Our friends at Mashable are putting together a worldwide day for Social Media aptly titled “Social Media Day” (hashtag #SMDay for you Tweet-a-holics).

Hear about it here from Mr. Mashable himself – Pete Cashmore:

Let’s be sure to head out and represent Social Media Club of Los Angeles at the LA event in Culver city. Here’s the link to the event information: Meetup Event Page.

For the official Mashable post on what you can do to participate in #SMDay, head on over here: http://mashable.com/2010/06/30/happy-social-media-day/.

We were very excited to attend this year’s Gravity Summit at UCLA.

What a great event! We wanted to share this review of Gravity Summit from WhatGives.com.

Did you attend? What did you think?

by guest blogger, Matt Meeks
originally located here: http://bit.ly/dkCjnf

One of the beautiful things about the Internet is that everybody can now market themselves and their content in exciting new ways; and, many are doing a great job of it. One look at Felicia Day’s work over the past three years will tell you that there is something to this whole Internet business. As a sidenote, last night I re-watched the Guild Season 1 on Netflix – awesome.

Anyway, we all know that online marketing is nothing new, but one of the earliest online marketing tools, search engine optimization, can now be used to put Web video content in front of new audiences. While SEO has been around for a long time, Web television is still in its infancy. Today, script optimization presents a huge opportunity for content creators to promote video content; and as far as I have seen, nobody is openly taking advantage of it.

Recently, Hulu announced that they have enabled closed caption search, which means that you can now insert popular search terms into your scripts to help shows index. In addition to Hulu, YouTube and Google have been doing this for even longer. If you don’t believe me, check out the following video to see closed captioning SEO actually work: http://bit.ly/11G2ic

Optimizing YouTube is easy, because a little something called AdWords exists to tell you what people are searching for in Google. Due to the fact that Google owns YouTube, this is probably a good place to start.

Unfortunately, there is no Hulu “AdWords,” so when optimizing a video for Hulu I would stick to what Hulu’s audience is looking for. First, I would look at the Hulu homepage. Outside of that, Hulu users are searching for timely news items and top network television shows.

So, my advice to content creators is this: become a news source. Host a weekly video series discussing the top news or a roundup of network television shows and what you, as independent writers, think about them. Doing this may just land you a coveted spot on Hulu, somewhere between a clip of Peter Griffin fighting a chicken and that Shy Ronnie SNL skit.

My advice to studios – hire some internal Internet savvy people and put them on your creative teams. So far, you are failing in this regard. Put one marketer on your writing staff. Hire junior writers to take background character work and use this to strategically infiltrate the Internet with Twitter accounts, blogs, etc. Let your characters live and breathe online (Hint: all of this activity can be optimized as well).

My advice to content destination sites – provide creators with your search data. Sure, you will probably be flooded with a bunch of spam videos but tweaking your search algorithms can filter those out; and, on the up side your site traffic will go through the roof.

Anyway, just my thoughts on it all. Let the games begin.

@MattMeeks

Confused by Analytics? Want to know if your tweet really made a difference in your company’s bottom line? This month we are going to take a deeper dive into one of the easiest ways to measure online social media efforts – through Google analytics.

Come join Social Media Club – Los Angeles on Tuesday, Feb. 23rd from 7-9:30pm as we discuss the topic of Google Analytics!

Speakers include:

John Shiple, CTO, Ultralive
www.linkedin.com/in/johnshiple

Alex Becker, Co-Founder and President, Highly Relevant
www.linkedin.com/in/alexybecker

Andrew Hahn, Luxury Link and Familygetaway.com
www.linkedin.com/in/andrewhahn

Erica Forrette, Online Marketing / E-commerce with a stealth startup (moderator)
www.linkedin.com/in/ericaforrette

A huge thank you to our location host! Mahalo
Mahalo
902 Colorado Ave
Santa Monica, CA 90401

What is Google Analytics?

Google Analytics is the enterprise-class web analytics solution that gives you rich insights into your website traffic and marketing effectiveness. Powerful, flexible and easy-to-use features now let you see and analyze your traffic data in an entirely new way. With Google Analytics, you’re more prepared to write better-targeted ads, strengthen your marketing initiatives and create higher converting websites.

Techzulu will be streaming this event live for us! If you are unable to attend, please check www.techzulu.com and watch the show live!

A special thank you to our food sponsor for this event, Fresh Brothers Pizza!
Check out their website at http://wwwFreshBrothers.com
Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/freshbrothers
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/freshbrothers

Register now: http://ow.ly/1oIzdh

Thanks Fresh Brothers, TechZulu and Mahalo for making this event possible!

Gravity Summit at UCLA- Best Learning and Networking Event You’ll Attend All Year! Plus you can get CE Credits for attendance! http://bit.ly/7GhSRc

SPECIAL DISCOUNT OF $100 OFF FOR SMCLA FOLKS!! Register here for $249 (reg. $349) http://bit.ly/bwYz1y

What is Gravity Summit?
Gravity Summit events help bridge the gap between the new Social Media Marketing tools and the business community. We seek to help educate and inform marketing professionals, small business owners, advertisers, and c-Level executives, and others, about the exciting new marketing and communications landscape that is evolving daily.
Gravity Summit is the brainchild of New Media Visionary, Author and Strategic Consultant Rodney Rumford. Beverly Macy, Managing Partner of Y&M Partners LLC, also teaches Social Media Marketing for the UCLA Extension Executive Business and Management Division.

Who Attends Gravity Summit Events?
Industries: Healthcare, pharmaceutical, communications, real estate, communications, software applications companies, franchise organizations, nutriceuticals, sports marketing, entertainment, music and gaming, financial services, non-profit organizations, advertising and PR, packaged goods
Decision Makers: Senior VP, CEO, President, Physician, Recording Artist, Publisher, VP Business Development, VP Marketing, Director of Client Services, Director Events and Promo, Business Manager, Senior Partner, Director of Membership Development, Managing Director, Director Content Management, SEO Specialist and more

Most social media events are preaching to the choir. We are raising the bar and increasing the level of education by presenting actionable knowledge that will help attendees move the meter and have an impact on their marketing objectives.

We deliver the critical knowledge on what to do next and what matters most for your business. In these competitive times, having this knowledge and knowing how to move forward can be a strong strategic advantage.
We will present the latest in digital leadership knowledge to help you with your business.

Attendees walk away with:
Best Practices
Action Items
Unique Insights
Case Studies
Unique Trends Data
Clearly Defined Objectives
Access to a Peer Network

GRAVITY SUMMIT 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EVENT
Monday, February 22, 2010
Covel Commons, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
330 DeNeve Drive, Los ANgeles, CA 90095
More Information: Beverly Macy 310-860-4788 beverly@gravitysummit.com
AGENDA
8:30 – 9:00 – Registration and Breakfast
9:00 – Welcome and Overview – Beverly Macy
9:20 – Keynote,Jeffrey Hayzlett, Eastman Kodak

9:50 – USA Today, Brian Dresher
10:10- Boost Mobile, Rachel Gross
10:30 – Networking Break
10:50 – Mazda / Rebel Industries, David Harris/Josh Levine
11:10 – Citizen Net, Dan Benaymin
11:30 – AWARDS PROGRAM, Co-Hosted Gravity Summit/UCLA Extension Business & Management Program

@Feliciaday
@shareourstrength Domino Foods
@jeffreyhayzlett Kodak
12:15 – LUNCH
1:15 – BREAKOUT SESSIONS – Choose One

Music, Entertainment, Sports, Sponsored by LA Clippers

Getting Started, Sponsored by GoDaddy.com
2:30 Networking Break
2:45 – Keynote, Ramon de Leon, Domino’s Pizza

3:10 – Turbo Tax, Scott Gulbransen
3:30 – Satellite Marketing, Kevin Popovic
3:50 – Markyr Media – Bringing It All Together, Kyra Reed
4:10 – Closing Comments
4:30 Adjourn
AFTER PARTY at The Roxy Theater on Sunset, Sponsored by Flip and Mazda

Hey everyone,

The 2nd annual Gravity Summit is coming up next week on Monday, 2/22 – if you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time! Social Media Club members can get $100 off the registration pricing by clicking here. Here’s more info:

Gravity Summit at UCLA- Best Learning and Networking Event You’ll Attend All Year! Plus you can get CE Credits for attendance!

Gravity Summit events help bridge the gap between the new Social Media Marketing tools and the business community. We seek to help educate and inform marketing professionals, small business owners, advertisers, and c-Level executives, and others, about the exciting new marketing and communications landscape that is evolving daily.

Gravity Summit is the brainchild of New Media Visionary, Author and Strategic Consultant Rodney Rumford. Beverly Macy, Managing Partner of Y&M Partners LLC, also teaches Social Media Marketing for the UCLA Extension Executive Business and Management Division.

Who Attends Gravity Summit Events?

Industries: Healthcare, pharmaceutical, communications, real estate, communications, software applications companies, franchise organizations, nutriceuticals, sports marketing, entertainment, music and gaming, financial services, non-profit organizations, advertising and PR, packaged goods

Decision Makers: Senior VP, CEO, President, Physician, Recording Artist, Publisher, VP Business Development, VP Marketing, Director of Client Services, Director Events and Promo, Business Manager, Senior Partner, Director of Membership Development, Managing Director, Director Content Management, SEO Specialist and more

Most social media events are preaching to the choir. We are raising the bar and increasing the level of education by presenting actionable knowledge that will help attendees move the meter and have an impact on their marketing objectives.

We deliver the critical knowledge on what to do next and what matters most for your business. In these competitive times, having this knowledge and knowing how to move forward can be a strong strategic advantage.

We will present the latest in digital leadership knowledge to help you with your business.

Attendees walk away with:

Best Practices
Action Items
Unique Insights
Case Studies
Unique Trends Data
Clearly Defined Objectives
Access to a Peer Network

I’ll be there and I hope you will too!

A very special invitation to SMCLA folks:  This Week in Startups

We are very excited to invite the Social Media Club members to this week’s This Week in Startups. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP here:  http://twistmeetup2.eventbrite.com/

Live Episode & Meetup with DNAMail
December 11th, 2009
George Naspo, CEO of IKANO

Jason Calacanis and the team at This Week in Startups is doing a
special episode of TWiST this coming Friday with a live in studio
viewing party and reception! If you’re near LA, come on over to the
Mahalo offices where you can hang out and watch the episode live with other TWiST fans from our studio. Plus, as soon as the episode’s over, we’ll be hosting a reception with Jason and the whole TWiST gang.

It all starts live @ 4:30p PST on Friday. If you’re going to
be coming, make sure to let us knowby RSVP’ing here: http://twistmeetup2.eventbrite.com/

Jason’s guest on Friday will be George Naspo, CEO of IKANO
Communications (the parent company of DNAMail). George has over 30 years of business experience with telecommunication start-ups, turnarounds and emerging growth companies. He joined IKANO in 2005 after working at three other Insight Venture Partners NYC portfolio companies. He has led the company’s push into cloud computing and hosted services with a series of acquisitions and strategic partnerships – DNAmail is part of Naspo’s larger push to bring numerous services from one provider to start-ups, medium sized enterprises, and small business. He holds a BS from the University of Toleda and an MS from University of Southern Come join Jason, George Naspo (CEO of Ikano Communications) and the whole TWiST gang for a special live episode and meetup at the Mahalo.com offices.

The event be starting with the live episode, featuring George Naspo, at
4:30pm and following that immediately with a reception at 6:00pm.
Come by to watch the episode with other TWiST fans and then stick around for some great networking.

They’ll also have some light hors’ d oeuvres and beverages for you to enjoy!

It’s time again to come together for the holidays!

We invite you to the Second Annual Digital Family Reunion on Wednesday, December 2nd at Wokcano Restaurant in Santa Monica from 6-11pm.

In association with some of the region’s top trade associations/social networking groups and industry hosts, DFR ‘09 promises to be the largest holiday party of the season and help weave our various communities of interest into the larger collective family of professionals working in and around the technology industry.

Join us as we kick off the holiday season in grand style.

Tell a friend, and purchase your ticket at www.digitialfamilyinc.com .
Use discount code: DFR30 to receive $30 price.

*FACEBOOK EVENT LINK*
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=178076912660#/event.php?eid=178076912660&ref=mf

So here you are, espousing your thoughts and a few work tips on Twitter when suddenly you receive an unexpected email. Your mother is now following you. Your mother is now reading your notes. Worse yet? She’s providing her advice. On your lunch diet.

As technologies continue to make it easier to connect with friends and family online, families are turning more and more often to the distribution communication platform that Twitter and Facebook Status Updates provide. Combining Twitter with other social applications (like Facebook) serves to strengthen and magnify the communication capabilities of families on the Internet to an even greater degree.

So why connect with your family on social network platforms?. What is driving this increasing trend?

Sharing family successes has long been a part of Twitter – tweeting while at a son’s baseball game or a daughter’s dance recital has provided Twitter users a way to share their family pride with family members and strangers alike. New Twitter tools, like whrrl, enable instant photo sharing. Instead of providing a link to a photo or an album, you can provide the entire multimedia experience in a much easier fashion. This only serves to enhance the wildly popular link-sharing capabilities of Twitter.

Even the military recognizes the power of the online family and now provides significant support for families on Twitter in the form of educational feeds (usually issued by a government group), support groups for overseas personnel and injured veterans, general family support, and just about anything one can think of. In short, individuals and groups are taking the lead on organizing Twitter. In the absence of tools provided by Twitter, families are using Facebook and other social media networks to more easily integrate Twitter updates into their families.

Perhaps the most common and familiar use of Twitter and the family involves the unfortunate aspects of tragedies and disasters. Disasters can take a number of forms ranging from earthquakes and wildfires to highway accidents and home fires. It is fairly clear, just by looking at the news, that Twitter is a now a major factor in keeping families in the loop as to the current state of a given disaster. Whether a family needs general news on a situation or specific feedback from a family member in jeopardy, Twitter maintains the variety of communication channels (Web, IM, SMS, etc.) necessary to significantly increase the chances of messages getting out in a timely manner.

Personal tragedies also continue to shape the evolution of the Twitter communication medium. Most of us seen some sort of cry for help from a family member, a friend, or “friend of a friend” . We have seen this in email, blogs, whole Web sites, and now Twitter. One of the best uses of Twitter we have seen is a hospital using Twitter to inform families on the status and results of an operation.

When communicating with family on Twitter (and other public-facing social sites), privacy concerns should be a strong consideration when discussing personal family issues . Families have a tendency to talk casually with each other online, which too can have negative results such as Criminals have begun to monitor sites like Facebook and Twitter in order to determine when families are on vacation, which is an ideal time to commit robbery. The usual warnings to putting private and family-related information on the Web apply. Just as you wouldn’t put flyers outside your home when you go on vacation, think twice about posting your vacation plans, until after you get home.

The growth in family uses of social media will only continue to grow as more and more tools for information sharing develop. But as this trend continues to soar, so do the dangers. By being careful with what you share online (no personal or financial information, no specific travel dates, no home address), you should be able to enjoy sharing your news online safely.

Congratulations, Serena!

The Social Media Club, Los Angeles is excited to announce that one of our founding members and current volunteer, Serena Ehrlich, has been asked to join the Advisory Board for the Marketing and Advertising programs. The Certificate in Marketing consists of four track concentrations focused on marketing management, sales and marketing account management, marketing communications, and a “roll your own” (*hint* *socialmedia* *hint*) track. We are very pleased to know that Serena will be aiding students to develop their analytical, critical, and creative thinking skills in the realm of Social Media knowledge.

Serena has always been involved with Social Media and integrated communications. Her 14 years of experience at the newswire service Business Wire enabled Serena to stay at the vanguard of industry trends and technologies. She now leads the communications team at the LA-based product and company accelerator Startup Army as the Senior Vice President of Social Media, Marketing, and PR.

Communications is a true passion for Serena. She is a founding member of the Social Media Club, serves on the Board of Directors for the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) Los Angeles, and is a long time member of YoungPRPros.

We are excited to see where this new relation takes Serena and the impact that it will have on Social Media, particularly in Los Angeles!