Digital Media Now November 2011

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! 

Hilton San Diego Bayfront Photo by: Port of San Diego

*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!

@MariSmith and @MyMelodie

• 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

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

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

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

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!

Grateful on Thanksgiving 2010 and still grateful today!

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!

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.

6 Degrees Founder Matt Greene

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!

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.

@stef_funny and @AllisonSchummer Volunteering at Digital Media Now

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!

Marketing Melodie presenting at Digital Media Now- Personal Branding on Social Media

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! 

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!

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!

The evening started off with a networking dinner so of course, I had an opportunity to meet some great community leaders, UCSD students and affiliates. The photo below is a prime example of never eating alone!

I followed one of Keith’s golden rules for meeting the speaker at the event. Get to the speaker, before he goes on stage! I saw Keith Ferrazzi walk by and immediately went up and introduced myself to him. He’s extremely personable, enthusiastic and positive. I manifested this exact moment into my life because in 2009 when Who’s Got Your Back came out, I told Keith Ferrazzi that I would get his second book when I met him so he could autograph it and that’s exactly what happened!

 After enjoying a great dinner, Dr. Irwin Jacobs and Keith Ferrazzi took the stage. Keith Ferrazzi’s job was to be curious and ask Dr. Jacob’s questions related to the topic of “Why great relationships matter in business?” Keith did a great job at asking questions that prompted Dr. Jacobs to share his inspirational story. As both a Marketer and an Entrepreneur, I really resonated with both Dr. Jacobs and Keith Ferrazzi. I definitely learned a lot about having a vision and following it, being a great leader and of course networking! Below are some networking tips I’ve learned from Keith Ferrazzi, some of them definitely came into play during this particular event!

1. Reach out before the event- If you’re attending an event and want to meet someone specific, reach out to them before the event. I’ve already discussed how to work a conference before it begins. This tip is very similar. Social Media is a great resource that allows you to connect. Before attending the event, I tweeted Keith a bunch of times and of course wrote my post to welcome Keith to San Diego. Reaching out can also be done by a simple email. You can let someone know that you enjoyed an article they wrote, congratulate them on a recent accomplishment or connect with them on a more personal level if you know a hobby they enjoy. (In the tweets below I engaged several people in conversation about Keith Ferrazzi and I even received a reply from him acknowledging that he would see me tomorrow!)

2. Arrive Early- If you want to meet the Speakers, they’ll definitely be at the event at least 30 minutes before hand. Chances are the speaker won’t be bombarded by everyone else so you may have an opportunity to introduce yourself before anyone else. If you wait until after the event to try and connect with a speaker, chances are they’re going to be busy talking to everyone else and also thinking about going home so it’s harder to make a personal connection. I actually arrived at UCSD 30 minutes early so was one of the first one who was let into the room.

3. Talk To the Organizer- Arriving early also gives you a chance to find and introduce yourself to the organizer and let him/her know who you may be looking to connect with. Ask the organizer if there’s anyone they feel would be a great connection for your industry. The organizer knows everything that’s happening behind the scenes and everyone who’s going to be at the event. See if they can introduce you to some other attendees or even the speaker. When approaching the organizer, make sure to be mindful of their time since they’re probably still planning last minute updates and make sure to thank them for hosting you.

4. Ask Questions- After many presentations and panels there is often a chance for audience Q & A. This is your golden opportunity to get in front of the room and let others know what you do. Before asking your questions, clearly state your name with a brief intro. Since you have everyone’s attention, there very well may be others in the room who are seeking your service, product or who many want to collaborate with you. Asking questions not only gives you mic time, it also allows you to interact and stand out to the speakers and attendees.

5. Give Books as Gifts- Since the holidays are approaching so quickly, tis the season to start thinking of gifts for your prospects, clients and colleagues. Books are full of information and are personal because you’re recommending something that has helped you. Autographed books are even better! Keith reminded me of how great of gifts books can be as he was signing mine. He asked if there was anyone I’d like to give “Who’s Got Your Back” to so he could sign the book to that person. I didn’t have anyone in mind, so I just told him to sign his name in case I did want to give the book away as a gift. Well Keith came up with an even better idea by writing “Melodie’s Got Your Back”. This way I’m able to keep the book myself or also give it away as a gift.

Again, it was such an honor to meet my favorite author, hear Dr. Jacobs speak and connect with other Entrepreneurs. I’m grateful that attending the event inspired me to refresh my own networking skills, allowing me to share tips with you. If you have additional networking tips, please leave them in the comments below! I’m personally hosting a networking event and seminar coming up on Wed. November 2nd! If you’d like to attend my next seminar where you’ll definitely have a chance to apply these networking tips, you can register here. If it’s your first time attending one of my seminars, please email me: melodie at marketing melodie dot com and I’ll send you a code fore $10 off. Happy Networking and if you don’t already have Never Eat Alone and Who’s Got Your back, check them out at your local library or purchase them! You won’t be disappointed.

Since that post I haven’t had a chance to meet him yet but I always believe things happen exactly when they’re suppose to happen so I’m thinking that tomorrow is the day I’ll finally meet Keith Ferrazzi in San Diego!

Never Eat Alone dispels the myth that  business relationships must be kept strictly professional. Business relationships can be rooted on friendship, authenticity and generosity just like personal relationships. I identified with this book so much because I use Social Media as a primary tool for creating marketing opportunities for both myself and businesses. If you read my recent post on being cast for a Microsoft commercial you’ll understand the many opportunities I’ve created for myself through Social Media by sharing personal stories.

Social Media is a medium that encourages people to be honest, authentic and real when creating marketing messages for their business. It personalizes and humanizes experiences for consumers, which is the exact type of connection Keith Ferrazzi emphasizes creating in Never Eat Alone. Keith, clearly understood the importance of building strong relationships even before Social Media became a prominent marketing tool. But since Social Media has revolutionized the way we communicate, Keith himself has also embraced the space through connecting with people on Facebook, Twitter and his blog.

If you’d like to join me in welcoming Keith Ferrazzi to San Diego tomorrow. You can register for his event here. You’ll learn Why Great Relationships Matter in Business. Dr. Irwin Jacobs will be in conversation with Keith Ferrazzi.

In addition to attending Keith Ferrazzi’s event tomorrow I’ve been nudging him on Social Media to see if he has some time come into San Diego a little early to enjoy a nice walk, hike or even a meal with myself and perhaps some other San Diego business leaders who are interested! If you’d like to connect with Keith in San Diego, please let him know! The San Diego social space has so many amazing leaders that I know Keith will have an opportunity to learn, collaborate and enjoy some great spots during his time here!

If you don’t already have Keith’s books, check them out at the library or purchase them below! I’ll write a follow up post soon after meeting Keith Ferrazzi tomorrow! I’m really looking forward to it!

My inspiration for creating Digital Media Dinners came from meeting many business owners and professionals who tell me they’re on Social Media but are challenged in executing it effectively. I’m here as a resource for those eager to succeed and grow their businesses in the digital space. My goal for each event is to have attendees walk away with tactical and practical tips they can implement immediately into their marketing strategy. I also want to provide an opportunity for networking and growing business connections.

Packed room of guests at Digital Media Dinners 2

At the first Digital Media Dinners- Facebook and Twitter for Business attendees learned specific tips on how to optimize their accounts. At the second Digital Media Dinners- Social Media Branding attendees learned how to take action to ensure  a positive brand reputation and attract qualified customers and clients. The third event focuses on building a social media community. Attendees will learn how to strategically interact with customers and prospects to ultimately grow an audience of loyal brand evangelists.

YOU WILL GAIN:

• Hands-on, tactical tips to implement and incorporate immediately
• Knowledge on how to effectively engage in conversations on Social Media
• Tips on how to encourage interaction with your community and turn your audience into true advocates for your brand

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

• Business Owners and Leaders
• Marketing and PR Executives
• CMOs, Marketing Managers and Directors
• Product and Brand Managers
• Anyone interested in learning how Social Media will help grow your business

EVENT FORMAT:
Melodie Tao, founder of Marketing Melodie,(www.marketingmelodie.com) will give an educational presentation on How to Build Your Social Media Community followed by a panel discussion with successful industry leaders. The panelists will provide insight on how their business or organization is excelling in community building through Social Media. The event will conclude with audience Q&A.

6:30- 7:15pm: Networking, Buffet Style Dinner sponsored by Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill
7:15- 7:45pm: Presentation by Melodie
7:45- 8:30pm: Panel Discussion, Audience Q & A

Early Bird Registration $59 per person (Until July 7th), Regular price $69 per person and $79 at the door

Networking and lining up for Dinner at Digital Media Dinners 2

DINNER: Registration includes dinner sponsored by Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill and will consist of their Beach Mex Buffet with Grilled Chicken and Steak, rice, “no-fried” pinto beans, jack and cheddar cheese, lettuce, fresh guacamole, three signature salsas, soft tortillas and tortilla chips. Veggie Burritos available by request.

PANELISTS:

• Jim Trotter- Senior Writer, Sports Illustrated
• Megan Pogoda- Community Manager, Google (Google Places)
• Jeff Monday- Development Executive, Apple Inc.
• Read more about the panelists here

EVENT PARTNERS: Silk Road Productions

PRO TIP: Join Marketing Melodie on Facebook and receive a $10 off promo code!

I look forward to seeing everyone for the next Digital Media Dinners on Thursday July 14^th at 6:30pm. Please feel free to share any feed back you have from previous events or let me know what you’d like to see at our upcoming event.