A recap:

Coworking

@firecatsue talked about coworking, which to me is a perfect example of how we can take social media offline and into the 3-dimensional world that all of us are familiar with. Coworking is heaven-sent for people like me who need distractions to focus and feed off other people’s energy and unique passions.

Check this out to get a sense for how coworking is taking off all over the coutry and, if you are in San Antonio… check out C4 Workspace, follow @coworkingsa and hey, why not take a day to actually try it out?

Journey through social media

@TXconflictcoach talked about her journey into social media. She talked about Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, BlogTalkRadio, blogging and MySpace (no, wait… take that back. MySpace is apparently where all the porn is). The thing to highlight about this session is the importance of experimenting and – one of my favorite words – TINKERING with different social media networks, channels, approches, strategies… in order to find the one (or ones) that fit you and what you do best. I highly recommend you do it. Hit the ground running and don’t be afraid to trip and fall – you’ll get back up. I promise.

What does social media have to do with business?

Bruce Hughes talked about how SBDC is helping businesses grow by guiding them through pretty much every step of the business development process. How does this relates to social media you ask? SBDC provides marketing assistance to businesses, which helps increase revenue…. but don’t forget! Social media also helps build communities, develop relationships with your business’ constituents, establish your business as a helpful resource…

We really must make it a point to stop looking at social media first and foremost as a way to make money. Your priority should be to use to to build your business around what your potential customers need, want and care to interact with.

Military and social media

@AFRC_433 talked about how the air force is using social media. Every airman is a communicator, they Twitter and now the base is working on their Facebook Page. So, why would the air force want to use social media? To let the public know what they were up to but do so by communicating on a more personal level.

This was one of the coolest session at Podcamp because it demostrates that with a little persistence, even institutions that have insane amounts of restrictions and levels of hierarchy to cut through in order to get permission to do, well… anything… can start using social media to connect with the public.

@AFRC_433 talked about using her phone to start Twittering, blogging, etc. while she waited for approval to do social media on personal laptops. To the air force, public affairs is public affairs is public affairs. Anything that gets on Twitter goes out with a link to more information and to the Web site. However, she also tweets cool facts like how many tortillas fit in a CS Galaxy (answer: 322, 857).

And that’s the way. Aha, aha, I like it.

I really, really like it.

YouTube, make videos and SEO

Another way of getting your content into Google is video. You didn’t know that? Well there ya go.

Some tips for SEO with YouTube videos:

• Think keywords when you name your video and make it easier for people to find you on Google.
• The actual file you upload to YouTube should also be keyword-conscious.
• Oh yeah, go to Google and do a bit of keyword research to discover what people are looking for.
• Optimize your video content. Pick descriptive keywords that are not used as much in competitive areas to catch the low-hanging fruit in terms of SEO.
• Pillar content vs. Feeder/Teaser content – the first is content people are looking for and the other is content that directs people to another site/source.
• (Me talking…) Subscribe to Top Rank’s Online Marketing Blog and follow @leeodden. The man knows about SEO and the blog is a great resources for tips, best practices, ideas, enlightment, etc.

PS: Don’t be afraid of videos. They don’t need to be edited professionally, scripts, storyboards, etc. If you think you have something of value that could be turned into a video consider it a green light. Get yourself a Flip camera and start rolling. And hey, if you feel uncomfortable about making videos but still want to publish your content in a way that doesn’t involve blogging, try slideshows and narrated visual presentations.

Pay it forward with a virtual network

@Matt_Scherer talked about not just using social networks but doing so to help others. Logical right? We are social beings and we love to share. Matt talked about several places online that are taking this innate quality of human beings and harnessing it to create communities that gather to help each other.

Something that stuck with me was the idea of champions – people who help others find connections and get into the right places to launch their careers, projects, ideas, etc. Ultimately, it is your job to post your resume online, join social networks and begin by eavesdropping on people who share common interests. As Seth Godin would say, find your tribe. If there isn’t one, create one.

Takeaway – whether you are an individual or a company, you are the master of your own destiny but know that you have a world (literally) of people out there who are willing to help you on your way to get there. We all have something everybody wants. Find out what you want, figure out what you have to give in return and get a move on.

Blog your heart out: How to start a blog and stick to it

[My session!]

It went a little like this… if you think you have something of value that could take the form of a blog… start a blog

• Find out who you are and what you want to write about ahead of time. Even if you want to write about everything, know that ahead of time so that you don’t all of a sudden get hit (and hard) by this realization.
• Find your software. Shout out to WordPress for easy stats, great SEO tools, user friendliness, customization, plug-ins and a world of other cool things.
• Customize your blog! Give it a personal touch and write your “About Me” page to let your readers know who you are and what they can expect. This makes you transparent, personable and credible.
• Set up RSS feeds to see what others are blogging about on the topics that interest you. This way, you can add unique content to the online conversation and place the RIGHT inbound links into your posts to make the hallway of mirrors that is the internet a little less dizzying for readers
• What’s that? You want to get blogging already?… Come up with an editorial calendar and evergreen topics you can write about to avoid bloggers’ block.
• Come up with ideas for list posts, how-to posts and other short and sweet content that is helpful, fun to read and that helps you vary the style of your posts.
• More importantly, think of topics that you are PASSIONATE about. If you are not genuine, blogging is a no-go.
• Figure out when you’ll post. Start off with once or twice a week but make sure that you are consistent and good to your readers. Don’t feel pressured. This should be fun.
• Don’t just assume that you are going to have readers. If your blog is your personal diary don’t be outraged if hundreds of comments ensue after every post. If what you are posting useful content and want to share it with people who might be looking for the information you are putting out there, get a Twitter account, feed it, NOURISH it.
• Make your useful content easy to find. Register your blog on Technorati, Bloglines, Feedburner, etc. And use Simplaris Blogcast on Facebook to publish your blog post on the Notes section of your profile.
• Follow @problogger on Twitter. He has a lot of helpful advice and a 31-Day Challenge to Better Your Blog
• Ready. Set. Go.

(By the way, I’m moving to http://andinarvaez.com this weekend – It took a while for me to build up!)

Twitter. All of it.

Oh my… I’m afraid to go there. Basically, register for TweetCamp San Antonio on July 18, 2009 and learn all there is to know

PREVIEW: Twitter is making things HAPPEN.

… Must go. Had an amazing time!!!

Check out the #podcampsa Twitter hashtag and the live stream to catch up with more of what went down inside the Habana Room at El Tropicano hotel today.

Signing off.

A little story – A co-worker was meeting a fellow Twitterer for real-time lunch. I was sad I couldn’t join them so I tweeted that I may just crash their next lunch date….

Actually, I’ll just let Twitter do the talkin’

Don’t you just love how Twitter makes things happen?

Announcing the San Antonio Media / PR / Business St. Patrick’s Day Tweetup!

(Hint: Click this link for the official TWTvite and to RSVP)

When (exactly?): Tues., March 17 at 12 p.m.

Where: Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine (map below)

More: Green attire is encouraged, but entirely optional

Got 15 minutes? Come meet a bit early at Vela Wine Bar

(right next door to Paloma) to munch on snacks!

Anything else?: Please spread the word and see you there!

THANKS TO:

Donna J. Tuttle from the San Antonio Business Journal for the momentum.

Joe Ruiz from KSAT for jumping in but letting the ladies decide

Melanie Thompson from KGBTexas Public Relations / Advertising for the first step.

Nan Palmero for tweeting all the way from Las Vegas to join the action.

September 19, 2009 update: SAMPRB is now The BMPR. Check it out.

The main thing to take away is how such distinct groups of people can have so much in common. Just check out our Twitter bios:

@seanmichaelwood: I’m a refugee of the world of print journalism, having put in 20 years and having built up plenty of indignation.

@breantwgraham: Filmmaker. Commercial Director. Creative Advertising. Web Designer. Marketing Manager. über geek. Sarcasm Factory.

@mariget: Art, Photography, Books, Laughter,Friends, Movies, my Dog…

@padornato: Political Science and Economic major. News junkie. College graduate – ready to go.

@jennifercc: (missing! Jen, you need to get on that!)

@andinarvaez: PR account coordinator at KGBTexas. Learner, laugher, lover, liver (not the organ), tinkerer. Social media advocate.

Photo by @BrentwGraham

In these times of crowdsourcing, “picking others’ brains”, contribution, collaboration, remixing, integration, sharing, giving, taking, linking,  reinventing, innovating… it is the “unlikely” gatherings of “unlikely” people what may be the answer to addressing the gaps and problems that our society and some of our institutions are currently dealing with.

And, if not that, these tweet ups are a fun time. An antidote to monotony. A path to well-roundedness. A reason to leave the house.

If you missed it we’ll see you at the next one!

twtvite ::  San Antonio Weekend Tweetup!

Saturday, Feb. 28

9:30 p.m.

Rebar (map below)

Posted using ShareThis

Who ever said that San Antonio,  social media and weekend nights don’t go well together? No one? Ok, just checking.

See you there! Feel free to click the link for details and to RSVP but also feel free to just show up and bring as many as you’d like (and can) with you!

And check this post for a tweetup recap.

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=REBAR+8134+Broadway+St,+san+antonio,+tx+78209&sll=29.511008,-98.465934&sspn=0.01281,0.012252&g=8134+Broadway+St,+san+antonio,+tx+78209&ie=UTF8&ll=29.521936,-98.461704&spn=0.01281,0.012252&z=14&iwloc=A&cid=9778562973605594165&output=embed&s=AARTsJoOctp5s4Mg43hs-pTe-jUN6xG0TA&w=425&h=350]

I attended the second-ever San Antonio Social Media Breakfast yesterday and if I knew anything, I’d say it was a great success.

The guest speakers at the breakfast are all members of the San Antonio media who are dabbling in social media – and they dabble well.

Donna J. Tuttle of the San Antonio Business Journal

Elaine Wolff of the San Antonio Current

Joe Ruiz of KSAT news

Laura Lorek of the San Antonio Express-News (read her SMBSA notes here)

I have been adding fellow San Antonian Twitter followees to my account on a pretty constant basis, but it was exciting to SEE how many people in San Antonio – media and the public alike – are embracing social media. More importantly, how many want to DO something with it.

The big obstacle is not just convincing others that social media is the way of the future (did I say future? I meant present…) but to convince publishers and editors that it is something worth investing time, people, resources and efforts into even though there may not be tangible (as in $$$) results at first.

Ways of monetizing social media and the need to revise the business model of print newspapers were certainly part of the conversation.

The speakers also touched on social media policies, the appropriate use of personal style and censorship. To this I say – sooner rather than later, YES! and… ok, try to keep your job but don’t let it cramp that personal style.

At the heart of the discussion was what media are currently doing with social media.

Although there is still a divide between journalists who use social media and those who don’t – pushing the news out to the public via services like Twitter seems to be the main use of social media. Media are also engaging their readers via social networks, blog posts and comments. Certainly the start of a two-way flow of news and information.

But is it? What say you to the people bringing the news to the media via social media?

No news tips hot lines, no press releases… Twitter baby. Twitter, Friendfeed, Facebook, blog comments…

Joe Ruiz said it and yes, crowdsourcing is a huge concept for anyone to wrap their head around. You become susceptible to rumors, false or misleading information, etc., but I do believe social media is making our society more responsible about the content that is put “out there”.

I’m not exactly talking about citizen journalism, rather, opening up the doors of social media not just to let links out but to take things in – both ways.

About the Social Media Breakfast - Bryan Person started the event in Boston (he now lives in Austin) and Jennifer Navarrete and Jennifer Milliken took on the initiative to bring the concept to San Antonio. Many thanks to them, the attendees and everyone who followed, participated or is looking forward to taking part.

If you missed it or are curious to know what others are saying about it – Some of us were live-Twittering the event, Bob Gambert from WOAI wrote follow-up post and the entire breakfast is on Ustream. Check those out and join the conversation.