Today, I had the privilege of presenting an overview of social networking and social media at a membership meeting of the Appraisal Institute - Metro New Jersey Chapter (http://www.ai-newjersey.org).
There were approximately 80 people in attendance at the lunch meeting held at the Spanish Tavern in Mountainside, NJ (which everyone seemed to enjoy the food there, including shrimp and calamari appetizers, seafood paella, flan, cheesecake and chocolate mousse for dessert… oh, and the sangria too).
Before my presentation, two attorneys from the law firm of Davenport & Spiotti presented the topic “Business Communication & Gadgets for Today’s Appraiser.” Seth Davenport, Esq. and Robert Spiotti, Esq. discussed how the latest technology and electronics can help us save time and be more efficient in our work, but warned if it’s too fun to use, it may not be the best choice as a business tool.
The most important technology tool? The scanner, which can help us in our ultimate goal of becoming a paperless office. Mr. Davenport suggested doing the scanning yourself, rather than delegating it to a staff member, because it’s a more efficient use of time. I tend to agree, as it follows the principle of “handle it once.”
In my presentation, I did a high level executive summary explaining, in simple terms, what social media and social networking is.
Here is a slide that I custom-created for this particular group to explain how important it is to start with an up-to-date website first, to establish your “bricks and mortar” presence on the Internet.
Your website would be your main “storefront”, representing your business or service on the Internet. From there, you can start building up a base of satellite locations on social sites, such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, which would always point back to your website for more complete information.
We ended the presentation with lots of great questions and hopefully, the participants left with a better understanding of what social media is and how social networking can be used as a new business communication tool to connect with others in their industry.
How do you use social media for your business? What are your questions about social media or social networking?
Leave a comment below or connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn and let’s have a conversation!
I’d like to hear your NJ Twitter business success story (for possible inclusion in my next column).
Please answer the questions below and return via email. Make sure you have permission of any person, business or organization that you mention. Thanks!
Q1: Tell us about your Twitter business success story.
Q2: How long did it take from initial contact with the other Twitter user, up to this point? (i.e. How many days/months did it take from the first time you connected with this Twitter user, until you reach a milestone in your success story)
Q3: How long have you been on Twitter?
Q4: How much time per day do you spend on Twitter?
Q5: Your contact info: Email, Telephone number, your website
Q6: For verification: Please provide the contact info for any person, business or organization that is mentioned in your story.
Please email your responses to eva at evaabreu dot com
Here’s the debut of my new bi-weekly business column on Social Media in Gannett’s NJ newspapers: The Home News Tribune, Courier News and myCentralJersey.com
I’ll be writing a new bi-weekly Business column covering Social Media for the Home News Tribune, Courier News, and www.mycentraljersey.com/business starting Jan. 13. I’m planning a Q&A segment each week and would like to ask for your input.
The first topic is: Social Media Networking Events (tweetups, face-to-face networking, etc).
What questions do you have about Social Media Networking Events?
Do you have advice for first-time attendees or coordinators?
Please leave a comment below with your questions or tips and advice.
Dinner has to be prepared (I usually cook at home most nights), dishes need to be done, laundry to be conquered, plenty of piles to be purged, groceries to be bought, gas to be put into the car, band-aids put on, wine tasting Tweetups to attend, and Social Media training classes to plan.
It’s all a matter of balancing, focusing, and making the best use of your time (The first secret? Never watch television). It’s also taking a step back and figuring out what you do best and where you need additional support and help.
Focus 5 Minutes at a Time
Another tip: Break things down to 5 minutes chunks at a time, whenever possible (that’s the second secret: Focus on One Thing, 5 Minutes). It may take some practice to focus — what you’ll need to do is to put on the blinders, get the earplugs, and just try to tune everything else out, except for what you’re working on.
What Are You Spending Your Time On?
Also, (you might not like this one): Take an honest look at your time and where you’re spending most of it. Are you addicted to the latest Spy-Mafia Master of the Time-Wasters game of the week? Or taking quizzes on what kind of “pop star sushi blender drink” you most resemble? (That’s the next secret, don’t get hooked on those fun & games apps).
Mind Games
I know if I bring up this topic, I run the risk of getting some people really fired up because they’ll say it’s a way to “unwind or relax or de-stress or reward’ themselves for working so hard, or a great way to find out something new about their friends or to deepen their online relationships with their business associates (huh?) by taking those quirky surveys and winning those 10,000 points. OK, that’s fine, if it’s all in balance, time-wise. But if we’re talking about hours and hours, and days and days, on these online games and diversions and it’s taking away time from what you would REALLY like to do, the really meaningful things that are deep-down important, then… it’s an issue.
What DO You REALLY Want to Do?
So, what is it that you REALLY want to do? What do you want to leave behind that people will remember you by, what is your mark on the world? I know, heavy stuff…
For me, it’s the book that I’m writing. That’s the legacy that I want to leave behind, because I’m writing about the legacy that others are leaving behind. For me, it’s full circle. Balance.
I’m just trying to give you a nudge to discover for yourself what that “deep-down” hidden talent is within you. Maybe your dream is to do a one-handed handstand upside down, while balancing on a stack of wooden chairs, like the acrobat in the picture above. Maybe it’s something else.
The key is, to make the most of your time using Social Media to connect, collaborate, and communicate, rather than to play mind games with yourself or to try to “game” the system.
Yes, there is a time for fun & games… but keep it all in balance. Give yourself some time too, to discover what it is that you REALLY want to do… Make “one day” be today.
Need Help Figuring It All Out?
Need help finding 5 minutes a day to focus? Are you trying to figure out what exactly your talents are, or not sure how to make the best use of your time on the social networks to connect and collaborate? I’d love to help. Let’s take 5 minutes to collaborate together. Contact me today.
Thanks for taking 5 to read this, I appreciate it.
~Eva Abreu, Plate-spinner (new title courtesy of @mikeconaty) and Social Media Tour Guide
Toll-free 1-877-708-0884
Email: eva {at} evaabreu {dot} com
Working behind the scenes to finalize all the production elements and details of the book release and squeezing in some last minute interviews to include in this first release of Reaching for the Moon and the Stars: The Legacy and Influence of the Apollo Generation. It’s been quite a ride!
In fact, at the last moment, I just discovered several new sources of really neat information that I just HAVE to include in the book, so I’m pushing back the release date of the book to July 24July 31, August 21st, early 2010. I’ve had to scrub the release date for several weeks in a row now, as I wrap up some research, rights and clearance issues. If all conditions are go, then sometime in the very near future, I’ll be able to announce the final date for the book to finally lift off! I have to say, It’s been quite the learning experience, and I thank everyone for their kind support and patience.
If you’d like to pre-order a copy of the book, please fill out the Contact Form and we’ll get back in touch with you. The price is $11.95 (+ $4 s/h)
Thank you to everyone who has helped make this book a reality! There are many people to thank for their support, encouragement and contribution. I’ll be acknowledging them in the days to come.
In appreciation,
~Eva Abreu, Author
Email: eva {at} evaabreu {dot} com
Toll-free 1-877-708-0884
I’ve had several book ideas swirling around inside of me for quite a while now, and I do believe the time is NOW to put it down on paper and release it to the world.
After several scrubbed book launch dates from July 20 through August 7, if all conditions are right this time, my first book will be self-published with a new release date of August 21st, early 2010 to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11.
The title of the book is: Reaching for the Moon and the Stars: The Legacy and Influence of the Apollo Generation and will include a collection of untold stories, unsung heroes and dreams fulfilled during that time period.
Inspiration From Everyday People In Our Lives
A lot of different factors came together at the same time to compel me to move forward with the idea of writing the book. My dad is one of the major inspirations for the book and I’ll be sharing his story and his influence along with other similar stories of regular everyday folks who happen to have played a part in the historic Apollo mission. I’ll also feature the stories of observers from the ground who remember watching that great moment and how it influenced the choices they eventually made in life and the examples that they have set for the next generation.
How Social Media Plays A Part
Although the book is not about Social Media, what I have been discovering over the last week or so, is the tremendous circle of influence and invaluable resources coming from my Social Media contacts, both old and new.
Connections Made Using Social Media
A connection on Twitter led to the influence of futurist Rod Pitman (@7thscreen), who has shared his vision and knowledge as a transmedia storyteller, which in turn, inspired me to conceptualize and create this project. In addition, interviews are well underway via phone, email and Skype with various people that I’ve connected with through Twitter and Facebook including Apollo experts, space enthusiasts, engineers and grown children of the original Apollo generation. I also met Rick Wolff, a graphic designer on Twitter who I’ve commissioned to design the book cover that you see above. There will be many other people to acknowledge in the next few weeks from both on-line connections, as well as off-line contacts, including my local printer in New Jersey who is on stand-by ready to print the book, research assistants following up with ISBN numbers, copyright and permissions, and others I have yet to meet who will assist with the many details that need to be taken care of.
Creating Reality: A Single Collective Vision
The learning curve is pretty steep since this is my first venture in writing and publishing a book but I look to the inspiration of the Apollo generation who did the most amazing thing of creating reality… by having many people focused on a single collective vision.
I hope to do the same thing, albeit on a much smaller scale, of seeing my published book in bookstores, in libraries, in classrooms and in the hands of children and adults alike, so the legacy can be passed along to future generations. In order to create this reality, I’ll need to rely on a little help from my friends… and all of us focused on a single collective vision.
What’s your vision? What’s your dream? Make connections, collaborate, create, share a collective vision using Social Media. Ask me how. I’d love to help.
New! We’re working behind the scenes on a new show, Making Connections Using Social Media. Let me know what you think about this sample opening title sequence featuring Sam, the Social Media Seagull (Sam_SMS for short):
Social Media: Do You Get It? Sam, the Social Media Seagull doesn’t get it either
Do you feel like you’re the only one who just doesn’t “get it”? That you’re left standing on the shore alone? That you’re landlocked and everyone else is flying miles ahead, way beyond you in understanding this thing called Social Media?
We’re here to help guide you across the vast Internet ocean, and we’ll make sure to stop and visit an island or two along the way, so that you can learn to enjoy the trip and eventually navigate on your own through the unchartered waters of Social Media.
Don’t worry, we’ll make sure it’s smooth sailing as we lead you in a basic introduction to learn how to make connections using Social Media.
We’ll take you on a group tour, where you’ll get a chance to visit new places, meet new people and maybe find other birds of a feather to flock together. Visit our Tour Schedule to see where we’ll be live in your area. Read about our first event, covered in MyCentralJersey.com here and in Leora Wenger’s blog.
Your Host and Social Media Tour Guide is Eva Abreu, who’ll encourage you to walk down to the water’s edge and dip your big toe into the sea.
And when you’re ready, it’s perfectly fine to make a splash and create waves online. In fact, we encourage you to; we want you to have some fun!
Ready to begin? OK then! Our Social Media Tour will leave port in a moment…here’s your Social Media Life Jacket. Come on in…the water’s fine! (P.S. Sam Seagull, you can come along with us too!)
Comments Off 
Entries (RSS)