Low-to-No-Cost Marketing Using Social Media and Good, Old Common Sense

Can you really turn garden-variety online acquaintances into passionate fans who will help you build a career? Are sites like Facebook, Twitter and FriendFeed truly an opportunity to extend your brand or just a colossal time-suck? And how many of these consarned things do you need to join, anyway?

Please join me for a one-hour (give or take) action-and-tip-packed joyride through the wonderland that is social media. We'll go over the ins and outs of marketing online, discuss your media mix as it applies in this new world, and talk about the intersection between social media and old-skool marketing.

So that's: a howdy-do up front, a little song & dance, and plenty of time to ask whatever you want after. (I mean, I may not be able to answer everything, but absolutely, you can ask.)

Looking forward to meeting a few more of you fabulous Seattle Bizniks!

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  Posted by Dyana Valentine, Santa Monica, California | Oct 08, 2008

  oh, MAN! I'd love to be there for this. Break a leg and blog it for the Vicarious Crew. Dyana
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  Posted by Suzanne Griscom, Shoreline, Washington | Oct 08, 2008

  Oh, poo! A kid conflict prevents me from attending. Do it again! I want to know! Cheers!
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  Posted by Valerie Farris, Seattle, Washington | Oct 08, 2008

  I would love to attend this event on another night. Please let me know if you offer it again!

  Cheers,

  Valerie

  Seattle Small Business Lawyer
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  Posted by Marlene Rockey, Seattle, Washington | Oct 08, 2008

  Colleen and Dan, This sounds like a great event and you guys are pros when it comes to this subject...hope I can keep up with you!

  I look forward to meeting you, Colleen, since I recently went to your website after reading your most recent article on Biznik.

  Marlene

  marlene...transforming homes one room at a time
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  Posted by Colleen Wainwright, Los Angeles, California | Oct 08, 2008

  Dy - You know you're there in spirit with me!

  Suzanne/Valerie - Alas, it's the tail end of this Seattle trip. But surely, I'll be back. (And quit calling you "Shirley"...yeah, yeah...)

  Marlene - Don't worry about keeping up! The preso is all about how to take this at your own pace and participate in what works for you. And there's PLENTY of time for questions and discussion: once we get the basics on the table, we'll see what people really need to learn about.
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  Posted by Kirsten Mohan, Seattle, Washington | Oct 09, 2008

  grr!!! so want to go to this, but may have dinner plans that conflict (mom's 60th b-day - can't miss that!). Hoping to come, otherwise, if you do this again, I'm there!

  Seattle Real Estate Agent and Marketing Specialist
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  Posted by Suzanne Griscom, Shoreline, Washington | Oct 09, 2008

  Any chance you can squeeze it in when you come up in November?
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  Posted by Anita Elder, Seattle, Washington | Oct 09, 2008

  I really wish I could attend, but I'm assisting in a cooking class that evening.

  Anita L. Elder / Lolalu Design
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  Posted by Colleen Wainwright, Los Angeles, California | Oct 09, 2008

  Ladies! Not sure if November's trip will allow for an extra day or two, but if so, I'll definitely talk to Dan about doing it again. And I plan to post a page of notes (which, Dan, I hope I can rope you into adding to) that all Bizniks can check out if interested.
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  Posted by Dan McComb, Seattle, Washington | Oct 09, 2008

  Yes I'll be happy to add anything I can. We can post a link to them in the comments here after the event.

  I'm really looking forward to this event! I just met Colleen face-to-face for first time last night at another Biznik event, and the fun thing about THIS workshop is that it's happening as a result of networking the Biznik way - meeting someone online, establishing a connection, bringing it into focus with a face-to-face connection, then adding value by sharing what you know with others.

  Biznik Business Networking
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  Posted by Lori Richardson, Bellingham, Washington | Oct 10, 2008

  In following up with people online (through LinkedIn, Biznik, an Facebook) it has brought my last five new clients, resulting in more revenue than the previous eight clients together, and two new collaborators.

  This is the new way to do business. It works! Thanks for the great topic, and the fantastic Biznik platform.

  B2B sales coach and fundraising auctioneer
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  Posted by Valerie Farris, Seattle, Washington | Oct 13, 2008

  Okay, NOW I can come - please let me know if a spot opens up!

  Seattle Small Business Lawyer
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  Posted by Christa Gardner, Seattle, Washington | Oct 13, 2008

  Me, too! I'm late on the draw here but would love to attend. I promise to not take up much room!
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  Posted by Colleen Wainwright, Los Angeles, California | Oct 13, 2008

  Lori - I wish I'd kept better track of who's come from where, but you're right--between the new people who find you and the old people who re-find you, social networking sites are great for bidness.

  Valerie & Christa - I'm not sure how the wait-list thing works. (Dan?) There's one other person emailed me RIGHT after it filled who's at the top of the list, such as it is. So let's hang loose and see what happens.

  If the response is really positive, there's a chance I could extend a trip next month to do a repeat, as well.
• 
  Posted by Dan McComb, Seattle, Washington | Oct 13, 2008

  We don't have a waiting list feature (yet) but it's something we plan to add. Meanwhile, you'll have to keep an eye on this page to see if anything opens up. Which tends to happen about 24 hours prior to any event.

  Biznik Business Networking
• 
  Posted by Gayle Kendall, Kent, Washington | Oct 13, 2008

  I would also like to attend. Can you squeeze more in??? Thanks!
• 
  Posted by Colleen Wainwright, Los Angeles, California | Oct 13, 2008

  As I understand it, 20 is max, and there are already 22 if you include Dan & me. (Which we probably should!)

  Like Dan says above, keep your eye on this space the day or so before. Stuff inevitably comes up and people have to cancel.
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  Posted by Dana Guyton, Woodinville, Washington | Oct 14, 2008

  I hope you do this event again! I'm sorry I didn't sign up fast enough!
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  Posted by Amy Woidtke (woid-key), Greater Seattle, Washington | Oct 14, 2008

  i totally missed seeing this online. darnie darn darn!

  well, next time i hope unless several people cancel. haha.

  20% off Holiday Décor Services & Gift Certificates!
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  Posted by Ilise Benun, Hoboken, New Jersey | Oct 16, 2008

  i'll be there in spirit too and am just thrilled to see how beautifully biznik works at connecting real people.

  have a great time tomorrow. can't wait to hear about it.
• 
  Posted by Colleen Wainwright, Los Angeles, California | Oct 16, 2008

  Thanks, guys. Ilise! You're hovering! ;-)

  She's right, though: as fine as the site is, the real magic in this network is real people coming together. So huzzah for that, and happy to be able to do my bit in some small way.
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  Posted by Amanda Farnes, Seattle, Washington | Oct 17, 2008

  I snoozed, I lost... I really hope that you will schedule another event soon! Great topic!
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  Posted by David Sitlani, Seattle, Washington | Oct 17, 2008

  I am so sorry for the late cancellation. I had every intention on attending, but I must help resolve a matter for a client. Hope to attend this seminar again soon.

  -David

  Wills, Trusts & Small Business Attorney
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  Posted by Valerie Farris, Seattle, Washington | Oct 18, 2008

  Darn, it looks like I could've come after all - I'm so bummed I missed it!

  Seattle Small Business Lawyer
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  Posted by Colleen Wainwright, Los Angeles, California | Oct 18, 2008

  Amanda & Valerie - I'm up here in about a month to do a talk at the Seattle Design Center and will see if I can extend my trip and do another one of these. It was pretty fun and (I think) informative, despite a few technical glitches.

  David - No worries. We could have fit a few more people in the room, but it was getting mighty hot in there with the crew we had. Must have been all the heat coming off all those big brains :-)
• 
  Posted by Dan McComb, Seattle, Washington | Oct 18, 2008

  Great seeing you all last night. As promised here's a link to my presentation (PDF, 6.5MB)

  Biznik Business Networking
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  Posted by Leila Anasazi, Seattle, Washington | Oct 18, 2008

  Colleen, not so much that our brains were particularly big, but that you and Dan catalyzed so much contemplation that all the thinking in the room raised the temperature.

  Much great information and food for thought and action. I just downloaded the pix from my visit last week to the factory and will be off now to Flicker to post some of them with a creative commons license (as you mentioned) (and something I would have never thought of as "marketing").

  Thank-you you two, very much.
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  Posted by Marlene Rockey, Seattle, Washington | Oct 18, 2008

  Colleen and Dan, You were the perfect complement to each other. Your presentation was seamless, the way one could pick up where the other one left off and none of the continuity was lost. Not to mention all the new and unique ways you showed us to utilize twitter, flickr and facebook. I will never think of these social medias in the same way again.

  Thank you both for putting on this awesome event...it was educational, entertaining and inspriing!!!

  marlene...transforming homes one room at a time
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  Posted by Colleen Wainwright, Los Angeles, California | Oct 21, 2008

  Leila! You are too kind! But I am glad to hear we got some wheels turning, and that you're putting stuff into action right now.

  I can't wait to see what else you come up with as marketing. (Rubs hands together with glee...)

  Marlene - We should take that act on the road, huh? :-)

  I hope that I got across some of the foundational principles behind these tools, and working in this newest set of media. Once you get the concepts, you can come up with sooooo many more cool ways to spread the word of You.
• 
  Posted by Colleen Wainwright, Los Angeles, California | Oct 21, 2008

  And for everyone, I've uploaded my presentation--yes, the Never-Before-Seen-by-Anyone PPT--to Slideshare, here. You can view the slides online or download, as you like.

  Thank you all again for being so warm and welcoming. Next time, full song and dance!