Many thanks to Meagan Lopez for inviting me to join the Social Media Magic: A Woman’s Touch panel at Chicago’s Tech Week on Saturday, July 23rd, 2011.  As a late addition to the lineup, my name didn’t make the program, but I’ve got photo proof that I was there!

Social Media Magic: A Woman's Touch panel at Chicago Tech Week: Shira Lazar, Amy Ravit Korin, Meagan Lopez, Herimone Way, Hope Bertram

Thanks to Michael O’Donnel, of ZatPhoto for capturing more Tech Week day 2 on film! Here I am, animated when discussing my passion for social media.

Photo credit: ZatPhoto

In fact, when asked, “What is social media magic, and why are women the reigning Queens?” my answer was all about passion!  I truly believe that when you are excited about something you’ll want to shout  it from the rooftops, but as we all learned in Social Media 101, SHOUTING at your target audience about a sale, or hocking a product is not what gets people excited.   It’s all about conversation, and engagement.  Luckily, my fellow panel mates were also blessed with the gift of gab, and we could have easily discussed this subject all day!

The hour flew by as we discussed our favorite social media campaigns, and what it takes to build a personal brand and an online persona.  All of the ladies on the panel, (from left to right) Shira Lazar, Hermione Way, Amy Ravit Korin (me!), Hope Bertram and moderator, Meagan Lopez have merged our personal and professional personas by keeping the information we share meaningful, informative and relevant.

Photo credit: ZatPhoto

The panelists weren’t the only ones sharing and caring about the subject of social media, the fact that this was on a Saturday didn’t keep the crowd away.  The audience was a sea of familiar faces, and lots of new ones too, as Tech Week drew an audience of nationwide influencers and enthusiasts, all learning from each other!  Check out my view from the stage. Do you have a great example of how you’ve worked your social media magic and what you’ve learned along the way?  Feel free to share here, along with other Tech Week highlights!  I hope to see you at future Chicago Tech Week events running through July 29th.

Related posts:

1. I’m Talking at TechWeek!
2. Social Media Club Chicago + Social Media Week = 2 awesome events on 9/21!
3. Windy City Social Media Masters’ Summit Recap

I have spoken (and written) before about my passion for live music and social media, and how I truly believe that you can marry your skills and passions and make work fun!  In the past six months I have rocked social media for the Inaugural North Coast Music Festival, the 3^rd Annual Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival, attended Billboard’s Music and Advertising conference in Chicago and helped a concert promoter amplify his online presence. Now I am conquering the touring industry!

This week, I am at it again – I have the pleasure of accompanying a client to the TourLink Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona.  It will be my first time in the Valley of the Sun, and attending the premier conference for the mobile production and touring industry.

My client, TouringTech, is the world’s leading provider of voice, Networking, Mac and Windows desktop support services for the entertainment and sports touring industry and the venues that host these events.  I will be on site at TourLink, live reporting on conference highlights, sharing news and information throughout such sessions as: Ethical Touring, Festival Challenges, Tour Technologies, a video workshop series on Enriching the Tour Experience, and many more!  You can follow along with the TourLink Conference action on the TouringTech twitter account, and on Facebook.

If you have ever logged onto WiFi while attending an event at the United Center, Allstate Arena, Wrigley Field, Us Cellular Field, or Alpine Valley you have encountered TouringTech’s handiwork – they service all of those venues and many more. TouringTech signature Office-In-A-Box mobile network and phone system has accompanied artist’s including: Black Eyed Peas, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Carrie Underwood and the American Idols Live tours around the world!

As an avid concert-goer, I am excited to get a look into inner-workings of an industry that I love – music and entertainment.  I can’t wait to see who takes home the coveted Top Dog Awards in categories including Venues, Production, Lighting Design and more!  Plus, I have the additional pleasure of leading some social media tutorial sessions, with the hopes that conference attendees will learn new ways to incorporate social media into their tours.

I may have referenced the Laws of Attraction a few times in previous posts, but I truly believe that by asserting my intention to work in the music entertainment industry has allowed for these opportunities to present themselves.

See Mom, going to so many concerts has paid off, literally!

Related posts:

1. What Music Are You Most Thankful For? Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival Ticket Giveaway!
2. See You at North Coast Music Festival, Summer’s Last Stand!

On my day off, I was not outside enjoying the weather or sleeping in, but instead I chose to watch a video of Ramon DeLeon’s presentation at the Social Media Summit. I encourage you to watch it as well!

This being my second business conference, I expected very similar insights to the Alterian Engaging Times Summit. However, the Social Media Masters’ Summit instead focused more on the variety of case studies while interviewing the speakers and their thoughts on social media. Hope Bertram, the founder and creator of the Windy City Social, was very organized and timed the event well. A perfect mediator, she allowed me the time to write in my notebook, take yummy snack breaks, and introduce myself to speakers and neighboring guests.

There’s no question that several different speakers enhanced my understanding of social media and increased my appreciation of the art form that it is, yet, as any attendee can vouch, part of these new feelings and understandings were due to the relationship between owners and customers that Ramon painted through his use of pizza. I can only hope to one day to be one of those lucky patrons like my boss, interactiveAmy. Believe it or not, Amy was a first-hand witness to his concept of #RamonWOW. I recently discovered this story; Amy complained about bad Domino’s Pizza service, only for Ramon to respond via YouTube and Twitter. Not only did this situation evolve into a perfect case study and teaching opportunity, but also became a hit on YouTube. If you have time, please check out this video apology from Ramon DeLeon and you will see why his 6 Chicago Domino’s stores are so successful.

Ramon has WOWed over 125,000 people with his Videoapology!

Ramon saved interactiveAmy as a customer and gained a friend!

The most I took away from this summit were the tips that each speaker provided in their presentations. One that stuck out in my mind was the tip from Christopher Barger, Director of Global Social Media at General Motors who stated, “Think long-term. The greatest value of social is the relationship, not the initial interaction.” If you have a strong long-term relationship with a client, chances are that they will recommend other clients and speak highly of your consistent efforts and results.  This also refers to Liz Strauss’s belief that mutation is good. If a professional has a long-term partnership with a client, a symbiotic relationship evolves; the client and professional grow from the experience as the client benefits from the professional. Thus, both parties continuously improve.

Overall, I can say that I have delved much deeper into social media and its benefits to companies. Hope’s Windy City Social Masters’ Summit presented a great take-away that helped me gain a better perspective on social media as a whole: social media is not just a business tool. In fact, the Windy City Social emphasizes the duality of social media; while social media is a unique and growing method to advance a business’s promotions and campaigns, it echoes a sense of responsibility and understanding of the customer’s daily life. In its own way, it personalizes relationships not only between management and customers, but from one person to another person. Without the Windy City Social, I’m not sure when I would have learned this important life lesson.

Related posts:

1. Welcome from the Windy City Social, Social Media Masters’ Summit
2. Windy City Social Marketing Summit Recap
3. Alterian Engaging Times Summit Recap

Imagine walking into a room full of entrepreneurs who have tons of experience and trying to introduce yourself. To add to these circumstances, imagine being the only college student in the room.  Aware that first impressions can determine everything, I tried to make a good presentation of myself by dressing business professional and carrying a huge blue notebook with several pens in case I wanted to take notes. I had never attended any sort of business conference before; I had no idea what to expect as my boss, Amy Korin (aka interactiveAmy), and I walked into the Westin Hotel off of Michigan Avenue last week.  Immediately upon entering the Alterian Engaging Times Summit, I was not only inspired and well educated about social media, but I also realized that I found a passion for it. Throughout the day, I made friends from all different companies and learned that being in today’s business world requires so many positive traits, but one stands above the rest: having guts!

Energetic and highly motivated, I was not at all nervous as most people might be about stepping outside of their comfort zone. I was eager to learn, meet, and remember new faces. I was fortunate enough to listen to Stan Rapp, Don Peppers, and many other influential entrepreneurs. Did you know that according to Stan Rapp, iDirect marketing was formed at the conference of digital marketing, and that the total concept of engagement begins with the magical letter “i” (i.e. inspiration, interactive)? Or Don Peppers and his concept of how eBay works and how we are social animals who thrive on trust and reduce obstacles? His example of how customers are bees and companies are the flowers? To get the bees to the flowers, a company must have bright colors and a good smell. What keeps a bee or the customer coming back is the quality of the pollen (i.e. the service).  I also really enjoyed listening to the case studies of various businesses and how they used social media to better their company and relate to customers on a more individual basis by using such engagement.

Don Peppers, Stan Rapp, Kristen Smith, Jeannette Kocsis, Irfan Kamal with moderator Ginger Conlon

As if the speakers alone weren’t motivating enough, the Alterian employees made my experience even more fun and memorable. This conference was ideal for a business student. I learned what it takes to network, educate, and perhaps most importantly, how involved social media’s role is in helping companies gain clientele and maintain relationships with their customer base. I was so incredibly lucky to be exposed to a conference such as Alterian Engaging Times Summit 2010, and I know that I have learned above and beyond what college kids are learning at school and in other internship experiences. I’m looking forward to the next Alterian conference – I will be first in line.

Marni Levine & interactiveAmy at the Alterian Cubs Rooftop Happy Hour after the Summit

Related posts:

1. Windy City Social Media Masters’ Summit Recap
2. Windy City Social Marketing Summit Recap
3. Ramon De Leon takes the interactiveAmy story to Harvard’s Gravity Summit & CNN.com!

Today is the day! I will be on hand at the Windy City Social Masters’ Summit at the Blackstone Hotel for day of learning and connecting with other social media masters!

In addition to learning, I’ll be working too… Hope asked me to be the video ambassador for the Summit, so I’ll be interviewing speakers and attendees to capture highlights, takeaways and cool stories from the front lines!

I invite all attendees to come find me to get a cameo on the video!

I am especially excited to hear Ramon DeLeon’s presentation on WOW Marketing, about going beyond social media, there is a shout out to me re: the infamous Videoapology video from April 2009… it currently has over 125,000 embeds! OMG!

Also on today’s agenda is a Christopher Barger, Director of Social Media at General Motors, multiple panels about bloggers working with brands, and sessions about Growing Your Brand through Social Media with David Armano, What’s your Irresistible Offer with the extraordinary Liz Strauss and many opportunities to do one of my favorite activities… network!

Related posts:

1. Windy City Social Media Masters’ Summit Recap
2. Windy City Social Marketing Summit Recap
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