For those of you who are attending BlogWorld today and/or Saturday, be sure to stop by our booth (#112) at the EXPO!

We are giving away social media books, SMC memberships AND a vacation getaway! Want to go to Cancun, Mexico? Stop by our booth. Want to join SMCLA? Stop by our booth. Want to enter to win books? Stop by our booth.

One 5-day, 4-night vacation is up for grabs at our booth – one winner will have a choice of picking either the Laguna Suites Spa or the Ocean Spa Hotel for their getaway. Stop by our booth and enter to win by dropping your business card in our fishbowl or filling out a contact card.

photo source: http://www.lagunasuites.com.mx/

photo source: http://www.oceanhotelcancun.com

I don’t know about you but I could use a warm, sandy beach right about now. It’s easy to enter. There is no purchase necessary. We’ll see you at our Booth – #112 today and tomorrow!

Disclosure: Vacation getaway sponsored by @markepoliti. For full rules and regulations, head to http://www.socialmediaclub.la/disclosure/bwela-in-booth-giveaway-rules/.

by Sam Fiorella – Chief Marketing Sensei of Sensei Marketing

Was mom right when she preached: if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all? Does it not seem that this societal nicety has been taken to the extreme in today’s social media engagements?  You know what I’m referring to:  the author of a business book who Tweets a theory on the fall of the Egyptian government only to have their followers spend the better part of 3 days fawning over its wisdom (including those who thought Egypt was still ruled by the Pharaohs) instead of adding to the debate or offering an alternative point of view?

I took a (admittedly unscientific) survey of the reactions to popular Social Media personality’s comments on Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ over the past few months. The results seem to support what I knew anecdotally:

• 90% straight Re-Tweets/Likes/Shares (of which 80% were simply shares, 20% had some form of affirmative annotation)
• 9% questions and debate
• 1% “trolls” hating on the author of the comment

The social media magnifying glass that amplifies and judges our every tweet, status update and comment – and permanently saves it with the resulting reactions for posterity – has created a culture of Social-Yes-Men. The thought of damaging our personal or corporate brand has changed the way we communicate. This is fuelled by the fear of the public’s interpretation of our comments more than our confidence in the validity of the comments themselves.

Are we being conditioned to be so neutral, so accommodating that that the challenging of ideas, popular personalities or norms has become taboo due to the permanency of the online archiving? Are we so fearful of being seen as incorrect or so vain as to not want to admit we were wrong that we simply RT, Like and agree to whatever the popular kids say?

The Followerazzi

The spotlight is actively sought by social media celebrities and (it seems) eagerly given by the “followerazzi”. Much like their offline cousins: the Paparazzi, they follow their idols every move from the moment they wake up to the second they fall asleep; all the while documenting,  interpreting and broadcasting their every statement, their every action, their every intention.

Open and honest debate is required to advance theories, products and even societal norms.  However, we must free ourselves from the worry of social media spin, interpretation or employer/brand retribution in order to do so honestly.

I’m not suggesting that we all become “Trolls” who purposefully argue with anyone for the sake of being an instigator. These people engage in such behavior for the sake of pumping up their own self-worth or ego. There’s no value in their challenges because they choose to make personal attacks on people vs. the advancing the dialogue.  They will never go away so, unfortunately, the only thing you can do is ignore them.

There is place for good old-fashioned, respectful debate however. Society has not evolved by the mass acceptance or blind adulation of our leaders. It has progressed through freedom of speech and the understanding that in so doing, you’ll not be persecuted or ostracized.

What does this mean for Brands? 

Is the fear of public debate – and the possible loss of control over the discussion – in online networks is actually creating more inwardly focused brands? In a world where praise seems to be rewarded through gamification, corporate brands have an opportunity to take the lead in this effort to reclaim free-enterprise dialogue and differentiate themselves from their competitors.

• Encourage Debate: Instead of asking for “Likes” on your Facebook page, ask for honest opinions, thoughts and recommendations on new and future products.
• Be Open: create a culture that is welcoming and receptive to criticism. One that is not afraid to look at itself in the mirror or that is perceived to be better than its customers.
• Be Humble – publicly admit mistakes and take responsibility with heartfelt apologies. Don’t be afraid to change your opinions or challenge other’s opinions; just remember to do so with respect and thanks for the exchange of information.
• Be Thankful – acknowledge those that disagree or suggest relevant alternate views and thank them for their interest. Demonstrate how you’re using the debate to vet and improve your services & offerings.
• Keep the Dialogue Focused: regardless of those few that may take personal shots at the brand or its employees, keep the conversation focused on progressing an idea forward vs. jumping into the cage with the Trolls.

For both corporate and personal brands, changing the nature of the online discussion from flat adulation to dynamic discussion and debate will set the standard that allows consumers and followers to be open with you in return. The Followerazzi are like the family dog in search of praise, acknowledgement & reward, gladly reacting in a manner that ensures they’re not hit on the nose with a newspaper. We have the opportunity to train followers to show their love through frank, honest and open dialogue insteald of blind “follows”. You’ll gain greater respect, and the ensuing discourse will develop truer relationships, solidifying greater loyalty and life-time value.

Love me. Tell me what you really think. Join the discussion below.

Sam Fiorella
Feed Your Community, Not Your Ego
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__________________________________________________________

Sam Fiorella is the Chief Marketing Sensei of Sensei Marketing http://www.senseiwisdom.com/.  You can catch one of his sessions at the Social Media Masters Conference in Los Angeles (September 9, 2011), Toronto (October 7, 2011), New York(September 23, 2011), Kansas City (October 21, 2011).

This guest post is brought to you by our partners at Social Media for Nonprofits. Do you know of a nonprofit organization that has been looking to add social media as a tool for communication and fundraising? The Social Media for Nonprofits team is holding an all-day conference on Monday, August 22nd at UCLA. They are also giving away two tickets to SMCLA members… read on! 

Most of the members of the Social Media Club LA have businesses that keep them busy, but we also hear that some of you serve on nonprofit boards, or have side projects designed to make the world a better place. This post is for you, as well as those of you with nonprofit types in your networks.

Social Media for Nonprofits is a nationwide conference series that provides nonprofit leaders with the tools and resources needed to create, manage, and maximize their social media presence.

We’re heading to Los Angeles next Monday, August 22nd, with a program that will once again share practical tips and tools for fundraising, marketing, and advocacy. Our SF, DC, and NYC conferences were all sold out and received rave reviews, and we need your help to ensure a packed house at UCLA.

We’re giving away two tickets to the SMCLA members who get the most comments or likes on a Facebook post on our Wall, or who get the most ReTweets on a message with the #sm4np hashtag.

Come join us for a “Twitter Meets TED” format featuring top authors and experts, or you can just show up for the networking reception and book release party for Nonprofit Management 101. We’ve got top brass from Facebook, LinkedIn, and Causes, plus leaders of PETA, NTEN, and social fundraising platforms like Fundly and Razoo.

See you on the 22^nd and please contact us with any questions or suggestions!

Darian Rodriguez Heyman and Ritu Sharma are the Co-Producers of Social Media for Nonprofits. Darian is the former Executive Director of the Craigslist Foundation as well as the founder of CF’s Nonprofit Bootcamp. He recently released a book, Nonprofit Management 101: A Complete and Practical Guide for Leaders and Professionals. Ritu has had years of experience in event production, event-related fundraising and social media. She has worked with several Bay Area nonprofits and tech ventures. Ritu recently produced the successful Social Media Marketing and Monitoring conference series across America. 

Ritu Sharma

Darian Rodriguez Heyman

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

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?

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