recently graduated from SDSU and I give her my highest recommendation to anyone who’s hiring as she’s currently on the market for a new job!

San Diegans experience a MAJOR BLACKOUT! But we united and got through it while making new friends! We proved that even during a black out social media still shines!

*OCTOBER*

Fall is in the air (even though it’s always sunny in San Diego) which means time for a new fall wardrobe! I attended one of my favorite tweetups ever, an Epic event at the Nordstrom Rack Plaza Bonita Grand Opening. I’m a very lucky person, I always win things and that night I won a pair of Designer Hudson Jeans.

In 2009 I said to the universe that I want  to meet my favorite author, Keith Ferrazzi. I finally met him 2 years later in San Diego at the Entrepreneur Challenge Fall Kickoff Event at UCSD. He autographed both my books and I learned some awesome networking tips from meeting Keith Ferrazzi.

The Nerds United! I tweeted and connected with amazing new friends  from the Talk Nerdy To Me Lover community by hosting @JenFriel and the #nerdsunite crew in San Diego. We had a fun night at the Tilted Kilt San Diego and a nerdy sleepover!

You can read all about the things that make me a nerd here.

*NOVEMBER*

After completing a successful Digital Media Dinners series, I hosted my first Digital Media Now Seminar- Personal Branding on Social Media at Pangea Bakery Cafe. Attendees learned how to make their personal brand cohesive with their business brand.

I was honored with an opportunity to speak to NATAS- National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences at their Social Media Workshop. Teaching television professionals how to use Social Media in their industry.

Thanks to the luxury car company, Infiniti and Social Media I enjoyed an amazing afternoon at the San Diego Bay Wine and Food Festival. I also met my 3rd celebrity chef this year, Sam The Cooking Guy!

*DECEMBER* 

I hosted my first Digital Media Now Webinar on How To Integrat Social Media Into Your Marketing. It gave me a chance to share my knowledge with people who can’t always be available and in San Diego to attend an in person seminar. While there were challenges to work out with my first webinar, I received great feedback and plan to host additional Digital Media Now Webinars in 2012!

I celebrated my Birthday on my lucky day, December 13^th (It’s clearly not on April 1^st). In the photo below I’m dressed as a Monster, holding a class with an M and Minty Wonderland and Mozart cupcakes. Yep M THEME PARTY!

I began my new venture at National University. I was hired as a Course Developer and Adjunt Professor at National University. My first class starts in January where I’m teaching a marketing class on Interactive Strategies.

Wow a lot has happened in 2012! If you read this entire post or even part of it, THANK YOU!  As I reflect on 2011 I just can’t help but smile and be grateful for everyone and everything in my life right now. I am truly blessed and so excited to ring in 2012!

10 people I’m Thankful for this Thanksgiving on Twitter

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! For me, today is a day of gratitude and a day for expressing my appreciation for everyone who’s had a positive impact on my life. My Twitter family has provided me with unbelievable support this past year. I am honored, humbled and so grateful for my Twitter community. I have learned so much, expanded my business, grown personally and I really can’t imagine being where I am now without some amazing people I’ve connected with online. Here are 10 people in my Twitter community who I’d like to give thanks to. If you’re not on this list, just know that I’m grateful for each and every single follower, and that includes YOU.

In alphabetical order….

@AllisonSchummer- She’s a rising star in the marketing world! She’s about to graduate from SDSU in December and for the past couple months has been training with me to be completely well versed in all things Social Media when she’s done with school. Allison is one of the most efficient and fast learners I know and helps me be more efficient as well.

@AnneDorko- Anne is amazing! I’m so happy that she recently began her venture as an Entrepreneur by launching her own business dedicated to helping small businesses succeed through their websites and online presence. My website has improved so much because of her and it’s only going to get better!

ChrisKirkman- My Design Guru! Thanks to Chris for not only being a great friend but also helping me out with all my design needs! Whenever I have a Design question for myself or my client, Chris is there to help. He’s done great work for both my clients and myself and for that I’m grateful and will continue to recommend him for anyone who needs creative work.

@DowntownRob- Rob is so generous and always gives back to his Social Media community through volunteering, raising money for great causes and just sharing information that’s useful. He’s helped me plan and produce awesome Tweetups such as TwestivalSD which raised money for San Diego After School All Stars, Foursquare Day San Diego which spread the word about Foursquare and he helped me host my last Digital Media Dinners by opening up the doors to his office Nik Software to host the event!

@ItsMeJoolie- Julie and I know each other through @JenFriel’s @TNTML Community. I’m so proud of her for being brave and sharing her story online. Reading her stories has been instrumental for me in healing myself and continuing on in life despite personal challenges. I know she’s not writing with a mission to inspire, but she truly does inspire me. She also has an awesome job where she gets to attend concerts and fun events all the time.

@JenFriel- What Jen does on her site Talk Nerdy To Me Lover and now GirlsIRL is too awesome to describe. You just have to check it out! She’s provided a forum and creative outline to connect nerds from all over #NerdsUnite! Her writing, adventures and life story have really motivated me to take action in doing what I love and sharing on a more personal level!

@LaurenHuston- I’ve never met Lauren in real life but I feel like she’s my Social Media sister! We both LOVE sweets (mmm froyo, cupcakes), both work in Marketing and both love supporting each other online. I can feel her ambition all the way across the country! Keeping up with her blog and work is truly inspirational. I definitely admire other women in the space who are Entrepreneurs and getting things done!

@robotfaith- Rebekah is good friend of mine who I actually convinced to join Twitter a while back when I invited her to a Tweetup with me! I told her she couldn’t attend unless she had a Twitter account. Since then she’s built her own twitter community and is always there for me to support and volunteer at my events! My events wouldn’t be run so smoothly if it weren’t for Rebekah’s help. She also invites me to awesome movie screenings where I get a sneak Peak of flicks before they even come out!

@ryanscottlum- Helping me check off one bucket list item at a time! Ryan is the founder of Forward Motion and being connected to him has really inspired me to not be afraid of reaching my goals no matter how extreme them seem. Sadly, Ryan is moving out of San Diego soon, but Forward Motion continues to grow and provide amazing opportunities for everyone. There are so many fun events that allow you to experience things you’ve always wanted to try but somehow never got around to.

@SI_JimTrotter- Jim and I connected on Twitter earlier this year then met at a Tweetup. I was honored and humbled when he reached out to me for advice on branding himself through Social Media. Jim is a rockstar in the sports world, if you follow sports, you probably already follow Jim. Jim generously volunteered his time to speak at my Digital Media Dinners event and he always provides me with all the insight I need to know about sports! If only he were a Chargers Fan .

Thank you again to everyone on this list and so many more who aren’t! Twitter is an amazing tool and if it weren’t for Twitter I wouldn’t be connected to anyone on this list! Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy a wonderful day filled with friends, family, food and of course technology as I’m sure people will still be tweeting away! I leave you with an image I find quite amusing!

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!

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