Where's The Conversation?

I've been in some intense marketing meeting where I hear how many followers, fans and contact the company has yet they don't see an increase. This is one of those times when I make the dumb statement and look really smart. "Are you having a conversation with those followers, fans, and contacts?" Take a look at your social media streams. If all you see are anouncements and specials your just being a billboard. The benefit of social media is the social. Treat it like your there in person. Find a group and join the conversation. Build on common beliefs, be witty and attractive. Use your best "Pick Up" lines and read my book The Pickup Artist: Business Contacts.

If you want to get the most out of social media be social.

Fred Abaroa
The Marketing Imagineer
Fred [@] TMIFred.com
@TMIFred

Could I Be a Social Media Success Story?

Reading this article reminded me how I felt a few years back:

Could I Be a Social Media Success Story? by Lou Imbriano

I too am looking forward toconnecting with new people as well as maintaining relationships of trust with those I know. Connect with me on:

http://twitter/TMIFred

http://www.facebook.com/CostaVidaFred

http://www.linkedin.com/in/fabaroa

Fred Abaroa
The Marketing Imagineer
Fred [@] TMIFred.com
@TMIFred



5 Reasons To Have An Online Conversation

In my book about networking, The Pick Up Artist: Business edition, I mostly talk about physically being there. In person you can watch for body language and use the sense of touch to solidify a meeting. You can also run into problems with first impressions like your clothes, not remembering someone, and simply not knowing what to say. Another problem could be not finding the right people to meet. The solution is the Social Media. A good Pick Up Artist can get more contacts while looking more impressive by having an online conversation. Here are 5 reasons why:

1. Choice: In the physical world you are limited by where you live or can travel. I have gone to pretty much every networking event in Portland, ME. Problem is I am running out of people to meet. Second problem is have I met the right people. A friend of  mine had a hard time booking speaking engagements in Maine until he met someone online who physically live on the other side of the country. You really could have a conversation with anyone all over the world from anywhere.
2. Looking your best: A super Pick Up Artist knows first impressions are everything. In the online world you can spend more time prepping yourself. You can get a professional head shot or avatar, spend time getting your profile just right, get to know the person before you start an online conversation and take your time to form complete and knowledgeable response during the conversation.
3. 'Chance' meeting goes away: I've gone to some events hoping to meet someone and had it not happen. Sometimes it was my fault but many times the event just didn't have the right people. Online you can look for the person you want to meet. You can take the 'chance' out of 'chance' meeting by targeting the person you would like to meet and doing research. You can 'hang out' where they hang out and converse with mutual friends. By the time you actual are introduced online you could already have formed a bond.
4. Bigger Network: This goes without saying, there are simply more people you can meet online than in person. Let’s say you go to a conference with over 2000 attendees. You spent 2 days there but only meet 10 people in person. The Pick Up Artist would also participate in twitter with a hashtag to the event. The conversation may have 50-100 attendees participating. By building upon common interests you can become friends with these extra 50-100 and eventually hook up to their friends as well. Just keep the conversations going by asking about the conference. I often ask about classes I could not attend and give notes on the ones I did attend.
5. Its 24 hours a day: Sometimes I can’t sleep so I go on to twitter and ask, “Who’s up?” You’d be surprised at the answer. These late night conversations are golden. The people could be on the other side of the world, up with the baby or working late. This is a chance to be the advisor, linguist or set or ears. Many relationships of trust have started late at night or early morning. Being able to be a Pick Up Artist 24 hours a day also lets you pick up at you leisure, after you have done research and/or when you have the inspiration.

So has this been enough to convince you to be a social media Pick Up Artist? Start the conversation with me using twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

http://twitter/TMIFred

http://www.facebook.com/CostaVidaFred

http://www.linkedin.com/in/fabaroa

Fred Abaroa
The Marketing Imagineer
Fred [@] TMIFred.com
@TMIFred

Is My Work Over? 5 Tips For Post Conference Power

Just got back from Pop!Tech, a conference for "world changing people, projects and ideas". (poptech.org) I've attended off and on since 1997. As usual I have a lot of notes not only on the content but the people I met as well. Can't wait till next year!C-Ya.

WAIT! Don't just close the books on the conference for another year! Do something about it! After all did you take notes just to look busy? What about those people you met? Here are 5 things every conference attendee should do immediately after returning (or on the return trip):

1. Add your contacts to LinkedIn
2. Re-Read your notes
3. Create an action plan
4. Upload photos to Facebook
5. Write a Blog about the event

Some of the things above are great on the plane ride home, other when you first get back to the office. And I mean First! I know, I know you are back from days away from you desk and work has piled up. BUT you need to ask yourself why you paid money to attend if you were not going to do something. The act of DOING seems to take a back seat to learning. Not anymore because you are going through the 5 steps above.

Add Your New Contacts To LinkedIn. Why LinkedIn you are asking? Well unless you have telenotes and can dictate your contacts via the phone, you have a lot of typing to do. I just search on the name and all the rest of the info is there. Plus in LinkedIn I can see who else works for the company and gather more intelligence about the new contact. Later I'll add them to facebook so I can wish my new contact a happy birthday.

Re-Read Your Notes. I don't know about you but sometimes I can't understand what I wrote. Especially months afterwards. I find if I re-read and make further notes back at the hotel that evening the talks and impressions are locked in.

Create An Action Plan. "be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only" James 1:22 This verse of scripture haunts me at times when I heard a great talk noting I should make a change. But never made it a plan. We hear great things but if we are not going to implement them why go?

Upload Photos to Facebook. This is part of my devious find their birthday plan. I take pictures of various things and people at these conferences. Mostly as part of my continuing study of networking events, but I discovered attendees love to see photos. This last year I took some pictures of an art sculpture where people had climbed in to pose. They told me post it on facebook. From there I had a few others friend me to see the photos. I just took the meeting people at a conference to a new level. The other plus as I mentioned before is birthday notices.

Write A Blog About The Event. What this does is two things. One it solidifies the most important take away from the event. After all in producing the blog you will probably only spout out what impressed you the most. Two it brands you as a person who wants to better themselves though continuing education. You show you clients and prospective clients you are open to new ideas and learning.

Fred Abaroa
The Marketing Imagineer
Fred [@] TMIFred.com
@TMIFred