Or… as my clients might ask “What the hell is geo-location?”

My clients often ask this question, “What’s so great about Foursquare [or other geo-location service]?” It usually is followed up with “Why do I need to be on <insert geo-location service>?” and “What do I do with it?”

It depends on what your target market/audience is doing with their smartphones. They’re using Foursquare, YP.com, Yelp, and Gowalla to check-in (telling their friends where they are) and looking for tips and advice about where they’re at. Recently, I was on the Big Island of Hawaii and checked in on both Foursquare and Yelp. I looked for Check-in Specials on Foursquare and tips on what to eat on Yelp.

Not only do these geo-locations services have the power of sharing user reviews and tips, some of these services have a program of daily or weekly deals from local, regional and national businesses!

In fact, YP.com is introducing a new service called “Deal of the Day.” Sign up now and get a $5 credit toward your first deal purchase!

If you’re a business, entrepreneur, consumer, blogger, normal person, or all of the above, our next SMCLA panel is going to be quite helpful. Bring your questions with you. If you’re hesitant about partnering with a geo-location service, we’ll be here to help answer those technical questions. If you’re interested in DIY geo-location specials but your executive team is leery about going solo, bring them with you!

RSVP here on Eventbrite: http://geosmcla.eventbrite.com/

When: Tues, July 26 from 6:30pm – 10:00pm

Where: Glow Bar at the Marina del Rey Marriott

Event Cost: Free

Parking: Valet parking $8 with validation

We’ll be live-tweeting from the event so be sure to follow us on Twitter and check the hashtag #smcla!

Our friends at YP.com are generously sponsoring this event, along with Glow Bar at the Marina del Rey Marriott.

Don’t forget to sign up as an official member of Social Media Club – either as a student ($25/year) or regular member ($100/year). Your fees help us build out our local chapter SMCLA and bring great panels and terrific locations to you.

Yellowpages.com

Glow Bar - Marina del Rey Marriott

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!

The fourth meeting of Social Media Club LA will focus on the ways in which social media have effected the political process and political outcomes in the US. The meeting is tentatively scheduled to take place on November 5th, the day after the presidential election.

Panelists:

Jason A. Kiesel
Founder & CEO
FreedomSpeaks, LLC
http://blog.freedomspeaks.com

James Lee
President
Lee Strategy Group
http://www.leestrategy.com/

Tony Katz
CEO/co-Founder of Aweli, Inc.
http://www.tonykatz.com

Leo Briones
President and Founder
Centaur North Strategic Communications
http://centaurnorth.com/campaignNews/campaignNews4.html

Co-Moderators:
Brooks Bayne

Jackie Peters
Founding Partner, Heavybag Media – http://blog.heavybagmedia.com
Director, Social Media Club LA – http://socialmediaclub.la

Thanks to our sponsors!

Venue Sponsor:
Mahalo – http://mahalo.com

Food & Beverage Sponsor:
Visible Factors – http://visiblefactors.com

Media Sponsor:
Tech Zulu – http://techzulu.com

RSVP on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/inbox/#/event.php?eid=31403368654

Chris Heuer, one of the founders of Social Media Club, is coming to LA! For those who were there for our first meeting you’ll recall that we video-conferenced with Chris, he gave a history of the Social Media Club and talked a bit about the goals and vision for the organization. Chris will be in town on the 18th – SMCLA will be hosting a mixer at The Parlor in Santa Monica from 6 – 9.

I’m really proud of the great group of people we have here in LA who are rallying around the Social Media Club. I hope you can all make it!

Link: http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=26560236785

Please RSVP so we know how many to expect.